Billiards in Russia, having undergone years of restrictions, is experiencing such an impetuous revival, that only in Moscow, the number of club-bars, billiards rooms, billiards bars and other well equipped places where you can spend a wonderful time playing the game has reached several thousands. This game isn’t any more a monopoly of wealthy people. Its spectacular and dynamic features attract a very large number of young people. Even teen-agers and children attend special training courses. This has become even more important, as Billiards is for the first time included into the list of Olympic games 2000.
The game was not invented in Russia. It was Peter the Great who introduced it personally ordering the first tables be brought from HollandThe 300th anniversary of billiards in Russia was marked last year.
Since that time Russians have mastered a lot of versions of the game - French carambole (carom), English snooker, American pool - but they still tend to prefer their own version of the pyramid.
The table for the Russian pyramid is larger than a pool table: 355x177 sm (140x70in); the ball is also larger 6.8 sm (3.68in). However the pockets are narrow, and the clearance between the sides and the ball is minimal. The assive cue weighs 700 grams (1.54lbs) and is 1.65 meter (65in) long. The object of the game is to score 71 points.
If you find the pyramid somewhat dry and academic, you can try a more dynamic version of Russian billiards, Amerikanka.
An hour at a billiard table will cost about 100-500 rbls. Russian billiards can be played by two, three or even four players (this can reduce the cost per person).