This game seems to be almost unknown in the UK, unlike online poker, and so only a poor reply could be given to Don Bucher of Brantford, Ontario, when he asked about the game back in March 2001.

Recently two more Canadians have been in touch, and the information supplied by Gordon Lyons and Blair Mahaffy has enabled this set of rules to be compiled.

The object of the game is to score exactly 101 points, but the balls have no value of their own. Instead the pockets have values. Potting a red scores the the value of the pocket it is potted in, potting the black doubles the pocket value.

When playing "from hand" you may place the cue-ball anywhere within the baulk area - you are not confined to the "D" as in snooker. And, unusually for a "potting" game, you are not allowed to play directly at any ball within the baulk area. If it were allowed it could give too great an advantage. This restriction usually applies only to variations of English Billiards and similar games.

The 16 balls are racked in a diamond with the red nearest the baulk placed on the Pink spot. The black ball must be placed in the centre of the third row from the back.

Points are scored according to the value of the pocket the ball is potted in. When the black is potted it counts double the value of the pocket.

The black ball can only be played after first potting one or more reds.

Pocket values are designated as 1, 2, 3, and 5, 10, & 15 with 1 being the pocket at the lefthand side behind the "D" and then moving clockwise around the table with 15 being on the right behind the "D".

The break must be from behind the baulk-line but is not confined to the "D" as in snooker.

To win you must score exactly 101 points.

After each players turn, any pocketed balls are replaced on the table. The reds must be replaced as close to each other as possible - but without touching, in a straight line commencing at the pink spot and going back towards the centre of the top cushion. If the black is potted it is replaced immediately. It is placed on the pink spot if it is vacant, or, if occupied, as close to it as possible, in a straight line towards the black spot without touching any other ball. Before it can be played again another red ball must be potted.

Should a player pot the black and make a foul stroke in the same shot, the black is returned to the table before the red balls, and placed on the pink spot if it is vacant; or, if occupied, as close to it as possible, in a straight line towards the black spot without touching any other ball.

If a foul is committed during the course of the game you lose only those points that you have accumulated on that turn.

The game is best played using peas* (numbered from 1-16); where if you have the 1 pea you must score exactly 100 points and if you have the 16 pea you must score exactly 85 points.

The value of your pea is known only to yourself until you score the appropriate number of points to win, at which time it is disclosed to prove that with the points you've scored plus the value of the pea, your total score is 101.

If your score (including the value of the pea) exceeds 101 you must start over at zero again.

If on your turn you realize that you have exceeded 101 your score automatically returns to zero. Points scored on this turn at the table then commence from zero.

If you have not disclosed your pea, you may keep it, however if it has been disclosed then a new pea should be obtained.

This game can also be played using the 15 numbered balls with the points scored then equalling the numbers on the balls pocketed. The same rules in general would apply.

These are the basic rules of the game as I recall them. I prefer playing it with the numbered balls, however, it is a good game played either way.

peas* - These are a set of sixteen, small numbered balls, which can be used for deciding the order of play for games of more than two players; or for allocating the "secret" numbers used in games like this, where the value of the numbered ball is added to the points the player scores at the table.