Also called Пирамида Бильярд in Russian is pronounced piramida billiard or Russian Pyramid Billiards.
It is a sport using a cue with significant differences from American billiards.
Although the object of the game remains the same, pocketing billiard balls.
It is played in Russia and in all the other countries of the former Soviet Union.
The size of the playing surface varies.
The usual range (foot measurements are traditional approximations, the most accurate metrics) include 7 × 3.5 feet (198 × 99 cm); 8 × 4 feet (224 × 112 cm); 9 × 4.5 feet (254 × 127 cm); 10 × 5 feet (295 × 147 cm); up to 12 × 6 feet (355 × 177.5 cm).
The official tournament size is the 12-foot model, the same size preferred for snooker, but much larger than a snooker table, (7 feet and 9 feet are the most common sizes for that style of play).
There are 16 balls (fifteen numbered balls, plus a cue ball).
As in billiards, but the numbered balls are white and the cue ball is usually red, brown or yellow.
They have a diameter of up to 70 millimeters, are larger and heavier than American billiard balls.
The official tournament size is 68 mm (2 11⁄16 inches).
There are smaller balls, for example, 63 mm (2 1⁄2 inches), 60 mm (2 3⁄8 inches) and 57 millimeters (2 1⁄4 inches), for smaller table sizes.
The corner pockets are only 4-5 mm (approx. 3⁄16 in) wider than the ball diameter.
The center pockets, however, are 14-18 mm wider than the ball diameter.
This makes the game mechanics like an oversized version of snooker, requiring greater precision to get a ball into the pockets because they are so narrow compared to billiards.
The objective of Russian billiards is the same as that of American billiards.
To sink the balls into the holes.
However, what makes Russian pyramid billiards an additional challenge is the size of the pockets and balls.
Russian billiards has balls that are almost the exact size of the table used for the game.
So it’s practically an extra precision game.
There are different variations of Russian pyramid billiards, all of which are listed below.
Free pyramid, also known as American pyramid.
The rule of this game varies so that any ball can be used as a cue ball at any time during the game.
Players can only pocket a ball they have hit if it first hits another ball in the process.
The objective is to carom (cannon) the ball that has been hit to pocket more balls.
Dynamic pyramid, also known as Petersburg pyramid, Siberian pyramid or Nevsky pyramid.
In this game, only one of the balls is a cue ball.
Players have to pocket the cue ball with a carom shot from another ball and then the player must choose a cue ball to take off the table.
The player then has the cue ball in hand and can place it anywhere on the pool table.
However, he cannot pocket until the next shot.
Combination pyramid, also known as the Moscow pyramid.
This variation is like the dynamic pyramid also only with some differences.
Because of the similarities, only one ball is the cue ball.
In addition, players have to pocket the cue ball with a carom shot from another ball and then the player must choose a cue ball to remove it from the table.
Afterwards, the player places the cue ball in the pocket, but the cue ball cannot be above the line.
In American billiards, this part of the table is called the kitchen.
From here, balls can only be pocketed in the side pockets and corner pockets.
This may seem a bit overwhelming at first.
But with a lot of practice you will definitely become familiar with the game.
And I guarantee you will enjoy it.
The best part about playing Russian Pyramid Billiards is that, you get to experiment with a new table and set of billiard balls.
This is a challenging and addictive game for all billiard lovers.
Here you will be able to develop as a great pool player no matter your level.
2 Responses
How many players can participate in a game ?(1,2,maybe 3!?!?)
Hi Stephen, it can be played individually, one vs one and also in pairs, two vs two. Thank you for your comment.