asdfrasfd wrote:Is it better for me to "play down" or play at my level?
Here is what science has to say on the matter.
http://content.time.com/time/subscriber ... -2,00.htmlIf you watch rats wrestle, says Stephen Siviy, a psychologist at Gettysburg College, you'll see that the bigger rat lets the smaller rat win every now and then so that the smaller rat will keep playing.If you always win, eventually the other person does not feel like playing anymore.
A common, and understandable belief, is that to play down is arrogant or condescending and that any "victory" the other person has will ring hollow if they realize you are playing at less than full capacity.
A way to correct for this that is used in various sports is the concept of "handicapping". For instance, if I play Tiger Woods at golf there is no way I will win. And I don't expect Tiger to intentionally screw up golf shots. Instead, the game is fun by using a handicap, giving me free strokes for certain holes. Maybe Tiger is not allowed to use a putter. This helps equal the game.
Using your left hand is a good handicap. If you are still winning with ease then up the handicap. She is awarded 2 points for every score, for example. Or she only needs to get to a score of 5, while you must still get to 21.