Italian billiards online

Cinque Birilli is an Italian billiards game you play in your browser, on a computer or a phone, with nothing to install. It has the two disciplines most played in Italian billiard halls: 5 pins (“cinque birilli”) and goriziana (9 pins). Italian billiards is played on a table without pockets, with three balls and a small castle of pins in the centre.

What you can do

• Challenge other players: see who is online, send an invitation and take turns in real time. A game can also be resumed later.
• Play against the computer, at three levels: easy, medium and expert.
• Climb the rankings: every rated game updates your Elo rating (everyone starts at 1200). The 5-pin and goriziana rankings are separate.
• Organise tournaments with friends or your club, round robin or knockout.
• Learn at the Billiards Academy: 25 lessons in 5 levels, from the centre-ball stroke to the rinquarto and positional play. The coach shows the shot, you repeat it, and each level ends with an exam and a diploma.
• Practise on your own: place the balls wherever you like, shoot and get a score from the coach, who can show you the best shot from that position.
• Watch your shots again: save a shot or a whole game and replay it shot by shot, in slow motion too.

The table

You see the table from above (2D) or in perspective (3D), with a camera that can also sit behind the ball. The physics is tuned on billiard school manuals: power, ball fraction, spin, draw and follow, the bounce off the cushions and even the state of the cloth, new or worn. You can choose the classic green cloth or tournament blue and, if you like, a crowd that applauds the best shots.

The disciplines

5 pins (Italian style)

Two players, three balls and a castle of five pins in the middle of the table. You strike your own ball to send your opponent’s ball onto the pins or the red ball. Games are played to 30, 50 or 60 points. Read the 5-pin rules.

Goriziana (9 pins)

The castle has nine pins arranged in a cross, the points are higher and kick shots count double. Games are played to 100, 150 or 200 points. Read the goriziana rules.

How to start

1. Open 5birilli.it and create an account with a username, email and password.
2. Confirm your email with the link you receive: you need it for challenges and tournaments. Practice, Academy and games against the computer are available straight away.
3. Choose the discipline and play. On a phone you can add the site to your home screen and use it like an app.

The game is available in English, Italian, French and Spanish.