Say “goodbye” to those embarrassing losses during family reunions because we’ve got
some aces you can stick up your sleeve.
From ensuring the tower tumbles to speaking in code, here are some ways to dominate the
competition in numerous popular games:
9.
Jenga -
This game was created by Leslie Scott who chose the word “Jenga,” which comes from
the Swahili word meaning “to build.”
The first trick to winning this daunting game is patience; don’t rush when removing a
piece from the tower, instead, examine it for loose bricks.
Also, keep in mind that there isn’t a set-in-stone technique for winning Jenga because every
time someone stacks those wooden blocks, the structure changes.
The bricks all vary in weight and size, so it’s nearly impossible to play the same
match twice.
Another thing you should avoid is playing with your competitors instead of against them.
Don’t be fooled into stacking the structure too high because it most likely won’t hold
up for long.
One thing people overlook during Jenga is the fact that they can use their arms to balance
the tower while removing a piece.
A player can only use one hand, but the rules mention nothing about forearms and elbows.
Perhaps the most helpful strategy when it comes to playing Jenga is to sabotage the
competitors that come after you.
When you’re stacking a block on top, try to arrange it so that the structure becomes
unstable.
Soon, you’ll walk away as the new champion of this tricky game.
8.
Monopoly -
When it comes to ripping apart relationships, Monopoly is the kingpin.
It’s no wonder this seemingly innocent board game manages to cause chronic family turmoil;
who wouldn’t be mad when their own brother forces them into mortgaging their hard-earned
properties?
But hope isn’t lost when it comes to outsmarting your money-hungry competitors, just keep the
following strategies in mind.
Step one: know your dice combinations.
Seven is the most common dice roll, so it’s something to consider when determining where
you or other players will land in future turns.
Plus, it keeps you informed about when your next “PASS GO.
COLLECT $200.” is coming up.
Step two: buy as many properties as you can.
The first establishments you land on will most likely be the cheapest and easiest to
build houses on, which will make you money fast.
Also, remember that the orange-colored real estate is the most commonly landed on throughout
the game; so, snatch them up quickly before other players beat you to it.
Step three: make monopolies (hence the name of the game) and collect even more rent.
Other techniques include staying in Jail to avoid owing other people money and resisting
the urge to build hotels to keep houses off the market for your competitors.
7.
Connect Four -
Although this childhood favorite might appear straightforward concerning coming out on top,
think again because there are some great tricks even for this seemingly simple match.
The first thing to do is make sure you’re the first person to drop your piece into the
vertical game board; also, place your piece in the center column.
If you can take your turn first, you will mathematically always be able to come out
the winner, which is proven; there are even virtual Connect Four games online that will
tell you the odds as you play.
This method works because it allows you to regulate how the other person moves and, if
carried out with no mistakes, will inevitably result in a victory.
The person who goes first can force the other player to make a fateful error in the end.
However, the second competitor shouldn’t lose all hope; if they can trip up player
one, then they stand a small chance of winning themselves.
Besides, there is always room for human error, so if you’re player number two watch closely
for missteps.
6.
Scrabble -
If Nigel Richards can become the Scrabble champion playing in a language he doesn’t
know, then there is still hope for the folks who think they don’t stand a chance in this
challenging game of points and vocabulary.
Although, you probably don’t want to memorize the entirety of the Scrabble dictionary like
ol’ Nigel did… we’re trying to have fun not blow a gasket...remembering some small,
yet high-scoring words is essential in coming out on top.
The word “za,” for example, is minuscule, but packs a punch.
Plus, it’s an actual word that means several things including “pizza” and is also a
letter of the Arabic alphabet.
Another strategy is to keep common suffixes visible on your letter stand; this will make
possible plays pop out at you.
Don’t forget to block your competitor as well; form words that are nearly impossible
to build on.
Next, be on the lookout for “retsina.”
The spelling of this Greek wine contains the letters to spell eight other words and will
give you a bonus since it’s seven letters long.
Keep proper names in mind as well, although some won’t work, others double as adequate
words.
5.
Hangman -
We’ve all played this frustrating, but fun, game sometime in our lives.
It seems we guess our hearts out to discover the right word, but we often fail, and the
stick figure faces the consequences.
The person doing the guesswork has certain advantages as does the person choosing the
word.
If you’re the one throwing out letters, then there are a couple of ways to solve the
puzzle.
First, know which are the most common; “A” is more common in shorter words, “E” is
more likely to appear in mid-sized words, and “I” is the most frequently used letter
in longer words.
Some prevalent consonants are “S,” “T,” and “R” respectively.
But, if you guess incorrectly eleven times, then you’re out of luck.
If you are the person coming up with the word, then don’t fret because there are tricks
you can consider as well.
You already know that your opponent will be calling out common letters; so, it’s time
to trip them up.
Although you might think longer is better regarding word length, this isn’t true in
the game of Hangman.
If you choose four-letter words, you’re more likely to end up with a little man stuck
in a noose.
One word that easily messes with people’s minds is “jazz.”
There are so many options that guessing the letter “Z” might not even come to mind…
unless they watch this video.
4.
Risk -
This intense board game is reminiscent of a world war.
It’s a game of battle and conquest and takes a lot of strategy and thoughtfulness to win…
and time.
