Strategies – Continued

Sections:

Ethics, Equipment and Conduct

Introduction to Sliding

Balance – Part 1

Balance – Part 2

Delivery – Three Step Technique

Delivery – Five Step Technique

Grip, Rotation and Release of a Rock

Position of the Rock for a Three or Five Step Delivery

Delivery with a Stick

Sweeping

Sweepers’ Roles and Responsibilities

Rules

Roles and Communication Between Players

Sliding – Traps to Avoid

Turn and Release of the Stone – Traps to Avoid

Different Shots and Signals

Timing

Strategies

Strategies – Continued

Basic Strategies

Having the hammer (last rock) or not will greatly influence the strategy to opt for.

Without the Hammer

The team wants to steal points and will try to fill the front and center of the house. The goal is to make it difficult for the other team by not leaving an easy shot for the last rock.

Giving one point to the opposing team when you do not have the hammer is in fact not a failure.

With the Hammer

The team wants to count numerous points. At the beginning of the end, the team will try to consolidate one or more points before using the advantage of the last rock to count an additional point. They will also try to leave openings for the last rock.

Here are a few guidelines concerning the various strategies to choose from at the beginning of an end:

Without the Hammer – Offensive Strategy

Place the first stone in the Free Guard Zone in front of the center of the house. The goal is to use this guard to hide behind in the hope of stealing points.

For example, the next stones to consolidate this strategy would be:

• Another guard
• A come-around draw in the house behind the guards
• Raising a stone positioned in front of the house

Without the Hammer – Defensive Strategy

This option is generally used at the beginning of a game when the ice conditions are unknown or when the team is leading and wants to keep this lead.

The first stone will be in the house. This will incite the opponent to throw take-outs and therefore adopt a defensive style of play.

Depending on the opponent’s reaction, the team without the hammer will continue with take-outs or draws in the house. The goal is to not let the other team put many stones in play and try to count numerous points.

With the Hammer – Offensive Strategy

If the opposing team puts its first stone in front of the house, the team with the hammer choosing an offensive strategy may:

• Come-around the center guard to occupy the center of the house. This option has certain risks such as the fact that the opponent will also try to use the guard to steal points
• Place a corner guard with the intention of coming around it eventually while avoiding blocking the center for the last rock.

If the opposing team puts its first stone in the house, then an offensive strategy will be preferred:

• Ignore the stone and put up a corner guard
• Freeze to the opponent’s stone

The team with the hammer will try to “divide” the house by placing stones on each side of the house. This could lead to counting numerous points.

With the Hammer – Defensive Strategy

Here, the team with the hammer will avoid placing guards and will try to eliminate them whenever possible. The stones will preferably be put in the house, inciting the opponent to execute take-outs.

The team with the hammer will generally decide to count a point or to blank the end on the last rock.

If the opposing team puts its first stone in front of the house:

• Play in the house on the sides
• Try to move the guard without taking it out completely to free the center

If the opposing team puts its first stone in the house:

• Take it out