ADVANTAGE GC FAQs

(HTP) indicates reference is also made in How To Play Advantage GC 2026

What is the benefit of playing Advantage GC?

Advantage GC allows players of different abilities to play each other competitively using the same tactics as Level Play, but players with different handicaps will have a different target number of hoops to score to win the game. The tactics required for handicap (extra turns) are quite different. This was one of the major reasons why Advantage was developed.

Why has there been a change from Starting Score Method to the new Target Score Method?

Some people still struggled to cope with a negative start and the results of a worldwide trial involving England, Australia and New Zealand demonstrated a strong preference for the 0:0 starts provided by target scores. Scoring on the court is now identical to Level Play with no extra clips required for use on centre peg or Advantage post.

How does the Target Score Method differ from the Starting Score Method? (HTP)

When using Starting Scores each player had the same target number of hoops but a different starting score, which for the stronger player would normally be a negative number. With Target Scores there is a 0:0 start but each player has a different target number of hoops to score.
There is no change in the number of hoops required to win for the same handicap combinations. Scoring is now the same as with Level Play and timed games and tournament blocks are easily managed using scoring fractions.

How are the Target Scores derived?

Each target score is related to the difference in ability between the two players as measured by index number. The probability of winning a hoop in each instance is derived from 2022/23 UK league match data and used in millions of computer simulated games to generate targets which offer both players a 50% chance of winning the game.
Simulations are modelled to take account of the toss, who won the previous hoop and parity of the hoop number. The length of the resulting game is also chosen to match the average length of the equivalent Level Play game although scores in the grey area of the table are more likely to produce wide divergences. Of 900 league games analysed in the 2025 Target Scores Trial the stronger player won 50.2%.

Why is the scoring method for Advantage 2026 simpler?

Advantage 2026 was designed to help less mathematically able players, for whom the presence of negative values presented challenges. The overwhelming evidence of the trials is that players find the Target Score method a simpler game on the court. The traditional 0:0 start and ease of reconciling the total game score with the last hoop run at any point in the game make keeping score easier.

Why wasn't the Starting Score Method retained alongside the new Target Score Method in Rule 21?

Serious consideration was given to maintaining both Starting Score and Target Score methods in parallel but the potential for confusion between the two methods is significant and undesirable. In addition, maintenance of the rules, regulations, tables and supporting material was not practical. Croquet England approved implementation of the new Target Score Method in Rule 21 for the 2026 season.

Why did we have to have Starting Score method in the first place - surely it would have been better to use Target Score Method from the beginning?

Yes, it would. However, that option was not available as the WCF policy at that time was to retain the familiar first-to-7 (or 4 or 10) level play format. It was only after the consequences of that decision were understood that the policy was relaxed allowing the Target Score Method to be developed.

Why were Croquet England members not given more notice of the change to Target Scores?

Although the international Target Score Trials were completed in November 2025 significant post-trial documentation had to be approved by WCF and CqE. It was not until the end of February 2026 that all committees were in agreement, which then enabled information about the change to Target Scores to be circulated to CqE members by March 1, one month before the April 1 start of the UK season.

Why weren't more help and guidance given about the change to Target Scores?

One of the challenges with any change is not only providing information but also making people aware that it exists and where to find it. CqE Advantage page has links to fully updated How to Play, the 2026 Target Score tables, posters on completing handicap cards as well as PowerPoint briefings. The FAQ section is updated in response to feedback received at: advantagegc#worldcroquet.org

Are the tactics required to play Advantage GC using Target Scores different? (HTP)

The tactics required for Advantage using Target Scores are EXACTLY the same as those for Advantage using Starting Scores. It is the same game. Only the scoring mechanism has changed.

What do I need to do before the start of a Target Scores Advantage game? (HTP)

Both sides need to determine their targets based on their respective handicaps. This is done by referencing the appropriate table (Short, Standard or Long) for the length of game being played. They should agree their respective targets and either make a (written) note of them or set up a scoreboard to display them if one is available. After tossing to determine colours, they should each then carry 1 scoring clip fewer than their respective target.

How many scoring clips should each side carry? (HTP)

As in Level Play, you should carry one clip fewer than the number of hoops required. In Level Play, we carry 6 clips, so that when your last clip is placed on the hoop, you know you need 1 more hoop. Using Target Scores carry (your target score minus 1) clips, e.g. if your target is 8 hoops, carry 7 clips, if your target is 5 hoops, carry 4 clips.

How do players maintain the score in the Target Score Method? (HTP)

The score should be maintained throughout the game in the normal ways by announcing the score after each hoop is run, AND by using clips on the hoops. Players should make the relationship between score and target clear to both players. Dialogue such as "I have 5 out of 8" and "I have 2 out of 4" is simple and effective.

How are the target scores for each side displayed so that all can see them during a game? (HTP)

A4 sheets of paper on a clipboard, laminated numbers on a post, a whiteboard, a scoreboard are all possible ways of doing this. This removes the need for clips to be put on an Advantage post or centre peg and along with scoring clips allows players, referees and spectators to assess the state of the game at any time.

