Rules of the Game of Pin or Skittle Pool

From Billiards & Snooker, A Trade History by J. R. Mitchell, 1960

transcribed by J. Michael Young
jmyoung@nni.com
Cue Sports Memorabilia:


1. The game is played with three billiard balls, and 12 pins or skittles, ten white and two black, all of which are placed on the table.

2. The game is 31 up. A player who scores more than 31 loses his life but can purchase another under Rule 5.

3. The rotation of the players is decided by numbered counters drawn from a bag, one by each player, and each player has one stroke alternately, according to his rotation.

4. Any number of persons can play, and the following order must be strictly attended to, viz., the balls and skittles having been placed in their proper position, No. 1 plays either the white ball or spot white ball out of baulk, aiming at the red ball which he must strike before hitting a skittle or he cannot score. No. 2 plays with the remaining white ball at either of the other balls, and the remaining players follow on with alternate spot or plain white ball.

5. The player scores the number which is placed opposite the skittle which he displaces, except it be the black one, in which case he loses his life, but can purchase another by paying the same amount into the pool as at first, which he can do as often as he pleases during the game, if he signify the same before the next player has made his stroke, but he comes in without any points he may have previously scored.

6. Any person who knocks down a black pin (after making his stroke with a ball, cue, his sleeve, or in any way), loses his life, and can only join in the game again by purchasing as in Rule 5.

7. Any skittle, or skittles, having been removed by a player, must be replaced before the next player makes his stroke.

8. Any ball occupying the place of a fallen skittle must be placed on its own proper spot, as at the commencement of the game, unless any other ball occupies that position, in which case each must be placed on its own proper spot. This applies to balls as well as skittles.

9. Any skittle is considered to be down if it is entirely off its spot, or is leaning against a ball, cushion or other skittle.

10. Anyone playing out of turn cannot score any points which he would otherwise have made, and the following player takes his stroke without replacing the ball; but the former has the right to play his turn, if he has not lost his life by removing a black skittle.

11. Foul strokes are made by the following means: by pushing a ball instead of striking it, by knocking down a white pin without striking a ball first, by playing out of turn, or when all the skittles are not in their places or the three balls are not on the table. If a player makes a losing or winning hazard during his stroke or forces a ball off the table, the ball pocketed or forced off the table must be respotted on its proper spot and the player loses his turn to the next player. There are no penalties for foul strokes but a player cannot score by means of a foul stroke.

12. Should the three balls be so covered by the pins as to prevent their being played at, the red ball can be spotted after one miss has been given, and if they are again covered, the spot ball can be spotted - a miss cannot be given to benefit the next player.

13. Anyone purchasing a life and not having his stroke has his purchase-money refunded.

14. Any charge for the game is to be deducted from the pool before it is handed over to the winner.