Pyramid pool

Pyramid pool, also called pyramids, is 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).

Rules

This game was played with 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 sink eight balls would be the winner. An early version of pyramid pool awarded the entire pool to the player that sank the last ball.^[1]^[2]^{: 120–121} Balls do not need be to called except in the American version which was required after the break shot.

In the British version, if there was a 7-7 tie with only one remaining red ball, one player will use it as his cue ball while the other retains use of the white.^[3]

Legacy

In 1875, this game combined with black pool to form snooker.^[4]^: 50 In the United States, pyramid pool developed into fifteen-ball pool, a precursor to rotation and straight pool. Since the middle of the 20th century, the American version of pyramid pool has been known as basic pool or basic pocket billiards which now uses modern pool balls.

Notes

^ Kentfield, Edwin (1850). The Game of Billiards (5th ed.). London: Smith, Elder, and Co. pp. 48–50.
^ Shamos, Mike (1999). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards. New York: Lyons Press. ISBN 9781558217973 – via Internet Archive.
^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Billiards". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
^ Shamos, Mike (1994). Pool. New York City: Friedman Fairfax.

References

Shamos, Mike (1999). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards. New York: Lyons Press. ISBN 9781558217973 – via Internet Archive.

[Kentfield-1] Kentfield, Edwin (1850). The Game of Billiards (5th ed.). London: Smith, Elder, and Co. pp. 48–50.

[Shamos_1999-2] Shamos, Mike (1999). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards. New York: Lyons Press. ISBN 9781558217973 – via Internet Archive.

[3] Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Billiards". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

[Shamos_1994-4] Shamos, Mike (1994). Pool. New York City: Friedman Fairfax.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Cue sports
Pool games	Eight-ball British eight-ball Nine-ball Straight pool Ten-ball Artistic pool and trick shots Bank pool Baseball Bottle pool Bowlliards Chicago Cowboy pool Cribbage Cutthroat Fifteen-ball Golf Honolulu Kelly pool Killer One-pocket Pyramid pool Rotation Seven-ball Speed pool Three-ball
Carom billiards	Three-cushion One-cushion Balkline Straight rail Five-pins Artistic billiards Four-ball Goriziana
Snooker	Snooker Six-red snooker Snooker plus American snooker Brazilian snooker Shoot Out
Other games	English billiards Russian pyramid Kaisa Danish pin billiards Bumper pool Bagatelle Boccette Bar billiards Novuss Ground billiards Slosh
Resources	Glossary Techniques Billiard table Billiard ball Billiard hall Cue stick Rack Comparison of cue sports
Major international tournaments	Artistic Billiards World Championship UMB World Three-cushion Championship World Snooker Championship champions Six-red World Championship World Women's Snooker Championship WPA World Nine-ball Championship Women's champions WPA World Ten-ball Championship World Straight Pool Championship WPA World Eight-ball Championship champions World Cup of Pool Mosconi Cup World Pool Masters Cue sports at the World Games
Other events	Euro Tour events European Pool Championships U.S. Open Straight Pool 8-Ball 9-Ball
Governing bodies	World Confederation of Billiards Sports Union Mondiale de Billard World Pool Association International Billiards and Snooker Federation World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
Categories	Cue sports Players Organizations Competitions
Cue sports portal The rules of games in italics are standardized by international sanctioning bodies.