Rules of snooker satisfied that the player was only positioning the ball, and not playing a shot or preparing to play one. When a player commits a foul, the opponent receives penalty points equal to the value of the ball "on", the value of the highest valued ball involved in the foul, or 4 points, whichever is greatest. When multiple fouls are made in one shot, only the most highly valued foul is counted. Penalty points are therefore at least 4 points and at most 7. Not hitting the ball "on" first is the most common foul. A common defensive tactic is to
The Downside Ball Game both sides are “game-ball” (i.e. 20 points each), only one player serves, it does not matter which. When only one side is “game-ball”, only one player on that side serves, but both players on the other side serve until they too reach “game-ball”. "(ii)" A player serves by hitting the ball full toss against the front wall or against one of the corners; in this latter case he must first call “corners play”; if he does not do so, the players, who are “out” may try at it the same way as a “not over” ball (see below section iv).