Rules of french billiard

Rules of Play – French Billiards / Carom Billiards

Article 1 – French Billiards
In French billiards, the referee alone directs the game, to the exclusion of any other person. Players are exceptionally entitled to intervene when a question concerns the application of the rules. However, the referee must ensure that no unwarranted intervention occurs at the start of a game of French billiards.

Article 2 – Start of the Game under the Rules of French Billiards
2.1 First, players are allowed to try out the equipment during the morning preceding the opening of the championship. The person in charge of refereeing sets, in a fair manner, the playing order and the length of practice time for each player.
2.2 Players are entitled to a 5-minute warm-up for the first game on a French billiard table, and 3 minutes for subsequent games.
2.3 The game begins as soon as the referee has placed the balls for the lag to the cushion. The red ball is placed on the top spot, and the other two balls are placed roughly at the middle of the outer spots of the baulk line and the two long cushions.
2.4 The referee gives the starting signal. Players strike simultaneously toward the top cushion. Both balls must be in motion before either one reaches the top cushion. If the lag is not simultaneous, it must be taken again. A player who causes a second re-lag loses the choice of who plays first. The player whose ball stops closest to the bottom cushion has the choice of playing first.
2.5 However, if, during their run, the balls other than the red ball collide, or if they stop at an equal distance from the bottom cushion, the referee has the lag taken again.
2.6 Furthermore, if a player’s ball strikes the red ball, it is a fault, and the choices provided for in Article 2.4 in fine are granted to the other player.


Article 3 – Starting Position
The balls are placed on the French billiard table by the referee.
a) the red ball on the top spot;
b) the opponent’s yellow (or spot) ball on the centre spot of the baulk line;
c) the player’s white ball, at the player’s discretion, on one of the two outer spots of the baulk line.
In addition, the opening shot must be played on the red ball, either directly or off the cushion. Finally, the player who opens the game plays with the white ball and must keep it throughout the game of French billiards, or throughout all sets of the match.

Article 4 – Interruption of the Game
4.1 A three-minute break must be granted by the referee at the midpoint of the game. It need not be taken if the players agree.
4.2 This break may be granted during the game if both players agree. Under no circumstances may it be granted during a break (run of points). In a game played in legs, the break takes place as follows. First, in a game played to the best of three legs. Then, after the 2nd leg, in a game played to the best of five legs. Finally, after the 2nd and the 4th leg.
4.3 Lastly, a player who leaves their position during a French billiards match loses the game. Cases of force majeure arising during a championship are assessed by the referee or the tournament director.

Article 5
Balls in contact: when the player’s ball is in contact with one of the other two balls, the player’s rights differ depending on the form of play.
5.1 Open play (free game)
a) on a match-standard French billiard table: the three balls must be put back on their spots in the starting position;
b) on a half-match French billiard table or smaller: the player has the right to choose as provided for balkline games (see 5.2 below).
5.2 Balkline games (47/2 – 47/1 – 71/2)
The player has the right:
a) either to have the three balls put back on their spots in the starting position;
b) or to play off the ball that is not in contact, or off the cushion first, or to play a detached massé shot without moving the ball in contact. The player may nonetheless cannon off the ball that was in contact. There is no fault if the ball in contact moves solely because it loses the support that the player’s ball may have been providing it.
5.3 One-cushion game
Same rules as for balkline games.
5.4 Three-cushion game
Three-cushion French billiards. Same rules as for balkline games, but if the balls are put back on their spots, only those that were in contact are, under the conditions set out in Article 6(b).

Article 6
Furthermore, balls jumping off the table. A ball is deemed to have jumped off the French billiard table as soon as it falls outside the frame or as soon as it touches the wood of the frame. When one or more balls jump off the French billiard table, the ball or balls are replaced on the spots in different ways depending on the form of play.
a) First, in open play, balkline games, or one-cushion play: the three balls are put back in the starting position.
b) Then, in three-cushion play, only the ball(s) that jumped off are put back on spots, in the following positions: the red ball on the top spot (its starting spot); the ball of the player about to play, on the bottom spot (at the centre of the baulk line); the ball of the opposing player (the one who has just committed the fault) on the centre spot (in the middle of the table). Finally, if the spot corresponding to a ball is occupied, that ball is placed on the spot corresponding to the ball occupying it.

