In snooker, scoring is measured not only by frames and matches, but by how effectively a player scores during each visit to the table.
Breaks are used to describe and compare these scoring visits, and they play a central role in match commentary, statistics, and records.
What is a snooker break?
A snooker break is the total number of points a player scores during a single uninterrupted visit to the table.
A break begins when a player comes to the table and ends when they fail to pot a legal ball, commit a foul, or concede the frame. All points scored during that visit are added together to form the break.
Breaks are recorded in points and are commonly used to measure scoring ability and performance.
How a break is scored
Points in a break are accumulated by potting balls in the correct order.
In standard snooker:
- Red balls are worth 1 point each
- Colours (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black) are worth between 2 and 7 points
- A red must be potted before a colour while reds remain
- Colours are respotted after being potted until all reds are gone
Once all reds are potted, the colours must be cleared in sequence from lowest to highest value. All points scored in this process count toward the same break.
When a break ends
A break ends when:
- The player fails to pot a legal ball
- A foul is committed
- The player concedes the frame
- The frame ends due to clearance of the table
The incoming player then starts a new break from zero.
Types of snooker breaks
Breaks are often described using common thresholds:
- Small break: typically under 30 points
- Frame-winning break: large enough to secure the frame
- Century break: 100 points or more in one visit
- Maximum break: the highest possible break under normal conditions
These terms are descriptive rather than official classifications.
Maximum possible break
Under standard rules, the maximum break is 147 points.
This consists of:
- Fifteen reds with fifteen blacks (120 points)
- All six colours cleared in order (27 points)
Higher breaks are possible in rare situations involving free balls, but these are exceptional cases.
Breaks and match records
Breaks are used for:
- Match statistics and broadcasts
- Tournament records and milestones
- Performance comparisons between players
- Bonus prizes in some events
High breaks do not directly affect rankings but are an important indicator of scoring quality.
Common misunderstandings
A break is the total score in a frame
A break only includes points scored in a single visit, not the full frame total.
A break includes points from fouls by the opponent
Only points scored by the player during their visit count toward their break.
A break continues after a foul by the opponent
A new visit begins after a foul, so the previous break has already ended.