Setting up a snooker table correctly is a masterclass in geometric tradition. With 22 total balls—including 15 reds, 6 distinct colored balls, and 1 cue ball—every sphere has an exact, millimeter-measured coordinate on the cloth bed. Misplacing the Pink ball or setting the Yellow and Green spots on the wrong sides of the Baulk line alters legal safety routes and snooker angles. In this 2026 rule guide, we detail the official WPBSA spot layout, the Baulk Line and ‘D’, re-spotting priorities, and opening break procedures.
Official Point Values
15 Reds: 1 Pt each | Yellow: 2 Pts | Green: 3 Pts | Brown: 4 Pts | Blue: 5 Pts | Pink: 6 Pts | Black: 7 Pts | Max Break: 147
Table of Contents
The Official Snooker Table Markings
Before placing any balls, you must understand the permanent cloth markings on a 12-foot snooker table:
1. The Baulk Line and The “D”
The Baulk Line is drawn straight across the table exactly 29 inches (73.7 cm) from the bottom cushion. In the middle of this line sits the “D”—a semicircle with an 11.5-inch (29.2 cm) radius pointing toward the bottom cushion.
2. The 6 Color Spots
- Brown Spot: Located dead-center on the Baulk Line.
- Yellow Spot (2 pts): Located on the right intersection corner of the “D” and Baulk Line (looking up-table). Memory tip: “God Bless You” = Green on Left, Brown in Middle, Yellow on Right!
- Green Spot (3 pts): Located on the left intersection corner of the “D” and Baulk Line.
- Blue Spot (5 pts): Located dead-center on the table between the four center pockets.
- Pink Spot (6 pts): Located at the Pyramid Spot (halfway between the Blue Spot and top cushion).
- Black Spot (7 pts): Located on the center line exactly 12.75 inches (32.4 cm) from the top cushion.
How to Position the 15 Reds
The 15 red balls are racked in a tight equilateral triangle:
- Position the apex ball of the red triangle on the center line pointing directly toward the Pink ball.
- The apex red should rest as close as possible to the Pink ball without touching it.
- Ensure the base of the triangle runs parallel to the top cushion facing the Black ball.
Spotting Rules: What If a Spot Is Occupied?
During play, potted colored balls must be returned to the table immediately. If a color’s home spot is blocked by another ball:
- Rule 1: Highest Available Spot: Place the ball on the highest-value available unoccupied color spot (e.g., if Black is blocked, try Pink, then Blue, Brown, Green, Yellow).
- Rule 2: Direct Alignment: If all spots are occupied, place the ball as close to its own spot as possible on the center longitudinal line between the spot and the nearest cushion, without touching another ball.
(Compare snooker cues with American pool cues in Pool Cue vs. Snooker Cue and explore beginner sticks in Best Snooker Cues for Beginners).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where do you place the cue ball for the break shot in snooker?
The cue ball must be placed anywhere inside the boundary of the “D” (or directly on the “D” line). Most players place the cue ball close to the Brown or Green spot to execute a safe thin clip off the side of the red pack back to the top baulk cushion.
