Maui Croquet Club Coaching Analysis

CROQUET COACHING: Standard Opening Double Target

5 September 2010
by Paul Billings on Nottingham List

Paul Billings	I noticed that Standard Openings lately have been a bit south of where we have traditionally put them. It got me to wondering what an "optimal" position might be. See Standard Opening Double Target which justifies putting it level with hoop #4. [Because it makes a double target if shot at and missed.]
Leo Nikora	My experience has been that the Standard Response to the Standard Opening is not to shoot at the opening ball from A Baulk. What's your experience? If you think the Standard Response is to shoot from A Baulk, then another good place for the opening ball is to shoot out-of-bounds on the East boundary at a point where when it is placed back in it is hiding behind hoop #4 from the end of A Baulk. I'm not sure if this is more or less "optimal" than level with hoop #4 (which is not hidden from the end of A Baulk). If you think the Standard Response is either a 'tice, or to shoot at the opening ball from B Baulk, then there are better (more "optimal") places for the opening ball than level with hoop #4. I like to guard corner IV, by placing the opening ball at my 80% distance (about five yards) north of the corner. This often forces my opponent into setting a 'tice, or shooting into corner II.
Paul Billings	The Standard Response is a Standard 'Tice (West boundary). As I recall, you liked to respond in corner II, but I didn't think that was a good plan for you. I like the Duffer 'Tice myself. However, I've seen a number of people shoot at the East-boundary ball in turn two. It's good to know the optimal spot for two reasons: if you think opo might shoot at it in turn two, put it there. if you think you want to shoot at it in turn three, put it somewhere else! If you think the response will be a Standard 'Tice, I still like turn one level with hoop #4. Hoop #4 is very likely to be in the way of a rush to hoop #1 (a likely play should the opo hit their tice in turn four). What would you consider a more optimal spot against someone you think will lay a Standard 'Tice? For what it's worth, I don't think you're "guarding" C4 from [five yards north of the corner]. No one in their right mind would shoot up from corner III. Again, however, it is in a potentially difficult spot from which to get to hoop #1 should you shoot/join on turn three and oppo hits his own tice.
Leo Nikora	We are in violent agreement that most people don’t shoot at the opening ball. But, of those that do, my experience has been that more (even most) shoot from B Baulk when the opening ball is north of hoop #4. When the opening ball is south of hoop #4, then you're right, "no one in their right mind would shoot up from C3". Thus, I claim that such an opening is indeed "guarding the corner". It is good to know the spot that results in a double. For example, your reason #2; in which case, it's definitely not the "optimal" spot. So let's just call it the "double spot". So now we have several spots along the East boundary that are interesting. 1. Maximum-Distance Spot Equidistant from the end of A Baulk and the start of B Baulk (corner III); just south of the Golf Croquet penalty box. It's the most defensive Standard Opening. 2. Blocked Spot Blocked by hoop #4 from the end of A Baulk. Makes it hard for opponent to hit opening ball. 3. Double Spot Level with hoop #4. Gives you a double if you or opponent shoots and misses from A Baulk. 4. Guard Spot South of hoop #4. Takes away opponent's free shot from B Baulk.
Paul Billings	First: If that is your experience, you have to go with that. I don't find that, and I'd be happy to have them shoot from B Baulk. Playing someone who I think has that tendancy, I'd strive to go north enough to make them shoot from B Baulk. They get the 24-yard shot, I get a 15-yard shot. Second: For what it's worth, I wouldn't view the Maximum-Distance Spot as the "most defensive standard opening". (I will say that the Maximum-Distance Spot is the most defensive response to a Super-Shot Opening.) Going to Maximum-Distance Spot in turn one just makes it harder for me to hit in turn three. From that aspect, the Maximum-Distance Spot in turn one is certainly not very defensive (i.e., tough on my opponent). Third: I don't like going to the Blocked Spot because it makes it hard for me to shoot at it. Given no hits in turns two and three, my opponent will have a free shot in turn four. That's not in my best interest, so I need to keep my options open. Put it this way: if someone plays the Blocked Spot in turn one, that allows me to set a relatively long tice, hoping they think their best option is to shoot through it to corner II. Any shorter and they stand a good chance of hitting.
Leo Nikora	Now we're getting to the philosophy behind the Standard Opening. I think the purpose of the Standard Opening is: join up far away from the baulk lines, and then build a four-ball break on fifth turn. It should be used by players who do not want to attempt a three-ball break. If you want to hit partner on third turn, then (with one exception, covered below) you must want to try a three-ball break. In that case, you shouldn't be doing a Standard Opening. You should be doing a Super-Shot Opening. The one exception to not shooting at partner after a Standard Opening is a long (both players having less than 50% chance of hitting it) 'tice. Then you want to hit-in so you can move the 'tice to pivot, join-up with partner far from the baulk lines, and wait for the fourth ball to be put on the court. Since you have less than 50% chance of hitting either the 'tice and partner, you shoot at partner, so you're joined-up if you miss.