Rules of french billiard

2.5 However, if the balls other than the red one collide or stop at equal distance from the bottom rail, the referee will restart the shot.

2.6 Furthermore, if the ball of one of the players hits the red ball, it is a foul and the choices provided for in article 2.4 in fine are granted to the other player.

Article 3 Starting position
The balls are placed on the French billiard table by the referee.

a) the red ball on the high fly.

b) the yellow ball of the opponent on the center spot of the starting line.

c) the white ball of the player, at his discretion, on one of the two outside flies of the starting line.

In addition, the starting carom must be executed on the red ball directly or through the rail. Finally, the player who starts the game plays with the cue ball and must keep it during the whole game of French billiards or during all the sets of the game.

Article 4 Interruption of the game.
4.1 A three-minute break must be granted by the referee in the middle of the game. It may not be used in case of agreement between the players.

4.2 This break may be granted during the game if both players agree. In no case can it be granted during a series. In the case of a game per round, the break takes place as follows. First in a game, in the best of three innings. Then after the 2nd inning, in one game, best of five innings. Finally after the 2nd and 4th innings.

4.3 Finally, a player who leaves his place during a game of French billiards loses the game. The case of force majeure occurring during the championship will be assessed by the referee or the game director.

Article 5
Balls in contact when the ball of the player is in contact with one of the two other balls, the right of the player is different according to the modes of play.

5.1 Free game.

a) On match French billiards: obligation to put back the three balls on the fly in the starting position.

b) on a half-match French billiard table or below: the player has the right to choose as foreseen for the frame games (see 5.2 below).

5.2 Frame games (47/2 – 47/1 – 71/2)
The player has the right

a) either to have the three balls on the fly back in the starting position.

b) or to play by the ball which is not in contact or by the front rail. Or to play by the loose ball without moving the ball in contact. However, the player may carom on the ball that was in contact. It is not a foul if the cue ball in contact moves only because it loses the support it may have had from the cue ball.

5.3 Game by a cushion.
Same rules as for frame games.

5.4 Game by three cushions.
French billiard game by three cushions. Same rules as for the games of frame, but if the balls are put back on flies, only those in contact are it under the conditions envisaged the article 6 paragraph b.

Article 6
Moreover, the balls jumping out of the billiard table. A ball is considered jumped out of the French billiard table as soon as it falls out of the frame or as soon as it touches the wood of the frame. When one or more balls jump out of the French billiard table, the ball(s) is (are) replaced in various ways on flies, depending on the mode of play.

a) First, in the free game, in the frame games or in the game by a cushion: the three balls are put back in the starting position.

b) Secondly, in the game with three cushions, only the jumped ball or the jumped balls are put back on the balls in the following positions: the red ball on the high spot (its starting spot), the ball of the player who is going to play on the low spot (in the center of the starting line), the ball of the opponent (the one who has just committed the foul) on the central spot (in the middle of the billiard table). Finally, if the fly corresponding to the ball is occupied, the ball will be placed on the fly corresponding to the occupied ball.

Article 7 : the cue
In the French billiard rules, the player must only use the cue to carom. Moreover, he has the right to use the “rake”, one hand directing the cue, the other holding on the rake.

Article 8 Fouls according to the French Billiard rules
8.1 A pile-up is only definitively acquired when the three balls are stopped without a foul.

8.2 A foul occurs and the hand passes

a) if during the execution of a shot one or more balls jump off the French billiard table.

b) if the player plays before the three balls are still.

c) if any of the balls are touched with the hand or any other object, including chalk (if after missing a rack or committing a foul, the passing player touches one or more of the balls, intentionally or not, the referee will replace the moved balls as close as possible to where they were)

d) if the ball is queued (queuing occurs when the cue ball is still in contact with the player’s ball when it touches another ball or the cushion or when it comes into contact several times with the cue ball. It is forbidden to play directly on a cushion in contact with the cue ball without first loosening the cushion by the masseur.)

e) when, as a result of a foul, the player’s ball is touched by a part of the cue other than the cue tip.

f) if at the moment when the player hits the ball, it does not touch the ground with at least one foot.

g) if the cushion, the playing surface or the outside edge of the billiard table is marked.

h) if, during the restart or during the series, the referee notices that a player is changing balls (the collisions made before the one in which the fault is noticed remain the property of the player who committed the fault).

i) if, in the frame and free games, the player, after the announcement “in”, does not take at least one of the two balls, other than his own, out of the regulated zone.

j) if, during the series, the player who is executing leaves the game room (except in case of force majeure, which is left to the referee’s discretion, the hand must pass to the opponent).

8.3
A foul caused by a third party, or by an external element, is not attributable to the player. If the balls have been moved as a result, they will be returned, if possible, to the position they were in before the incident. Furthermore, the player is not responsible for the referee’s incorrect placement or repositioning of the balls. However, it is a foul if the Player does not play with the ball with which the game was started.

8.4 However, any fault not noticed by the referee, cannot be sanctioned and the pile-up remains acquired. If a pile-up is made after the one in which the foul was committed, but not noticed, the pile-up remains and the player keeps the hand.

8.5 If the referee has unfairly awarded a point, he has the right to reverse his decision. However, the player must not yet have started the next point.

8.6 If a player commits a foul and continues to play before the referee has had the opportunity or time to call it, the referee must proceed as if the offending player had passed the ball. The referee will replace the balls as close as possible to the position they were in when the foul was committed.

8.7 When a position seems to require a long time to think about or for any other reason. The player is delayed in making the move, the referee may, on his own initiative, set a 30-second time limit for the player to make the move. If the player has not executed the shot within the time limit, the hand passes, with the balls remaining in their place on the French billiard table.

