A carambol is a type of billiard , as well as the definition of a strike in which the cue-ball (the ball on which the blow was struck) makes a consecutive collision with two sighting balls.
Content
Inventory
Table
The game uses tables without pockets , 2.84 m long, 1.42 m wide (± 5 mm). The basis of the table is a slate , not less than 45 mm thick. The playing surface is bounded by rubber sides, 37 mm high (± 1 mm) at the point of greatest protrusion. The maximum width of the board is 12.5 cm (± 1 cm), the color is dull, in harmony with the color of the cloth.
Cloth
Cloth used to cover the billiard tables from the XV century. Today, most of the carambola table cloth is made of coarse fabric made from 100% worsted wool dyed green. Such cloth is “fast”, that is, it provides a relatively small resistance to rolling balls. Green color cloth used since the XVI century. According to one version, this color was chosen to imitate grass. However, it also performs a more practical function: the green color is the most “calm” one; , which allows for longer matches.
Balls
During their existence, billiard balls were made from a variety of materials: baked clay , wood , ivory , various plastics and even steel . Since 1627, ivory has been the dominant material. The need to replace this raw material with a more modern one became evident in the early to mid-20th century, and was conditioned by the economic efficiency of production, as well as the threat of extermination of elephants.
Modern balls are made of phenolic polymers or other elastic plastics. The diameter of the balls for the carom ranges from 61 to 61.5 mm, the mass - from 205 to 220 grams. The difference in weight between the lightest and the heaviest ball in the kit should not exceed 2 grams. Three balls are included in the kit: a monochromatic white cue ball, a white cue ball with red or black dots (a monochromatic yellow ball is also allowed) and a red-colored object ball.
Cues
To play Carom you can use cues from any material and any size. They can be both integral and compound. The player has the right to use several cues in one match. Players prefer to use composite cues in the game, but solid cues sometimes have higher playing qualities.
General rules
For most varieties of carom, the following rules apply:
Ball Arrangement
The red ball is placed on the back mark. The opponent's cue is on the front mark. Player's cue-on the front line within 15 cm from the front mark.
Initial strike
When performing this blow, it is necessary that the cue ball touch the red ball first, and not the opponent's cue ball. When performing the following strokes, the cue ball may touch the white or red ball in any order.
Winning back
When wagering it is necessary that after the collision of the cue ball with the ball, one of them touches the side. It is forbidden to recoup 2 times in a row.
Ball
If the cue ball left the table, it is placed on the front mark (if it is busy, then on the back mark, if it is busy, then on the center mark). If a white object ball pops up, then it is placed on the front point (if it is occupied, then on the back point, if it is occupied, then on the center point). The red ball that has jumped out is put on the back mark (if it is busy, then on the front point, and if it is busy - on the center point). If both the cue ball and the object ball pop up at the same time, then the cue ball is first exposed according to the indicated rules, and then the object ball. If 2 sighting balls pop up at the same time, they are exposed as indicated above. If the cue ball interferes with the exposure of one of the balls, then first put the object ball, the place of which is not occupied, and then the other object ball. If the limits of the table are left at once by 3 balls, then they are placed as in the initial strike.
The cue ball close to the sighting ball
In this case, the player has the right to:
- Set the touching balls: red on the back mark, your cue ball - on the front mark and the opponent's cue ball - on the center mark. If the corresponding point is occupied, the ball is placed on the mark intended for the interfering aim ball.
- Make a blow away from the object ball, that is, the cue ball must touch the side or free object ball, and then touch the object ball, with which it stood close.
The cue ball close to the board
If the cue ball is close to the board, then you can play from this board. However, if the rules of the game provide for a certain number of collisions with the sides, then the first collision with this board is not taken into account. If the impact occurs again, then it is counted. Subsequent collisions with the same side are also counted.
Varieties of Carom
Single Breasted
The goal of the game is to score a certain number of points before the opponent. For a scoring kick one point is awarded.
A strike is considered effective if:
- the cue ball touched at least one side, and then two sighting balls in succession;
- the cue ball touched the object ball, then the board, and then another object ball.
