Solo Subbuteo 101

  Since I began this blog I've often referred to the Bonfire Alliance League, but never really written about it other than in context to portray a particular point. I’ve even offered the Bonfire Alliance rule book on the downloads page as an insight to how I play, for no other reason other than to share my ideas that readers can use, change, build upon, or discard however they see fit. I thought however it was about time I introduced it’s members and how the league was founded, and perhaps breathe some life into it, now it’s about to embark on it’s 3 rd Season. The Early Days When I started playing solo, it was probably due to the fact that the Government decided that they wanted to put all our lives on hold for a while, fair enough under the circumstances at the time. Then they only went and cancelled all forms of football. Now they can lock me down but taking away my football was sacrilege. So out came the books, the videos, (yes I still...

Some time back I posted a discussion “Why Play Solo”, which was basically different ways and ideas that could get players playing the solo game. At best it was a heads up view of different ways a solo player could get a Subbuteo fix. This time I’d like to go a little deeper into the discussion by asking a question “Is solo play a viable alternative?” to any other form of the game. It may or not be a well known fact that some predominately club and tournament players play solo, as is the inverse of th at statement. But can solo be a viable alternative as the main, or only focus of the hobby. Most c lub players would be more likely to disagree and say it’s a branch of the hobby that they can hop on and off when it suits them, maybe for a little practice or even nostalgia. Predominately solo players would all tend to join the “ayes have it” camp. Unlike Clubs and Tournaments, S olo play can be picked up when time allows or the mood takes you, no traveling ...

Tactics is the term used to describe the strategies and manoeuvres one uses to outwit an opponent to gain an advantage, we see this all the time in various things especially in sport. Obviously the tactics employed are constrained somewhat by the rules of the game. Picking up the ball and running like Usain Bolt might be a great tactic in rugby, but a referee may not quite agree with that sentiment if it occurred with in the context of a football match. As this blog is about solo play how do tactics play their part when in effect trying to outwit an opponent is basically saying you’re trying to outwit yourself, I’m sure you’ll agree that’s not an easy thing to accomplish. As an afterthought if it was possible to split your brain in half, one half for each team would that make you a halfwit, or playing under floodlights make you a dimwit. Seriously though, most solo players I know including mysel f include rules in solo play that try to redress the ba...

  When it comes to solo rules, we often diminish the use of blocking flicks for the sake of allowing games to flow a little better, as well as simplifying the need to be constantly counting the flicks taken when continuous flicks are not employed. I for one addressed this by only allowing blocks before a shot under most circumstances, plus any offside blocks can be used as blocks providing that they are contained within the defensive half. But what happens after a corner or a direct free kick, and the defence come away with the ball, or a shot is saved and the defence take possession. A wall after a direct free kick is left in situ, likewise a corner, if the defence come away with the ball, I must be honest at this point and say it’s doesn’t bother me that much, mainly because of other rules I have in place, like no offsides from set pieces in the area, and making free kicks in the area indirect because of my offside rule. Now not everyone plays to my quirky rules, a...