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Russian billiards

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	Topics Russian billiards Topic Home Russian billiards (, russky bilyard), also known as pyramid (, piramida) and often called Russian pyramid in English, is a cue sport that has several differences from Western poolPocket billiards Pocket billiards is a vague sub-classification of the broader category of games known as Billiards.... , although game play is still dominated by attempts to balls. It is played in countries of the former Soviet UnionSoviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state that existed... and FinlandFinland The Republic of Finland , is one of the Nordic countries.... , beside of it FinlandFinland The Republic of Finland , is one of the Nordic countries.... has "national" billiard game, played with quite similar equipment. Differences from other billiard games Table: even though sizes vary – including: 3.5 × 7 feet (198 × 99 cm); 4 × 8 ft. (224 × 112 cm); 4.5 × 9 ft. (254 × 127 cm); up to 6 × 12 ft. (356 × 178 cm) – the official tournament size is the 12 ft. model, the same size preferred for snookerSnooker Snooker is a billiards sport that is played on a large baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in ... , but much larger than a pool table (7 ft. and 9 ft. being the most common sizes for that style of game). Balls: there are sixteen balls, as in pool, but fifteen are white and numbered, and the is usually red or yellow. They are larger and heavier than Western billiard ballBilliard ball Billiard balls are used in cue sports, such as carom billiards, pool, and snooker.... s; the official tournament size is 68 mm (2¹¹/₁₆ in). Pockets: the corner are only 4–5 mm wider than the diameter of the ball. The central pockets 14–18 mm wider than the diameter of the ball. This makes the game's mechanics like an oversized version of snooker, and much more difficult than pool, requiring greater precision to pocket a ball. Rules There are several variations of Russian billiards, but the three most common are free (or "American") pyramid, combined (or Moscow) pyramid and dynamic (or Petersburg) pyramid. All games start with fifteen numbered white balls in a pyramid, as in eight-ball. The first player the rack with the from the . The object of the games is to pocket eight balls to win the frame. In free pyramid at all times any ball may be used as a cue ball. In combined and dynamic pyramid only one ball is a cueball. After pocketing the cue ball scorer must choose a white ball to be taken off the table. Then In combined pyramid player place the cue ball to the baulk area. Balls can be pocketted in central and far corner pockets. In dynamic pyramid player places the cue ball at any area of the table, but may not pocket the cueball. Competition Since 2000, World Championships have been held for Russian billiards. The world governing body for pyramid, establishing published rules and equipment standards, is the International Pyramid Committee, with its largest affiliate, the European Pyramid Committee. In popular culture The so-called "American" version, free pyramid, adapts well to use in fiction because of its simple rules (i.e., the plot does not have to side-track into complicated gameplay explanation), and has featured prominently in notable Russian films such as The Meeting Place Cannot Be ChangedThe Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed *The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed* is a 1979 Soviet 5-part TV film series directed by Stanislav Govorukhin.... (1979) and The New Adventures of the Elusive AvengersThe New Adventures of the Elusive Avengers The New Adventures of the Elusive Avengers is a 1968 Soviet action movie, a sequel of The Elusive Avengers, directed by Edm... (1968). Variants Finnish kaisa Kaisa or karoliina is a Finnish "national" billiard game, that is a close cousin to the Russian pyramid. The main differences being that it is played with two white cueballs, one for each player, two red balls and a yellow ball, or kaisa. A player must pocket a nominated ball, gaining scores. Extra scores are given from hitting other balls in addition. All balls are spotted and the game is played to 60 points. Russian pool American-style pocket billiardsPocket billiards Pocket billiards is a vague sub-classification of the broader category of games known as Billiards.... (pool) balls have been adapted for use on Russian billiards tables, for playing eight-ball, nine-ball and other pool games. The balls are 68 mm (2¹¹/₁₆ in) in diameter, like those for pyramid, and thus much larger than the American-style balls they are patterned after (as illustrated to the right). External links