 Basic strategy: Third Shooter (rocks 5&6) . Blue has hammer, last rock. Red's shot rock is protected by Blue guards. If your route to the button is inhibited, you must move now before Red puts up an angle guard on your Blue rocks prohibiting you access to the button AND utilization of your Blue rocks for scoring. In the above scenario of guards, the Blue team has 2 options if moved upon now. I would tap up my Blue rocks because Red will no doubt hit to remove or guard against the Blue raise. Blue can tap to save while opening the 4'. Red will no doubt place another guard; however, the guard must be placed precisely. The perfect guard is a difficult shot. With the 3 Blue rocks (you will now have 3 above the button), there should be a tap up onto Red or if Red places another guard, you may have the "off-in"-- Red to RED or Blue to Red -- to the button shot leaving 4 Blues in scoring position and all Reds gone.  GETTING TO SHOT ROCK: Blue must, must, must make early plans to get to shot rock. The later you wait, the more trouble you generate for yourself. Personally, I would tap Red with t-line weight just at the centerline. Remember, you are moving 2 object rocks. The Blue will move out 60 degrees to the top 4' for later hit onto Red and Red will move right at 30 degrees. The red is up against the Blue at 1/2 rock so the 60/30 degree scenario will result even though the Red is NOT hit directly at full/nose hit. Remember rock mechanics. A hit on the '"top" side/centerline will push the back Blue more toward the Red shot rock. The shooter should deflect to the 4' at 30 degrees to the shooter's left. It is not important to totally remove the Red guard just yet. It will be pushed to the side but could remain available to the Red team for an off-in if left in front of the "T"-line. You are attempting to gain the most (you have 2 Blues above t-line) while leaving the least for Red (risk vs. reward). |
 Scenario: BC-McAulay (Red) Vs. Sask. - Korte (Blue) Draw 4 of Round Robin 2000 Brier. Thirds are throwing. Red/BC has hammer, 4'th end. Score: Sask. 2 -- BC 1 Sask. third attempts to tap their Blue out of the way to get to shot rock. Good BASIC strategy. The third missed and Red split house to back of "t"-line. Blue was "suckered" to follow INSTEAD of retrying the hit to get to shot rock. Blue attempts hit and roll -- low percentage shot on 4'curl ice. Blue rolls too far "burning" an important 3'rd rock. Roll would have been behind t-line anyway. Skip steps up and attempts difficult freeze INSTEAD of trying to get to shot rock with first rock. With the Blue guard gone, there is an easy double. No doubt Red would attempt another guard but it is early in the game and the curl is 4' so a perfect guard is tough to make. To make a long story short, due to NOT using basic strategy, Sask./Blue gets 5 scored on them WHEN they had a chance to steal!! There is plenty of room for new comers at the Brier! BC let Sask. back into the game with poor skipping and execution in the next end. With a 5 point lead, BC played a "lots of rocks in play strategy."  Scenario: Early ends. Blue has hammer. Score: Blue up 2-1. Question? Should you brush Red rock to button or behind t-line to freeze on Blue? Risk/reward: Brush to freeze? You stand to lose one point to be down 3-1 because Blue will freeze or tap back for shot 1 OR if Red stays high on button, Blue could chip out Red and stick for two at which case you will be down 4-1. Brush back to freeze against Blue. Risk: Blue can get one-- maybe, if they make a perfect shot on top. Reward: You may give up one but at 3-1 you are still in the game with hammer. If there are more Blue rocks in the house, there is no decision. You must brush Red back for the freeze and hope to give up only one (a perfect draw by Blue)! You will steal 1 if Blue doesn't draw the button or draw on top for freeze.  |