How to Play 3-Cushion Billiards

The game of 3-cushion billiards is actually very simple.

The game is played on a 5 foot by 10 foot table which does not have pockets, only cushions. There are only 3 balls used: a white, a yellow and a red ball. One opponent uses the white ball as his cue ball and the other opponent uses the yellow. The red is neutral.

To score a point, a player's cue ball must contact BOTH of the other 2 balls on the table. This is a game known as "Straight Rail Billiards".

If you wish to play "3-Cushion Billiards", then the cue ball must contact 3 or more cushions and also contact both of the other 2 balls in one shot. The last ball must not be contacted until a combination of 3 or more rails and the first object ball have been contacted. This counts as one point, regardless of how the point is made. Either of the other 2 balls may be contacted first, it does not matter which one, it is up to the player. The first player to reach an agreed-upon number of points, usually 15, or 20, or 25, etc., is the winner.

• Standard Shot: Hitting your cue ball into an object ball first.

• The Bank Shot: 3 or more cushions first, then striking both of the other balls

• The Rail-First Shot: Hitting a cushion before contacting a ball 

There are many variations of these shots.

Sometimes a player will hit 2 cushions first, then a ball, then another 2 cushions to the last ball. That is also a point.

The main rule is this: before your cue ball hits the last ball, it must have already contacted the other ball and a minimum of 3 cushions. You cannot hit both balls and then try to get 3 cushions afterwards. First you need a combination of at least 3 cushions and one ball, in any order, before landing on the last ball.