Tactic #3

Choose the correct penalty spot

The correct penalty spot is not always the one furthest away from the hoop being contested. Blue runs hoop 6 gently, Black is ‘out of the picture’ near the East boundary and Yellow is off-side. Red will take position at hoop 7 and from the East penalty spot (A) Yellow has a good chance of blocking Blues clearance on Red because Yellows shot is played along the 'blocking line'. Making Yellow play from the nearer penalty spot (B) and across the blocking line will make it harder for him to achieve a decisive block.

Tactic #2

This can be applied at any hoop and is most useful when the opponent’s dead ball is a long way off. Say Yellow shot at hoop 7 and missed down to the S boundary. Let’s analyse three options for Blue:

A: There is not much point in Blue taking position where it can be easily removed, often with a ‘half-ball shot’ meaning it will be sent over to the E boundary and Red will achieve safe position 7 yards in front of the hoop.  This leaves Red in a commanding position at the hoop and potentially the next shot at it.

B: Blue can take safe position where it cannot be removed by Red, but that does not leave an easy hoop for Blue. Several scenarios are possible here:

·    Red takes close position, Black likewise and hopes Blue can remove Red if Yellow does not block that shot (albeit from the S boundary). There is a danger that Black can block its partner!

·    Red takes close position, Black clears, Yellow takes position and unless Blue runs from the boundary, control of the hoop will probably shift to the opponent.

·    Red also takes safe position (at least 2 yards away from Blue), Black takes good position trying to block Red’s hoop shot, Yellow plays up and Blue tries to block Reds clearance on Black. A lot can go wrong with this: Black can fail to block the hoop, Blue can fail to block the clearance, Red can jump Blue to run hoop or clear Black etc.

·    Red and Black take safe position, and so the hoop becomes a shoot-out from the Boundary. Apart from the advantage of Blue having first shot at the hoop (if Yellow does not achieve a block), it is almost a 50/50 outcome.

C: Blue sets up a promotion for Black. Now what does Red do considering Yellow is out of the picture! Any halfway decent promotion will leave Blue an easy hoop and Yellow a difficult clearance (if it is open on Blue). Red can try to upset the promotion, but will probably remain close to Blue on the boundary in which case Black can take position and after Yellow plays, Blue can easily block Reds clearance. Given the difficulties with A & B, option C maximises Blue and Blacks probability of scoring the point.

 

2013 World Championships in Cairo

Four Irish players: Ed, Simon, Evan and Jack are competing in the singles competiton for the title of Golf Croquet World Champion.

Another Irish player, Mark won it in London in 2011 but is not defending his title. Mark achieved the distinction of being the first non-Egyptian player to win the World Championship, so we will be using that as inspiration!

The championship takes place April 21st-28th in Cairo, home to the World's strongest players. It will be a tough battle ahead, but the Irish have trained hard and will be no pushovers, insh'Allah.

Results can be followed here: http://www.croquetscores.com/2013/gc/world-championship

Tactic #1

Here is a common situation: Blue has to clear Red from in front of hoop 8, it is pointless to clear Red to the Boundary and remain "in lawn" as Blue is in danger of being cleared away (much further) himself.

A better tactic is to nudge Red out of position and to deflect away towards the boundary where Blue's position is now "safe".

Red will more than likely take position again in front of the hoop, Black does the same - aiming to be "wired" from Yellow behind the hoop or Red.

Unless Yellow can block Blue's clearance on Red, Blue can then attempt to clear Red to the far side of the lawn, who will have a difficult clearance on Black to save the point.

This blog has been created as a prelude to the book I have started to write:
"Golf Croquet: 101 Tactics and Ideas".

Golf Croquet is a great sport, involving tactics, strategy and physical accuracy. 

The standard lawn measures 28x35 yards, each ball about 4" and weighs 1 lb.
The 6 hoops are only 1/32" wider than the balls and set firm in the ground.
The layout of the hoops and "course" does not change, and each hoop is run twice (in opposite directions).

The objective is score 7 points (1 point = 1 hoop) before your opponent does.
Each time a point is scored, both players then move on to the next hoop and contest that.

It is always Blue & Black vs Red & Yellow.
Each turn consists of just a single shot and always in the sequence of Blue, Red, Black, Yellow, Blue, Red etc etc.

Each blog post will look at one specific idea or tactic, not forgetting the important strategical side of the game. Remember:

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War