strategy - Curling Basics - curling explained; excellent for beginners
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strategy
Curling is a very tactical game. Roughly speaking, one can distinguish two categories of strategy: offensive strategy and defensive strategy.
Teams are constantly faced with re-evaluating their game plan and shot selection options as they analyse the relative “risk vs. reward”.
"Flexibility" plays an important role in designing game plans and developing strategy as teams are faced with having to change their strategy within many ends as they move from defence to offense and vice versa.
Establishing the relative ability of the own team compared to the opposition and the “playability” of the ice surface will play a major role in developing the team strategy.
Factors influencing shot selection
The six major factors that influence shot selection are:
Free Guard Zone Rule (fgz)The "free guard zone" rule influences shot selection relative to the first four "stones" of an "end" and impacts strategy decisions throughout the course of a game.
EndThe "free guard zone" rule provides substantial opportunities for offense including comebacks in the middle and late "ends" of a game with or without last stone.
ScoreThe "score" in relation to the end you are playing will greatly influence shot selection decisions.
Last Rock/Stone"Last stone advantage" plays a key role in shot selection decisions. Having "last stone advantage" may result in a more offensive approach. Not having last stone may dictate a defensive approach.
AbilityThe skills of opponents and teammates required to successfully play both offense and defence are critical to planning strategy and making appropriate shot selection.Knowing the position-by-position strengths and weaknesses of your team and your opposition will have a great impact on the strategy you employ. The key element is knowing how to maximize your own team’s strengths.
Ice"Ice" conditions will play a key factor in determining the strategy a team is able to apply. Fast, swingy "ice" will produce optimum playing conditions. Straight "ice" conditions will restrict the aggressive "come around" approach and may dictate a raise style game plan.
It is important to note that, of these factors, "last stone advantage" and the relative skills of both the own "team" and the opposing "team" are the main factors that influence shot selections for the developing curler.
Basic Concepts
The "free guard zone" rule provides a number of offensive and defensive options to well prepared "skips". Strategy and shot selection relative to the first four stones of each "end" will provide "teams" with numerous interesting and challenging decisions.
The ability to think on your feet and make shot selection decisions based on the six major factors that influence shot selection is very demanding and is influenced by the number of "stones" in play. "Teams" are constantly faced with re-evaluating their game plan and shot selection options as they analyse the relative “risk vs. reward”.
"Flexibility" plays an important role in designing game plans and developing strategy as "teams" are faced with having to change their strategy within many "ends" as they move from defence to offense and vice versa.
The terms "patience" and "caution" cannot be ignored an over-creative "skip". "Teams" who cannot back up their creative and aggressive strategy with precision shot making will find themselves on their way home ahead of schedule.
Effective skipping requires the ability to think two or three shots ahead, thus the common reference that curling is “chess on ice”.
Establishing the relative ability of the own "team" compared to the opposition and the “playability” of the "ice" surface will play a major role in developing the "team" strategy.
chess on ice
General Strategies - Offense
with last stone
In situations when early "ends" have passed and the "score" is close or a "team" is down in points, offense is the word that best describes the approach of "teams" with "last stone advantage". In these situations, "skips" will attempt to apply a strategy that will result in the "scoring" of more than one point. To accomplish this, knowledgeable "skips" may direct play to the sides of the "sheet", thus enabling them to spread their "stones" out. This also tends to keep the path to the "four-foot" circle open for a possible end-saving last stone draw shot.
Last stone "teams" will attempt to initiate their offense to the side of the "sheet" by establishing a "corner guard(s)" but may also find they develop offensive opportunities on centre ice as a result of attempting to prevent a potential steal. Aggressive last stone "skips" will take advantage of "centre guards" by playing "come around" draws in an effort to score 2+ points, even though this strategy will put them at greater risk to a potential steal. "Ice" conditions may also force last stone "skips" to direct play towards the centre of the "sheet" if "stones" are not curling much from the "centre line" out.
It is important to note that it is common practice for a "skip" who cannot "score" more than a single point to throw the final "stone" through the "house" or to "hit and roll" out, thus "blanking the end" and keeping "last stone advantage".
General Strategies - Offense
without last stone
Orchestrating offense without last stone is very easy with the "free guard zone" rule. The placement of "centre guards" that cannot be removed by the opposition until the 5th stone of the "end" can produce a number of opportunities for a "team" to control centre ice and potentially steal a point(s). The only major concern the "skip" without last stone is faced with relative to the placement of a "centre guard" is "if" the last stone "skip" will elect to "come around" it. The further out the "centre guard" is the more likely the last stone "skip" is to play an aggressive "come around" draw in search of 2+ points.
General Strategies - Defense
with last stone
"Teams" with "last stone advantage" who would prefer a defensive style of play because of "score", "ice" conditions or the relative abilities of the opposing "teams" have a number of shot selection options available to them. Their objective may well be to ensure the opposition does not have the opportunity to steal a point(s) and therefore controlling centre ice will be a key factor. If the opposition lead places a "centre guard" the last stone "skip" will have to decide which of several defensive options best suits the situation.
taktik_off_m_l_stein
General Strategies - Defense
without last stone
In situations where the "score" is close or a "team" is ahead in points, defence is the word that will best describe the approach of "teams" without last stone. In these situations, "skips" will attempt to apply a strategy that will limit the opposition to the "scoring" of only one point. To accomplish this, knowledgeable "skips" will direct play towards the centre of the "sheet", thus restricting the opposition's ability to spread their "stones" out. This may ultimately block the opposition's path to the "four-foot" circle, thus enhancing the opportunity to steal a point(s). "Teams" without last stone are usually more cautious in their shot selection, in that "takeouts" are played rather than "draw" shots when opponents have "stones" in the "house".
"Teams" without last stone, who as a result of "score", "end", "ice" or opposition, would prefer to play a defensive style of game are faced with an interesting dilemma. Their "lead" cannot remove any opposition "stone" from the "free guard zone" and as a result, they have a few shot selection options available with the final decision being greatly dependent upon the skill level of the "lead". Remember - giving up two points in many situations will be perfectly acceptable.
taktik_off_o_l_stein
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