Article 9 Announcements of the referee
9.1 The referee counts the points by voice.

9.2 In the games with forbidden zones (free game and frame). The referee announces aloud the position of the balls “on horseback”, “in”, “in”, by giving, in the games of frame, the position in relation to the big frame before that relating to the additional frame (anchor). He cannot announce the position in the anchor, without making it precede the position in the big frame. In addition, the ball located on the zone line will be judged to the disadvantage of the player.

9.3 Announcements are possible in all frame games.

9.4 If the referee has to make more than one call. He will observe the following order. a) the number of successful collisions. b) the “for” call. c) the position of the balls in relation to the zone line. d) whether the Player’s ball is in contact with another ball or a rail.

Article 10 Handling of the balls.
10.1 The referee warns the Player when his ball touches one of the other balls or the rail.

10.2 Moreover, only the referee handles the balls to put them back on the flyers, to replace them if necessary or to clean them.

10.3 Then he rigorously marks the place of the balls before removing them to clean them. He makes sure, during the resumption, that the player keeps his ball.

10.4 A ball cannot be cleaned if it is in contact with another ball or a cushion.

Article 11 Score sheet
11.1 The referee must check the score sheet and the mark. In case of a difference between the score sheet and the board, the score sheet is authoritative, after the referee has checked the partial totals.

Article 12 Passing of the hand of the French billiard.
12.1 The referee grants the hand to the opponent only when the three balls are still.

12.2 The player has the right to ask the referee why the hand is passed.

Article 13 Cleaning
At the request of the player, but as far as he considers it necessary, or on his own initiative, the referee can at any time of the game, proceed to the cleaning of the billiard table and the balls (except in the case of article 10.4). The cleaning must be done as soon as possible.

Article 14 Information
14.1 However, it is expressly forbidden for the referee to warn the player against any fault that he is about to commit. However, and in application of article 12.1, the referee must stop the player who takes over the hand if the balls are not motionless. During a series, the referee will call a foul if the player plays when the balls are not stationary. The referee may not indicate the ball to the Player either at the restart or during the series.

14.2 The Player has the right to ask the referee which ball is the cue ball.

14.3 In frame games and free play, the referee is obliged to announce the position of the balls in relation to the regulation areas, even if this indication locates the Player’s ball.

Article 15 Disputes
15.1 In case of doubt about a decision of the referee, the Player may ask the referee, but only once, to reconsider the case.

15.2 In addition, the referee is obliged to comply with this request. If the situation is still existing, he shall review the case alone. If not, he may consult with his substitute when one is provided, to the exclusion of any other person.

15.3 Thereafter, the opponent may also request the referee, but only once, to reconsider a decision. If such requests are repeated and the referee believes that they are essentially intended to embarrass the other player, he may issue a warning with the consequences set forth in Article 18.1.

15.4 The opponent, as well as the scorekeeper, may intervene with the referee to point out an error on his part in any of the following cases The player does not play with his ball, a false announcement is made concerning the position of the balls in a regulated zone, error in the counting of the points, error of delivery of the balls on flies. Their intervention will be done in a discreet way without disturbing the course of the other games of French billiards.

Article 16 Complaints
16.1 However, the decisions of the arbitrator, after application of the provisions of articles 8.5 and 15, are final and without appeal on questions of fact. This does not apply to questions of application of the rules.

16.2 In addition, any claim relating to questions of enforcement shall be made to the arbitrator at the time the alleged error occurred. If the referee does not act on the complaint, the player has the option of making the complaint again on the game sheet at the conclusion of the game. The complaint shall be reviewed on the same day by the Federation representative and/or the Game Director. If the error made could have influenced the outcome of the game, the tournament management shall have the game replayed.

16.3 The Federation representative, or in his absence the Game Director, shall report to the Sporting Commission and the Refereeing Commission within 48 hours.

Article 17 End of game announcements
17.1 The referee, upon indication of the game sheet holder, will announce the player when he will play for 5 points, 4, 3, 2 and 1. Moreover, in the game by 3 bands, the referee will announce for 3, 2 and 1.

17.2 When a player has called for 1, he shall be credited with the full points of the game, even if a scoring error is later discovered.

17.3 However, with regard to the limitation of the number of repeats, the referee will have to call for a) 3 more repeats, b) second to last repeats, c) last repeats, before the player who started the game plays.

17.4
However, the player who did not start the game has the restart to play. The 3 balls are returned to the starting position. This obligation is the same when the game is stopped because of the limitation of the number of resumptions. This player has the possibility to win the game. If in the course of the last restart he makes a number of carambolages which allows him to overtake his opponent, provided that the latter has not reached the limit in points of the game. In the latter case, he can equalize. However, in the case of games by rounds, it may be foreseen that there is no equalizing restart. In the F.F.B., this provision is currently only applicable to the National 3-Cushion.

17.5 When the hand passes, the referee announces the player’s name followed by the number of points scored (possibly 0). He will add “reprise” if it is the player who started the game. The holder of the game sheet gives a receipt for the announcement.

Article 18 Attitude of the players
18.1 The referee must ensure that the players have a correct and loyal attitude and refrain from any gesture or attitude likely to embarrass the opponent. He will warn players who violate the rules of conduct. He will then report to the tournament management. If a player who has already been warned breaks the rules again, the referee may interrupt the game, the match being lost for the offending player.

18.2 When the hand is passed, the opponent must sit on the chair reserved for the players.

Article 19 Exceptional cases
Moreover, the exceptional cases not foreseen in the French Billiard rules are left to the referee’s appreciation. The referee will have to make a report to the Sporting Commission and to the Refereeing Commission within 48 hours.