- Maths reviewed by Josh Miller
- Tested by Diana Westfield
A player averaging 62 points a frame against one averaging 34 isn’t a match, it’s a lesson. The CasinoCalcs snooker handicap calculator above turns that 28-point gap into a fair start: 21 points a frame if you give three quarters of it, a common club setting. It’s free, rounds to the nearest black so it’s easy to put on the scoreboard, and tells you what the start is as a share of what’s on the table.
Snooker handicap calculator: setting a fair start
Most club handicaps come down to the same idea: the weaker player gets a head start worth most of the gap between the two. Giving the whole gap tends to over-correct, because the stronger player also wins more of the close frames on safety. So three quarters is a good default, half if the weaker player is improving fast.
| Averages | Gap | ¾ start | ½ start |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 vs 34 | 28 | 21 | 14 |
| 45 vs 30 | 15 | 14 | 7 |
| 80 vs 35 | 45 | 35 | 21 |
Use the averages from a decent run of frames, ten or so each, and redo it every few weeks. Handicaps drift as people get better.
Snooker points chart
| Ball | Points | Foul value |
|---|---|---|
| Red | 1 | 4 |
| Yellow | 2 | 4 |
| Green | 3 | 4 |
| Brown | 4 | 4 |
| Blue | 5 | 5 |
| Pink | 6 | 6 |
| Black | 7 | 7 |
A foul is always at least 4 points, or the value of the highest ball involved. With all 15 reds on, there are 147 points on the table: 15 reds and blacks (120) plus the colours (27). The calculator’s extra option shows points left for any number of reds.
Breaks, snookers and the scoreboard
Once the start is on the board, the snooker scoreboard keeps the frame score, the break and the snookers required. For pub games on a smaller table, the same handicap idea works, just with smaller numbers. And if your club runs leagues, the league table generator keeps the standings.