Russian Billiards

Now, being a true Snooker Hero and a Northern one at that I don't tend to shock easily, sometimes weep at the feelgood factor of Our New Live In Everwood or Where The Heart Is, yes, but get shocked at anything to do with the green baize NO!

Until now....

I had heard of Russian Billiards several times in the past and even read in Pot Black magazine about the adventures of top snooker player Steve Newbury who nicked off over to Finland and Russia in the 80's to do some snooker exhibitions and ended up playing some Russian Billiards.

I won't bore you with me re-hashing the rules, as they can be read here.

But what really shocked me was the dimensions of the pockets in relation to the size of the balls. If Wikipedia is to be trusted there appears to be only 4mm in difference in the pocket opening and the diameter of the balls!!!!

Just have a swatch at this... photo is by Alexei Kouprianov

From what I've seen of the game being played unless a ball is almost in line with a pocket it aint gona go in.

The most effective tactic I can gather is to play in-off's, rather like conventional 'english' billiards.

I found this video on YouTube and boy does it look a fucking hard game to play.

Needless to say me bags have been packed, I've stocked up on Roubles (isn't he a player in Noo York?) and i'm off-ski to downtown Leningrad to chance me arm with the locals.*



*this is a lie