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How the Hammer Shapes Olympic Curling Strategy at Milano-Cortina

Last-stone advantage is assigned by a pre-game draw to the button, driving choices like blanking ends.

Overview

  • The hammer gives a team the final shot of an end, a significant edge that guides end-by-end tactics.
  • Possession transfers to the team that fails to score in an end and is retained when no one scores.
  • At championship level, the Last Stone Draw measures pre-game draws to the button to allocate last-stone advantage.
  • Milano‑Cortina features men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events with ten nations per field and 112 total competitors.
  • Great Britain’s mixed doubles team is Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Moat, with the format using five stones per team, pre-placed stones and one player throwing first and last.