Is it a maximum?

[chasmmi]

Just something that crossed my mind as an interesting question...

If a player comes to the table with 15 reds still in place and has a free ball but elects to turn down the free ball and play the red, if he then goes on to make a 147 is it a maximum?

He did pot every red with blacks but technically when he came to the table the maximum possible on was 155. Therefore would a 147 made in these conditions be classed officially as a maximum break if he never used the free ball in any way?

[Sarmu]

It would still be considered as maximum, since the possible 155 does not come into play until you accepted the free ball

You can read more on the other post at http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board...maximum&page=7 , I'm just wondering if we would have an official word on scenario (h) and (i)

[Templeton Peck]

Yeah for a maximum to be classed as a 155 you'd have to nominate a colour. The interesting thing would be if you nominated a free ball and then missed the pot, and your opponent went on to make a traditional 147. I wonder if that would be classed as a maximum because at one point in the frame there would had been 155 points on the table, so the 147 wouldn't technically be a maximum. The sponsor might be willing to award the money but if someone else went and made a 147 they might legally claim the prize money is entirely theirs.

[Son of Cliff]

The free ball is only an option due to circumstance of a foul occuring, it does not have to be used :snooker:

[davybull]

Kirk Stevens

Am I right in thinking that Kirk Stevens once had a very good chance of a televised 155 break? Missed an easy ball (yellow off spot) if memory serves right!!!

Seem to remember that happening but can't remember where or when.

Just looked it up. He apparently got 9 reds & 9 blacks before missing.

[matoski]

If it's a free ball situation, then the player can't see a red to pot it. He should make some miracle shot to pot a red off a free ball situation.

[Argee1977]

If it's a free ball situation, then the player can't see a red to pot it. He should make some miracle shot to pot a red off a free ball situation.

He can't see a balls width either side of a red, so it can probably be cut into a pocket.

As for the question, a maximum for me is exactly what its name says, if they turn down the free ball then the maximum available is 147. To be fair i doubt this scenario will ever be seen in a tournament, so no point worrying about it

[poolqjunkie]

I would say it still counts. He does not need to take the option of the free ball, and the free ball option might not give him position on a black ball anyway. If he chooses to go for a red, then the maximun is 147. I think it would be very rare to see a situation whereas a player can choose to play a free ball but also able to pot a red and get on a black after a foul.
I see what you are getting at, that maximum should mean the most points avaliable at the table. But if that being the interpretation, then you can also technically say 155 should be the maximum. I think maximum means 147 these days.

[Templeton Peck]

At the start there is 147 points available, so the maximum number of points on the table is 147. However, if a free ball situation occurs, there are only 155 points on the table IF a free ball is nominated. At the point of the free ball option there is still only 147 points on. If the player turns down the free ball and goes on to make a 147 then it should count as a max because at no point during the frame was there more than 147 points on the table. If a ball is nominated then at that point there are 16 reds on the table and then you have frame where at some point the maximum amount of points available is 155. If they don't pot the free ball then you go back to a 15 red situation. If a player then makes a 147 from that situation I would say that is not a maximum because there was 155 points on the table at some point (because in theory his opponent could have potted the free ball and scored a point even if he didn't).

[vuce]

What about the situation where there are only 14 reds remaining with a free ball? Would that count as a maximum?

[Templeton Peck]

That's a great question. The highest break available at any point in the match would be a 147, but I'd love to see someone trying to get the prize money out of a sponsor in that situation when someone had already scored! Once a free ball is nominated that puts 155 scoring points on the table even if one of the reds have already 'gone', so my guess is that the sponsor would argue that you hadn't scored the highest break from the maximum available points. But you're right, the maximum break at any point in the game would technically be 147 in that situation because it would come down to 139 and then go back up to 147.

[sArnie]

There's no official rule defining what a maximum break is

I guess that would be for the sponsor to decide as there's no official rule defining what a maximum break is. As long as 147 or more points are reached within one break I doubt that a sponsor would question the players liability for the promised prize money - neither would any other player. As it is not in the player's power to force a free ball situation I would assume, that it would not even matter for splitting the amount between the players concerned. I don't remember that there have been any special rules that a player with a "higher maximum" (it's an oxymoron, isn't it?) would win over another that has only 147.

As the player who uses a free ball to reach 147 did not clear a black with all reds I don't think his break would be regarded as a maximum break.

[The Statman]

Yeah for a maximum to be classed as a 155 you'd have to nominate a colour. The interesting thing would be if you nominated a free ball and then missed the pot, and your opponent went on to make a traditional 147.

Indeed – or even if you missed the free ball and later you went on to make a regular 147!