Except when specifically contradicted, all General Rules of Pocket Billiards (as defined by the Billiard Congress of America) apply.
Crossover is a rather unconventional 2-player game with very simple rules. It is challenging for any level of player, and cue ball control is critical.
Players: 2 (Multi-player variations are also described.)
Skill Level: Any
Object: Be the first to touch every ball on the table in succession with the cue ball.
Play:
One player begins with the 1 ball as his/her target ball and advances toward the 15; the
other begins with the 15 and advances toward the 1. In a turn, a player gets exactly one
shot in which to advance as many balls as possible. Players advance by touching their
target ball with the cue ball, or when their target ball is pocketed. Even within a shot,
balls must be advanced in order. Advancement occurs at the time of contact, or at the
moment the target ball is pocketed. Cue ball collisions with non-target balls do not
effect advancement. All pocketed balls remain pocketed. A player automatically advances
past any balls that are not on the table when they are reached. Shots are not called.
The Break:
One player arranges the rack as he/she chooses, but may not put both the 1 and the 15 in
the interior three positions of the rack. The other player then chooses whether to begin
with the 1 or with the 15 and breaks. The breaker may advance balls as on any other shot,
but if no balls pass the center string (line between the side pockets) the breaker does
not advance. The cue ball may contact any rails prior to touching the rack without
penalty.
Fouls:
A scratch or any other foul results in a ball in hand anywhere on the table. Failing to
make the cue ball contact an object ball on a shot is not a foul, but failing to touch any
ball in two consecutive turns is a foul. Advancement in a turn is not negated by a
scratch.
Judgement:
Judgment calls may be required in rare cases where a player's next two balls are touched
or pocketed simultaneously, since a player who touches or pockets his/her current ball
immediately advances to the next ball while the balls are still in motion. Another player
(or a referee) should carefully judge the shot if such a shot is being attempted. If the
events are judged to be simultaneous, all advancements are rewarded.
Handicapping:
A player with a one-ball handicap does not need to touch the final ball (1 or 15), and so
on.
Multi-player variations:
In multi-player variations, all players try to advance past every ball on the table in
increasing numerical order, with the 1 ball following the 15. With three players, one
player begins with the 1 ball, another with the 6, and another with the 11. After choosing
player order, the last player racks (no interior 1st balls), the breaking player chooses a
starting ball (1, 6, or 11), then the 2nd player chooses a starting ball.
Remarks:
Not only are caroming skills and cue ball control important, but pocketing balls can be
advantageous as well. It is useful for players to pocket any ball they haven't reached
that the opponent has passed. Defense can also be a deciding factor.
© 1995 by Steven F. Hoover.
Permission is granted to copy and distribute this document provided that it is not
modified without permission from the author and this copyright notice is retained.