Before commenting further on the game we will proceed to give the rules of the American four ball game, and also of the French three ball game as played in America; and here we would acknowledge our indebtedness to Messrs. Phelan and Collender, the great billiard-table manufacturers of the United States, for the privilege of quoting from their complete publications on the science and practice of the game of billiards.

RULES OF THE AMERICAN FOUR BALL GAME, BY MICHAEL PHELAN, ESQ.

ON STRINGING FOR THE LEAD.

Whoever, playing from within the "string-line" against an outside cushion, brings the returning cue-ball nearest the head cushion, which is the one at which the players stand, is ent.i.tled to choice of b.a.l.l.s and lead. Provided--

1. That, in stringing, the player's ball has not touched his opponent's while the latter was at rest. 2. Nor has fallen into any of the pockets.

In either case the player loses choice and lead. 3. Should the cue-b.a.l.l.s, both being in motion, come in contact, the strokes are invalid, and must be played over.

2. In "stringing," it is required that both cue-b.a.l.l.s shall be struck simultaneously, or so nearly together that one ball cannot reach the lower cushion before the other has been put in motion.

NOTE.--It will be well for players to bear in mind also that in "stringing" for the lead both cue-b.a.l.l.s should be struck, if not simultaneously, at least so near together that one ball cannot reach the lower cushion before the other has been put in motion.

ON LEADING.

1. The player who wins the choice of b.a.l.l.s and lead must either roll his ball down towards the lower cushion, as an object for his adversary to play at, or else compel his adversary to lead off as above described.

2. In leading, the player's ball must be played from within the string-line, and struck with sufficient strength to carry it beyond the deep-red ball on its appropriate spot at the foot of the table. But it must not be played with such strength as to repa.s.s, after coming in contact with the lower cushion, the deep-red ball. Nor yet must it touch either red ball, nor lodge on the cushion, nor fall into a pocket, nor jump off the table. In any of the cases mentioned in this section, or in case the cue-ball is not struck with sufficient strength to pa.s.s beyond the deep-red, it shall be optional with the adversary (Player No. 2) to make No. 1 spot his ball on the pool spot nearest the lower cushion, or lead again: or he may take the lead himself.

3. No count or forfeiture can be made or incurred until two strokes have been played.

4. Once the lead is made, the game is considered as commenced, and neither player can withdraw except under circ.u.mstances specified on page 803.

ON OPENING THE GAME.

1. The game is opened by player No. 2 playing on the white ball at the foot of the table.

2. Should he fail to hit the white first, or fail to hit it at all, he forfeits one point, which shall be added to his adversary's score.

Should he pocket himself after hitting a red ball first, he loses three points, even though he may have subsequently hit the white.

ON FORFEITURES.

1. If the striker fails to hit any of the other b.a.l.l.s with his own, he forfeits _one_ point, which, as well as other forfeitures, must be added to his adversary's score. (See note, page 812.)

2. The striker forfeits _two_ when the ball that he plays with is pocketed, or lodges on the cushion, or goes over the table, after having struck or been in fixed contact with the other white, no matter whether it has touched one or both of the reds.

[An exception to this clause will be found in Sec. 2, on "Opening the Game."]

3. The striker forfeits _three_ when the ball that he plays with is pocketed, or lodges on the cushion, or goes over the table, after having come in contact with one or both of the reds, and not the white. The same applies if neither red nor white be struck.

4. If the player cause any ball to jump off the table, and should it, by striking any of the bystanders, be flung back upon the table, it must still be treated as if it had fallen to the floor. If a red ball, it must be spotted; if a white, held in hand. Should it be the last striker's ball, he forfeits two or three, the same as if he had gone into a pocket.

ON FOUL STROKES.

The penalty of a foul stroke is, that the player cannot count any points he may have made by such stroke, and his adversary is ent.i.tled to the next play. The following, in addition to those already mentioned, are foul strokes:--

1. If either player plays with his opponent's ball, the stroke is foul; and, if successful, he cannot count, provided the error is found out before a second shot is made.

2. Should two or more strokes have been made previous to the discovery, the reckoning cannot be disturbed, and the player may continue his run with the same ball, or he may have the b.a.l.l.s changed. The same privilege is extended to the opposing player when his turn comes to play.

