Anonymous

“ The rules afford no solution to half of the ambiguous cases that arise in ordinary play; and some are guilty of the strange error of allowing the "Roquet Croquet" to every ball—a liberty totally at variance with the fundamental principles of the game, and which in the hands of strong players would prolong the contest indefinitely, make [Pg iv] victory depend upon a single chance hit, and reduce the opportunities for generalship and combination to a minimum. ”

“ The four-ball game with two players is preferred by many, though lacking the sociality which is one of the charms of croquet. As the rules are the same in all cases, I shall hereafter, for convenience of illustration, take it for granted that there are four balls and four players. If the sides are not otherwise made up, two of the players are selected as chiefs. They strike for the first choice, (see definition) ; the one who wins it chooses a friend, then the other, and so on till the sides are made up. ”

“ At the commencement of the game the first player places his ball upon the spot, and strikes it with his mallet in the direction of the first bridge. If it run the bridge—that is, pass completely through it, he has the right to another blow; if not it is called a booby, and he must wait till the others have played and his turn comes round again. Suppose, however, that he has run the first bridge, and on his second blow runs the second bridge, he thus takes another step on the "grand round," or makes another point, which entitles him to still another blow. ”

“ A ball running the last bridge otherwise than by a direct blow of the mallet becomes a rover, but must be played from its final position like any other ball.
48. A rover having no bridges to run can never re-roquet.
A rover can make no more points than the number of balls in the game, and can have but one more blow.
49. A rover, but no other ball, may roquet-croquet a roqueted ball instead of croqueting it.
If the player, however, elect to use the foot, and his ball flinch, he must suffer the penalty. If in flinching the rover strike the starting stake, he is out if the enemy so decide. ”

“ If the stroke is gentle, the ball may fall short or be turned aside. If the stroke is forcible, the ball will bound along the ground, and may jump entirely over another ball which it was intended to roquet. A croquet ground can always be brought to the requisite degree of smoothness by having the surface beaten with a spade after a rain; or, better still, thoroughly rammed with a paver's mallet. Rolling is not so effec [Pg 16] tive, unless the ground is very soft or the roller very heavy. The size and shape of the ground is a matter of much less importance. ”

“ Not croqueting is sufficient evidence of declining; but if none are croqueted, and the ball is not moved to the side of any one, the player must declare which he means to decline. As soon as a step on the round is made, it no longer makes any difference whether a roquet was declined or not. ”

“ If he runs it his tour still continues, and he may play for the next bridge, or roquet the other ball again, which he may previously have croqueted, into the proper position. His tour continues till he fails to make a point, when the next player on the other side begins. After running the first bridge, he acquires, of course, the right of roqueting the other two balls. If he roquets an enemy's ball, he croquets it, if he wishes, into a disadvantageous position. If he roquets a friend, he croquets his ball into better position, or perhaps through its proper bridge. ”

“ The winning chief plays first if he chooses, or, if not, the other chief leads, and the winning chief plays second; then one of the friends of the first player, and so on, the members of the two sides playing alternately. The first player uses the ball the color of which is highest on the stake, and the next takes the color immediately below. It is usual to have the rings on the stake alternately some light and dark color, so that the light colors form one side and the dark the other. ”

“ If a player misplay, and the enemy challenge him before allowing the play of another ball, they have the option of replacing the misplaying ball and any which may have been moved in their former positions, or allowing any or all of them to remain in the positions to which they have rolled. ”

“ If A play without right to continuance of tour, so as in effect to take two tours, and it is discovered after B begins to play, A merely anticipates his next turn, and the order is A, A, B, C, D, B, etc. [Pg 41]
30. If a misplay has taken place so that the balls are playing in a wrong order, but the original misplayer cannot be discovered, the playing ball must finish its tour and the right order be taken up. ”

“ The enemy challenge and elect to leave both balls in their final position. Can they compel them to renew their bridges? The ball of the misplayer must re-run its bridge; but any other ball has made the step unless it is restored to its former position. The latter is regarded as accidentally displaced, and follows the rule provided for that case. If the misplay consist of illegal continuance of tour, of course the penalty does not extend to the correct play which preceded it.
28. If a player misplay, whether with his own or another ball, he forfeits his next tour. ”

“ Recollect that position directly under the arch of your proper bridge enables you to command all the field in front of it. You can run the bridge and leave your own ball near any other you wish to croquet, as the run gives you another shot. It is many times advantageous to decline making any stroke from such position, and wait until you see an opportunity to do execution among the enemy. ”

“ The head should be a cylinder about two inches in diameter and four inches long. It is best to make the faces square; for if they are convex, it renders it necessary to strike the ball exactly with the centre of the mallet head to insure an accurate stroke. ”

“ In every blow the mallet follows the ball a little, for it takes a small interval of time for the momentum of the mallet to transfer itself to the ball; but in the push a new impulse is given to the ball every [Pg 30] instant, and this may act unfairly; for instance, a ball is to be roqueted at a distance of six inches or a foot. ”

“ If a player misplays in the tour of an enemy and is not challenged in time, the misplayer and the neglectful party will each lose a tour. Thus if D omit his tour the order will be C, A, B, C, D, B, etc. ”

“ If eight enter the game, each player must be provided with a mallet, and each will play one ball. If a less number of persons play, eight balls may still be used, one or more of the players playing two balls. ”

“ Six ounces is about the proper weight, and a light ball is infinitely preferable to a heavy one for accurate play at long distances. Eight balls constitute a full set. They must be painted different colors, as the individuality of each ball is an important element in the game. ”

“ If the enemy have a rover, make every effort to put it out. One of you can then watch the remaining enemy while the other finishes the round. Your partner then relieves the guard while you make your bridges. The most desperate games can often be thus redeemed.
9. Never despair because you are behind. The game is never out till it is played out. [Pg 53]
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“ The latter catastrophe will be of frequent occurrence unless perpetually guarded against, for the partner or partners are thereby left to fight against superior numbers. When all the balls of a side succeed in striking the stake the game is over, and the side has won the victory. ”