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Three Cushion Rules

“The game of golf would lose a great deal if croquet mallets and billiard cues were allowed on the putting green.”  -Ernest Hemmingway, 1899-1961

TYPE OF GAME [ top ]
Is a carom game wherein the shooter's cue ball must contact the cushions of the table at least three time before first touching the second object ball of his shot in order for the shooter to count a point.

PLAYERS [ top ]
2, or 2 teams .

BALLS AND TABLE USED [ top ]
Three balls, a red, yellow and a white. A carom table (approx. 5' x 10').

OBJECT OF THE GAME [ top ]
To reach an agreed point count before your opponent.

SCORING [ top ]
One point is scored each time a legal count is made. A legal count is scored any time the shooter causes his cue ball to contact three cushion before first contacting the second object ball (both his opponent's cue ball and the red ball ball must be contacted on the shot). The order of ball and cushion contacts is otherwise irrelevant.

OPENING BREAK [ top ]
The red-ball must be the first object ball contacted on the break. The non-breaker's cue ball is placed on the head spot and the red ball is placed on the foot spot. The breaker must position his cue ball along the head string no more than six inches away from his opponent's cue ball.

RULES OF PLAY [ top ]

1. A legal counting stroke entitles the shooter to continue at the table until he fails to legally count.

2. The requirements of counting are described above under SCORING. A player may go for the count, or play safe as decribed in the General Rules of Carom Billiards.

PENALTIES FOR FOULS [ top ]
One point will be deducted from the offender's score for each foul.

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