The game of snooker, billiards and pool all stem from a game played outside on grass. The game moved indoors and was played on tables specially made. Billiards was played on such tables and the cloth or baize used, remains green to represent the colour of grass. The cues remain similar in shape although the fat end (butt) was the end pushing the balls on the grass. The flat (chamfer) remains on the modern cue in respect of the original game but has become a helpful grip. So the cue is now rotated so the opposite end (tip) is now used to propel the cue ball.

Billiards was the main game played where two players had a cue ball each. The balls were identified as one had a spot imprinted on it and the other was plain. The player with the spot on his cue ball started the game. The terms spot and plain were developed as the person who breaks off uses the top rail of the score board. A spot is formed on the counter of the top rail of a snooker score board to represent this.

Snooker was developed in India by the British forces based in Jubbulpore. They played games called black pool and pyramid pool. Both of which were gambling games (gambling pool). In black pool, both players had a coloured cue ball, although your cue ball would become an object ball to all the other players. If your ball is potted, you would pay the player who potted your ball. That player would then attempt to pot the black ball. If he succeeds, all players paid him. Balls were re-spotted after being potted.

Pyramid pool would involve 15 red balls worth a point each for the player/s who potted them.

In 1875, Colonel Sir Neville Francis Fitzgerald Chamberlain suggested to combine both games, which resembled the current form of snooker. Although missing the blue and brown which were introduced in later years.

The name snooker was a slang term for first year cadets. Mr Chamberlain made comments about players who missed shots calling them “real snooker”, referring to their lack of experience.

Pool was more formally known as pocket billiards. Which was originally documented as played by French nobility and English Gentry? However, pocket billiards tables were found in betting parlours for horse racing across America. This was so patrons could pass the time between races; however the name pool had become attached to the American form of the game pocket billiards. The word “pool” means a collective of playing for money or betting during the 19 century.