Basic rules : For each error from the player’s account one point is written off. An effective strike allows you to continue the approach.
Trilobed
The goal of the game is the same as when playing single-breasted cannon.
A strike is considered effective if:
- the cue ball touched at least three sides, and then successively two sighting balls;
- the cue ball touched the object ball, then three sides, and then another object ball;
- the cue ball touched the board, then the object ball, then two more sides, and after that another object ball;
- the cue ball touched the two sides, then the object ball, then one more side, and then the other object ball.
Basic rules : If as a result of a strike one or several balls leave the table, a foul is declared. If the object ball is close to the board, then when performing intentional wagering it is necessary that after the collision of the cue ball with the object ball or the cue ball touched either side, or the object ball reached the other side. An effective strike allows you to continue the approach. If the player has made a mistake, the right of impact passes to the opponent (points are not deducted from the account).
Open Party
Features:
When balls collide, the touch of the boards is not necessary. For a scoring kick one point is awarded. In the corners of the table there are delineated triangular zones, within which only one carom can be made, and then it is necessary to make a blow, after which the red ball or the cue-ball of the partner must leave this zone in order to continue the series of punches. If the ball has not left the zone, then the kick goes to the opponent, but no penalty is charged.
Frame 47/1
(Another name - Zonal Carom) Features:
The table is divided into 9 zones: six squares at short sides with 47 cm side and three rectangular zones. In each zone only 1 cannon is made by the balls assembled there, after which one of the balls (red or the opponent’s cue ball) must leave the zone. Then the ball that left the zone can be returned to the same zone to continue the next (again, only one) cannon. The marking of the table by zones for official competitions can be done by drawing thin lines directly on the cloth, but in practice this is rarely done. To visually determine the boundaries of the zones, diamonds are quite enough - special contrast marks in the form of dots or diamonds applied to the wooden border of the table sides.
Frame 74/2
Features:
The table is divided into 6 zones: one line divides the table in half along the long sides, the other two are parallel to the short sides at a distance of 74 cm. In each zone, you can execute not one, but two cannons.
Chip Cannon
Features:
A game popular in Italy and in other Mediterranean countries, the general rules of which are similar to the rules of a single-breasted cannon. Additionally, chips are used - five wooden pins with a diameter of 7-9 mm and a height of 25-30 mm, one of which (the so-called king ) is highlighted in color or 5 mm above the rest (in the middle of the 20th century it was fashionable to use as chips pistol cartridges, and later - filters torn from cigarettes). Chips are placed with a cross in the center of the table (“king” - in the middle of the cross), along the centerlines of the table, at a distance from each other, slightly exceeding the diameter of the ball. The goal of the game is to score points not only by making balls collisions according to the rules of a single-breasted cannon, but also by knocking down chips. The most spectacular result of the strike is achieved by knocking down the “king” while keeping the remaining chips standing. After each successful knocking down of one or several chips, they are re-set before the next strike.
Artistic Carom
In this type of cannon, the player must perform strikes with a strictly determined number of collisions with aiming balls and boards in each case. For each blow the balls are set to a specific position. In some positions, one or more chips may be placed on the table to determine the trajectory of the balls.
To perform a strike, the player is given three attempts. Depending on the degree of difficulty, for each successful hit is charged from 4 to 11 points. The set of positions for each competition is determined by a random sample of 76 required. If one of the balls as a result of the strike leaves the table, the strike is considered unsuccessful, even if all other conditions are met.
For a successful strike, most of the positions use techniques (extreme cuts, mass strikes), which most often do not find use in other types of carom and other games of billiards. Therefore, such strokes are often called stunt or artistic, hence the name of the game.
By the artistic carom since 1986, world championships are held. The largest number of points ever scored by a player in these competitions, 447, was earned by the Belgian Walter Bax in 2006. In the 2008 championship final in Belgium, Turkish player Hasi Arap Yaman outplayed titled Spaniard Javier Fonellos in a stubborn five-set match.
Links
- Union Mondiale de Billard - The World Billiard Union (eng.)
- Carom Rules (Eng.)
- Carom video