I suppose we've all been raised to be leery of any game at a carnival, at least I was. They may be fun, and winning a big stuffed doll for your squeeze is always a way of proving yourself worthy. Sadly, I never did win a big prize. Maybe that's why this Frugal Yankee wants to understand the tricks of their trade.
There is a difference in the world of carnivals and amusement parks. If the amusement park is owned by a big corporation the games are probably on the up and up. It's small carnivals that pose problems. It's where the need for greed is larger. Usually the carnies work on commission. The more you spend at the stall, the more they make. Big amusement parks pay a decent wage. This means the bigger the amusement park, the less you have to worry about a game being 'off'.
That said, few games are actually rigged. There's no need. Carnies take advantage of your good nature. Heck, everyone is looking for a good time. Your guard is down. You’re really not observing the games. You don’t know the tricks of the trade. When it comes to midway games, drop your assumptions, open your eyes, turn up your radar. You just might win the stuffed panda and impress that certain someone.
The best advice, the biggest key to winning, is simple. Observe. Watch the game you're interested in. See who wins. How do they do it? Was a certain angle used? Where do winners stand? What equipment is being used? Observe and digest everything. Each game has its little tricks, and if you observe them, you may become king or queen of the midway. But to give you a leg up, the Frugal Yankee has some tips on some of the games.
We'll take each game and offer up something you might be able to use.
ROPE LADDER
A recent and popular game that's fun for onlookers too. It requires climbing a rope ladder. First tip, ignore the rungs. Keep your feet as far apart as possible. Use the outside of the rope. Move your right foot and your left hand at the same time with equal pressure. Then the left foot and right hand. Do not use either your right foot and right hand or your left foot and left hand at the same time. You'll lose your balance.
STAND THE BOTTLE
This is the fishing pole with a ring at the end. The idea is to stand up a bottle. It's tough and requires patience. The trick here is don't lift or pull the bottle. Push the bottle up. Not one of the Frugal Yankee’s favorites. Too much work.
SKEE BALL
This game will celebrate its centennial in 2009. If you're playing Lane A, shoot from Lane B. Use the side rail about 3/4 the way up. There's a sweet spot near there. Observe or experiment, but that's the way to win this baby.
MACHINE GUN STAR/TARGET
One hundred BBs to obliterate a small target. Easy right? Nope, this is one of the hardest games. First, forget about the gun sight. Do you think anyone will be checking and adjusting the sights? Remember the tip about watching? See which gun seems to have the work best. Chose that one. Second those tubes with the BBs in them, some may have crimped edges. Those probably don't have the advertised number of BBs. Pick one that seems to have all the ammo. For strategy, don't start with center, work the outside. Aim around the target, like you are cutting it.
That’s it for now, but we have a bunch more tricks on other games. Just head over to our HOW TO section on FrugalYankee.com. I hope you enjoyed this. Thanks for stopping by.

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Comments: 18
Not all of these apparatus are the same, I suspect. Linger for a while and before long when the operator, thinking no one is looking, will show a kid or pretty woman the trick. Whatever it is, then you can copy it.
Of course, just like in splitting wood, swing like your life depends on it.
I guess I learned early on that these games were a rip off, I always pass without hesitation.
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A winning maneuver for those basketball games, where the backboard and hoop are in a netted cage, is to throw the ball at a sweet spot in the netting at the top of the cage. This game is often skewed by significant discrepancies in ball inflation and the fact that the hoop is placed just close enough to the top of the netting so as to make arching shots near impossible. Banking it off the netting compensates for both.
Games of skill like these may soon be banned in Ohio. Wording in current legislation in our state government, seeking to stop the introduction of skill games (aka; slot machines), may also inadvertently ban any game where a person can win or accumulate any kind of prize or reward by exercising some form of skill.
Chuck E. Cheese's and Dave and Buster's game rooms, as well as charitable bingos and charitable "rip-off" tickets, are also expected to be victims.
Meanwhile, we'll have to watch the precedent set in Ohio. If a law like this is passed, which I see as unlikely given all of the potential opposition, home poker games would also be outlawed. Poker games have long been the guy's or girl's night-in staple. I'd hate to see the criminalizing of those games trending across the country. It seems to be just one more excuse to gain access to what we do within our own homes.
Incidentally, in Oregon, poker games are illegal without a permit only if the house takes a rake. So, if the host isn't taking money from the pot or charging additional fees to the players, then any one at any time at any where can start up an impromptu game. We even have poker leagues that play regularly in pubs all around the city of Portland and its outskirts. The bar pays the league -- betting that the league will bring in additional customers and increased sales -- and the league hosts its game at that particular bar.
Just a little back story there, for those of you who are interested. In the meantime, skee ball here is come!