RULES OF THE BILLIARDS GAME "PYRAMID"

Pyramid is played with 16 balls. 15 balls, as a rule, are numbered 1 through 15, while the 16th ball differs from the rest in some special marking or colour. Any ball can be used as a cue ball. When playing Pyramid, all the balls have equal status.

1. Purpose of the game

The purpose of the game is to pocket only object (target) balls. Whoever is first in scoring 8 pocketed balls by legal strokes - wins.

2. Racking the balls

15 balls, as a rule, numbered, are racked at the foot of the table's playing surface in a triangular pyramid pattern. The vertex of the pyramid (the front apex ball) is positioned on the foot spot. The other balls are racked as tightly as possible next to the front apex ball and one another. The base of the ball pyramid formed must be parallel to the foot rail.

Before the start of the game, the 16th ball (cue ball) is placed behind the head string.

3. Opening break shot

A player may perform the opening break shot using any ball in hand behind the head string to hit any object ball within the pyramid. During the break, the ball used for the break shot is a cue ball. While executing the opening break shot, the player is not allowed to cross the head string. The break is legal if the cue ball has crossed the head string line.

The opening break shot is performed only once before the first game, with the players alternating breaking during the rest of the match.

The procedure for the break is as follows.

The players stand on the opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the table, each using only his/her side.

At the referee's command they execute a stroke shooting the ball from behind the head string to doublet it from the cushion of the foot rail to the head rail.

The right to make the opening break shot is gained by the player whose ball stops nearest to the cushion of the head rail. A player is considered to have lost the lag for break if his/her ball:

- hasn't contacted the foot cushion;
- has entered the opponent's side of the table or touched the cushion of the side rail;
- has fallen into a pocket or jumped out over a cushion.

The lag for break starts again if both opponents have violated the rules of the lag and ends as soon as one of them has complied with the legal procedure in executing the stroke or won the lag.

In executing the opening stroke, at least one of the following conditions must be met:

- at least one ball has been pocketed;
- at least three balls have contacted a rail (rails) as a result of the stroke;
- the cue ball has touched two rails and then crossed central string after contacting an object ball.

All object balls pocketed by the player in performing the opening stroke are considered scored, with the player entitled to continue shooting.

If the player has met all the requirements set for the opening stroke but pocketed no balls the opposing player begins his shots accepting the table in position.

If the player fails to execute a legal opening stroke, the incoming player is entitled:

- to accept the table in position and continue the game;
- to have the balls reracked and shoot the opening break himself;
- to allow the offending player to reshoot.

The opening break like all other strokes are not "called shots".

4. Pocketed cue ball

If the cue ball has been pocketed as a result of the opening break or subsequent shots, it is not a foul, and all the balls pocketed during the stroke are respotted on foot spot (line) and the incoming player begins his shots.

5. Rules of play

A legally pocketed ball entitles a shooter to continue at the table until he wins the game by scoring eight balls, misses on a legal shot, or fouls.

Prior to each stroke, the player shall indicate the number of the ball to be used as a cue ball on this particular shot. For example: "Cue ball - number seven."

If the rules of the game are not violated, but the player fails to pocket an object ball, the incoming player begins his innings and shoots accepting the table in position.

If the rules of the game are violated, a ball from the offender's shelf is respotted on the foot spot line), and the incoming player continues the game. Any balls pocketed on a foul are to be respotted on the foot spot (line) as well.

6. Scoring and rearrangement strokes

A player is considered to be executing a scoring stroke when at least one of the following conditions is met:

- an object ball has been pocketed;
- an object ball has contacted a cushion within a pocket zone (a ball diameter from the nearest jaw of the pocket);
- an object ball has stopped within the scoring sector of a pocket (two ball diameters from the nearest jaw of the pocket);

If none of these conditions are met, then the stroke is considered a rearranging one.

A rearrangement stroke is legal provided at least one of the following conditions is met after the cue ball hitting an object ball:

- an object ball has contacted two cushions on one side of the table (moved any other ball until contact with a cushion);
- an object ball has rebounded from a cushion to cross the central line.

7. Starting and completing a stroke

Cue balls are to be hit with the cue tip along the longitudinal axis of the cue and the player must have at least one foot in contact with the floor when striking a ball.

Push shots and pressing strokes are forbidden. The cue tip must not strike the cue ball twice (a double stroke) and avoid prolonged contact with it (pushing balls).

A cue ball which is in contact with an object ball shall be hit with the cue tip at an angle of 45╟ to the straight line connecting the two ball centres. A stroke starts the instant the cue tip touches the cue ball and terminates after all balls on the game surface of the table come to complete stop.

A ball spinning on the spot shall be considered mobile.

8. Scored, jumped-off and hold-off balls

A ball is considered scored if as a result of a legal stroke it drops into a pocket and remains there.
A ball jumped out of a pocket and onto the play surface shall not be considered scored and shall remain in the game.
A ball jumped off the table shall be respotted on the foot spot (line).
A ball that stops in the mouth of a pocket and then drops into the pocket before the end of this stroke (before all other balls have stopped) shall be considered scored.
A ball that stops in the mouth of a pocket and drops into the pocket after the rest of the balls have stopped, normally, as a result of some external action, shall not be considered scored and shall be returned into the mouth of the pocket.

9. Foul penalties

For each infraction of the rules a player gets the penalty, i.e. loses one of his won balls which shall be returned from his shelf and onto the table.

If the player who has fouled, has no balls on his/her score, the penalty will be effected after he/she pockets his/her first ball.
If during one stroke several rules are violated, the player gets a single penalty.
Balls pocketed through a violation of the rules are not to be scored and shall be returned to the foot spot (line). They are not allowed to be used as cue balls, and shall only be played as object balls.

If the shooter fouls, the opponent is entitled to allow the offender to continue shooting.

Penalties are applied in the following cases:

1) If the struck cue ball has contacted no object balls;
2) If the struck cue ball has jumped off the bed of the table;
3) If a player shoots before the previous stroke is completed;
4) If any ball on the bed comes in contact with a mechanical bridge, clothing, chalk, etc.;
5) If the cue ball is struck incorrectly;
6) If the opening break stroke is executed incorrectly;
7) If a rearrangement stroke is executed incorrectly;
8) In case of a push shot, a pressing stroke, or a double stroke.

Every player must have a good command of the rules using them as guidance. It is the player who is responsible for observing the rules.

In the course of the game, every player has a right to turn to the referee for clarification of the Rules concerning any given table in position before performing a stroke. Once a stroke has been executed, the situation preceding it shall not be subject for discussion.