Cork Pool: A Guide to the 1910 Bouchon Rules

Estimated Read Time: 3 mins | April 25, 2025

Cork Pool belongs to a family of obstacle games played on billiard tables. This guide follows the Bouchon (cork) version in Brunswick-Balke-Collender’s 1910 handbook, pages 101–103. It uses three corks and three balls, so its rules should not be mixed with a single-cork house game.

Equipment & Table Setup

The 1910 setup uses two white balls, one red and three upright corks. The centre cork carries the pool; the other two are penalty obstacles on the standard three-ball spots. The red begins on a separate pool spot five inches from the foot cushion. Opening white balls are played from the six-inch-radius semicircle at the head. Follow the book’s table diagram and dimensions. For casual modern play, obtain the table owner’s approval for suitable nonmarking obstacles and keep score off the cloth instead of stacking metal coins.

Core Gameplay & Objective

The opener plays a white at the red, sending the red to a cushion and then into the centre cork. To win, that cork must fall completely clear of its spot while the outer corks stay upright. The second player uses the other white from the semicircle and may play at either object ball. Later players can use any ball from where it lies. Rule 8 also permits a cushion-first cue-ball route, followed by an object ball knocking over the centre cork; in that case the object ball need not itself touch a cushion.

Penalties & Coin Stakes

A cue ball knocking down a cork is a foul. Other listed faults include missing an object ball, displacing an outer cork, leaving the fallen centre cork touching its spot, or knocking the money off while the cork stays upright. The 1910 rules charge separately for each cork knocked down; they do not impose a universal one-penalty-per-stroke cap. Re-entering after a lost life is optional. For a non-cash adaptation, agree counters and re-entry before play.

Restarting the Frame

A valid win ends the game and a new one begins. Otherwise, restore fallen corks before the next stroke. Rules 6–7 explain displaced balls and obstructed cork spots, including use of the special foot-end pool spot and, where required, the head semicircle. Do not substitute an automatic red-first restart after every shot.

Why Cork Pool Delights

The appeal is the obstacle route: a successful bank must reach the target without disturbing the penalty corks. This version has a published historical rulebook, rather than being absent from formal rules. Agree which edition or house adaptation you are playing before starting.

Conclusion

Bouchon offers a different test of pace and cushion routes. Read the full 1910 rules alongside this overview, use equipment appropriate for the table, and distinguish any modern adaptations from the documented game.

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