WHERE TO PLAY

Local billiards parlors run the spectrum from old-time hole-in-the-wall spots to upscale places with full bar, private rooms, California cuisine and a 2,000-gallon shark tank:

ALOHA FAMILY BILLIARDS

7311 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park.

(714) 522-2611.

Hours: Noon to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 13 pocket billiards, one quarter and one snooker.

Rates: $6 per hour.

Additional information: Serves beer and soft drinks.

BILLIARD THANH TAM

10902 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove.

(714) 636-7255.

Hours: Weekdays 11 a.m. to midnight, weekends till 2 a.m.

Tables: 28 three-ball (carom) billiards.

Rates: $4.95 per hour.

Additional information: Serves soft drinks only.

BROADWAY BILLIARD PARLOR

225 N. Broadway, Santa Ana

(714) 558-9925

Hours: 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. daily.

Tables: 13 pocket billiards, four three-ball (carom).

Rates: $6 per hour.

Additional information: Serves beer and soft drinks.

CYPRESS FAMILY RECREATION

6287 Ball Rd., Cypress

(714) 229-0362

Hours: Noon to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 10 pocket billiards, four coin-operated.

Rates: $4.75 to $5.50 per hour, depending on time and day of the week.

Additional information: Serves beer and soft drinks.

GAMES PLUS

3242 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim.

(714) 826-0742.

Hours: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, till 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday

Tables: 13 pocket billiards, two coin-operated.

Rates: $5 per hour. Half-price all day Tuesday and from 7 to 10 p.m.

Additional information: Serves soft drinks only.

GOLDEN CUE FAMILY BILLIARDS

1719 W. Chapman Ave., Orange.

(714) 937-0932

Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 9 coin-operated.

Rates: 50 cents per game.

Additional information: Serves beer and soft drinks.

GROVE FAMILY BILLIARDS

12022 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove.

(714) 537-9947.

Hours: Noon to midnight Monday through Thursday, till 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday.

Tables: 12 pocket billiards, two coin-operated, one snooker and one three-ball (carom) billiards.

Rates: $5 per hour.

Additional information: Serves beer and soft drinks.

RJ BILLIARDS AND SPORTS CLUB

279 E. Orangethorpe Ave., Fullerton.

(714) 992-4801.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 14 pocket billiards.

Rates: $6 to $12 per hour, depending on time and day of the week. $3 lunchtime special.

Additional information: Texas-style barbecue restaurant with full bar and big-screen TVs.

INSPIRATION POINT

309 N. Manchester Ave., Anaheim.

(714) 491-1938.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: Four coin-operated pocket billiards.

Rates: 50 cents per game, free on Thursday.

Additional information: Beer, wine and dancing; 50-cent draft beer on Thursday nights; Billiards leagues on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Open-mike jam session for aspiring musicians Wednesday nights at 9 p.m.

KING BILLIARDS

8345 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove.

(714) 539-2128.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Tables: seven three-ball (carom) billiards.

Rates: $9 per hour.

LINBROOK FAMILY BILLIARD CENTER

2220 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim.

(714) 774-7956.

Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight daily.

Tables: 16 three-ball (carom) billiards.

Rates: $5 to $6 per hour, depending on time and day of the week.

LUCKY BILLIARDS

9735 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove.

(714) 537-9068.

Hours: Noon to midnight daily

Tables: 8 three-ball (carom) billiards.

Rates: $9 per hour.

ROCKETS N POCKETS

19092 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach.

(714) 965-2240.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; till 12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Tables: 14 pocket-billiards, two coin-operated.

Rates: $5 to $6 per hour depending on time of day, $1 for each additional hour. Daytime single-player practice rate $4.

Additional information: Serves soft drinks only.

HARD TIMES PIZZA AND BILLIARDS

1501 Whittier Blvd., La Habra.

(310) 697-4121.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 16 pocket billiards, one coin-operated.

Rates: $6.50 per hour, $4 daytime single-player practice rate 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Additional information: Serves pizza and beer.

HARD TIMES BILLIARDS

17540 Bellflower Blvd., Bellflower.

(213) 867-7733.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 41 pocket billiards, three coin operated, three snooker and one three-ball (carom).

Rates: $6.50 per hour.

Additional information: Serves soft drinks, pizza and sandwiches.

PARIS BILLIARD CAFE

10706 Garden Grove Blvd, Garden Grove.

(714) 638-7317.

Hours: 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday; noon to midnight Sunday.

Tables: Seven three-ball (carom) tables, two pocket billiards.

Rates: $4 per hour.

Additional information: Serves soft drinks only.

SAIGON BILLIARDS

9766 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove.

(714) 636-1517.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 10 three-ball (carom), four pocket billiards.

