Pyramid pool

Setup for pyramid pool

Not to be confused with Russian pyramid, which is similar but unrelated to the one described below.

Pyramid pool, also called pyramids, was a form of pocket billiards (pool) mainly played in the 19th century. It was one of several pool games that were popular at this time (so called because gamblers pooled their bets at the start of play). This game had fifteen red balls that were racked in a triangle, as in snooker today but without the six coloured balls. Pyramid pool could be played by several players, with an agreed stake per ball potted, or with just two players in which case the first to pot eight balls would be the winner. The black ball from life pool was eventually added to the game, and it became black pool, one of the games that combined to form snooker. In the United States, pyramid pool developed into fifteen-ball pool, a precursor to straight pool.

References

• Everton, Clive (1991). Snooker and Billiards: Techniques, Tactics and Training. Crowood Sports Guides. Crowood Press. p. 10. ISBN 1-85223-480-6.
• Shamos, Mike (1999). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards. New York: Lyons Press. ISBN 9781558217973 – via Internet Archive.