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18.1 balkline

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description 18.1 balkline Overview

18.1 balkline is a discipline within carom billiards played on a pocketless table using three balls. The playing surface is divided by straight lines drawn 18 centimeters parallel to each rail, creating nine regions known as balk spaces. A player is only permitted to score a single point before at least one ball must be driven across a balkline to exit the current space. This rule was historically established to prevent competitors from accumulating endless points through repeated, close-range nurse shots.

help 18.1 balkline FAQ

What is 18.1 balkline?

18.1 balkline is a three-ball carom billiards discipline played on a pocketless table. In the metric naming convention, balklines are drawn 18 centimeters from the rails and create restricted balk spaces.

How many balls are used in 18.1 balkline?

The game uses three balls: two cue balls and one red object ball. A player scores by making a carom, sending the cue ball into both object balls during a legal shot.

What does the 1 in 18.1 balkline mean?

The 1 refers to the one-count restriction in the balk spaces. When both object balls are in a restricted space, the player generally cannot continue scoring there without driving at least one object ball out.

How is 18.1 balkline different from three-cushion billiards?

Three-cushion billiards requires the cue ball to contact at least three cushions before completing the carom. 18.1 balkline instead limits repeated scoring in marked areas of the table, so position play around the balklines is central.

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