Rates: $4 per hour.

Additional information: Serves soft drinks only.

SHARK CLUB

841 W. Baker St., Costa Mesa

(714) 751-0206

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, till 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Tables: 26 pocket billiards. Private rooms available.

Rates: $10 to $12 per hour, depending on day of the week. $5 per hour single-player practice rate from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Additional information: Full bar and restaurant featuring California cuisine. Modern decor with 2,000-gallon shark tank. Age limit and dress code.

THANH TAM 2

8851 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove.

(714)539-2109

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Tables: 18 three-ball (carom).

Rates: $4.25 per hour.

Additional information: Serves soft drinks only.

PLUSH POCKETS

24356 Swartz Dr. Bldg. H, Lake Forest.

(714) 951-POOL.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 20 pocket billiards.

Rates: $6 to $12 per hour, depending on time and day of the week. Half-hour free play with purchase of colossal sandwich 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

Additional information: Serves beer and wine. Sandwich bar, big-screen TVs. Age limit, dress code.

WESTMINSTER FAMILY BILLIARDS CENTER

6328 Westminster Blvd., Westminster.

(714) 893-8542.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 15 pocket billiards, one snooker, two coin-operated.

Rates: $5.50 per hour.

Additional information: Serves beer and soft drinks. Private instruction available.

FEZZIWIG’S FAMILY FUN CENTER

25800 Jeronimo Rd., Mission Viejo.

(714) 855-1231.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 10 pocket billiards, three coin-operated.

Rates: $4.20 to $7.20 per hour depending on time and day of the week.

Additional information: Serves beer, wine and sandwiches.

GAME PLUS

518 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa.

(714) 631-9411.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 15 pocket billiards, one three-ball (carom).

Rates: $7 to $10 per hour depending on number of players. Single-player practice rate $3.50 weekdays.

Additional information: Serves beer, soft drinks and snacks.

HOANG BILLIARDS

12273 Westminster Ave., Westminster.

(714) 554-1882.

Hours: 10 a.m. to midnight weekdays, till 2 a.m. weekends.

Tables: 20 three-ball (carom).

Rates: $4 per hour.

YANKEE DOODLES

4100 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach.

(310) 439-9777.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Tables: 20 pocket billiards, six coin-operated.

Rates: $5 to $6, depending on time and day of the week.

Additional information: Private billiards instruction available. Indoor driving range, putting machine, ping pong tables, dart boards, restaurant and full bar.

TRIANGLE BILLIARDS AND BAR STOOLS

750 E. Katella Ave., Orange.

(714) 771-5380.

Hours: Mon.- Fri 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Instruction for beginners and experienced players.

Rates: $30 per half hour for individuals; $75 per hour for groups of three to 10 people. Private in-home lessons available.

Table Manners

The house rules at most billiard parlors are usually posted near the attendant’s station. But here are a few guidelines:

Challenging on Quarter Tables

Most tables are rented by the hour. But some parlors have coin-operated tables that are available on a per-game basis. If a coin-operated table is occupied and you wish to play next, put a quarter on the edge of the table. This tells the players you wish to challenge the winner.

Billiard Etiquette

Most parlors request the following:

Do not sit on pool tables.

Do not set drinks on the tables.

No gambling or profanity.

When aiming your cue, be careful not to crowd players at surrounding tables.

Some parlors do not permit certain shots that may cause table damage.

And some have an age limit and weekend dress code (no tank tops or torn jeans, for example). Call ahead for guidelines.

Source: Various billiard parlors

Rack ‘Em Up!

Eight ball and nine ball are the most common pocket-billiards games in Orange County. Classic billiards, known as three ball, carom or cushion billiards, is played on a table without pockets and is popular in the local Vietnamese community. Nine Ball This game uses the eight solid-color balls and the striped nine ball. The object of the game is to pocket the nine ball. On each shot the first ball hit by the cue ball must be the lowest-numbered ball on the table, but balls need not be pocketed in order. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he continues to shoot until he misses, fouls or wins the game. The game ends when the nine ball is pocketed on a legal shot. Eight Ball All 15 balls are used. One player must pocket the solid balls, numbered 1 through 7; an opponent the striped balls numbered 9 through 15. The balls may be pocketed in any order. The first player to finish and then pocket the eight ball wins. However, any player pocketing the eight ball before finishing his or her series of balls loses.

Three Ball (Carom or Three-Cushion Billiards)

The game is played with one red ball and two cue balls (one for each player). Players score points by causing the cue ball to either (1) contact one or more cushions before contacting object balls, or (2) contact an object ball directly and then one or more cushions before it contacts the second object ball. Game ends when a player reaches an agreed upon number of points.

Source: Billiards Congress of America