Snooker plus?

[Snooker Rocks!]

* Did you know that in 1959 JOE DAVIS tried to further complicate the game ? He called it SNOOKER PLUS and he meant to add two more balls : a purple one ( 10 points ) and an orange one ( 8 points ). What do you think, would you like to play that way ?

I hadn't heard about this...Is this true? And what came about from Joe's efforts?

[snookery147]

I hadn't heard about this...Is this true? And what came about from Joe's efforts?

yes it was true, but not popular compared to snooker

[Cyril]

It was indeed introduced by Joe and unveiled during the News of the World tournament at Burroughes Hall, London on 26 October, 1959. Davis felt that the leading needed a further goal once the magical 147 had been achieved.

Joe made the first century at the game, a 108, at the unvieling game, against brother Fred. The highest recorded break was 156 by Jackie Rea.

The BA&CC included the rules of Snooker Plus in their handbook for the first time in the 1965-66 season.

[DawRef]

Snooker Plus

When I lived in mid Devon, a local club at Winkleigh had 3 tables all marked with spots for the Orange & Purple. Everyone who played there played this version of snooker. I have not seen this since.
It would be interesting to know if anyone actually has a competition for Snooker Plus.

[chasmmi]

Never seen snooker plus in the flesh, I remember watching a televised ten ball tournament once though

[Skypigeon]

Sounds very cool...why wasn't it a hit?

[chasmmi]

Sounds very cool...why wasn't it a hit?

Have you ever tried explaining snooker to a person who doesnt know it?

Remember that experience and add two extra balls to the explanation.

[The Statman]

The added difficulty of achieving a very high break was the it was the lower-scoring orange (8 points) that was placed midway between pink and blue, while the higher-scoring purple (10 points) was placed between blue and brown – further from the reds. A maximum break (210 without a free ball) would be far more of an achievement unless you were lucky enough that the two new spots were covered when you came to the table and the purple had to go on the black spot!

It also has consequences for several rules of snooker – for example, those fouls that are automatically 7 would be an automatic 10; the highest available spot (used for spotting a colour when its own is occupied) would follow an illogical pattern with the spots not being in value order down the table.

Also, the exception (discussed today on another thread) of not being able to snooker behind a free ball would have to be amended to read "except when only orange and purple are left"!

Perhaps the most drastic difference would be when a re-spotted purple occurred – players would certainly start practising winning the toss if the re-spotted ball was midway between blue spot and brown spot!

By the way, I do have an orange and a purple ball, though one side of each is rather faded owing to having been on a windowledge for some time! We used the orange far more than the purple, and not for snooker plus: one of the guys at my old club could not distinguish between the reds and the brown, and we used it as the brown when he was playing!

[RaNeN]

I have read about this game somewhere. Never watched anybody play. Would love to watch a video if anybody has one or one available online.

[chasmmi]

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZrshDwCM8E

[Sarmu]

I just realised after watching the video, the Purple (10 points), doesn't go into green or yellow pocket when it's on the spot, that makes maximum alot harder

[RaNeN]

Thanx for the video Chasmmi.

[The Statman]

I just realised after watching the video, the Purple (10 points), doesn't go into green or yellow pocket when it's on the spot, that makes maximum alot harder

It is extremely tight, though. I played on one table where it would just go past one but not the other (due to an indentation in the spot that meant either yellow or green would not spot properly)!

Since there is a tolerance in the length of the playing area, but the baulk line is ALWAYS 29" from the baulk cushion, it is quite possible that it is pottable on some tables but not others.

[missneworleans]

Yes, I hear that!
What about fouls on these balls??

[DawRef]

Snooker Plus

When I played in mid Devon (see earlier reply), I thought the Purple, being higher in value, went between the Blue and Pink. However, it was a long time ago and my memory isn't what it used to be.