Kaisa (billiards)
Encyclopedia
Kaisa or karoliina is a cue sport mainly played in Finland
. The game originated in Russia
, where it is still played to some extent, and is a close cousin to Russian pyramid. Compared to most other billiards-type games, both use similar large 68 mm ( in) balls, small pockets barely large enough for a ball to enter, and long and heavy cue stick
s. Kaisa tables are usually 10 feet long and thus 2 feet shorter than Russian pyramid tables which are usually 12 feet long. It is a two-player or -team game. As with many carom billiards games, both players have their own used to shoot at the other balls, and usually differentiated by one cue ball having a dot or other marking on it. In all, five balls are used: the yellow (called the kaisa in Finnish
), two red object balls, and the two white cue balls (each of which serves as an object ball for the opponent). The game is played to 60 , in a rather elaborate scoring system (as detailed below), reminiscent of those used in snooker
and English billiards
, with points being awarded for various types of shots. Like both Russian and English billiards, kaisa is a hybrid of carom and pocket billiards
. Kaisa is principally a recreational game, without professional players. However, first Kaisa world championship tourament was held recently in april 2010. Participants came from 33 countries, and the main tournament was held in Kotka
. a Finnish player Marko Rautiainen won the championship title. Amateur competition in Finland is widespread and popular, with matches being shown on a dedicated Web show on blip.tv
.
All shots must be in detail. In most games, nominating the object ball and the intended pocket is sufficient, but in kaisa the shooter must also call any on other balls or contacts on the path of the object ball to the pocket. After pocketing of the called object ball, any carom on or pocketing of another object ball for additional points (see below) need not be called.
The same player continues shooting after each successful shot, but yields the table to the next player after failing to earn points on a shot attempt. All pocketed balls are before the next shot is taken, except the opponent's cue ball, which remains pocketed until the end of the current shooter's . Balls moved but not pocketed remain where they lie. The incoming player shoots from where that player's cue ball lies if it remains on the table, or has ball-in-hand behind the head string if that cue ball was pocketed by the previous player.
Basic shots:
Additional points are awarded for the cue ball to object balls (in any order) on the same shot, providing that the initial object ball was pocketed. This kind of carom is called nakki in Finnish (which translates to "vienna sausage
" or "hot dog
" in English). A – causing an object ball to hit another object ball – does not award points.
A special 12-point shot is pocketing the yellow kaisa (yli keskelle in Finnish) as the first-struck object ball. It does not matter which ball hit the first, the cue ball (a ) or the kaisa (a ). These points accumulate like a regular object-ball pocketing shot:
Additionally, the player gets still more points if a ball with which the cue ball caromed for additional points (i.e. a nakki ball) is also pocketed on the same shot. The number of points is awarded by the pocketed ball's value: white = 2, red = 3, yellow = 6. For example, if a player pockets the yellow kaisa, and caroms a red nakki ball into a pocket, the score is 15 points (kaisa pocketed and nakki carom with red for 12, plus red ball in a pocket for 3, equals 15).
Fouls result in for the incoming player.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. The game originated in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, where it is still played to some extent, and is a close cousin to Russian pyramid. Compared to most other billiards-type games, both use similar large 68 mm ( in) balls, small pockets barely large enough for a ball to enter, and long and heavy cue stick
Cue stick
A cue stick , is an item of sporting equipment essential to the games of pool, snooker and carom billiards. It is used to strike a ball, usually the...
s. Kaisa tables are usually 10 feet long and thus 2 feet shorter than Russian pyramid tables which are usually 12 feet long. It is a two-player or -team game. As with many carom billiards games, both players have their own used to shoot at the other balls, and usually differentiated by one cue ball having a dot or other marking on it. In all, five balls are used: the yellow (called the kaisa in Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
), two red object balls, and the two white cue balls (each of which serves as an object ball for the opponent). The game is played to 60 , in a rather elaborate scoring system (as detailed below), reminiscent of those used in snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
and English billiards
English billiards
English billiards, called simply billiards in many former British colonies and in Great Britain where it originated, is a hybrid form of carom and pocket billiards played on a billiard table. Billiards is less well known as "the English game", "the all-in game" and "the common game".The game is for...
, with points being awarded for various types of shots. Like both Russian and English billiards, kaisa is a hybrid of carom and pocket billiards
Pocket billiards
Pool, also more formally known as pocket billiards or pool billiards , is the family of cue sports and games played on a pool table having six receptacles called pockets along the , into which balls are deposited as the main goal of play. Popular versions include eight-ball and nine-ball...
. Kaisa is principally a recreational game, without professional players. However, first Kaisa world championship tourament was held recently in april 2010. Participants came from 33 countries, and the main tournament was held in Kotka
Kotka
Kotka is a town and municipality of Finland. Its former name is Rochensalm.Kotka is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of Kymi River and it is part of the Kymenlaakso region in southern Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water....
