How to turn into 10 to 13

As if to prove my points about the importance of shooting I'd like to share with you a shot from a real game I was involved with on Wednesday.  I don't like boasting about amazing shots, particularly in print as its all a bit narcissistic to me, but in the context of my last post it does go to prove a point and therefore I am going to share it with you anyway.

The game situation is 6-10 to red.  All blue players have thrown all of their boules and red have one still to play. The situation in the head looked like this...

To put this into a bit more context, the leading boule is 40cms from the jack, the jack is 6.20 cms and the 3rd and 4th boules are approximately 1m beyond the jack.

In this situation, with one ball left you have a few options to try and score - shoot the leading boule - point to beat the leading boule (and perhaps drag the coche) but there is only one way of dealing with this situation if you want to close the game now.... "What, get 3 points out of this scenario? Kidding right?"  Many players might settle for scoring one or two in the scenario, but there is a way....

To score 3 points is tough, but it can be done (and was).  First and foremost I hope it is obvious that you need to shoot the leading boule.  If removed this would give you at least a point (the 2nd boule now counts), or two with a carreau.  Look at how the 1st and 3rd boules are aligned compared to the direction of play.  The are not quite in direct line with each other (important).  If you got a good contact on the leading boule (with spot carreau) where does the hit boule go?  Yes, towards the 3rd boule. Because they are not directly in line the shot boule might hit the 3rd boule on its left side....And, if it does the 3rd boule on the left side where does it go next?  Yes, towards the 4th boule.

The player about to play noted all this and, with a wee smile, knowing it would be unlikely that all of that would happen and that he would settle for a hit on the first boule for one or two points, played the shot.  It was perfect, one of those once in a blue moon shots which hardly ever pay off.  A spot carreau on boule 1 caused it to crash onto the left side of the 3rd boule and the resulting deflection caused it then to hit the right side of boule 4.  And the result - 3 points to red - game over and much amazement from everyone.

As I say I don't like to boast, but it does illustrate the point that you should examine the head carefully and try to identify all of the options available to you to score AND if there is an opportunity for you to close the game you should strongly consider taking it (provided you also understand any risk).