Question #2 Answer

Posted At : November 30, 2007 1:19 AM
Related Categories: Croquet Answers

Even the very best players in the World successfully roquet at 15 yards less than 50% of the time. How much less the rest of we mortals - especially if the price for missing will be high?!

Therefore, the shots on offer here are NOT as easy as they seem. If you think that (in this example) the chance of an immediate break is less than 50% for you, then probably the best thing to do is to take the shot at Black with Red. If you miss then the pressure is still high for Black, as he knows that Yellow will next go to the A Baulk where partner lies.

If Red hits then there is a great leave here as illustrated, with Red located in a wired position from Black at Yellow's wicket!

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Whilst your statement regarding 15 yarders is valid, it seems to bear little relevance to the question. Yellow has an eight yarder with a ball in the background which equates to about a six yarder.
As suggested before, it is very difficult to turn down this shot.

# Posted By chris clarke | 11/30/07 7:47 PM

Having looked at your suggested leave, it appears to use a high risk method. The blue is croqueted towards B-Baulk from 25 yards away and then the red is dribbled back to wired position from about 4 yards, across the wiring line. Would it not be more accurate to croquet blue towards hoop 4 along the wiring line and then play red to just south of 3rd corner?

# Posted By chris clarke | 11/30/07 7:56 PM

I agree that perhaps Black ends up too close to Red, which could be solved by ensuring that Black is sent closer to #1 corner.

However, I would prefer not to leave Blue at #4, as it allows Blue to then take the long shot at Yellow next turn. It is unlikely that Blue would hit, but then Yellow has no break if Blue misses.

I still maintain that normal players will not hit 6, 7 or 8 yard shots under pressure and so instead of backing themselves to hit should rather back the opponent to miss.

# Posted By admin | 12/1/07 4:54 AM

I tried hard to write an "interesting" response justifying red at Black but it is simply not playable for virtually any standard of players. At the top level yellow at red is as Chris says more or less compulsory and at lower levels after red misses black blue should shoot at black for a laid break not vice versa (this also makes the pick up harder for yellow after the lift if missed).

In discussing wiring leaves I think everyone is making this out to be much more likely than it is in reality, unless you are very lucky with where
black ends up after the first roquet red (remember it is just as likely to be near hoop 1) you probably should not even be attempting a wire.

# Posted By Ian Burridge | 12/1/07 7:18 AM

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