What do I do when a Target Scores Advantage game times out? (HTP)

Compare each player's scoring fraction. The winner will have the higher fraction. You can use the Scoring Fraction Percentage (SF%) Table to make the comparison. If the fractions are equal in value you may be asked to play one more hoop to determine the winner. For recording results on the handicap card see below.

Can the Scoring Fraction Percentage Table (SF%) be used during a game to establish who is winning at any given moment? (HTP)

Yes. The Scoring Fraction Percentage (SF%) table may be consulted during a game to compare scoring fractions.

How are Advantage Play game scores recorded on a handicap card? (HTP)

To provide independent verification of the result of a game the handicap card must show at least the full scoring fraction (SF) of both players (as a proper fraction). Additionally the winning scoring fraction must be ringed.
See full explanation of how to complete a GC handicap card for an Advantage game by downloading a briefing.

Why is the recording of Advantage 2026 games on the handicap card so complicated?

The design of the existing cards constrained how Advantage games can be recorded. To enable checking it is essential for Advantage 2026 games to be recorded with both the number of hoops run by each player and their target score. A briefing and poster are provided giving examples of completed entries.
In time there may be an opportunity to revise the card design.

How are Advantage games recorded on tournament scoresheets and CroquetScores.com? (HTP)

In order for blocks to be ordered fairly and managed correctly by TMs and CroquetScores.com a player's hoop score must be entered as a scoring fraction percentage (SF%). The SF% table provided enables this to be accomplished easily. Using SF% (instead of hoop score) each player's net SF% can be calculated in the usual way for all their games in the block (sum of a player's SF% - sum of their opponent's SF%). Players on equal wins can then be ordered by net SF%.
CroquetScores.com can simplify this calculation in the same way that it does for net hoops in level play. To retain full information for a game it is recommended that the results are entered as e.g. Player A, 100% (8/8), beat Player B, 83% (5/6). Note that the bias in using net hoops (below) does not apply to net SF%.

Why is using Net Hoops unfair for ordering Advantage tournament blocks?

Net hoops assumes that reciprocal finishing scores are equally possible in level play. For example 7-3 is just as likely to occur as 3-7 and thus +4 is just as possible as -4 depending on the player's performance at the time. Because Advantage normally uses a different target for each player reciprocal scores cannot occur and net hoops will not be equally likely. For a game with targets 9~6 for example, the stronger player will win 9-5 (+4) far more often than losing 2-6 (-4) because both players have a 50% chance of success. Net hoops will always be biased in favour of the stronger player.

Can a Tournament Manager for an Advantage Play event still use the old Starting Score Method? (HTP)

No. Croquet England has determined that Advantage Play using Target Scores Tables is the only authorised form of Advantage Play.

If a tournament is advertised as a 'Handicap' tournament, does that mean that it could be played under Advantage Play rules?

Either Advantage Play (i.e. using Target Scores) (Rule 21) or Handicap Play (i.e. using Extra Strokes) (Rule 20) may be used, but the specific form of game being used should be advised well in advance of the tournament and all games must use the same Rule.

What is the difference between a Scoring Fraction and Scoring Fraction Percentage? (HTP)

Scoring Fraction is equal to hoops scored divided by target score. A fraction can be written with a numerator and denominator (proper fraction) e.g. ¾ or converted to a decimal 0.75. Multiplying by100 will convert the fraction to a percentage 75%.
The fraction gives information about the game. Percentages are easier to compare. Mathematically they are just different forms of the same value.

Where can I find the authoritative tables for Target Score Method and will the old Starting Score Method tables be maintained alongside the Target Score Tables?

All tables for Target Scores are on the Croquet England Advantage website page. These have replaced the Starting Score tables. They can be downloaded and printed and should not be altered in any way.
Old Advantage tables from 2025 and earlier are of historic interest only. Please ensure they are not used as they are no longer part of any official version of Advantage. They are the equivalent of an out-of-date rule book.

Why are there two tables of Target Scores for each type of game (Short, Standard, Long)? (HTP)

Depending on the handicaps of your players you can either use a reduced version of the table covering only handicaps -6 to 14, or if you need handicaps higher than 14 you can use the full table up to handicap 20.

What are Short, Standard and Long Games? (HTP)

When using Level Play, we refer to the three forms of game as 7, 13 & 19 point games. In Advantage, Short is the equivalent of a 7-point game, Standard is the equivalent of a 13-point game and Long is the equivalent of a 19-point game

Is the same Scoring Fraction Percentage (%) Table used for the 3 different length games? (HTP)

Yes. There is only one Scoring Fraction Percentage (%) Table and it is used for Short, Standard and Long games.

When will the GC Rules reflect the Target Score Method? (HTP)

The 7th Edition WCF GC Rules is in preparation in which Rule 21 no longer refers to Starting Scores and replaces all tables with Target Scores Tables. The draft Rule 21 is available in 2026 Tournament Regulation (L7).