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Snooker might, like darts, seem an unpromising subject for a computer game. How can you substitute screen and keyboard for table and cue?

Undaunted, CDS has come up with a pretty good attempt which retains the need for some basic skills, like an eye for angles and knowledge of the effect of top and bottom spin. It's not perfect - I doubt that any home computer's graphics capabilities could cope with the fine angles of real-life snooker - but it's more than adequate for a computer game, and at the very least it teaches you the rules.

The snooker table, complete with pockets, and balls, is displayed on the screen. You have the option of playing against Steve Davis (The computer. Apt, don't you think?), a human opponent, yourself, or even setting Steve to play Steve.

Next, you select skill level (1-9), and table speed (slow, normal or fast). At the lower skill levels, Steve makes an astonishing number of foul shots, obviously assuming that as a beginner you need a bit of encouragement.

To play, you select the ball you want to hit with the cue ball and move a + using the usual up, down, left and right keys, to the exact spot where you mean to hit it, after due consideration of all the angles. Then you select type of spin, the power of the shot, and press Space for fire! Off zooms the white ball, cannoning into your target ball, which, if you're a novice, promptly bounces off at a completely unexpected angle.

Then, if you're playing against 'Steve', you sit back and admire his well-judged and well-executed shot.

The normal rules of snooker apply, and there's even an option for making your opponent play again if he or she commits a foul stroke. The game keeps a running tally of both players' scores, plus the current break.

The graphics aren't bad, the balls knock against each other and off the cushion in a reasonably convincing manner, although the computer makes a sadjob of the clunk! you would normally expect to hear.

If you're hooked on Pot Black but can't afford a table of your own, this is probably the next best thing.