1.  The Opening
          
2.  Breaks
                 (a)  2 - ball break
                 (b)  3 - ball break
                 (c)  4 - ball break
          
3. Leaves
          
4. Pegging Out

           (1) The Opening:
        Toss a Coin
           On the toss of a coin, the winner chooses who plays first. The other player chooses the colours or vice - versa. This is actually the first part of a player's Strategy

           Coloured Balls:
           Blue and Black play together and Red with Yellow. In Singles when "in", either ball may be used but it must remain the Striker ball for that "in". In Doubles each player has his own colour. The "in" player is determined by the better position of a ball and or discussed "Strategy"

           Other Balls are Grey
           When playing, all the other balls are grey and you have a maximum 7 shots before having to run a Hoop to again have another maximum 7 shots etc

           Baulk Line:
           Play starts from either Baulk line one yard in (measured by mark on mallet) All balls are repositioned on the one yardline if and when they cross it. (The exception is the Striker ball when in legal play)

           Over the Fence is OUT!
           Going over the boundary is "out" and you loose your "in" unless the ball(s) go out on a Roquet shot.

           The Clips:
           The four (4) individual coloured Clips, one for each ball, are initially placed on the top of No 1 Hoop (blue crown) They and picked up and carried on one's person through that turn. They are then replaced on the next Hoop to be run. This will remind all players  which ball is for which Hoop.

           Coming Back:
           The clip is placed on the leg of the Hoop on the "back" or anticlockwise Hoops.

           The Objective:
           The object is to put each ball through the Hoops in sequence e.g. Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. clockwise.
           Each of these Hoops has a corresponding corner (e.g. No 1, 2,3 and 4 corner) which also goes in sequence shown by the coloured flags Blue (1), Red (2), Black (3) and Yellow (4).
           No 5 and 6 hoops are in the middle separated by the "Peg".
           The end with No 1 and 4 is South and Nos 2 and 3 are North.
           The longer sides between No 1 and 2 is West and opposite is East.

           (The sides have no relation to the actual compass points)

           When the first six Hoops are run successfully the Hoops are then run anticlockwise for "back" Hoops so:-
           No 2 (forward) is now No "1 back":
           No 1 is "2 back "
           4  is "3 back" and
           No 6 is now "Penultimate" (Penult) and
           No 5 (red crown) is "Rover".        

          (If you are totally confused don't worry about it - it'll come like riding a bike)

           "Pegging Out"
           The game ends when either one set of balls is "Pegged Out" or after the bell is rung with the "out" (and off the Court) next player having the last "in" in overtime. Some Clubs stop on the bell.

           Traditional Opening:
           The traditional opening is for the first ball to be played to the East (right hand) boundary, somewhere near No 4 Hoop. The next player usually puts up a "tice" (enticement) for the opponent's second shot.

            However, the opponent may prefer to get set up near  the Yellow corner (Hoop 4) in the South East.
           The last ball in may try to Roquet his first ball and if missing, ends up in the Red corner ( No 2). This is so that the opponent does not have two balls on the West (left) boundary of which to make use.
         
           If the third ball starting, Roquets his first ball he will more than likely make a "take-off" to the Yellow corner to Roquet his opponent's ball and use it to make a break.

         This also stops the opponent from linking up with his next start shot.

          Beginner's Luck:
          However, this is the conventional start of play for "A" Grade players. They know that, nine times out of ten, long distance Roquets, take-offs, splits and rolls come off . Whereas, it is the opposite for beginners (at least it was for this one).

         There are many different ways to play the first four shots to get the balls on the lawn. Try anything just to see what happens.

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     Much Better:
       It is much better for beginners, if there are no Handicap Bisques (i.e. same level of play for each player) - and shots are made easier for each other - if all shoot for the first Hoop and get on with it.

        It is not yet the time to Psych anyone "out" but rather, to psych everyone "in" - otherwise, they will take their bat and ball and go home.
        Some beginners try for the No 1 Hoop from the start - and to hell with the outcome. It might not be good policy to do this with good playing partners in Doubles -  but for beginners it sets the fox among the chooks.

