strategy introduction for playing pichenotte crokinole carrom carroms game boards

Shooting Styles Beginner's Rules Advanced Rules

1) Try to LEAVE your own pucks ON the board while KNOCKING your opponents’ pucks OFF the board.

2) It is MORE IMPORTANT to LEAVE your own pucks ON the board than it is to KNOCK your opponent off
the board. Always try to at least MAKE CONTACT and LEAVE your puck ON.

3) If you fail to leave at least one of your pucks ON the board, you will give your opponent a FREE
SHOT, meaning since you did not leave a puck on the board, he or she can either go for a twenty
or leave their puck anywhere on the board. You don’t want to do that !

4) FREE SHOTS are very important. Try to use them yourself to make twenties, which are secure points
that you CANNOT LOSE. Therefore, try not to let your opponents have ANY FREE SHOTS!!!

5) When opponents’ pucks are near the twenty hole, or even hanging slightly over it ( “hangers” ), try
    to make your puck deflect off their puck and into the twenty hole. This is how to make twenties even
    when you do not have a free shot. By making contact, you assure that your puck will remain ON the
    board, then you also give it a chance to drop into the twenty hole.

6) PAY ATTENTION to the score on the board as the final pucks are being shot. The last puck, known as
the “HAMMER”, often decides who wins the round between good players. THINK about how you want
to leave the board for the player with the HAMMER....!!!!

7a ) Use FINESSE (a soft-touch shot) when you want to leave your pucks near the center.

7b ) Use POWER when you want to knock several opponents’ pucks off with one shot!!!

CHESS AND PICHENOTTE : AN UNLIKELY COMPARISON

Here's how I think about a pichenotte match.
Having played a fair amount of chess, I find it useful to think of these similarities and differences:

SIMILARITIES:

a) Three phases - opening game, mid-game, end-game.***

b) Who starts or plays second is important, even though this will even out over time.

c) Keeping the exchanges even is important throughout the match.

DIFFERENCES:

a) In pichenotte, the person with the last shot (the hammer) has the advantage, if skill levels are equal.
In chess, there is no last "shot".

b) Pichenotte is an action game, and too much thinking will do you in.

c) Generally speaking, pichenotte is a lot more of a social game and a lot more fun!

***Pichenotte:

1) the opening game - 1st 4 pucks - defense is as important as offense, but try to build
an early lead with 20's.

2) the mid game - 2nd 4 pucks - Choose your shots carefully, and keep the exchanges even.
Don't let your opponent get too far ahead.

3) the end game - last 4 pucks - protect the lead if you have it. If not, it's time to go all out
and risk everything.

more strategy to come......

Shooting Styles Beginner's Rules Advanced Rules