How do I stop a zerg rush?

[DTKPch]

So I just discovered starcraft broodwar like a week ago, and it's insanely fun. I'm not that great. In fact, I'm not even good, though I think I have made significant progress for a week. I know all of the Protoss hotkeys and build orders, and I've looked online at guides and replays. I've seen pro replays and commentaries, and I understand terminology like a 2gate rush, 8-pylon 10-gate build, etc. My APM is around 120.

I don't play zerg or terran, and I don't know their build orders that well.

Anyways, I'm having major problems with zerg rushes. I'm talking about early ones (6 zerglings at a time), that are way too quick for me. I played a zerg player 3 times, and got owned by a 6-zerg rush all 3 times (btw, is that called a 6-pool rush? Just curious).

So when the zergs get to my base, I have in it: 1 pylon, 1 gateway, 1 zealot halfway done, My nexus, and a bunch of probes. No assim, no forge, no more gateways or pylons, and no units other than probes.

Sometimes I get 2 or 3 zealots out while the zerg are attacking, and those zealots kill off some zerglings, but then another wave of lings come in and owns me.

So here's what I do:
On my 8th probe, I build a pylon.
On my 10th one, I build a gate.
I immediately make a zealot with the gate.
I get owned by the zerg rush.

I've looked online at some guides and advice for how to play that PvZ matchup, and here's what I've heard:
1.) I should have 1 or 2 zealots out at that time, which I should use to defend. Yeah, the only problem is that I never have a zealot out by the time the 6 lings reach my base. I don't know if it's economy issues, but if the zerg rushes as fast as possible, do most players normally have at least 1 zealot out?

2.) When the lings get to my base, take a probe and run away. The lings should chase my probe, which lets my zealot finish completion. Great idea! That is, of course, unless the opponent decides to micro even slightly. He's not gonna just send his lings to my base and forget about them. What if the zerglings just ignore that one probe, or if just 2 or 3 lings go after it, while the rest attack my defenseless base?

3.) I've heard that I need to attack with probes, but they get owned in less than a second. Am I doing something wrong?

I've thought about going 7pylon 9gate instead of 8pylon 10gate, but I don't know how well that would work out.

Yeah, basically, I'm a noob trying to get better with this huge obstacle in front of me. So please, help me:

HOW DO I BEAT A ZERG RUSH WITH PROTOSS!?
It's seriously driving me nuts.

 

[F8AL]

Which maps do you play on?

 

[DTKPch]

Yeah, I don't use those really common maps like Fastest and Luna and such.

Let's just assume for arguments sake that I'm playing on Astral Balance. I just played there because it was the first one in the list...

 

[pockyD]

if there's no ramp to hold, or the zerglings get there before your zealot gets to the ramp, then your best bet is to put your zealot in the middle of your probe line, and make his zerglings come to you; your probes will already be in a well-clustered position to fight off lings (and you can even use minerals to stack if you want), and they will be impeding the zerglings from surrounding your zealot and killing him

if, instead of going for your probes at that point, the zerg goes for your gateway/pylon, then simply wait for your next zealot to spawn (he shouldn't be killing your building fast enough), then chase him away with your two zeals + a few probes, and even while waiting for your second zealot, you can get pot shots in by hitting his lings from the side (i.e. they're lined up under the gateway hitting it, you come in from the left and hit one zergling); if his zerglings respond and try to surround your zealot, pull it back... you're not trying to kill him, you're trying to stall him til you get your second zealot

don't worry about losing a few (stress, a FEW) probes; he will be much harder hit economically than you (especially if he is getting there before you even have a zealot out)

if you are losing 2 zeal + probe vs 6 zerglings, then seriously, you have to learn to micro better

edited to produce more paragraphs

 

[KevinM]

First of all there is a thread for starcraft discussion not trying to sound condescending but all the people that play it even semi competively post there. But luckily I looked here so let me let you know how to deal with it. To deal with the initial six zerglings it usually means they're nine pooling, which means to counter this. You build a forge first, then one cannon as you fast expand your nexus. Next from there you get the gateway and start building a nexus, then with simple micro if you block your ramp you should lose neither your Zealot or your expansion.

 

[DTKPch]

Even when there is a ramp to hold, the 6 lings are in my base before I get my first zeal out.

Also, there was one time when I fended off 6 lings with 2 zeals because I managed to get them out, but then another wave of 6 lings came in and owned me.

I think my micro is alright, but do you think it could be a macro problem?

EDIT: yeah, I saw the starcraft discussion thread, but it looked like people just exchaning bnet usernames and playing each other. Sorry I made this new topic, though, if I coulda posted it in an already existing one.

 

[pockyD]

1) if the zerglings are getting there before he has one zealot, they are most definitely 5 pooling or something in that neighborhood

2) if you're having a "macro" problem getting your 1st 3 combat units out, you have a looooong way to go

3) and the cannon expanding will require you to scout well and pull probes appropriately, which is i dare say deeper than zealot micro

4) if you have such big problems, play safer on 2player maps (earlier pylon/gate)

 

[Osco316]

Use the Starcraft Discussion topic.