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Carombolette Rules

Carombolette is a combination of Bagatelle (a game of chance), Pool (a game of skill), and Pigeon Hole. In the 21st century, carombolette is a mostly obsolete game, and carombolette tables are no longer made.

It is played on a Carombolette table, which is a single game table allowing it's owners to play either the Bagatelle or the Pool version.

Bagatelle

  1. Two or more persons can make a game, each one for him-self, or by playing partners.
  2. To determine who shall lead, place two white balls in the 10 holes, with the pool-stop in position, then suddenly remove the the stop; the count of the balls when at rest entities the winner to choice of play.
  3. The game is played with nine balls, eight white and one red. The red ball shall be spotted in the center of the table midway between the lower diamonds, and when pocketed shall count double, and when pocketed, whether counting or not, is to be re-spotted. Play upon it after the first shot shall be at the discretion of the player.
  4. All shots shall be made from within the string at the head of the table, and all balls forced from the table or re-turning within the line shall be considered dead.
  5. A cue-ball which does not strike the object or other ball, whether it goes through the arches or not, shall not count, and the player so missing shall forfeit one ball.
  6. The game shall consist of the total count made after having played all the balls. The numbers over the arches do not count in bagatelle.
  7. When played by partners one round shall constitute a game, but single handed, the best two out of three is more interesting.

Pool

Place the pool-stop in position, and play according to the rules of Bagatelle, excepting that the game is counted by the numbers over the arched pockets.

The red ball counting double, and being always re-spotted after being pocketed.

Carombolette Rules

If you have any questions about Carombolette Rules, please post them in the pool rules forum.

...or view existing Carombolette Rules questions in the forum.

Carombolette Rules History

The carombolette table was patented by J.M. Brunswick executive M. Bensinger in 1881. These rules are simply a combination of the much older rules of Bagatelle, Pigeon Hole, and Pool.

You can read more about the history of the carombolette and the corresponding carombolette table patented by M. Bensinger in the history of the carombolette table

These rules are presented here as they were written in two rule books:

  • "A History and Description of Billiards", published in 1909 by Samuel May & Co., Billiard Table Manufacturers, Toronto.
  • "A Complete Hand-Book of Standard Rules of All the Prominent Games of Billiards and Pool", published in 1910 by Brunswick Balke-Collender & Co., Billiard Table Manufacturers.

The official Carombolette Rules are predominently observed in North America.

How to Play Carombolette

Questions about Carombolette Rules:

  • Title: Carombolette Rules
  • Author: (Billiards Forum)
  • Published: 2/14/2023 7:37:11 AM
  • Last Updated: 2/14/2023 7:55:34 AM
  • Last Updated By: billiardsforum

Carombolette Rules

The Carombolette Rules article belongs to the Obstacle Billiards Rules category. Obstacle billiards is a class of billiard games that are played with various obstacles on the table.

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