Bagatela

Game, probably of English origin, played with billiard cues and nine balls on an oblong board or table varying in size from 6 by 1.5 feet to 10 by 3 feet with nine numbered cups at its head, eight arranged in a circle and the ninth in its center Of the nine balls used, one is black, four are red, and four are white. The black ball is placed upon a spot about 9 inches in front of hole number one. A line called the balk, is drawn across the board, from behind which any number of players shoot. Each player plays all eight balls up the table, with no until a ball has touched the black ball. The object of the game is to play as many balls as possible into the holes, the black ball counting double. The game is decided by the combined score made in an agreed number of rounds.