Ball Values
Each ball on the snooker table has a fixed point value. Understanding these values is fundamental to grasping snooker's scoring system:
| Ball | Colour | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Red | 1 |
| Yellow | Yellow | 2 |
| Green | Green | 3 |
| Brown | Brown | 4 |
| Blue | Blue | 5 |
| Pink | Pink | 6 |
| Black | Black | 7 |
These values form the foundation of all snooker scoring. When a player pots a ball, they score the points corresponding to that ball. Fouls are also assessed in relation to these values.
Building a Break
A "break" is the total number of points accumulated during a single turn at the table. Once a player pots a ball, they remain at the table to play the next shot. The break continues to build as long as they keep potting balls and avoiding fouls.
For example, if a player pots a red (1 point), then a black (7 points), then another red (1 point) and blue (5 points), they have built a break of 14 points (1 + 7 + 1 + 5). The break ends when the player fails to pot a ball or commits a foul, at which point the opponent comes to the table.
What is a Century Break?
A century break occurs when a player scores 100 or more points in a single visit to the table. This is one of snooker's most celebrated achievements and marks a player as highly skilled. Century breaks are the currency of snooker excellence—the more centuries a player makes, the more consistent and dominant their play.
Making centuries requires not only technical skill and precision but also tactical awareness and the ability to maintain focus under pressure. Professional players with high century counts are among the most consistent performers on tour.
The Maximum Break — 147
A maximum break, or 147, is the highest possible score in a single frame of snooker. It represents perfection: potting every ball on the table in the ideal sequence with no mistakes.
Here's how the mathematics work:
- All 15 reds are potted, each followed by the black (worth 7 points): 15 × (1 + 7) = 15 × 8 = 120 points
- Then all six coloured balls are potted in order: Yellow (2) + Green (3) + Brown (4) + Blue (5) + Pink (6) + Black (7) = 27 points
- Total: 120 + 27 = 147 points
A 147 is extraordinarily rare in professional snooker. Despite thousands of matches played annually, fewer than 200 have been recorded in official competition since the 1980s. The combination of skill required, the pressure of the moment, and the sheer probability of making every shot without error makes it one of sport's most remarkable achievements.
Frame Scoring
In a frame of snooker, points accumulate until one of two conditions is met:
Normal finish: When all balls have been potted or it becomes impossible for the trailing player to win even if they clear the table, the player with the higher score wins the frame. If the score is tied with the black remaining, the frame goes to a decider—the first to pot or force the opponent to foul on the black wins.
Concession: A player may concede the frame if they calculate they cannot win, even with a perfect clearance. This speeds up play and is common in professional snooker.
Match Scoring
A snooker match is a sequence of frames. The player who wins the required number of frames first wins the match. For example, in a best-of-19 match, the first player to win 10 frames wins the match. In the World Championship final (best of 35), the first to 18 frames wins.
Match scores are commonly written in a format like "8–3" (Player A has won 8 frames, Player B has won 3). A player who is ahead 10–3 with five frames remaining needs only one more frame to win, whilst a player trailing 3–10 must win all five remaining frames to force a decider—if that even becomes possible—or else lose the match.
Curious about specific records? Check out our Century Breaks guide and Maximum Breaks page to explore the greatest scoring performances in snooker history.