Billiards is one of the most popular games played by many people around the world. It is considered as a more stylish game than the various types of games. People play the game out of fun and not like a sport but there are a few people who play the game as professionals and not for just fun. Although the game has been with us for a very long time, there has been an incredible resurgence in interest surrounding the game in recent years. The pool halls of today are markedly different from those of yesteryear, due mainly to the increasing popularity of the game.

Pool players today demand a different sort of pool hall. Gone are the days of smoky pool halls filled with shady characters and shifty crooks. The pool hall owners of today are making valiant efforts to meet the needs of their new found customers. The billiard aficionados of today have a higher set of expectations, and many pool hall owners have made great strides to get with the times. It is not uncommon to find a restaurant or a martini bar inside the modern pool hall.

Slate is one such example. After receiving a much-anticipated renovation back in 2000, it has become one of the hottest pool spots in New York City. With over 16,000 square feet of space on two floors, Slate is one of the most unique and exciting places in the city. It boasts a massive 54 foot glass bar, a full service restaurant, 30 championship pool tables, a stellar sound system, and a collection of plasma TV’s placed throughout the venue. It also has an incredible glass staircase in the shape of a pool triangle. Believe the hype; Slate is the place to be and be seen.

The Continental Modern Pool Lounge is another fine establishment. It is located in Arlington, Virginia and is quite possibly the funkiest billiard room in America. This venue is the perfect combination of fun and sportsmanship. The décor speaks volumes about the type of establishment they are trying to operate. It is very much a 70′s inspired spot, reminiscent of The Jetsons or something to that effect. This pool hall is, without a doubt, a flashback from way back.

There are three main things that separate a good pool hall from a great pool hall; respect for the game, quality equipment, and stylish decor. Shakespeare’s Pub and Billiard Room in Denver, Colorado is without a doubt, a great pool hall. They have an excellent menu, a fine selection of ale and lager, and some of the best equipment and players in America. It is not uncommon to discover some of the best and brightest players playing alongside relative beginners.

Snooker is a Billiards style game enjoyed by millions of people around the World . How about a game of snooker? A surprisingly high number of people in North America have not heard of or played this great billards variation. In the rest of the world, most people choose to play snooker in billiards rooms and pool halls. And in terms of televised sports in England, snooker is one of the most highly viewed programs. It’s time snooker got more applause in North America, too. Snooker is a game that originated in Britain and came to be called “snooker,” it’s believed, after Neville Chamberlain referred to an army cadet as a snooker when his play wasn’t exactly up to snuff. “Snooker” by definition is a first year cadet; Chamberlain then referred to the rest of the men playing with him that they were all snookers. The name stuck to the game since then.

Newcomers may find it a bit intimidating to learn snooker, but the actual rules are not that complicated. Perhaps the most difficult part is setting the table properly:  Snooker is played on 6 feet by 12 feet traditional billiards tables.  A standard set of snooker balls is required. This set of 22 balls includes 15 red balls, 1 each of pink, yellow, brown, blue, black and green balls, and 1 white cue ball. The green, brown, yellow balls are placed at one end of the table, with a 6 inch gap between them. The blue ball goes in the dead center of the table. Pink splits the distance between the blue ball and the end of the table cushion on the far side. The black ball gets its own special spot, marked about 13 inches from the far cushion. The fifteen red balls are set in the triangle rack and placed immediately behind the pink ball. The apex (‘point’) of the red triangle should come as close as possible to the pink ball, without actually touching it.

Now the game can begin! One player “breaks” by striking the cue ball into the group of red balls. Whenever a player sinks a red ball, she or he is then allowed to try to sink any one of the six colored balls. There are points assigned to each colored ball: black is worth seven points; pink is worth six; blue counts five; brown is worth four; green counts for three; and the yellow ball is good for two points. After a colored ball is sunk, the points are added to the total, and the ball is retrieved and spotted back in its original spot on the table.There are also varieties of snooker that you can try out after you have mastered the basic game. As you can see, snooker is not terribly complex, but it can still be a drag on the fun part of the game for newcomers trying too remember all the rules, so it is best to have an experienced player explain the snooker rules to you.

Snooker has been a much beloved sport in England for more than a century, and with good reason. It is a fun game, that is easy to play, yet offers many skills challenges as one progresses. If your house already has a regulation-sized pool table, make sure you purchase a set of snooker balls and instructions soon, and add this fantastic game to your family’s activities. Snooker has never really caught fire in the United States but that doesn’t hold true for the United Kingdom. In fact, it is the most watched sporting event outside soccer, or football, as it’s known throughout most of the world.