Billiards vs Pool: What's the Difference?

Billiards vs pool depends on how the word billiards is used. In the United States, people often use both terms for the same pocket game.

In technical use, billiards can mean a family of cue sports, while pool is one type of game played on a table with six pockets. Carom billiards is a different game played without pockets.

Key Takeaways

Pool is one type of cue sport in the wider billiards family.
Pool tables have six pockets. Carom billiards tables have none.
Eight-ball uses 16 balls, while nine-ball uses 10.
Snooker uses 22 balls, including the cue ball.
In the US, pool is the clearest term for the common pocket game.

Table of Contents

What Is the Difference Between Billiards & Pool?

The main difference is how people use the word billiards.

In the United States, many people use billiards and pool to mean the same thing. For example, someone may say, “Let’s play billiards,” when they mean a game of eight-ball.

In technical use, billiards can mean a whole family of cue sports. This group includes pool, snooker, and carom billiards. Pool uses a table with six pockets. Carom billiards uses a table without pockets.

Feature	Pool	Carom billiards
Table	Six pockets	No pockets
Balls	Depends on the game	Usually three
Main goal	Pocket balls under the rules	Make the cue ball contact both other balls
Common games	Eight-ball, nine-ball	Three-cushion, straight rail
Main skills	Aim and cue ball control	Angles, spin, and cushion control

The key point is that pool is part of the wider billiards family. Carom billiards is a separate type of cue sport with its own rules.

What Is Billiards?

Billiards is a cue sport played on a cloth-covered table. Players use a cue stick to strike balls and score under the rules of a chosen game.

The word has two common uses. It can mean the full group of cue sports, or it can refer to a specific game, such as carom billiards.

How Carom Billiards Works

Carom billiards is played on a table without pockets. A common set has three balls: a white cue ball, a yellow cue ball, and a red ball.

The goal is to make your cue ball hit both of the other balls. This is called a carom or cannon. In basic carom play, a legal cannon scores one point.

Three-cushion billiards adds a harder rule. Before the cue ball hits the second object ball, it must touch at least three cushions.

For example, a player may hit the cue ball toward a cushion, send it around the table, and then make it touch both other balls. If the shot meets the rules, the player scores a point.

Players must judge the angle, speed, and spin of the cue ball. They also need to plan how the ball will move after each contact.

The Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB) sets the rules for carom billiards. Its rules specify a playing area of about 9.3 feet by 4.7 feet for the covered carom table format.

What Is English Billiards?

English billiards is another cue sport. It is different from pool and carom billiards.

It uses three balls: one red, one white, and one yellow. The white and yellow balls serve as the two players’ cue balls.

Players score in three main ways:

Pot: Pocket the red ball with your cue ball.
In-off: Pocket your cue ball after it hits another ball.
Cannon: Make your cue ball hit both other balls in one shot.

These actions have different point values under the rules. Players try to build a higher score than their opponent.

English billiards is useful to know about because the word billiards can refer to different games in different countries. If you mean the game without pockets, use the term carom billiards.

What Is Pool?

Pool is a cue sport played on a table with six pockets. Players use a cue stick to hit the white cue ball, which then strikes the object balls.

The goal depends on the type of pool being played. In eight-ball, players pocket their assigned group of balls before legally pocketing the 8-ball. In nine-ball, players must hit the lowest-numbered ball on the table first and win by legally pocketing the 9-ball.

Pool is played in homes, bars, game rooms, and pool halls across the United States. It is also played in organized leagues and tournaments.

How Eight-Ball and Nine-Ball Work

Eight-ball uses 16 balls in total:

One white cue ball.
Seven solid balls.
Seven striped balls.
One black 8-ball.

Players are assigned solids or stripes. Each player must pocket all seven balls in their group before legally pocketing the 8-ball to win.

Nine-ball uses 10 balls in total:

One white cue ball.
Nine numbered object balls, numbered 1 through 9.

Players must hit the lowest-numbered ball still on the table first. They do not have to pocket the balls in numerical order. A player wins by legally pocketing the 9-ball.

For example, a player may hit the 1-ball first and use it to send the 9-ball into a pocket. If the shot is legal, the player wins the rack.

These examples show why the name of the pool game matters. Each format has its own rules and way to win. The World Pool-Billiard Association publishes official rules for these games.

Pool vs Billiards vs Snooker

Carom billiards, Pool, and snooker all use a cue stick, but their tables, balls, and goals differ.

