How to bet on Snooker betting guide, basic rules and bet types

The colourful one-on-one sport of snooker can be tremendous fun to wager on, with a wide variety of betting markets open to explore.

Snooker is dynamic, with a seemingly endless list of permutations and possibilities. The situation of a frame or match can change drastically depending on the outcome of just one shot – and odds can fluctuate just as quickly.

Check out the best UK bookmakers to claim free bets worth up to £850!

With the professional circuit busier than ever before – events being held nearly all year round – there is no shortage of action for fans and punters alike.

You don’t have to be Ronnie O’Sullivan to enjoy the sport; whether you’re new to snooker, or a long-time follower, we’ve got you covered with our handy guide looking at things to research before placing a bet and the different angles of attack.

The basic rules of snooker explained

Whilst it has its nuances, snooker is a relatively straightforward game to follow, hence why it still attracts impressive television viewing figures.

Traditional snooker is played on a 12ft by 6ft table, with the thick slate panels on top covered by a green napped cloth. The table has six pockets, and in professional competition these pocket sizes are templated.

At the start of a frame of snooker, the 21 ‘object’ balls are always set up in the same way. The 15 reds are placed in a triangle formation, while the six 'colours' are each positioned on their own spots.

The cue ball (white ball) is the ball that players always strike with their cue when playing a shot.

Perhaps the trickiest thing for snooker newbies to remember is which spots the colours normally belong on, the order they should be potted in, and how much each ball is worth.

In terms of points allocation, each of the 15 red balls is worth one point. The ‘colours’ are worth: yellow (2), green (3), brown (4), blue (5), pink (6), black (7).

The object of a frame of snooker is to score more points than your opponent does. Points are gained when you legally pot balls into the pockets – any balls can go into any pockets – although you can also collect points if your opponent plays an illegal shot. In normal snooker, both players start a new frame with zero points.

Players go about scoring points by initially trying to pot a red ball (they can pot any red). After potting a red, a player must then always play one of the six 'colours'.

If they pot a 'colour', they must then go back to playing a red. This red-colour-red-colour sequence is always repeated until there are no more reds remaining on the table.

Red balls potted stay in the pockets. Colours potted after a red are brought back onto the table and placed on their spot.

When players put together points in an unbroken visit to the table, this sequence is known as a ‘break’. For example, if a player pots red, pink, red, black - they will be on a break of 15 points. All points that a player scores are added together throughout the frame as a running total.

Bear in mind, players don’t always have to attempt a pot, they may elect to play a safety shot instead and wait for a better opportunity.

Once all the reds are potted, the six colours remain. These must be played/potted in sequence – yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black. If you’re struggling, perhaps listening to Chas & Dave’s hit single ‘Snooker Loopy’ may help you remember the order!

During this end phase of a frame, when a colour is legally potted it stays in the pocket.

If a player feels they are too many points behind, they may concede the frame before all the balls have been potted. This will signal the end of the frame - the player with the most points wins that frame.

It will have been decided before a match begins how many frames a player needs to secure in order to win the match.

There are many other rules that you will need to know if you want to play snooker, but if you are new to the sport, the above information will hopefully give you an initial grasp of what is going on.

What is snooker betting, and can you make a profit?

Placing bets on snooker is just like betting on any other sport – you make your selection and decide how much you want to wager.

There are many snooker markets and outcomes you can bet on. These can be placed before a match starts, and you can usually bet in-play, too. You are able to bet on singles, multiples, and accumulators.

These days, most snooker bets are completed online, although wagers can still be made in a betting shop.

With so many ways to approach snooker betting – as listed further down – if you do your research and know your onions, you can give yourself the best opportunity to turn a profit.

Different types of snooker bets

Outright tournament winner: This market is for who you think will win the whole competition – the last player standing with the winner’s trophy.

You can place bets at any stage of an event but are likely to get the biggest odds near the start. Each-way markets are usually available, meaning you can get paid if your selection at least reaches the final.

Match result: This is for who you think will win a one-on-one match. Also referred to as 1x2 betting. Most events on the professional snooker tour are straight knockout, so there will be a winner and a loser – there is no option for a draw.

The match winner is the player who reaches the predetermined target of frames.

Frame handicap/Points handicap: If there is a clear favourite for a match, the handicap markets can help level the playing field and offer a different betting opportunity.

A match handicap sees a player either begin on minus or receive a head start.

For example, in a first to five frames match, if a player starts on a –1.5 frame handicap, they will need to win the match by 5-3 or better (5 – 1.5 = 3.5, which beats 3)

Read: How does handicap betting work?