        NB. Each shot requires:
        (1) the Tactic - where to place the ball or balls for a two, three or four ball Break or safe Leave.
        (2) the Stalk - to line up the shot and to survey the lawn for possible unevenness.
        (3) the aim and Stance - feet in line and body positioned for that particular shot.
        (4) the eyes on the Striker ball at point of contact - don't lift the head until the bloody follow through is complete.
        (5) the follow through - smooth (unless a stop shot or roll)
        (6) the power in the stroke - is dependant on the back swing and follow through.

(See Croquet Roquet Practice)

        (2) BREAKS:  (as in "Theme's the Breaks")
        A turn in which more than one point (Hoop/Peg) is scored.
        All breaks should lead from a two ball break to a three ball break - then to a four ball break.
        Until a ball is "Pegged" out there will always be four balls on the court.
        With the various shots available, Roquet is possible on each of the other three live balls prior to running  that Hoop (i.e. maximum 7 shots) - and again, after running that Hoop.
         A rush followed with a Croquet will allow for positioning of both balls with the Continuation to make another (rush) Croquet etc.

        (A) Two Ball Break:
        After making Roquet, the Croquet shot is taken to place the Striker's ball in position to run the Hoop. The other ball (the Pilot ball) is positioned on the other side of the Hoop. When the Hoop is run, the free shot Continuation leads to a Roquet which produces a Croquet and another  Continuation - a free shot and so on.
       

       (B) Three Ball Break:
        Once a two ball break has been made, the former Pilot ball is Croqueted to the "next Hoop plus one" (as Pioneer) The Striker's ball is sent up to the third ball (the former "Pioneer" now the "Pilot") for a Roquet on the Continuation shot. And so back to a two ball situation for the approach to run the next Hoop with the "Pioneer" waiting at the "next hoop plus one".

         In a three ball break there is only the "Pilot" ball at the "next Hoop" and the "Pioneer" ball at the "next Hoop plus one" available.

       (C) Four Ball Break:
       This happens when the fourth ball is eventually Roqueted and then positioned near the "Peg" by the Croquet shot. It will act as an auxiliary known as the "Pivot" ball. This ball floats around the Peg on the side nearest the Hoops being run. Upon a Roquet a 120 degree "Pivot" turn can be made by the Striker's ball to go to the "Pilot" at the next Hoop.

        (3) LEAVES:
        It is an axiom of the game that one considers what is available to the opposition, if you miss, rather than what's on, if you succeed.
        Axioms are "laws" that need to be broken - otherwise you will be branded an "Aunt Emma"
        However, Croquet is a war game where no prisoners are take and no quarter asked nor given.

         Enough Hoops?  
        When you have made enough Hoops it is best to Leave your opponents' balls, each in diagonal opposite corners 2 and 4 - wired if possible, from all but the minimum one ball.

        Later you will learn about "Proper Leaves"

        Wired:
        Wired is to have a Hoop(s) or the Peg, directly in front of possible Target balls and no clear shot available at them by the "in" player. If you were responsible for the opponent's ball being where it is he can lift the ball that is so wired and play it from either Baulk Line.
        So make sure your opponent has a clear shot at least one ball - 20 metres away and on the boundary is best.

        Once you get to a Handicap of 5 you will begin to take interest in the latest fashion in "Proper Leaves" You might then refer to one of the published books on Leaves - see "Book Reviews".

         (4) PEGGING OUT:
         Only a Rover ball (one that has run the Rover [Red topped] Hoop in order) can Peg out. It is sometimes best not to Peg Out your Rover ball until your partner ball is also a "Rover". Otherwise, you have no partner ball to join up with in a Leave.

        Peel Your Partner:
        The idea is to Peel your partner ball through Rover - possibly with an Irish Peel. Roquet another ball (opponents). Then take off for a rush on your Partner ball to the Peg. Then Peg out your partner ball with a Croquet stroke and Peg out your own with the Continuation.

        Be Careful:
        NB.  Be careful not to rush your partner ball onto the "Peg" as you are then unable to take Croquet. The Roqueted ball is gone - Pegged out - so no Croquet shot or Continuation shot is available so your turn ends.