Article 7 – The Cue
Under the rules of French billiards, the player must use the cue solely to make cannons. In addition, the player is entitled to use the rest (“bridge”/”râteau”), with one hand guiding the cue and the other resting on the rest.

Article 8 – Fouls under the Rules of French Billiards
8.1 A cannon is only definitively scored once all three balls have come to rest without a foul having occurred.
8.2 It is a foul, and the turn passes to the opponent:
a) if, in the course of a shot, one or more balls jump off the French billiard table;
b) if a player plays before all three balls are at rest;
c) if a player touches any of the balls with the hand or any other object, including the chalk (if, after missing a cannon or committing a foul, the player whose turn has ended touches one or more balls, whether intentionally or not, the referee replaces the moved balls as close as possible to where they were);
d) if the player miscues (a miscue occurs when the tip is still in contact with the player’s ball at the moment it touches another ball or the cushion, or when it makes contact more than once with the ball that has been set in motion; it is forbidden to play directly off a cushion while in contact with the player’s ball without first detaching it by means of a massé shot);
e) when, following a false stroke, the player’s ball is struck by a part of the cue other than the tip;
f) if, at the moment the player strikes the ball, at least one foot is not touching the floor;
g) if the player makes reference marks on the cushion, the playing surface, or the outer edge of the table;
h) if, at the resumption of play or during a break (run of points), the referee notices that a player has switched balls (cannons scored before the one in which the fault is noted remain credited to the player who committed the fault);
i) if, in balkline and open games, after the call of “in-hand” (“dedans”), the player fails to send at least one of the two balls other than their own out of the restricted zone;
j) if, during a break (run of points), the player in play leaves the playing room (except in cases of force majeure, left to the referee’s judgment, the turn must pass to the opponent).
8.3 A fault caused by a third party, or by an external factor, is not attributable to the player. If, as a result, the balls have been displaced, they are put back, as far as possible, in the position they were in before the incident. Furthermore, the player is not responsible for balls being incorrectly placed or replaced by the referee. However, a fault is committed if the player fails to play with the ball they started the game with.
8.4 However, any fault not noticed by the referee cannot be sanctioned, and the cannon remains valid. If a cannon is scored after the one in which the fault was committed but not noticed, that cannon remains valid and the player keeps their turn.
8.5 If the referee has unjustly awarded a point, the referee is entitled to reverse that decision, provided the player has not yet begun to play the next point.
8.6 If a player commits a fault and continues to play before the referee has had the opportunity or time to call it, the referee must proceed as though the offending player’s turn had ended, and will put the balls back as close as possible to the position they were in at the moment the fault was committed.
8.7 When a position appears to require prolonged thought, or for any other reason a player is slow to play, the referee may, on their own initiative, set a 30-second time limit for the player to take the shot. If the player has not played within the time allowed, the turn passes to the opponent, with the balls remaining in place on the French billiard table.

Article 9 – Referee’s Announcements
9.1 The referee counts the points aloud.
9.2 In games involving restricted zones (open play and balkline play), the referee announces aloud the position of the balls — “straddling” (“à cheval”), “entered” (“entré”), “inside” (“dedans”) — giving, in balkline games, the position relative to the main balkline before that relating to the additional (anchor) area. The referee may not announce the position within the anchor area without first stating the position relative to the main balkline. In addition, a ball located on the boundary line is judged against the player.
9.3 Possible announcements in all balkline games.
9.4 If the referee must make more than one announcement, the following order is observed: a) the number of cannons scored; b) the “for” announcement; c) the position of the balls relative to the restricted zone; d) whether the player’s ball is in contact with another ball or a cushion.

Article 10 – Handling of the Balls
10.1 The referee informs the player when their ball touches one of the other balls or a cushion.
10.2 Furthermore, only the referee handles the balls to put them back on their spots, to replace them where required, or to clean them.
10.3 The referee then carefully notes the position of the balls before removing them for cleaning, and ensures, upon resumption, that the player keeps their own ball.
10.4 A ball may not be cleaned while it is in contact with another ball or a cushion.

Article 11 – Scoresheet
11.1 The referee must check the point count as well as the score. In the event of a discrepancy between the scoresheet and the scoreboard, the scoresheet prevails, once the referee has checked the subtotals.

Article 12 – Passing the Turn in French Billiards
12.1 The referee only grants the turn to the opponent once all three balls are at rest.
12.2 A player is entitled to ask the referee why the turn has passed to the opponent.

