What happens if someone else moves a ball, or nobody can make progress?
A · Advanced · Players, officials and other formats · 3 of 7A ball moved by anyone other than the striker is put back without penalty. A ball the striker moves or picks up on purpose counts as forced off the table, a foul. If the referee sees a stalemate, the players may agree to restart the frame; if one objects, the position must change within a set number of strokes.
How it works
- Moved by someone else: the referee puts the ball back where it was, or would have stopped, with no penalty to the striker.
- The referee's mistake: no player is penalised for a ball the referee disturbs.
- Table defects: a ball that moves because of the table is not put back, unless it is a spotted ball moving before the next stroke.
- Moved on purpose by the striker: counts as forced off the table, a foul; the next player has options to put it back, spot or remove it.
- Faulty table equipment: a rest provided at the table that fails does not count as the striker's foul.
- Stalemate: the referee offers a re-rack; both players may agree to restart.
- If a player objects: the position must change within a stated period, usually three more strokes each.
- No change: all scores are cancelled and the frame restarts with the same player breaking off.
The glossary has the striker, the foul, the frame, the red balls, the cue ball and the table.
Tricky cases
A spectator knocks the table and a ball rolls. What happens?
The referee puts the ball back. The striker is not penalised.
The striker picks up a red to clean it without asking. What is the penalty?
It is a foul: the red counts as forced off the table, so at least four points, and the next player decides whether it is put back or stays off.
Both players keep playing safe and nothing changes. Can the referee force a restart?
The referee offers a re-rack. If a player objects, play goes on for a stated period, and if the position is unchanged then the frame is restarted.
A stalemate happens on a respotted black. What then?
Only the black is spotted again, with the same player to play first.
Why the rule exists
A player should not suffer for something they did not do. The stalemate rule stops a frame from going on for ever when neither player can safely open the reds.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ball moved by another | Put back, no penalty | WPBSA Snooker 3.15 |
| Ball moved on purpose | Forced off the table | WPBSA Snooker 2.14, 3.16 |
| Stalemate | Re-rack after a set period | WPBSA Snooker 3.17 |
| Snooker Shootout | No re-rack; players must resolve it in time | WPBSA Snooker Shootout rule 12 |
From the rule book
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, Official Rules of the Games of Snooker and English Billiards (May 2022 update), snooker part, Section 2 Rule 14 and Section 3 Rules 15, 16, 17 and 20. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the association's rule book, which covers snooker and English billiards together.