In some areas of the western United States, a simple form of croquet is played, different from traditional competitive forms of croquet. This type of croquet is often called Venom and is a favorite with casual or amateur croquet players. Poison croquet is played with the standard nine-gate croquet set. It can be played by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 players. It has rules similar to American backyard croquet; however, it differs from other croquet styles in that it is not scored. All players start at the same end of the nine-court croquet playing field, rather than having an equal number of players starting on opposite sides. The order of the game follows the order of the colors of the croquet mallet with the color of the ball corresponding to each player. Instead of competing for points, or which “team” can complete the course first, with all their croquet balls, players compete to see who can turn into poison first and eliminate all other players. A player turns into poison by hitting his ball through the nine wickets and hitting the club last. Once a player’s ball becomes poison, any ball that he hits with his “poisonous” ball is removed from the game. The objective is to eliminate all the other players in the game by hitting them with the poisonous ball. The last player left in the game wins.

Other traditional rules of American or backyard croquet still apply. The ball must be struck forward through each wicket, rather than passing from the rear or from the opposite direction. An additional stroke is obtained for each window, through which a ball is struck; only one additional hit can be obtained from each window. An additional hit is also gained by hitting another player’s ball. After the other player’s ball is hit, the player who hit the other player’s ball has two options: he can place his ball next to the other player’s ball, put his foot on his own ball, and hit the other player’s ball. offside player hitting his own ball; or it may just take another hit towards the next gate.

Once a player has turned into poison, the other players can still turn into poison and win the game, although it is much more difficult. The other players still have to finish the field and hit the stake last with their ball, but they must do so without allowing the player who is currently poisoned to hit their ball with his. If two or more players are poisonous, the player who hits the other’s ball first wins (similar to marbles); or at least that player who was hit by a poisonous ball is out of the game. Once all but one player is eliminated, the game is over and the last remaining player wins the game.

Poisonous croquet is popular with amateur croquet and yard game players due to its informal play and simple rules. An advantage of poisonous croquet is that it can be played on almost any type of terrain. Like American croquet or nine wicket croquet, poison croquet is traditionally played on any grass field, long or tall, thick or thin. However, poisonous croquet can also be played on other grounds to make it more interesting or just to turn things around. It can be played on rougher terrain or an obstacle course playing field rather than being confined to a well-groomed or professional playing field.