Feature	Pool	Carom billiards	Snooker
Pockets	Six	None	Six
Balls in a common game	16 in eight-ball	Three	22, including the cue ball
Table	Commonly 7, 8, or 9 feet long	Playing area about 9.3 × 4.7 feet in the cited format	Full-size table about 12 × 6 feet
Main goal	Pocket balls under the rules	Score through legal ball contact	Score points by potting balls
Common formats	Eight-ball, nine-ball	Three-cushion, straight rail	Snooker

Pool tables come in different sizes. The exact size depends on the table and where it is used. A full-size snooker table is much larger than a common home pool table.

Snooker uses 15 red balls, six colored balls, and one cue ball. Players score points by potting a red and then a color. They repeat this pattern while reds remain. Each color has a different point value.

Pool focuses on pocketing the right balls under the chosen game’s rules. Carom billiards focuses on making the cue ball contact the other balls. Snooker uses a point-based system and a set order for potting balls.

These are separate games, even though they share some basic skills.

Why Do Americans Call Pool Billiards?

Many Americans use billiards as a general name for pool. That is why a pool room may be called a billiards room, and a pool table may be called a billiard table.

In everyday talk, this usually causes no problem. If a friend says, “Let’s play billiards,” they may mean eight-ball or nine-ball.

In a formal or sports setting, the word can be more specific. A carom player may use billiards to mean a game played without pockets. In other countries, it may refer to English billiards or to the wider group of cue sports.

Use these terms to avoid confusion:

Pool: The common pocket game, such as eight-ball.
Carom billiards: A game played without pockets.
Snooker: A game with 15 red balls and six colored balls.
Cue sports: The wider group of games played with a cue stick and balls.

Which Game Should You Choose?

The best game depends on what you want to play and what tables are available.

If you want to…	Choose…	Why
Play with friends at home or in a bar	Pool	It is widely available in the US
Learn a common cue sport	Eight-ball pool	The main goal is easy to follow
Work on angles and spin	Carom billiards	You must plan shots without pockets
Play a game based on points and ball order	Snooker	Players score by potting reds and colors
Learn a British three-ball game	English billiards	It has its own scoring rules

For many beginners in the US, pool is a good starting point. It is easy to find tables, and the basic goal is simple to learn. Good cue ball control still takes practice.

Carom billiards may suit players who enjoy planning complex shots. Snooker may suit those who like a larger table and a detailed scoring system.

No game is always easier for everyone. Your choice depends on the rules you enjoy, the tables you can use, and the skills you want to build.

Can You Play Pool on a Billiards Table?

Yes, if the table is a pool table with six pockets. You can play games such as eight-ball and nine-ball on it.

You cannot play standard pool in the normal way on a carom table because it has no pockets. Pool relies on pockets to score, while carom billiards uses ball contact.

Before you buy or use a table, check its design and size. In the US, a table sold as a billiard table may be a regular pool table. The product name alone does not always tell you which game it is made for.

If you want to play pool at home, look for a pocket billiards table. If you want to play carom billiards, choose a pocketless table made for that sport.

FAQs:

Is billiards the same as pool?
Not always. In the US, people often use both words for the same pocket game. In technical use, billiards can mean a group of cue sports or a specific game, such as carom billiards. Pool is played on a table with six pockets.

Does a billiards table have pockets?
It depends on the game. A pool table has six pockets, while a carom billiards table has none. In the US, a table called a billiard table is often a pool table, so check its design before buying it.

How many balls are used in pool?
It depends on the game. Eight-ball uses 16 balls in total: one cue ball and 15 object balls. Nine-ball uses 10 balls: one cue ball and nine object balls.

Is pool a type of billiards?
Yes. Pool is part of the wider family of cue sports. However, carom billiards is a separate game played without pockets. The word billiards can have a broad or narrow meaning.

Is snooker a type of pool?
No. Snooker and pool are separate cue sports. Both use tables with six pockets, but they have different ball sets, table sizes, and rules. Snooker uses a point system based on red and colored balls.

Is billiards harder than pool?
It depends on the player. Pool needs good aim and cue ball control. Carom billiards needs careful planning, spin, and cushion control. Both take practice, and skill in one does not always mean equal skill in the other.

What is the best game for beginners?
Pool is a good choice for many beginners in the US. It is widely available, and games such as eight-ball are easy to understand at first. Carom billiards and snooker are also good options if you prefer their style of play.

Conclusion:

The difference between billiards and pool depends on how the word billiards is used.

In everyday American speech, both words often mean the same pocket game. In technical use, billiards can mean the wider group of cue sports, while pool is one type of game within it. Carom billiards is played on a table without pockets.

If you want to play the common game found in American bars and homes, ask for pool. If you mean the game without pockets, ask for carom billiards. These terms make the difference clear.