Snooker rules and refereeing
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  • Rules you must understand as a player
    • The Break
    • Frame, Game or Match?
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Frame, Game or Match?

Section 2 of the rules defines these:

SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
Standard definitions used throughout these Rules are hereinafter italicised.

1. Frame
A frame of snooker comprises the period of the play from the start, see Section 3 Rule 3(c), with all the balls set as described in Section 3 Rule 2, each player playing in turn until the frame is completed by:

(a) concession by any player during his turn;
(b) claim by the striker when; Black is the only object ball remaining on the table, aggregate points are not relevant, and there is a difference of more than seven points between the scores in his favour;
(c) the final pot or foul when; Black is the only object ball remaining on the table (see Section 3 Rule 4); or
(d) being awarded by the referee under Section 3 Rule 14(d) (ii) or Section 4 Rule 2.

2. Game
A game is an agreed or stipulated number of frames.

3. Match
A match is an agreed or stipulated number of games.
So what does this mean?

We know what a Frame is:
- The table and balls are set up, we break off and make points until all 15 reds are potted and the final black is either sunk or fouled or one opponent concedes.

So what is a Game?
- If we decide to play only one frame, then the Frame is also a Game, as we have agreed the number of gFrames, in this case 1
- If we decide to play a best of 5 Frames or a best of 7 Frames, then the “best of” is a Game, and winner of the Game is the player who wins most Frames at the end of the “Best of”

So what is a Match?
- If we have decided to only play one Game, the Game is also the Match, as we have agreed the number of Games, in this case 1
- If we decide to play a Game every day for a week, then the Match will be a best of 7 Games.
- if we decide to play Teams where each team member plays one or more members of the other team, then the Match is the complete set of Games agreed.


So now it's clear, I hope