All About Cue Games

Cue sports or billiard sports are sports generally played with a cue stick, pool table, and a few balls. These games require dexterity, skill, and a touch of cleverness a swell.

Historically billiards was an umbrella term, meaning that if you asked someone "game of billiards chap?" It would be a lot like saying "want to play some ball."

There are three basic types of billiard games that you can play: carom, pool, and snooker. Pool is the most common and popular game associated with billiards.

Though, if you wanted to play pool, generally you wouldn't say "how about some billiards" unless you are in England maybe. Although you could say that, and the word would encompass every game you could possibly play.

Pool, the most common type of billiards is set on a carpeted table and differentiates from its sister sports by using holes or pockets. This game was more inspired by golf where more classic billiard games where influenced by games like croquette.

There are a few variations of the game pool, some popular games are: nine ball, straight pool, one pocket and bank pool. Each of these slightly varies, but still holds the objective of the common game pool.

Carom was the first type of billiards games to be created; all the way back in England dated as far back as the late 15th century. These games use no pockets, but do some times use obstacles or hoops like croquette.

In fact these games were created as an indoor adaption from outdoor sports like golf and aforementioned sports as well. In the 13th century there is record of an outdoor sport, played by Lois the Sixth, with the same dynamic as common day billiards.

Some common carom games include balk line, straight rail, cushion carom, three cushion billiards and artistic billiards. All of these games fit into the same category and do not use pockets or holes for game play.

Balk line is a tedious game for spectators and takes a lot of practice getting used to. It is played between two people on a five by ten carpeted table using only three balls.

There are two cue balls (where in pool you only have one) and an object ball. The table is sectioned of with lines to dictate where you may acquire points by using the object ball.

Straight rail is a simpler game consisting of a similar dynamic. You still only use three balls one object ball and two cue balls.

The object of the game is simple every time you hit both of the other balls, the object ball and other cue ball, you receive a point. However, this must be accomplished in one stroke.

Playing billiards is easy for everyone; the diversity in games that can be played is endless. You can easily find one that is suited for you, and once you are ready you may begin playing more challenging games.