Billiard games have a number of variants and one of such variants is the Carom Billiard.
The other names used for the carom Billiards are carambole and carambole billiards. This is an extraordinary class of the billiard games.
The carambole billiard had originated during 1700's in France. Right from that time, this game is loved and played worldwide. However, the carambole and its modifications are not so commonly played in United States of America but still they are widely played in Far East and France.
Carambole is further modified into many kinds and Balkline is one of these modifications.
Other kinds of modifications are cushion carom, three cushion billiards etc. The table used for the carambole with its variation is common as all of the games use the straight railed table.
The size of the table is five feet wide and ten feet long. There are no pockets on the table. This table is usually covered with a cloth and marked with the Balklines, when used for the Balkline billiard.
The Balklines give rise to the regions termed as "balk spaces". These balk spaces have threshold points assigned to them.
The division or marking of the balk spaces is done so that the entire table is divided into a rectangular section. The number of the balk spaces on the table is eight.
In addition to the Balkline spaces there are anchor spaces as well. They are nine in number. Balk spaces are generally smaller in size whereas anchor spaces are larger.
Balkline is played with three balls. The two out of these three balls are the cue balls while the one left behind is the object of the game. The object ball is usually of solid red color. Both of the cue balls are meant for the two players participating in the game.
All the players have to do is use their cue balls and get the object ball moving to the balk spaces and adding up their scores.
Balkline is often called as "The straight rail game" along with other names for it because the rails of the table run straight and continuously without any break for pockets.
The Balkline game on its own comes with a number of its kinds. The factors contributing to the differentiation of the Balkline games are the:
- Measurements of the balk spaces
- Threshold number points allotted to these balk spaces
The different Balkline games are differentiated from each other by means of their numerical names. The numerical name has two portions first the inches of the Balkline and another number is followed by the decimal or dot which is the "count restriction".
The count restriction is either one or two, always. The examples of the numerical names of the Balkline variations are 12.2, 13.2, 18.2, 28.2, and 48.2 etc.