3. Should it be found that both players have used the wrong ball successively, he who was first to play with the wrong ball cannot put in a claim of foul against his opponent, as the latter, in using the wrong ball, was simply playing from his proper position on the table.

[It is the position of the cue-ball, and not its mere colour or designation, that governs. Aside from this, before one player can charge another with error, it must be shown that no act of his contributed to that error.]

4. Though the striker, when playing with the wrong ball, cannot count what points he may make, except in those cases mentioned above, nevertheless, whatever forfeitures he may incur while playing with the wrong ball, he is bound to pay, as if he had been playing with his own.

5. Should, however, both the white b.a.l.l.s be off the table together, and should either player, by mistake, pick up the wrong one and play with it, the stroke must stand, and he can count whatever he has made.

[As he plays from his proper position, it is immaterial, because no advantage is to be gained, which ball he uses. In this case, as in the others where it is permitted to play with the wrong ball, the b.a.l.l.s should be changed at the conclusion of the run. This will prevent confusion and disputes.]

6. If the striker play at a ball before it is fully at rest, or while any other ball is rolling on the table, the stroke is foul.

7. If, after going into a pocket, a cue-ball or an object-ball should rebound and return to the bed of the table, it must be treated as a ball not pocketed.

8. If the player, when playing with the b.u.t.t or side of his cue, does not withdraw the b.u.t.t or side before the cue-ball touches the object-ball, the stroke is foul.

9. A stroke made while a red ball is off the table, provided its spot is unoccupied, is foul. When its proper spot is occupied, the red must remain off the table until its spot is vacated and all the b.a.l.l.s have ceased rolling. [See following rule.]

10. If the game being played is one in which hazards, or pockets, do not count, a red ball that has been pocketed or forced off the table shall be spotted on another spot, provided its own is occupied, and provided also the non-striker's ball is off the table at the time. If the light-red, it shall be placed on the dark-red spot; and if that spot is occupied, the light-red shall be placed on the pool spot at the foot of the table. If the dark-red, it shall be placed on the light-red spot, &c. If both reds are off the table at the same time, and their spots are occupied by the two whites, one of the reds may be placed on the pool spot. The other must remain off the table until its proper spot is vacant.

NOTE.--In the full game, or when pockets are counted, the old rule applies, and the red ball, when its spot is occupied, must remain off the table until its spot is uncovered and all the b.a.l.l.s have ceased rolling.

11. If, after making a successful stroke, the player obstructs or otherwise affects the free course of any ball in motion, the stroke is foul, and he cannot score the points made thereby.

12. A touch is a shot. And if, while the b.a.l.l.s are at rest, a player touches or disturbs any ball on the table other than his own, it is foul. He has, however, the privilege of playing a stroke for safety, provided his own ball has not been touched, but he can make no count on the shot.

13. In playing a shot, if the cue leaves the ball and touches it again, the stroke is foul.

14. If the striker, through stretching forward or otherwise, has not at least one foot on the floor while striking, the shot is foul, and no points can be reckoned.

15. If, when the player's ball is in hand, he does not cause it to pa.s.s outside the string before touching any of the object-b.a.l.l.s or cushion (except in the case mentioned in the following rule), the stroke is foul, and his opponent may choose whether he will play with the b.a.l.l.s as they are, have them replaced in their original positions, or cause the stroke to be played over; or, should the player make a losing hazard under such circ.u.mstances, the penalty may be enforced.

16. Playing at a ball whose base or point of contact with the table is outside the "string," is considered playing out of the "string;" and the stroke is a fair one, even though the side which the cue-ball strikes is hanging over, and therefore within the "string."

17. Playing directly at a ball that is considered in the "string" is foul, even though the cue-ball should pa.s.s wholly beyond the "string"

line before coming in contact.

18. Giving a miss inside the "string," when the player is in hand, is foul. But he may, for safety, cause his ball to go out of the "string"

and return.

19. If a player alters the stroke he is about to make, at the suggestion of any party in the room,--even if it be at the suggestion of his partner in a double match,--the altered stroke is foul.