A points handicap for each frame works out the same. If a player starts on a –29.5 points handicap, they will need to win the frame by at least 30 points.

On the opposite side, if a player starts a frame on +29.5 points, so long as they keep it close and don’t lose by 30 points or more, the bet wins – even if they lose the frame.

Handicap markets are ideal if you think the favourite will run away with it, or if the underdog will make it competitive.

Total frames: How many frames do you think will be played throughout the whole match? This is another feasible market if you believe that a match will go close, or if it will be one-sided.

This usually involves an ‘under or over’ line. For example, if the match is the best of 19 frames and you bet on there being over 16.5 frames, at least 17 frames will need to be played. Therefore, the result must be 10-7, 10-8, or 10-9 either way.

Total centuries: Think there will be plenty of century breaks in a match, or will both players struggle to score?

Like the total frames angle, this market typically involves under or over.

If you go for over 2.5 centuries in a match, three or more centuries will win you your bet. Both players in the match can contribute towards this total, but there are often markets for individual player totals, too.

A century break in snooker is when a player scores 100 or more points in a single visit to the table during a frame.

Correct score: The specific outcome of a match; how many frames each player wins. For example, in a best of nine frames match, you may go for a player to win 5-2.

Frame winner: Selecting the player who will win a specific frame in a match.

Highest break bets: There are a few markets when it comes to highest break bets – this could relate to the whole tournament, a specific match, or an individual player.

In a match, you can bet on how high or low the highest break within that match will be. This market is usually priced up as under/over, or in points brackets if you want to be more specific and receive a better price.

You can also pitch the two players against each other – which one will have the highest break in the match (however, although it is very unlikely, this could end up as a tie).

147 break bets: A maximum 147 break is a feat of snooker perfection – the highest break possible, consisting of 15 red balls potted with blacks, and then all the colours.

Due to the very high standard and fantastic conditions of the professional snooker circuit these days, several 147s are made each and every season, but it is still a huge buzz to make or witness one.

Punters can bet on whether there will be a 147 break in a match with ‘yes or no’ - either collectively, or for a specific player.

Some markets will allow you to bet on whether you think a 147 will be compiled during the course of a tournament.

Will there be a foul? Some bookmakers offer odds on whether there will be a foul shot during a frame – this is decided by ‘yes or no’

Does snooker offer live (in-play) betting?

Yes, it does, and there are many markets to place bets on – most of which are the same pre-match but updated as the action unfolds.

As well as revising certain frames and match odds – and several other lines such as handicaps, total frames, breaks etc. - some bookmakers will have an in-play book on the overall tournament winner.

If a player you fancy is behind in a match, there could be an opportunity to get a big price for them to win the whole competition.

This was the case for Luca Brecel as he went on to win the 2023 World Championship; Brecel was 10-6 down to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the quarter-finals, and 14-5 behind to Si Jiahui in the semi-finals.

Key considerations for successful snooker betting

It is important to do some homework before placing a bet on snooker, and we don’t just mean the usual ‘checking the form guide’.

Unlike other sports where a fixed time or target remains the same throughout an entire tournament, the length of matches at a snooker event often changes in the latter rounds.

A shorter distance match (such as the best of seven frames) can bring an outsider more into play, whereas a longer race should favour the better player.

Find out what the target is for the match you are betting on – this affects the scope of many markets. Don’t get caught out! This is where value betting could come in handy!

Occasionally, there may be some unusual rules attached to a match or tournament. For example, in the Championship League Ranking Event, most matches are the best of four frames with a draw possible.

While the ‘Shoot Out’ is a one-frame event played with a shot-clock, match-clock, and irregular snooker rules.

Another consideration for placing bets on certain markets is the playing conditions.

Snooker is an indoor sport, but atmospheric and environmental conditions can be a big factor. Variables such as whether it is damp or humid can affect how heavy a delicate table cloth plays – somewhat like conditions on a golf course.

If a table has recently been reclothed, the pockets tend to be more accepting – especially for shots down the cushions – therefore these conditions are conducive for bigger scoring.

In recent years, the pockets at events held in China have been on the generous side which leads to a lot of century breaks being made.

As mentioned earlier, the pocket sizes at professional competitions should all be the same size, but other variables can make them play easier or tighter. Snooker is a precision sport, so little things can make a big difference.

Many players are on social media these days. If you are serious about betting on snooker, it may be worth following them as they can sometimes provide insight into how they are feeling or what the conditions at a tournament are like.

