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VP4 Pub World rules error

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:30 pm
by KoopaKingTurtle
Just found an error with the break system with the pool english pub world rules when breaking.

Current: When potting on a break it is constituted as a foul shot and two shots are awarded to the opponent player no matter if the break was legal or not (i.e. four balls, ball potted etc...).

SHOULD BE: If the break is valid and the cue ball is potted the only penalty should be a pass of turn with the cue ball in baulk. If the break is invalid i.e. if 4 balls don't hit the cushion or you hit the cue ball off the table then it becomes a two shot foul.

relevant section of EPA rules (from http://www.epa.org.uk/wrules.php)


4. a) The Break will be deemed a "Fair Break" if:-
i) At least one Colour is potted. AND/OR
ii) Four Object Balls (at least) are driven to a cushion.

b) If the Break is not a Fair Break it is a Non-Standard Foul and:-
i) The opponent is awarded two visits.
ii) The balls are re-racked.
iii) The opponent re-starts the game and is under the same obligation to achieve a Fair Break.

c) i) If the Cue Ball is potted on a Fair Break it is a Non-Standard Foul that is penalised by the turn passing to the opponent.
ii) If the break is not a Fair Break and the Cue Ball is potted, the penalty for failure to perform a Fair Break applies. (See (b) above).


Finally, I haven't noticed this but is the "total snooker" rules implemented? relevant section of rules in "legal shot"...

3) Exceptions:
a) On the Break, the conditions of a Legal Shot do not apply. {See (F) The Break}
b) When playing out of a Total Snooker a player is only obliged to meet the conditions of (1)(a) above.
i) Definition: A player is in a Total Snooker when it is impossible to play any part of any of the player's own Colour by way of a "straight line" shot. Leaving an opponent in a Total Snooker is not a foul.
ii) If a player believes that a Total Snooker exists, the player may ask the referee for a ruling.
iii) If the referee rules that a Total Snooker exists, the player's obligations under the "Legal Shot" rule are relaxed as follows:- The player need only cause the Cue Ball's initial contact to be with a ball "On". The requirement to pot a ball and / or cause a ball to strike a cushion is waived.
iv) In a Total Snooker, the straight sections of the cushions DO come into consideration. If a player has to strike a cushion prior to impact with a “ball on”, then a "Total Snooker" does exist.

Cheers

Koopa

Re: VP4 Pub World rules error

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 1:10 am
by vpeer
The break rule has been corrected.
We do implement the total snooker rule, except we currently don't check the case for total snooker with BIH in baulk.

Re: VP4 Pub World rules error

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:40 am
by KoopaKingTurtle
Ah great spot on, thanks very much.

Its a small pedantic niggle but generally speaking the player needs to ask for the referee to adjudicate and declare a total snooker otherwise it remains a normal shot. Would it be possible to implement the total snooker rule so that the player has to call for it rather than it being given automatically?

Cheers

Koopa

Re: VP4 Pub World rules error

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:17 am
by vpeer
The only reason the player has to ask the referee to call it is this is a subjective matter that takes close examination. The referee can't look at a situation every time it might come up, that is disruptive to play. That is why in RL, the player must ask. VP4 does not have that issue, the computer knows if your total snookered, is never in your way, it just lets you know if you are.

Re: VP4 Pub World rules error

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:07 am
by KoopaKingTurtle
Fair point and I can certainly see where you are coming from but my thought was that the request for a total snooker is, in some small way a manifestation of a players skill.

At the level which I play, in local pub leagues, it is also a test of the "referee" which usually is a home team player who isn't currently playing so, as you say, this judgement can be very erm... subjective... and when tight almost always goes to the home team but as I'm sure VP4 does not cheat - like Steve Davies Snooker used to for the BBC micro- I think I agree that is is not all together necessary.

Now that I am getting used to it a bit I can see that VP4 is a vast improvement on VP3 in general, especially in the physics and I must admit I am really enjoying playing it,

Cheers,

Koopa

Re: VP4 Pub World rules error

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:21 am
by vpeer
Yeah, we don't have the reality of the biased home ref in VP4.
Glad you are enjoying it.