Snooker is an entirely different Olympic sport than pocket billiard games such as 8-ball and 9-ball. Played on a baize-covered table (12 footer on official tournaments) with 6, slightly narrower pockets, snooker is a rotation game, in which the players have to gather more points to win, by potting (=pocketing) the red balls and the color balls alternately, following specific game’s rules. 

In snooker, the cue ball is still the cue ball but the legal object ball is called  "ball on" and it can be "red" or "color", which has to be "potted" instead of pocketed. 

Ball on/On Ball – the color ball designated by the striker 

Break – the total score accumulated by one player. The highest snooker break is 147 

Color – any of the 6 unnumbered object balls: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black. 

Cue ball in hand within the half circle/ Cue ball in hand within the D – the area defined by the half circle marked at the head of the table where the cue ball is placed on the opening break shot or after a foul 

Frame – one game of snooker 

In-off – when a player pots the cue ball (same as scratch in pool) 

Pot (v.) – to sink an object ball to a pocket 

Red/Reds – the group of 15 red, unnumbered object balls 

Snooker – not only the name of the most popular billiard game in the UK; the term snooker refers to situations when the cue ball is blocked (=snookered) by another ball therefore, the striker cannot play the ball on directly. 

Striker – the snooker player whose turn is to play at the table

You can start reciting these terms cause snooker is coming soon to Play89!

Next up, introduction to snooker rules

Play89 is happy to announce that the launch of its snooker platform is expected by the end of this week… 

• 4 different types of games:
  • Mini snooker – instant game played with 3 balls  
  • 6-ball snooker – fast paced snooker
  • 10-ball snooker – similar to 10-ball pool
  • Classic snooker – play 15 red balls and 6 colored balls 

• New and realistic snooker table and the same real-life physics we all have met when playing 8ball and 9ball pool on Play89 
• Weekly tournaments with Jimmy White… yes, yes, every Monday 20:00 GMT sharp, Mr. Whirlwind himself will compete against Play89’s most exquisite snooker players…

Play89 is proud to introduce, and at the same opportunity to sponsor, the most promising snooker talent in Israel - Rona Bareket. The 22 years old snooker player is ranked at number 9 (!) in the World’s Ladies Snooker Players, after making it to the Knockout Stage at the recent 2007 IBSF World Ladies Snooker Championship.

Although she made her first snooker tournament appearance only 4 years ago, Rona Bareket is the great white hope of the Israeli billiards scene. Before Bareket, no Israeli snooker player has ever arrived to such amazing achievements at such a short time.

In order to provide Bareket with the financial stability that will allow her to devote her time to her snooker training and to promote excellency in the snooker game, Play89 decide to adopt the snooker champion to be and to become Rona Bareket official sponsor.

Wait for updates on Rona Bareket snooker tours around the world.

Last month, Play89 along with Play65 backgammon site announced on a photo competition. The online/pool backgammon players who will send the best photos (which will have to be related in some way or another to pool, backgammon or either Play89 or Play65 brands) will be awarded with a cash prize and the honor of decorating the 2008 desktop calender. Our fellow Play65 blog mumbled something about it.

Anyway, the  year 2007 slowly and surely stepping towards its end. Check out some of the winning photos:

2nd Place - The Rocket

4th Place - market-loser

12th Place - billcosby:

Howdy All! Welcome to the new "Play89 Blog", the official blog of Play89 online pool room and a pool-billiards-snooker resource center. (Soon, very soon) you will find here:

• Latest info on Play89 pool tournaments, bonuses, promotions and special events
• Behind the scenes news straight from Play89 software designers
• Beginners’ guide to pool and billiards: glossary, games rules and tips
• News and games results of the most important tournaments in cue sports
• Profiles of the world’s top pool/snooker/billiard players

Hmm… What else would you like to read in Play89 Blog? If you have any idea, comment, complaint or compliment regarding Play89 pool room or Play89 blog, please let us know about it!