Billiards vs Snooker vs Pool: What’s the Difference?

Billiards, snooker, and pool are three distinct cue sports played on different tables with different balls and different rules. Pool uses 16 balls on a 7-8 foot table with 6 pockets. Snooker uses 22 balls on a 12-foot table with 6 pockets. Carom billiards uses 3 balls on a 10-foot table with no pockets at all.

Pool (Pocket Billiards)

Pool is what most people in North America mean when they say “billiards.” Standard tables are 7-foot (bar) or 8-foot (regulation). Common games include 8-Ball, 9-Ball, and Straight Pool. All pool balls are 2.25 inches in diameter. It’s the most accessible cue sport with the lowest barrier to entry.

Snooker

Snooker plays on a 12-foot table with smaller pockets and smaller balls (2.07 inches). 22 balls total: 15 reds (1 point each) plus six colours (2-7 points). Players alternate potting reds and colours. The maximum break is 147 points. The larger table and tighter pockets make snooker significantly harder than pool.

Carom Billiards

Carom billiards uses a pocketless 10-foot table with just 3 balls. In three-cushion billiards, you score by hitting the cue ball so it contacts both other balls, touching at least three cushion rails before the second ball. It has the highest skill floor in cue sports.

Which Should You Play?

Pool if you want something accessible and social. Snooker if you want a deeper strategic challenge. Carom billiards if you’re drawn to precision geometry. For most people in the GTA, pool is the practical answer — it’s widely available and fun at every skill level.

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FAQ

Is billiards the same as pool?

No. “Billiards” technically refers to carom billiards (pocketless table, 3 balls). “Pool” is pocket billiards (6 pockets, 16 balls). In casual conversation, the terms are used interchangeably.

Which is harder — pool, snooker, or billiards?

Carom billiards (three-cushion) has the highest difficulty. Snooker is harder than pool due to the larger table and smaller pockets. Pool is the most accessible.

Why is the pool table usually green?

The tradition dates back to the 1600s when billiards was played outdoors on grass. The green cloth mimics the original lawn surface.