Re-Rack

[RaNeN]

Could somebody explain with an example why and when is a frame re-racked?

[Robert602]

Hi Ranen, congrats on the 600th post.

A re-rack happens when the frame is going nowhere. For example, the black is pushed over a corner pocket, blocking it, and after an exchange of safety all of the reds just move closer and closer to the black. Unless one player does something careless or risky, neither is ever going to get a chance at a pot, essentially it's a stalemate. Sometimes the players will mutually agree on the rerack, other times the referee will warn that if nothing happens within 3 shots each, he'll rerack (for the good of the spectators).

Another common example is when a red has gone up in baulk so neither player wants to risk playing a safety into that end of the table, so instead they just keep nestling the white into the pack or top cushion. Someone like Ronnie who likes to get on with things would probably ask his opponent for a rerack at this point.

[Frigid Panda]

It should probably be noted that you probably wouldn't get a re-rack if one player was significantly ahead, say 20+ points, he'd probably rather take the risk of playing a shot to develop the situation.

Does anyone know what the greatest lead a player has ever had when accepting a re-rack is?

[Obligation]

I've alwyays thought this was unfair, because couldn't you use this as a way to start fresh when you are behind?

[Obligation]

Oh, the question was answered just as I posted.


Does anybody know what the greatest lead a player has ever had when accepting a re-rack is?

[..KiD DyNaMiTe..]

Oh, the question was answered just as I posted.


Does anybody know what the greatest lead a player has ever had when accepting a re-rack is?

I would imagain nothing over 30 but I'll wait for Statman's answer

[Frigid Panda]

I propose a quick competition before the Statman reveals all...

I'm going to guess 35. There, you heard it here first.

[The Statman]

Willie Thorne was 51 points ahead of Andy Hicks at Sheffield in 1995 when the re-rack was threatened, but it never actually came to a re-rack.

The biggest score when a frame was re-racked came in the 1981 world final, details here: http://www.thesnookerforum.com/showthread-t_1204.html although of course the difference in points was only 1.

[The Statman]

Another way, quite common, is that a player goes for a shot to nothing early in the frame, the red lands right over the corner pocket, but the cue-ball lands in such a way that the next player cannot play at it.

He may well roll into the other side of the pack so as not to leave it, and the next few shots each player will probably just tap it.

An almost certain re-rack situation. See footage of the 13th frame of Griffiths v. White in c.1989.

[Frigid Panda]

Yes that's perhaps the most common re-rack scenario in my experience. I'm still curious about the greatest deficit a player has escaped with a re-rack from though. Any advance on 35 as a guess?

I reckon there must've been some extraordinary set of circumstances at some point, where a player is well ahead but would be genuinely worried about losing the frame if he developed it all.

[RaNeN]

Thanx Rob , and everybody else.
Its crystal clear now.