Browse Generation Styles of Russian Snooker Pyramid Pool Tables
Generation Billiards is the only dealer in the US and Canada that sells Russian Billiard (Russian Pyramid) tables certified by International Pyramid Committee (IPC) and European Pyramid Committee (EPC). All Russian Billiard tables are European-made using top-of-the-line, computerized quality management system, ISO 9001, to ensure highest quality, be it Russian Pyramid table, Snooker or American Pool. All of our table styles can be modified to fit Russian Pyramid size standard.
Russian pyramid, also known as pyramid or pyramids (пирами́да in Russian) and often calledRussian billiards (ру́сский билья́рд in Russian) or Russian pool, has several differences from Western pool. Russian billiard popular in the countries of the former Soviet Union and increasingly around the world.
Differences from other billiard games
- Table: even though sizes vary – including: 3.5 × 7 feet (198 × 99 cm); 4 × 8 ft (224 × 112 cm); 4.5 × 9 ft (254 × 127 cm); up to 6 × 12 ft (356 × 178 cm) [1] – the official tournament size is the 12 ft model, the same size preferred for snooker, but much larger than a pool table (7 ft and 9 ft being the most common sizes for that style of game).
- Balls: there are sixteen balls, as in pool, but fifteen are white and numbered, and the cue ball is usually red. They are larger and heavier than Western billiard balls; the official tournament sizes (depending upon table size) are 68 mm (211⁄16 in). Smaller 60.3 (22⁄5in) balls are available for the smaller table sizes, for amateur play.
- Pockets: the corner pockets are only 4–5 mm wider than the diameter of the ball. The central pockets 14–18 mm wider than the diameter of the ball. This makes the game’s mechanics like an oversized version of snooker, requiring greater precision to pocket a ball than in pool.
There are several variations of Russian pyramid, but the three most common are the following, each of which have slight variations on the rules:
- Free pyramid (American pyramid): At any point any ball may be used as the cue ball. Players can pocket the cue ball and then the scorer must choose a white ball to be taken off the table.
- Dynamic pyramid (Petersburg pyramid): Only one ball is the cue ball. The player may place the cue ball at any area of the table, but may not pocket the cue ball.
- Combined pyramid (Moscow pyramid): Only one ball is the cue ball. Players can pocket the cue ball and then the scorer must choose a white ball to be taken off the table. The player then places the cue ball in the baulk area where balls can be only pocketed in side and far corner pockets.
All games begin with fifteen numbered white balls racked in a pyramid, as in straight pool. The first player breaks the rack with the cue ball from the baulk line. The object of the game is to pocket eight balls to win the frame. After pocketing the cue ball, the scorer must choose a white ball to be taken off the table. In combined pyramid, then the player places the cue ball in the baulk area. Balls can be pocketed in side and far corner pockets only.