. a Finnish player Marko Rautiainen won the championship title. Amateur competition in Finland is widespread and popular, with matches being shown on a dedicated Web show on blip.tv
Blip.tv
The website Blip.tv is a platform for web series. The company offers a for the "best in original web series" and also offers a dashboard for producers of original web series to distribute and monetize their productions....
.
Rules
The players to decide who will be the first shooter; the player who wins the lag begins the game. The object balls are positioned at their , and the cue ball of the winner of the lag is placed behind the , while the lag-loser's cue ball is placed somewhere between the and , but cannot obstruct the first player being able to shoot the yellow kaisa toward the corner pocket diagonally opposite the corner pocket closest to the first player's cue ball. At the start of the game (or with after an opponent's foul), the player cannot shoot an object ball directly to a ., though this shot is legal at any other time.All shots must be in detail. In most games, nominating the object ball and the intended pocket is sufficient, but in kaisa the shooter must also call any on other balls or contacts on the path of the object ball to the pocket. After pocketing of the called object ball, any carom on or pocketing of another object ball for additional points (see below) need not be called.
The same player continues shooting after each successful shot, but yields the table to the next player after failing to earn points on a shot attempt. All pocketed balls are before the next shot is taken, except the opponent's cue ball, which remains pocketed until the end of the current shooter's . Balls moved but not pocketed remain where they lie. The incoming player shoots from where that player's cue ball lies if it remains on the table, or has ball-in-hand behind the head string if that cue ball was pocketed by the previous player.
Scoring
Points are acquired by the object balls with the cue ball, with additional points being available for additional feats. The game ends when one player earns 60 or more points.Basic shots:
- Pocketing the opponent's white ball = 2 points
- Pocketing a red ball = 3 points
- Pocketing the yellow ball (kaisa) = 6 points
Additional points are awarded for the cue ball to object balls (in any order) on the same shot, providing that the initial object ball was pocketed. This kind of carom is called nakki in Finnish (which translates to "vienna sausage
Vienna sausage
A Vienna sausage is a kind of hot dog...
" or "hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
" in English). A – causing an object ball to hit another object ball – does not award points.
- Pocketing opponent's white plus a carom (nakki) with a red = 4 points
- Pocketing opponent's white plus caroms with both reds = 7 points
- Pocketing opponent's white plus a carom with the yellow = 7 points
- Pocketing opponent's white plus caroms with the yellow and a red = 10 points
- Pocketing opponent's white plus caroms with the yellow and both reds = 13 points
- Pocketing a red plus a carom with opponent's white = 5 points
- Pocketing a red plus a carom with the other red = 6 points
- Pocketing a red plus a caroms with the other red and opponent's white = 8 points
- Pocketing a red plus a carom with the yellow = 9 points
- Pocketing a red plus a carom with the yellow and opponent's white = 11 points
- Pocketing a red plus caroms with the yellow and the other red = 12 points
- Pocketing a red plus caroms with the yellow, the other red and opponent's white = 14 points
- Pocketing the yellow plus a carom with opponent's white = 11 points
- Pocketing the yellow plus a carom with a red = 12 points
- Pocketing the yellow plus caroms with opponent's white and a red = 14
- Pocketing the yellow plus caroms with both reds = 15 points
- Pocketing the yellow plus caroms with the opponent's white and both reds = 17 points
A special 12-point shot is pocketing the yellow kaisa (yli keskelle in Finnish) as the first-struck object ball. It does not matter which ball hit the first, the cue ball (a ) or the kaisa (a ). These points accumulate like a regular object-ball pocketing shot:
- Pocketing the yellow cross-side plus a carom with opponent's white = 17 points
- Pocketing the yellow cross-side plus a carom with a red = 18 points
- Pocketing the yellow cross-side plus caroms with opponent's white and a red = 20 points
- Pocketing the yellow cross-side plus caroms with both reds = 21 points
- Pocketing the yellow cross-side plus caroms with opponent's white and both reds = 23 points
Additionally, the player gets still more points if a ball with which the cue ball caromed for additional points (i.e. a nakki ball) is also pocketed on the same shot. The number of points is awarded by the pocketed ball's value: white = 2, red = 3, yellow = 6. For example, if a player pockets the yellow kaisa, and caroms a red nakki ball into a pocket, the score is 15 points (kaisa pocketed and nakki carom with red for 12, plus red ball in a pocket for 3, equals 15).
Fouls
If a player the cue ball into a pocket or off the table, the player's point are reduced according to which ball the cue ball hit first. So a scratch off the yellow kaisa equals -6 points. If no ball is hit before the scratch, the penalty is 2 points.Fouls result in for the incoming player.
External links
- Kaisa-biljardin Kehitysyhdistys Ry (KABIKE) : Federation for Kaisa Promotion
- Kaisa matches on blip.tv