<P> An alternate endgame is "poison": in this variant, a player who has scored the last wicket but not hit the starting stake becomes a "poison ball", which may eliminate other balls from the game by roqueting them . A non-poison ball that roquets a poison ball has the normal options . A poison ball that hits a stake or passes through any wicket (possibly by the action of a non-poison player) is eliminated . The last person remaining is the winner . </P> <P> This version of the game was invented by John Riches of Adelaide, Australia with help from Tom Armstrong in the 1980s . The game can be played by up to six people and is very easy to learn . For this reason it is often used as a stepping stone to association croquet . </P> <P> Ricochet has similar rules to association and garden croquet, except that when a ball is roqueted, the striker's ball remains live and two free shots are earned . This enables strikers to play their ball near to another opponent ball and ricochet that too thus earning two more free shots . Running a hoop earns one free shot . </P> <Ul> <Li> Backward ball: The ball of a side that has scored fewer hoops (compare with' forward ball'). </Li> <Li> Ball - in - hand: A ball that the striker can pick up to change its position, for example: </Li> </Ul>

Well played blue red is the winner in which game