Three Cushion Billiards

Three cushion billiard is one of the most famous carom billiard games in America. However, three cushion is one of the hardest billiard games to master.

As in other carom billiard games, three cushion is played on a pocketless table with only three balls including two cue balls and one red object ball. The player has to cause his cue ball to hit three cushions before it hits the second object ball. The first player who reaches the predetermined score is the winner of the game.

Here are the rules of three cushion billiards:

• On the opening break shot the incoming player's cue ball is placed on the head spot at the table and the red object ball on the foot spot. The breaker has to cause his cue ball to make its first contact with the red ball.

• Each time a player scores a legal count, his receives one point and he is entitled to continue shooting at the table.

• In order to complete a legal count, the three cushion player must cause the cue ball to hit three cushions after it hits the first object ball and before it hits the second object ball.

• If a player fails in completing a legal count, then he loses one point.

• The first player who reaches the predetermined sum of points is the winner of the three cushion billiard game.