There are also several fantastic snooker information and data sites giving out free details such as cuetracker.org and snooker.org.

Snooker events to bet on

Bookmakers these days offer a wide range of betting markets for all professional events on the World Snooker Tour such as:

Championship League
Shanghai Masters
Xi'an Grand Prix
English Open
British Open
Wuhan Open
Northern Ireland Open
International Championship
Champion of Champions
Shoot Out
Scottish Open
Riyadh Season Championship
German Masters
Welsh Open
World Open
World Grand Prix
Players Championship Tour Championship

The biggest annual snooker events to bet on:

Saudi Arabia Masters: Professional snooker’s newest major event instantly made a huge impact on the sport as it boasted nearly as much prize money as the long-standing World Championship.

In fact, its inaugural edition in 2024 – won in dramatic fashion by Judd Trump who ousted Mark Williams in the final on the very last ball – paid out a £500,000 top prize, the same winners’ purse being offered at the Crucible for snooker’s blue riband event.

Snooker is one of the latest sports to have attracted huge money and interest from the Middle East, and the Saudi Arabia Masters is thinking long-term with an initial 10-year contract in place.

UK Championship: The second most prestigious ranking event in professional snooker, the UK Championship is part of the fabled Triple Crown Series and its current home is at the Barbican in York where it has been staged for many years now.

First held in 1977 as an invitational event only for British citizens and residents, eligibility rules changed in 1984 with all professionals – regardless of nationality or location – allowed to enter, therefore it became a world ranking event.

Masters: First held in 1975, the Masters is professional snooker’s biggest invitational tournament, and the middle leg of each season’s Triple Crown Series.

Only 16 players compete in the event each year – these are usually the top 16 from the world rankings.

The Masters was held at the memorable Wembley Conference Centre in London from 1979 to 2006 but now has a familiar home elsewhere in the capital city at the atmospheric Alexandra Palace that first hosted the event in 2012.

Huge crowds gather around the one-table set-up for the duration of the eight days, and there are huge match-ups straight from the off.

World Championship: Simply put, the most important snooker tournament on the planet – the title that all players have on top of their wish list when they set out.

First won by Joe Davis in 1927, the World Championship is like no other event on the circuit. Held at the iconic, cauldron-like Crucible Theatre in Sheffield every year since 1977, the 17-day extravaganza – even longer if you include the preceding qualifying rounds – is the ultimate test of a snooker player’s credentials.

Long format, multi-session matches throughout, drama and excitement are almost always guaranteed.

In the modern-era, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most world titles with seven each.

Snooker triple crown finals since 2015

World Championship winners/final results:

2015: Stuart Bingham 18-15 Shaun Murphy

2016: Mark Selby 18-14 Ding Junhui

2017: Mark Selby 18-15 John Higgins

2018: Mark Williams 18-16 John Higgins

2019: Judd Trump 18-9 John Higgins

2020: Ronnie O’Sullivan 18-8 Kyren Wilson

2021: Mark Selby 18-15 Shaun Murphy

2022: Ronnie O’Sullivan 18-13 Judd Trump

2023: Luca Brecel 18-15 Mark Selby

2024: Kyren Wilson 18-14 Jak Jones

2025: Zhao Xintong 18-12 Mark Williams

UK Championship winners/final results:

2015: Neil Robertson 10-5 Liang Wenbo

2016: Mark Selby 10-7 Ronnie O’Sullivan

2017: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-5 Shaun Murphy

2018: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-6 Mark Allen

2019: Ding Junhui 10-6 Stephen Maguire

2020: Neil Robertson 10-9 Judd Trump

2021: Zhao Xintong 10-5 Luca Brecel

2022: Mark Allen 10-7 Ding Junhui

2023: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-7 Ding Junhui

2024: Judd Trump 10-8 Barry Hawkins

Masters winners/final results:

2015: Shaun Murphy 10-2 Neil Robertson

2016: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-1 Barry Hawkins

2017: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-7 Joe Perry

2018: Mark Allen 10-7 Kyren Wilson

2019: Judd Trump 10-4 Ronnie O’Sullivan

2020: Stuart Bingham 10-8 Ali Carter

2021: Yan Bingtao 10-8 John Higgins

2022: Neil Robertson 10-4 Barry Hawkins

2023: Judd Trump 10-8 Mark Williams

2024: Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-7 Ali Carter

2025: Shaun Murphy 10-7 Kyren Wilson

Responsible Gambling with FIRST

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