Impossible Snooker Position

[Snookermck7856]

In a practice the cue ball came to rest in contact with and trapped between three reds.
No shot possible - it would be a push shot.
As it was not from a foul what to do? Reset frame? Ball in hand/D to opponent.
If it was from a foul is it frame reset, loss of frame, ball in hand/D to opponent.
Never happen? Happened to me.

[Buenchico]

Discussed 9 years ago here:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Sport/Question1131927.html

See also pages 29 to 30 here. (Rule 14(a)(ii)):
https://wpbsa.com/wp-content/uploads/WPBSA-Official-Rules-of-the-Games-of-Snooker-and-Billiards-2020.pdf

[Snookermck7856]

What happens when the white ball is trapped and moving the white ball must be a foul

[Buenchico]

From reading the rules, my understanding is that, when a player is in an impossible position, he must play as if trying to hit a ball which is 'on' if it was not for the obstructing balls(s). If he does so with sufficient strength (in the referee's opinion) to have reached the 'on' ball, were it not for the obstruction, the referee must then call only a foul. However if he judges that insufficient strength was used in playing the shot, he must then call both a foul and a miss.

[ynnafymmi]

If NewJudge comes on tonight he might arbitrate,he seems to be a bit of a whizz-kid regarding some of snookers more arcane rules.

[Snookermck7856]

Thanks Mark, the impossibility is that the white is touching three balls. Any shot will be a push stroke.

[Snookermck7856]

Buenchico

[davebro]

As an aside - does snooker have more rules than any other game? LOL

[ToraToraTora]

snooker accepts the possibility that an impossible position can occur and the player must play as if attempting a legal shot and it will be a foul and the game continues.

[ToraToraTora]

davebro, nowhere near, F1 for example has a rule book like the phone directory. NFL not far behind.

[Ken4155]

The player finding him or herself in such a position need only touch the cue ball to hit the object ball. Foul. Chances are his/her opponent would do the same. Foul. Therefore I imagine such a scenario would result in a re-rack.

[davebro]

Ken - that would be a foul and a miss as no attempt to hit a ball "on" - presumably a colour. So the player could be put back in.

[Ken4155]

Dave, according to the OP, he ball is trapped between 3 reds. So the object ball is a red, not a colour.

[davebro]

If he just potted a red & ended in that position....

[Ken4155]

Yeah but he doesn't say that :-)

[ToraToraTora]

he's on a red, he says: "No shot possible - it would be a push shot."

[drmorgans]

If it was Boris Johnson playing, he'd change the rules, decide how he wanted the balls to be laid out, then have a victory party for a couple of dozen friends, and snog all the women under the mistletoe.

[davebro]

//he's on a red, he says: "No shot possible - it would be a push shot."//

Even if he wasn't on a red it would be a push shot -
" a shot in which an object ball (whether "on" or not) in direct contact with the cue ball moves when the cue ball is hit, "

[davebro]

not to worry - it was only a practice game!

[THECORBYLOON]

If a Colour is next to be played, the player should nominate the Yellow, Green or Brown as the ball on to avoid giving away more than a four-point foul.

It wouldn't be called a miss if impossible to avoid moving a Red and the opponent could ask the player to play from where the cue-ball lies.