Sport Scoring SolutionsSnooker scoring: the rules and a free score keeper
Snooker scoring involves more maths than most games: ball values, fouls, the current break, points remaining and whether a player needs snookers. Our free snooker scorer works it all out as you tap the balls.
Watch: how to play snooker
Ball values
| Ball | Points |
|---|---|
| Red | 1 |
| Yellow | 2 |
| Green | 3 |
| Brown | 4 |
| Blue | 5 |
| Pink | 6 |
| Black | 7 |
Order of play
- While reds remain, a player must pot a red, then any colour, then a red, and so on. Colours potted in this phase are put back on their spots.
- When all reds are gone, the colours are potted in order: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black.
- A player's points in one visit to the table are their break. The maximum break with 15 reds is 147.
- Players take turns to break off in each frame. A match is usually the best of an odd number of frames.
The app only lets you tap the balls that can legally be potted next, so the score always follows the rules.
Fouls
A foul gives the opponent at least 4 points, or the value of the ball involved if that is higher (up to 7). The player fouled against can play the next shot or ask the offender to play again. Use Foul in the app to award the points.
Points remaining and snookers
With reds on the table, each red is worth up to 8 points (red plus black), and the colours add up to 27. If a player is behind by more than the points left, they need snookers: they must force fouls to get the points back. The app shows the points remaining and when snookers are required.
Re-spotted black
If the scores are level after the final black is potted, the black is re-spotted and the frame is decided by whoever pots it, or by a foul. The app handles this automatically.
How to use the snooker scorer
- Enter the players, the number of frames to win and the number of reds (15, 10 or 6).
- Tap each ball as it is potted. Tap Miss / safety when the player's visit ends.
- Use Foul for penalty points and Red off table if a red goes down on a foul.
- Frames, breaks and the result are saved under My results.
These notes summarise the official rules of snooker for club play. Free-ball and miss rules are applied by the referee and are not tracked by the app.