In England, "billiards" often refers to English billiards, though the time period may also be used extra broadly to describe cue sports activities basically. The sport begins with a break shot, the place one participant makes use types of billiards the cue ball to strike a tightly racked triangle of 15 object balls. Each participant uses a different cue ball (usually one is plain white and the other is yellow). Each player is assigned a cue ball-either white or yellow. Most fouls result in ball-in-hand, allowing your opponent to position the cue ball freely-except it occurred through the break, wherein case play is restricted to behind the pinnacle string. The desk is open after the break, no matter what was pocketed. To execute a legal break, not less than 4 balls must contact a rail or a ball have to be pocketed. For the break to be authorized, the player should either pocket a ball or drive at least four object balls to a rail.