Article 13 – Cleaning
At the player’s request, insofar as the referee deems it necessary, or on the referee’s own initiative, the referee may, at any point during the game, have the table and balls cleaned (except as provided in Article 10.4). Cleaning must be carried out as quickly as possible.

Article 14 – Information
14.1 However, the referee is expressly forbidden to warn a player against a fault they are about to commit. Nonetheless, pursuant to Article 12.1, the referee must stop a player resuming their turn if the balls are not at rest. During a break (run of points), the referee will note the fault if the player plays while the balls are not at rest. Neither at the resumption of play nor during a break may the referee point out the ball to the player.
14.2 A player is entitled to ask the referee which of the two balls is the white ball.
14.3 In balkline and open games, the referee is required to announce the position of the balls relative to the restricted zones, even if doing so reveals the position of the player’s own ball.

Article 15 – Disputes
15.1 In the event of doubt over a referee’s decision, a player may ask the referee — but only once — to reconsider the case.
15.2 The referee is required to grant this request. If the situation still exists, the referee reviews the case alone. If not, the referee may consult their alternate, where one has been appointed, to the exclusion of any other person.
15.3 The opponent may likewise ask the referee — but only once — to reconsider a decision. If such requests become repeated and the referee believes they are essentially intended to disrupt the other player, the referee may issue a warning, with the consequences set out in Article 18.1.
15.4 The opponent, as well as the scorekeeper, may approach the referee to point out an error on the referee’s part in any of the following cases: the player is not playing with their own ball; a false announcement is made regarding the position of the balls within a restricted zone; an error in the point count; an error in replacing the balls on their spots. Such intervention must be made discreetly, without disturbing the other games of French billiards in progress.

Article 16 – Complaints
16.1 However, the referee’s decisions, after the possible application of Articles 8.5 and 15, are final and without appeal on questions of fact. Questions concerning the application of the rules are excepted.
16.2 Furthermore, any complaint relating to the application of the rules must be raised with the referee at the moment the alleged error occurred. If the referee does not act on the complaint, the player may raise it again on the match sheet at the end of the game. The complaint must be examined that same day by the Federation’s representative and/or the tournament director. If the error may have affected the outcome of the game, the tournament management must have it replayed.
16.3 The Federation’s representative, or, in their absence, the tournament director, must submit a report to the Sports Commission and the Refereeing Commission within 48 hours.

Article 17 – End-of-Game Announcements
17.1 The referee, on indication from the scorekeeper, warns a player when they are playing for 5 points, then 4, 3, 2, and 1. In addition, in three-cushion play, the referee will announce for 3, 2, and 1.
17.2 Once a player has been announced as playing for 1, they will be credited with the full point total for the game, even if a scoring error is discovered afterward.
17.3 However, with regard to any limit on the number of breaks (innings), the referee must announce: a) three innings remaining; b) second-to-last inning; c) last inning — before the player who opened the game plays.
17.4 However, the player who did not open the game plays the following inning, with the three balls put back on their spots in the starting position. The same requirement applies when the game is stopped due to the limit on the number of innings. This player retains the possibility of winning the game if, during their final inning, they score enough cannons to overtake their opponent, provided the opponent has not reached the game’s point limit — in which case they may draw level instead. However, in matches played in legs, it may be provided that there is no equalising inning. Within the F.F.B. (French Billiards Federation), this provision currently applies only to the National Three-Cushion Championship.
17.5 When the turn passes to the other player, the referee announces the player’s name followed by the number of points scored (which may be zero). The referee will add “inning” if it concerns the player who opened the game. The scorekeeper acknowledges the announcement.

Article 18 – Players’ Conduct
18.1 The referee must ensure that players behave properly and fairly, and refrain from any gesture or attitude liable to disturb the opponent. The referee will warn players who breach the rules of conduct, and will then report the matter to the tournament management. If a player who has already been warned offends again, the referee may stop the game, with the match being forfeited by the offending player.
18.2 When the turn passes to the other player, the player whose turn has ended must sit on the chair reserved for players.

Article 19 – Exceptional Cases
Furthermore, exceptional cases not provided for in the rules of French billiards are left to the referee’s judgment. The referee must submit a report to the Sports Commission and the Refereeing Commission within 48 hours.