However, all players involved are required to hit the lowest numerical object on the table with the cue ball every turn, starting from the 1-ball, then the 2-ball, and so on.

The object of these games usually involves knocking a variety of items around, such as balls and disks, using specially-made cue sticks.

The size and dimensions of the table, the equipment used, and the rules employed all vary depending on what gaming subset they are designed for.

There are three major types of cue sports: carom billiards, snooker and pool.

Only three balls are used: two cue balls, one for each player, and one object ball.

Carom billiards was fairly popular from way back to the 17th century, but as pocketed games grew in prominence, they have since fallen by the wayside.

Today, they are nowhere nearly as commonplace as the other two subsets.

The game is played using 22 balls in total, including one white cue ball, 15 red balls, and six other balls of assorted colors.

Of the three subsets, it has the most diverse set of equipment to be used alongside the cue stick.

These tools include the rest, hook-rest, spider, swan, extended rest and extended spider.

These are used to assist the players angling and eyeballing of the cue, which is very important when considering how snooker is played on a much larger surface than the other games.

There are 16 balls involved, including one blank white cue ball and 15 objects, all of which are labeled by number and marked with different colorations.

The only tool employed by all players is a single cue stick.

Unlike many rule sets, there is no set order of balls the players are required to hit andor pocket; any ball can be sunk at any time.

The object of the game is to score points, with one point awarded for every successfully pocketed ball.

How many points are required to win varies, but it typically goes up to 150 in professional matches.

For that reason, the balls are racked multiple times over the course of the game, usually whenever only one object ball remains on the table.

The game begins with both players selecting one of two groups of balls.

The former are balls that are fully one color, while the latter are primarily white with a colored stripe running across the circumference.

After that, both players take turns knocking balls of their designated group into the pockets.

Penalties are inflicted should a player ever hit his opponents balls with the cue.

Whichever player pockets all of his balls first must then sink the 8-ball to win.

However, if a player pockets the 8-ball before getting rid of his other balls, he automatically loses.

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