This game is played by two persons with sixteen balls,--one white, and
fifteen red. The latter are arranged in the form of a solid triangle, with
its apex on the Pyramid spot (P in Fig. 1), and its base towards the top
cushion and lying parallel thereto.
At the commencement of the game, one player leads off from the half-circle,
and plays at any one of the red balls. Should he pocket one or more balls,
he scores one for each red ball pocketed. He continues playing till he
fails to score.
If a player gives a miss, or pockets the white ball, a point is taken off
his score and he must replace one of the red balls he has previously
pocketed; on the Pyramid spot, if unoccupied, or, if that be occupied, as
near to it as possible in a line directly behind it. If he has not
previously pocketed a ball, he _owes_ one, and must pay it by replacing the
first ball that he pockets later on.
After a miss, the opponent follows on from where the white ball stopped;
but after a pocketing of the white ball, the opponent follows on from the
{322} half-circle. In playing at a red ball, baulk is no obstacle.
If a striker pockets the white ball, and at the same time pockets one or
more of the red balls, he gains nothing by the stroke, but one is deducted
from his score; the red balls pocketed must be spotted on the table, as
well as one of the striker's red balls previously pocketed. The opponent
follows on from the half-circle.
When the red balls have all been pocketed but one, the player making the
last score continues playing with the white ball, and his opponent uses the
other. If a striker now make a miss, or pocket the ball he is playing with,
the opponent adds one to his score, and the game is over.