The Art Of Blending In - Winning Board Games Part 2

In my post “5 Basic Tips For Winning Board Games” I outlined some high level principles anyone can apply in just about any board or card game. The 2nd tip was (you guessed it) blend in. Any good strategy involves being as sneaky as the game will let you, but there are a few techniques not everyone thinks about.

Hide Your Points (If You Can)

I’m always baffled when I see people go out of their way in games to point out how many points they have. Do you want to get bullied? Because that’s how you get bullied. If the game allows it, you want to do the exact opposite. Keep those points hidden! The less people know about how far ahead you are, the less likely you are to be picked on. And let’s face it, it’s pretty satisfying to reveal to the table you got the final point to win when nobody suspected it.

Don’t Brag About Great Strategies

I know it can be hard to hold it in when you’ve concocted a brilliant combination of cards or flawless dice strategy, but seriously do your darndest. Bragging about a strategy basically paints a target on your chest and on every one of your little game pieces you hold so dear. Once people know what you’re up to, they’ll do whatever they can to stop you.

If you just have to tell everyone, at least wait until the game is over to spill the beans on how you brilliantly won the match. If it’s a strategy you want to use in a future match, you might just have to bite your tongue and never speak of it. True dedication. True prestige.

Point Out The Success Of Others

While it may burn as it escapes your lips, a little praise for your opponents never hurt anyone. In fact, it just might help you out. Pointing out a good strategy someone else is using is a great way to divert attention away from your secret strategies while encouraging people to expend efforts in thwarting each other.

Set Up Red Herrings

One of the best ways to hide a good strategy is to mask it behind a fake one. Make your opponents believe you’re planning one thing while secretly focusing on something else. For example in Risk you might consider attacking North America repeatedly to draw attention away from the big army you’re growing in Japan.

So there you have it; the art of blending in. Keep your points hidden, point out others’ success, set up red herrings, and for heaven’s sake don’t brag about what you’re doing.