3.1 Beginning of the match
The match starts as soon as the referee has placed the balls for the execution of the starting stroke.
3.2 Cushion draw
- The referee places the two white balls on the starting line, on both sides of the line of the three starting spots approximately 30 cm from each long cushion and the red ball on the top spot. As far as the cushion draw is concerned the referee places the spot or yellow ball on the left side and the other white ball on the right side. If the two players insist on playing with the same ball the referee will draw lots.
- The players draw the beginning at the top cushion. The two white balls must be in motion before one of them reaches the top cushion. If this is not the case the draw will be repeated. The player who causes two times such a repetition loses the choice to begin. It is not admitted to effect the cushion draw by a stand-in.
- If the balls have touched each other on their way the faulty player (outside his half of the billiard) will lose the choice to begin.
- If the white balls have touched each other on their way and if it is impossible to determine the faulty player or if the balls are at rest at the same distance from the bottom cushion the referee arranges that the cushion draw will be repeated.
- If the ball of a player touches the red ball the faulty player will lose the choice to begin.
- The player whose ball stops nearest to the bottom cushion has the choice to start the match.
3.3 Starting position, cue-ball
- The balls are set up by the arbiter:
a) the red ball on the top spot
b) the white ball of the partner on the bottom spot
c) the second white ball - that of the player - any way the player wants on one of the two starting spots. - The player who starts the first inning of a match plays with the white ball if there are two white balls (whereby one is spot) or if there are balls of three colours.
- The starting cannon must be played by direct attack on the red ball.
- In the case of a match with sets there is an alteration of the players concerning the beginning of the matches regardless of the number of sets. The players keep the same ball for the entirety of the match.
3.4 Cannon
- 1. The goal of the game consists of making as many cannons as possible within the limit of the distance of the match.
- A cannon is made as soon as the cue-ball set into motion by the stroke of the cue comes into contact with the two other balls.
- A cannon is valid if the three balls are at rest, if the player does not commit a fault and if he respects the conditions imposed by the affected kind of game.
- Each cannon counts one point.
- If the referee announces that a cannon is valid the player will not have to quit. If the cannon is not effected the referee indicates - if he thinks that it is necessary - "missed" and the player has to quit.
3.5 Break during the match
A break of 5 minutes is made at the middle of the match. The middle of the match is at the moment where a player reaches or exceeds half of the distance determined for the kinds of game or disciplines of individual competitions at the end of his inning. This regulation is not valid for the biathlon. As far as the triathlon is concerned the break is made before playing the last discipline.
However, the break will only be made if the match lasts at least 45 minutes as far as a player reaches half of the distance and if at that moment he does not reach 3/4 of the distance.
On the occasion of the break the referee can possibly be changed. In the case of a match with set the break is made as follows:
- in a match best of 3 sets after the 2nd set;
- in a match best of 5 sets after the 2nd and/or after the 4th set.
3.6 Quit during the match
- A player who quits his place during the match without being authorized by the referee loses the match by this gesture. The case of force majeure occuring during the championship will have to be assessed by the official delegate of the UMB or by his substitute.
- Each player who refuses to continue the match after the referee's demand will be excluded from the championship.
3.7 Balls in contact
- As soon as the cue-ball comes into contact with one of the two or with the two other balls the rights of the player concerning all kinds of game, except the partie libre for which the renewed placingon the starting point is obligatory, are the following:
- either to demand that the referee places them once again on the spots;
- or to play with the ball which is not in contact or to play the cushion beforehand;
- or to play the detached massé but on condition of not setting into motion the ball being in contact. In this last case the player may cannon first the ball which was in contact. It is not a foul if the ball in contact solely moves on account of the fact that it loses the hold which it possibly got by means of the cue-ball.
- As soon as the cue-ball comes into contact with a cushion the player does not have the right to play directly this cushion.
- In the case of a renewed placing on the spots the balls will be placed by the referee in the following way:
- concerning the partie libre, the cadre disciplines and one cushion: all three at the initial starting position;
- concerning three cushions, only the balls being in contact are once again placed on the spots:
- the red ball on the top spot
- the white ball of the player who wants to play, on the central spot of the starting line
- the white ball of the opponent on the spot in the middle of the billiard
- if the corresponding spot is occupied or hidden the ball will be placed on the spot corresponding to the ball which occupies or hides the spot. (paper F)
3.8 Balls bounding out of the billiard
- As soon as one or several balls bound out of the billiard the renewed placing on the spots will be effected by the referee as follows:
- all three balls at the initial starting position concerning the partie libre, the cadre disciplines and one cushion
- concerning three cushions only the ball or the balls bounding out of the billiard are once again placed on the spots according to the regulations of article 27.3 b) and not at the initial starting position.
- A ball is considered to be bounding out of the biliard as soon as it falls out of the frame or as soon as it touches the material of the frame.
3.9 End of the match
- A match consists of a certain number of cannons (distance of the game) which must be effected. This number varies according to the kind of game and is determined by the committee.
- Each started match must be played up to the last point. A match is finished as soon as the referee announces "good" the last point even if one states after the stroke, that the player did not effect the number of required points.
- The committee determines whether the matches are played with or without an even number of innings.
- If the match is played with an even number of innings the opponent will have the right to level with the number of innings by placing on the spots the balls which are placed at the initial starting position as soon as the last point of the match will have been effected by the player who has one additional inning than his opponent. If the number of points, the limit of the match, is also reached by the second player it is a match which ended in a draw.
- In the case of a match with sets the following regulations are also applicable:
- As soon as one of the players has reached the determined number of points the set is finished and he is the winner. If it is the player having executed the starting stroke who finishes his opponent will not play the inning.
- As soon as one of the players has reached the necessary number of sets he is the winner of the match and it is immediately interrupted.