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Thread: The art of losing

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    The art of losing

    The problem with being good at board games, is that you run out of people wanting to play, if they do not sometimes win.

    I find it hard with board games to do "dumb moves" to improve others chances, whilst not looking like I faked it.

    I have sorted it in badminton and squash - where if your opponant is struggling, one inch out can look like you still tried.

    With pool, it is not so easy for me, but still managable.

    With board games though, to do the "dumb thing", I struggle with.

    Any help or guidance out there?

    What have you done, to try to lose?

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    Re: The art of losing

    Quote Originally Posted by Martin View Post
    What have you done, to try to lose?
    Don't try and lose. Help your opponent to see how they can play better - they'll become a more challenging opponent and they'll have a better time than if you just wipe them off the board thinking "yawn, this is boring"...

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    Re: The art of losing

    I used to find the same thing when I played poker.
    In our circle we had the same 3 or 4 better players all the time and another 4 or 5 that would come and go as they tried and got bored with never winning.
    As CRM says, no point dumbing down, they'll either want to carry on and get better or they won't.
    I'm not sure if it's something you can do with other games, but we used to try to coach the noobs when they first started poker and pointed out where the 'less good' players had made mistakes (sometimes we were even nice about it rather than just taking the p1ss! ).

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    Re: The art of losing

    Quote Originally Posted by Martin View Post
    The problem with being good at board games, is that you run out of people wanting to play, if they do not sometimes win.

    I find it hard with board games to do "dumb moves" to improve others chances, whilst not looking like I faked it.

    I have sorted it in badminton and squash - where if your opponant is struggling, one inch out can look like you still tried.

    With pool, it is not so easy for me, but still managable.

    With board games though, to do the "dumb thing", I struggle with.

    Any help or guidance out there?

    What have you done, to try to lose?
    I have managed to flunk losing. I played chess against a real trier who always lost, but kept coming back for more. I really hoped he would win one on merit. One day a sacrificial attack of mine failed. Although his king was in the corner and I had a knight close by I could not force checkmate. His last move attacked my queen. Instead of resigning or moving my queen out of danger I moved a bishop to a square where it could be taken by a pawn, but threatened checkmate. I was just about to say "I am so desperate I will even try this. I resign." but he snatched up my queen, leaving me the obvious checkmate.. He had to stand there red faced whist some spectators jeered at him.

    "One cannot play chess and be kind hearted."

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    Re: The art of losing

    Quote Originally Posted by Gav View Post
    As CRM says, no point dumbing down, they'll either want to carry on and get better or they won't.
    If no leads had dumbed down when I was a beginner dancer, i would never have gone back!


    I had a problem with a friend who loved to play scrabble, but was pretty hopeless. She never won and i would be bored and irritated. I dumbed down on a few occassions and let her win, but it made me even more irritable. In the end i just refused to get the board out.

    I had another friend who was better than me, he always won. I would have hated him to dumb down as i like to learn. He wasn't that keen to play a lot.

    A game of chess with him would last 2 minutes. No one could beat him at chess or scrabble.

    Cards are more my forte, i can hold my own, but not win all the time.

    With board games, I don't think there is an easy answer except try to play with people on your level.

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    Re: The art of losing

    Quote Originally Posted by Gav View Post
    I used to find the same thing when I played poker.
    As CRM says, no point dumbing down, they'll either want to carry on and get better or they won't.
    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Gav View Post
    As CRM says, no point dumbing down, they'll either want to carry on and get better or they won't.
    If no leads had dumbed down when I was a beginner dancer, i would never have gone back!
    Thanks for quoting that completely out of context.

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    Re: The art of losing

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    ... I had a problem with a friend who loved to play scrabble, but was pretty hopeless. She never won and i would be bored and irritated. I dumbed down on a few occassions and let her win, but it made me even more irritable. In the end i just refused to get the board out...
    There is a real problem throwing a game if you have a competitive spirit. Scrabble has an element of luck about it. Inevitably, sooner or later, you will face a series of bad tiles and situations where the underdog has a chance. I could see the looks of joy on two underdogs faces as the end of the game came closer and they were fighting it out, neck and neck, with me way behind. My last full rack, with the assistance of a tile on the board, made "Egyptians", starting and ending on empty triple word scores ... A better man than I might have resisted the temptation ...

    We do not play Scrabble very often now ...

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    Re: The art of losing

    Have always played scrabble and do tend to play people on my level in order to really enjoy it. When I used to play with my children I did let them win 2 or 3 times out of ten to build their confidence and always helped/showed them the better moves they could of made. I have to say they are both good players now and actually a really good challenge.

    Thinking back to when we went ten pin bowling, never had those bumper lanes, they don't help to gain any skill in playing the game. Such a wicked mother!

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    Re: The art of losing

    In poker, play starting hands blind or half-blind.
    In chess, play lightning chess while your opponent plays at normal speed.
    In go, play with handicap stones.
    Etc, etc

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    Re: The art of losing

    I got very sulky the other day when I had to let Little Miss' 5 years old son win at draughts....

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    Re: The art of losing

    Quote Originally Posted by JennyC View Post
    I got very sulky the other day when I had to let Little Miss' 5 years old son win at draughts....
    I don't have that problem with DT's daughter. She cheats constantly .
    That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

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    Re: The art of losing

    Quote Originally Posted by Gav View Post
    I don't have that problem with DT's daughter. She cheats constantly .
    That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
    Yep, she learnt that off her mother. I never won a game. Mind you, did almost beat you two loosers the other day in trivial pursuit. What was that question again.....

    Lets see if anybody knows.... What does Les Flippers mean in french.

    Sams answer - Frogs legs.

    Gav agreed.

    I picked up myself from the wet floor where i had passed fluid from the laughter and gave them the answer.

    wait for it....




    wait for it......


    PINBALL MACHINE.

    thinks thats what is was anyway.

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    Re: The art of losing

    Quote Originally Posted by Trouble View Post
    Yep, she learnt that off her mother. I never won a game. Mind you, did almost beat you two loosers the other day in trivial pursuit.
    Almost beat? Is that the same as lost?

    Quote Originally Posted by Trouble View Post
    What was that question again.....

    Lets see if anybody knows.... What does Les Flippers mean in french.

    PINBALL MACHINE.

    thinks thats what is was anyway.
    Easy when you have the answer in front of you isn't it?

    Keep trying, one day you might beat us at either that or the crossword.

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    Re: The art of losing

    Quote Originally Posted by Trouble View Post
    Lets see if anybody knows.... What does Les Flippers mean in french.
    Isn't the answer Les Flippers?



    Now if you were to ask me what it meant in English.....

    Quote Originally Posted by Gav View Post
    Keep trying, one day you might beat us at either that or the crossword.
    No chance...me and you are the *crossword champs.

    *Am I seriously boasting about that?

  15. #15
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    Re: The art of losing

    Losing is a bit like flying

    The art of throwing yourself at the ground and missing

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