Snooker

[Freda7]

Being a complete ignoramus about Snooker, please could someone help me?:
What is the minimum amount of points that can win a frame of snooker (assuming the opponent does not concede early.)
Would appreciate any help. Thanks.

[lesblue]

There are 42 points available at the start of the game, fifteen reds and the colours. Without fouls, I assume the first person to 22 could win.

[R1Geezer]

22

[Freda7]

lesblue and R1Geezer - My grateful thanks to you both for your very quick answers.

[factor-fiction]

Are you saying that after pocketing a red the player can select and pocket a red rather than a higher value colour, then another red, and so on until all the reds go, then he/she starts on colours until reaching 22 points?

[TCL-MUMPING]

If Player A breaks off and manages to pot all the reds but pots a ball worth four points or less, all from the same shot, a foul will be called and four points awarded to the opponent, Player B.

There would be only the twenty-seven points available from the remaining colours. Player B then need score only another twelve points to bring their total to sixteen with only fifteen points left for Player A.

In theory then, a player need only score sixteen points to win.

[R1Geezer]

no factor, red is potted, selects a colour, misses etc, it's not a break we are talking about here just total score. If fouls are introduced TCL that changes the whole equation, this is a well know snooker question usually asked excluding fouls and condcessions.

[Snakey]

24

[factor-fiction]

I'm no snooker player but isn't theanswer 23?

I don't think 22 is enough. 14 individual Reds (14), a red followed by a yellow(14+3=17) , yellow (17+2=19), a green (19+3=22). That isn't a guaranteed winning position as it would still leave 4+5+6+7 =22 on the table.

So I suggest you need 23: 14 individual Reds (14), a red followed by a green(14+1+3=18) , yellow (18+2=20), a green (20+3=23).

[R1Geezer]

that's not the question factor, we are looking for the lowest number that it is possible to not lose. ie if you score 21 you cannot possibly win regardless of what the other guy does, ignoring fouls obviously.

[factor-fiction]

The question doesn't say the lowest number 'not to lose'. It says: "What is the minimum amount of points that can win a frame of snooker "

I realise I could be wrong as I don't follow snooker but I'd be grateful if you could explain why/how 22 could give a winning position.

[No,Knowledge]

player 1 ....................potted 7 reds no colours

playery 2 ..................potted 8 reds no colours


player 1 ..................... pots Green 3 Brown 4 Pink 6

player 2 ....................pots Yellow 2 Blue 5 Black 7



player 1 ............20 pionts
player 2 ............22 points

[R1Geezer]

No the question says the minimum that can win, ie the minimum it is possible win with, that's 22.
ok there are a minimum of 42 points on the table at the start 15 reds + the colours, if you score 22 it is possible to win, if you score 21 the best you can do is draw, if you score 20 then your opponent cannot avoid winning. I was just tring to word the question to make it easier to understand. Remember we are not talking about a break here, just total points. Geddit??

[lesblue]

Using your example, factor30 (four posts up), why have you counted the yellow twice? I think that is where you get your total of 23. Using your example again, player A pots every red, but misses his chosen colour every time. Player B then pots all the colours up to the pink (2+3+4+5+6=20). Player A then pots black and wins the game 22 points to 20.

[factor-fiction]

I agree with 22 now.

I was working on the basis that only A would get any points before being declared the winner.

I couldn't see how to get to a 22-0 lead, leaving only 20 remaining. Without the extra yellow he'd have got 15 reds (15) + yellow (2) +green (3) =20; so he'd also need the brown which would give 24.

Anyway, I now see the other solutions which give a win with 22 points.

Has it ever happened, though?

[R1Geezer]

Well I've had some pretty dire games that have been won with points between 30-40 but never that low. Mainly because of fouls, ie if you're a bad player fouls are likely. It would be quite hard to be bad enough to score 22 but good enough not to conceded any fouls!

[R1Geezer]

It's probably never happenned, certainly less common than a maximum!

[TCL-MUMPING]

The question mentions nothing about fouls so the correct answer is sixteen points. It's like the Millionaire question about the minimum number of serves a player needs to win a set in tennis, the "right" answer given was twenty-four but the correct answer was later given as twelve. You cannot make assumptions in quiz questions

[No,Knowledge]

eh?

[lesblue]

I bet you're pleased you asked, Freda7. Haha.