straight-rail billiards, billiard game played with three balls (one red and two white) on a table without pockets. The object is to score caroms by hitting both object balls with a cue ball. A player may use either white ball as cue ball but not one that has been placed on one of the small spots marked on the table, as at the start of the game or after one is knocked off the table. Only three caroms may be scored when both object balls are in the crotch, a small triangle marked in each corner of the table. On the third carom, one or both object balls must be driven out of the crotch or the player loses the turn at play. Other rules are the same as in billiards (q.v.).