8 Ball Umpire

World EightBall Pool Rules

Total Snooker Rule

G Legal Shot
(1) On all shots, the player must:-

  •  (a) Cause the Cue Ball's initial contact with a ball to be with a ball "On",    AND THEN
  •  (b) Pot a ball "On"    OR    Cause the Cue Ball or any Object Ball to contact a cushion.

(2) Failure to play a Legal Shot is a Standard Foul

(3) Exceptions:

  • (a) On the Break, the conditions of a Legal Shot do not apply. {See (F) The Break}
  • (b) When playing out of a Total Snooker a player is only obliged to meet the conditions of (1)(a) above.
  • i) Definition: A player is in a Total Snooker when it is impossible to play any part of any of the player's own Colour by way of a "straight line" shot. Leaving an opponent in a Total Snooker is not a foul.
  • ii) If a player believes that a Total Snooker exists, the player may ask the referee for a ruling.
  • iii)  If the referee rules that a Total Snooker exists, the player's obligations under the "Legal Shot" rule are relaxed as follows: – The player need only cause the Cue Ball's initial contact to be with a ball "On". The requirement to pot a ball and / or cause a ball to strike a cushion is waived.
  • iv)  In a Total Snooker, the straight sections of the cushions DO come into consideration.  If a player has to strike a cushion prior to impact with a “ball on”, then a “Total Snooker” does exist.

(4) Interpretations:

  •  (a) If the Cue Ball's initial contact is with an Object Ball that is touching a cushion, simply forcing that Object Ball into the same cushion does not constitute a Legal Shot.
  •  (b) If the Cue Ball and an Object Ball are touching the same cushion, simply forcing the Cue Ball and / or that Object Ball into the same cushion does not constitute a Legal Shot.

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6. Total Snooker (Legal Shot rule G 3 b) (from Guidance)

  • The definition of a snooker does not apply to a total snooker.
  • If a shot is not preceded by a foul, and a player asks the Referee for a snooker, the Referee should interpret this as if the player were asking for a total snooker. The call, if awarded, should be “Total Snooker”, to make it clear that a total snooker has been awarded.

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TOTAL SNOOKER: After a request from a player only, Call: – “Total/Foul/Jaw Snooker”, or as appropriate, with “Time Out” calls if necessary.