Table of contents
- Starting the game
- Cutthroat
- Rotation
- Kelly Pool
How to play billiards with three or more people
When many people think of playing billiards, they picture a game between two players whose aim is to pot the eight ball, the black. Most billiard games are designed for an even number of players. There are, however, several multiplayer billiard games — such as Cutthroat, Rotation and Kelly Pool — built specifically for three or more participants.
1. Starting the game
To decide who starts a game of billiards, whatever the number of players, each participant picks a ball. Line the balls up at one end of the table and take a cue for each player.
Each player strikes their ball so it bounces off the opposite rail: whoever gets their ball back closest to the first rail without actually touching it starts the game.
2. Cutthroat
The billiard game Cutthroat, also known as Three Man or Elimination, is played between three players. The balls are split into three sets: one to five, six to ten and eleven to fifteen.
The first player to make a "called" shot (announcing beforehand which ball they intend to pot) chooses which set of balls they will use for the game. You win Cutthroat by making sure you pot all your opponents' balls: the aim is to keep as many of your own balls on the table as possible.
3. Rotation
The billiard game Rotation, or Rainbow, is based on building up points: the winner is whoever has the most points at the end of the game, or whoever reaches 61 points outright.
To begin, the cue ball must first strike the lowest-numbered ball on the table, before potting the called shot. If the lowest ball is not hit first — or no ball is hit at all — the next player may place the cue ball wherever they like (known as "ball in hand") and must strike the lowest-numbered ball to continue.
The points scored depend on the ball potted: potting the number five ball, for instance, is worth 5 points.
4. Kelly Pool
Kelly Pool, also called Pill or Peas, is played by between two and fifteen players. It needs an extra accessory called "peas" (small numbered pieces representing the fifteen billiard balls), available from specialist billiard shops.
Each player starts by drawing three peas in secret, without the other players knowing their assigned number. To start the game, the cue ball is struck with the aim of hitting the highest or lowest numbered ball on the table. After that contact, each player tries to pot the ball matching the number on their pea.
You win by potting a ball matching your own secret number, or by being the last player with balls left in play.
Related products: Pool Tables Human Billiards Shuffleboard Table
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