A standard snooker table has six pockets.
There is one pocket at each of the four corners and one in the middle of each long side cushion. The pockets are used to pot the fifteen reds, six colours and, when legally played, the cue ball can also enter a pocket as part of a foul.
The six-pocket layout distinguishes snooker from some other cue sports. A full-size table is much larger than a pool table, and its rounded, relatively tight pocket openings make accurate positional play especially demanding.
Players must consider both potting angles and cue-ball position after every shot. A ball near a corner pocket may be easier to pot than one near a centre pocket, depending on the line of aim and the required cue-ball route.