Analyse the game of Petanque as you play.

Analyse the game of Petanque as you play.

Ever had one of those games that swing back and forth. You win an end, they win an end, you win an end and so forth. These tight games can get the nerves jangling as you approach 13 points but they generally do not stay tight for long. Both teams are probing for the big end and once it is won, the game just trundles on to its conclusion in the same tight manner. The main aim for both teams is to get the big score first and when embattled in a tight game it can help to take a distant view of the cut and thrust of a play. We were deep in a game playing to a strategy that seemed to be working, they were a good team and we were holding on at 6 all over approx. 8 or 9 ends had passed so no one was scoring high in the game. As mentioned we would win the jack and throw it to 9 metres, their weak spot? They would sneak the end and throw the jack to 7 and we would sneak the end. Now written in black and white it seems obvious what to do to win the game. Strip away the pre-conceived plans and play as the ground lies. We threw the jack out to 7 for the rest of the game and won to 8. We had moved our strategy to work on the team we were actually facing and not the team who had beaten us previously.

The tip is to play the game you are currently playing, analysis what is happening if you can and try to fix it. If it does not work, switch back or try another tactic. It proves just how important throwing the jack can be. If you have trouble, get a team member to walk out the distant. It is surprisingly easy to place a jack at their feet. Watch out for the wind as this will affect the length the jack goes and if you are really playing a canny team watch out for the score checking just as you are about to throw the jack. It can put you off and if the jack is legal you cannot move it. The jack throw is just as important as throwing a boule and all rules concerning throwing a boule apply to the jack as far as distance of the opposition and quiet respect.