One game of Risk can take days to complete.
So, you’d better think hard about your next move while keeping these tricks in mind.
The first way to win this game is to conquer; taking over isolated nations might seem like
a great idea at first, but in the long-run, it could prove more difficult to expand your
territory.
So, opt for continents and sectors that are linked together to broaden your reach more
effectively.
Something you’ll also want to keep in mind during gameplay is which continents will give
you superior army bonuses.
Some might only give you a three army bonus, while others give you five.
The best places to keep within your repertoire are North America and Europe because they
offer the most significant military rewards.
Another strategy to remember is how many battalions you should deploy for attack; you should use
two times the number that your competitor has within the territory you’re attempting
to overtake.
Deciding how many armies you should maintain in your areas is also essential to winning
Risk; the best method is to keep enough armies within your borderlands to avoid vulnerability.
3.
Battleship -
When it comes to dominating at this classic war game, don’t worry because we’ve got
your back.
First things first, you’ll want to place your ships so that your opponent doesn’t
quickly guess where they are; there are a couple of ways to do this, depending on how
much risk you’re willing to take to win.
The first option is to make sure your ships are spaced apart.
If you leave one or two open squares between them, then your competitor will be less likely
to discover multiple boats in one turn.
However, if you laugh in the face of danger, go ahead and let them touch; some people recommend
that you bunch your ships into clumps around the board.
Doing this could confuse the other player, making them unsure of where they are and which
ships they’ve hit.
Another placement option is to keep the boats vertical; many people will traverse the board
from side to side instead of up and down.
If you are the one firing, then there are some tips to take into consideration as well.
First, aim for the center of the board; you’ll have a better chance of striking a vessel
there than around the edges.
However, if you miss more than once, move on to a different area.
After you hit a ship, fire in spots directly surrounding it; this will allow you to bring
down their boat in no time.
Continue working your way outward while firing on your opponent to sink the rest of the enemy
vessels.
2.
Taboo -
This word-guessing game is tricky, especially if you don’t know the much about the term
that’s written on the card.
However, there are some things to keep in mind to make sure your team comes out on top.
For those of you who’ve never played Taboo, here is the gist of the game: You have groups
of two or more people.
When it is your turn, you draw a card that has a single word written in bold on the top.
You have to describe that word without saying it or any of the related terms listed below.
Your team scores one point for every card that is guessed correctly.
If you pass on a word or slip-up when giving clues, then you receive a penalty point.
One trick to winning this game depends on who your teammates are; if it is somebody
you’re close with, like a sibling or friend, then you can use inside jokes or personal
references to get them to guess the word.
Another way to hint at a term is by thinking about its other meanings; if you draw the
word “pitcher” and the forbidden words describe the baseball version, then you can
describe the type of pitcher one would use for lemonade.
As long as they guess correctly, your team scores.
A strategy all players should use is being careful.
Although the timer is running and you feel rushed, take your time, so you don’t slip
up and lose a point.
Another method to winning this game is sneaky and probably frowned upon; but, some people
will do anything for a victory.
If you can talk to your team members beforehand, let them know that if a difficult word presents
itself, then you’ll use sly acronyms as clues.
If the word is “sanguine,” you can form a string of words like “Smiling Actually...Not
Genuine...Um...Intentionally Nice, Ecstatic”; the first letter of each word or utterance
spells out the term on the card.
The last option would take some work, but hey, it’s worth a shot if you want to leave
your friends and family slouched over in shame as you walk away victorious.
1.
Chess -
This is arguably one of the most challenging games to win, especially for people who haven’t
been playing chess for years.
However, there are some things beginners can do to dominate at this strategic game.
The first step is to make sure your initial move is a good one; move your middle pawns
to gain control of the most important section of the board: the center.
Also, remember not to trade your pieces for nothing of significance; don’t sacrifice
a pawn for no reciprocation.
On the flip side, remember to capture as many of your opponent’s pieces as possible, if
there aren’t dire consequences anyway.
After completing a valuable first move, you’ll want to arrange your material so that you’re
prepared for an attack; this means you have to know how each piece is capable of moving.
Pawns move straight forward one square, unless it’s their first move or they’re overtaking
a competitor’s piece.
The rook is able to move backward, forward, or side to side and can traverse up to seven
spaces.
The knight… or as I like to call it “the horse,” can move back, ahead, and side to
side two spaces, and then it has to move a single square in a perpendicular direction,
forming an “L” shape.
The knight is also able to jump over pieces to get to its target.
The bishop can go whichever diagonal direction you want it to, but can’t move past pieces
that are in its way.
The queen can move in any direction Her Majesty desires; although, she is also incapable of
bypassing pieces in her path.
Lastly, the king can only move a single space in any direction, but can’t move to a spot
that would put the player in “check.”
So, you’ll want to think about how your pieces, as well as your competitor’s, are
able to move and plan ahead when positioning your material.
To checkmate the other player’s king after arranging your pieces, you’ll probably have
to make some sacrifices.
However, don’t forget to watch out for your own king’s well-being!
If you memorize the moves and try to trip up your opponent, even as a beginner, you’ll
stand a great chance at winning.
But, if you lose, it isn’t the end of the world…
after all, this isn’t Wizard’s Chess.
What are some strategies that you use to win at popular games?