Each Member of a Croquet Club is given a Handicap between 0 and 22. The lowest, "0", being the best player (in the World) The new player starts on 22.

        The difference between two persons' Handicaps is so many Bisques.

        This Handicapping allows for  new players, or ones of different abilities, to play with other better players, competitively.

        Singles Play:  
        In Singles play one Bisque (extra turn) is given to the weaker player for each unit difference of Handicap between the two players.

        When this Bisque is taken all the balls become alive again. NB. It is a new turn not another free shot.

        Full Bisque Play:
        In full Bisque play each player receives an allocation of Bisques equal to his Handicap.

         Half Bisques:
         A half-Bisque is an extra turn with the restriction that no Hoop point can be scored by either side during that turn.

         No Splitting:
         Full Bisques may not be converted into two half-bisques.

         Anytime means Anytime!
         A Bisque may be taken at the end of any turn at anytime in the game - except in time on.
           

        A Toss on the Lawn:
        The giver of Bisques has the call of the spin of the coin at commencement of play.

          Same Ball:
          The same ball must be played for the Bisque as was used for the previous turn.

          Alive Oh!
          When a Bisque is taken all balls become live again i.e. you can Roquet any of the other three balls.

          Change of Mind:
          A player may call for a Bisque and then, change his mind and that's it. Once he has left the lawn he no longer has that option. He may indicate no Bisque and cannot then change his mind.

           Keeping Count:
           Bisques sticks - both full and half - are displayed off court for both teams. The opponent should ensure the dismissal of the Bisque stick as a Bisque is taken.

          No Prize for left over Bisques:
          

         NB: The more Bisques you have the more important it is to take them early in the game to set up breaks. There is no prize for having left over Bisques at the end of "Time' or when your opposition has "Pegged out".

        The Choice Principle:
        The "Choice Principle": (Ref. High Court of Australia, Barwick CJ) "The ACA Laws Committee, having prescribed the circumstances which will attract a Handicap (Bisques) or provide occasion for its reduction or elimination, the player has every right to mould the Tactical use into which he is about to enter into a form which satisfies the requirement of the Principle. (It cannot) matter that his Choice of Tactics was influenced wholly or in part by its effect upon his self exact covenant to contend in a specific event in which his Handicap might demonstrate to be more than advantageous".

        Intention:
        At the conclusion of a turn the Striker must give a clear indication of his intention before playing a Bisque.

        Mind Changing:
        A player may change his mind, at anytime, before playing a stroke, provided he indicates his revised intention.

         If the player has played all the strokes he is entitled to and he indicates that he is not going to play a Bisque or by walking off the court, he may not change his mind.

        Particular care must be taken when a Player has sent his Striker ball out, over the boundary. He might step back off the lawn to judge distances, position etc. before indicating his desire to take (or not to take) a Bisque. This could lead to a misinterpretation of intent.

        Hang About:
        The adversary must not start his turn until the Striker has so indicated.

        Indian Giver:
        The player given Bisques should remember that the more Bisques received should indicate the adversary's ability to play.

         However, one should keep in mind that a person on a Handicap of 15 on a bad day will miss as many "easy" shots as a person on a 22 Handicap would miss on a good day.

        Despair or Disparity:
        However, this may not be a worthy summation when the difference in Handicap is still seven Bisques but the giver is on 2 and receiver on 9 Handicap.

        In this case the disparity is more than likely in the use of "Tactics" and "Strategy", rather than the Technique.

        Eny, Meany, Miny, Mo:  
        There are certain times when a Bisque should be played, should not be played - and some could be played as a calculated gamble.

        So that you can understand the situation we call the various situations.

1.  A Baby Bisque
2.  A Weeny Bisque
3.  A Junior Bisque
4.  A Middle Bisque
5.  A Senior Bisque
6.  A Defensive Bisque                                                

(1)      A Baby Bisque is considered when a ball is stuck in the Hoop or just misses, but is in a favourable position to run the Hoop.

• Take the Bisque if there are balls set up at the next Hoop and a good break can be made.
• Take the Bisque if there is an opponent's ball able to hit you in the Hoop and can make a Break by hitting "in".
• Take the Bisque if the opponent has his balls together, an easy rush/takeoff onto that Hoop - his - and Hoops are loaded.
• Take the Bisque if you have Wired your opponent and he has a good "Lift"                      
• Don't take the Bisque if your own partner ball is waiting and there is no chance of making a break. Your jawed ball is reasonably safe in that Hoop. In this case, your opponent will try to hit you or join up with his other ball. Possibly, he will be giving you a better position to make a Break

       
 (2)       A Weeny Bisque is when your ball misses the Hoop running position on croquet.  The continuation shot is used to set up to run the Hoop. The Bisque is only taken if the next Hoop is loaded and it is not your own partner ball at your Hoop

 (3)       A Junior Bisque is when your ball misses the Hoop running position on croquet. The continuation shot is then positioned behind a  partner ball for a Bisque rush/roquet onto the Hoop running position.

          A Junior Bisque is only taken if the next Hoop(s) are loaded and a break would result. Or if you are Wired from hitting the ball at this Hoop on the next turn.

4      A Middle Bisque is taken when your opponents' two balls are in the middle of the lawn and you could make a good break.  Fire carefully so that, if a roquet is missed, you are still in position to take a Bisque and make the break.

5       A Senior Bisque is taken if your approach to a Hoop is not good enough to run it but the other ball is beside or near the Hoop.

          Look carefully at the position of the other two balls. Which one is not in a good position, out on a boundary, but could be repositioned with a Bisque? It could even be alive and Bisques make you brave.

           Shoot at it anyway and if needed, take the Bisque and set that ball up while possibly going to the other ball and reposition it, too. Then, take off to your original Hoop where you have left a good Pilot and make the break.

5       A Defensive Bisque is taken if a situation arises where, if you left the balls as is, your opponent could hit in and make a significant break.     

        THE HALF BISQUE:
        A half Bisque is a restricted extra turn in which no point can be scored for any ball.

        Situation (1)
        Setting up the next turn.

        Your turn ends and your ball is close enough to roquet and be roqueted by an opponent's ball - but a brake is not set up. Take a half Bisque.

        In the extra turn relocate one or both of the opponent's balls strategically and return close to your partner in the croquet shot. Roquet the partner ball and end the half bisque turn with a rush set up near the boundary.
 

        Situation (2)
        Busting up the Opposition:

        Your turn ends but your opponent's balls have been left close together for a rush on you or a Hoop. Take a half Bisque and relocate their balls more strategically advantageous to you.

        Should the tactical situation change dramatically with this manoeuvre - and the Striker's ball could progress further - consider a full Bisque to follow up on the half Bisque to further the break.

        REGULATION 13 (C) & (D): TIME

        What's the Situation Ref?
        Depending on the situation or the Tournament the end of Play Time does not necessarily end the use of Bisques.

        Extension Period:
        At the sound of the bell to end play, the player in play completes the turn. The adversary has one more turn. No Bisques may be played during this "Extension Period"

        Continuation Period:
        When points are level when time was called and beginning with the player in play at that time, players play alternative turns until the winning point is scored for one side.

        Bisques may be played during this period.
 

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