Making more than one wicket in a turn is called running a break. This is the ultimate goal of the game. Defensive tactics include separating opponent's balls, thus forcing him to take long shots to strike other balls and taking an opponent out of position to make his next wicket. By skillful use and placement of two or three other balls ahead of the striker's next wicket in sequence, he can make up to eleven or twelve wickets in one all round break. This is equivalent to a grand slam homer or running the table in pool.
All tactical decisions involve weighting the risk of each move against the reward.
To many this is the essential challenge of the sport of croquet. There are several variations to the game. There are USCA or American rules, Association rules, and Golf croquet. Each has its own characteristic and nuances.