Favorite Game Tournament 2012 (Chess wins! Condorcet Bonus!)

[hasdgfas]

If chess wins, I'm going to have to ponder about why. Seriously.

Because Texas Hold'em is also terrible.

[Nicodemus]

If chess wins, I'm going to have to ponder about why. Seriously.

It might have something to do with the fact that chess has been the most popular game in, if not the world, then certainly the western hemisphere for over 1500 years. It's a purely strategic game where each player is completely in control of his own fate, meaning that if you win, lose, or draw, you do so entirely on your own terms and due to your own skill. It has inspired countless works of art, is considered by many to be art itself, and when played expertly, such as here, here, and here, has an undeniable beauty that can be appreciated by amateurs and professionals alike.

[ShadowLurker]

Texas Hold'em Poker
Risk
The Settlers of Catan

[animorpherv1]

If chess wins, I'm going to have to ponder about why. Seriously.

Because Texas Hold'em is also terrible.

But, like, the point of a game is to have fun. And one of the best (and easiest) ways of having fun with a game is through having awesome conversations with your pals. Card games in general are amazing at that sort of thing.

If chess wins, I'm going to have to ponder about why. Seriously.

It has inspired countless works of art, is considered by many to be art itself, and when played expertly, such as here, here, and here, has an undeniable beauty that can be appreciated by amateurs and professionals alike.

Wait what. Any one that turns any sort of board game at all into a form of art has way too much time on their hands.

[quadz08]

Chess is beautiful. It's one of the few games where every single playing piece can literally be a fantastic work of art.

[hasdgfas]

If chess wins, I'm going to have to ponder about why. Seriously.

Because Texas Hold'em is also terrible.

But, like, the point of a game is to have fun. And one of the best (and easiest) ways of having fun with a game is through having awesome conversations with your pals. Card games in general are amazing at that sort of thing.

And one of my favorite ways of having fun is having a battle of wits with a friend. Plus, I was in chess club in high school, and that had some of the best group conversations ever. Hold 'em just doesn't hold(heh) my interest for longer than about 10 minutes. I've had way more fun with chess than hold'em in my lifetime.

[BS2000]

I can understand the hate against chess. When you play someone who is miles better at you in chess, it completely sucks ass and you don't want to play. Versus when you play pros at poker, you still hold a decent chance cause the game is more psychological and luck based. But playing someone who is about your level in chess can be really really more fun.

Plus yeah chess youre in complete control and watching 2 grandmasters go at it is really entertaining. The game itself is fascinating because it still hasn't been broken yet.

[Matias]

All the above chess arguments hold water. I respect chess as a game. 2nd favorite of all of the nominated games, so I'm extremely glad these are the top two.

that said, hold'em can, has and will make or break entire lives. While I see chess coexist with peoples' lives, I see texas hold'em BEING peoples' lives.

[mith]

(Do remember that this is a "Favorite Game" tournament, not a "Life-changing Game" tournament. I would imagine someone whose life was ruined by Poker might not consider it their favorite anymore; and likewise, someone who was pressured to play Chess at a high level as a child until they went insane...)

[Timeater]

This is basically a popularity contest

A lot of people voting for chess feel obligated to do so

[hasdgfas]

This is basically a popularity contest

A lot of people voting for chess feel obligated to do so

I'm voting for chess because I can't vote for Poker.

[quadz08]

I'm not voting because I can't decide between chess and poker and haven't really played the other ones. WHEEEE.

[Matias]

(Do remember that this is a "Favorite Game" tournament, not a "Life-changing Game" tournament. I would imagine someone whose life was ruined by Poker might not consider it their favorite anymore; and likewise, someone who was pressured to play Chess at a high level as a child until they went insane...)

Yep, but people like to discuss the influence a certain game had anyway. Interesting topics.

Also, to all who care, this topic kind of turned me on to chess. I'm doing some strategy research.

[mith]

Final Results:

Match 63:

Chess (15)

d. Texas Hold'em Poker (12)

Third Place:

Magic: The Gathering (13)

d. Risk (11)

Fifth Place:

Go (7)

d. Dominion (6), Hearts (5), The Settlers of Catan (3)

[animorpherv1]

I refuse to accept this.

[mith]

Same final as the previous Game Tournament, but a different result with Chess winning this time after a 13-9 win for Poker in 2010.

2010's semifinalists were Go and The Settlers of Catan, which were relegated to the quarterfinals this year by an unfortunate bracket draw. They did swap opponents, as in 2010 it was Chess v. Go and Poker v. Settlers.

I never did the Condorcet thing for the 2010 tourney... let's try that again this year.

Rank the following games:

Bridge
Chess
Diplomacy
Dominion
Go
Hearts
Magic: The Gathering
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Risk
The Settlers of Catan
Texas Hold'em Poker
Twilight Struggle

[mith]

Dominion
Diplomacy
Twilight Struggle
Chess
Bridge
Magic: The Gathering
Go
The Settlers of Catan
Hearts
Texas Hold'em Poker
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Risk

[inspiratieloos]

Magic: The Gathering
Chess
Twilight Struggle
Go
Dominion
Hearts
Diplomacy
Texas Hold'em Poker
Settlers of Catan
Risk
Bridge
Pokémon Trading Card Game

I haven't played some of those so they're ranked on what I've heard of them and my hate for other games.

[Magister Ludi]

Magic: The Gathering
Chess
Bridge
Go
Texas Hold'em Poker
Hearts
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Risk
(haven't played any games below this line)
Diplomacy?
Dominion ?
The Settlers of Catan ?
Twilight Struggle ?

[xRECKONERx]

Dominion
Diplomacy
Chess
Magic: The Gathering
Settlers of Catan
Twilight Struggle
Go
Bridge
Texas Hold 'Em
Hearts
Risk
Pokemon TCG

[imaginality]

Chess
Go
Texas Hold'em Poker
Bridge
Diplomacy
Twilight Struggle
Hearts
Dominion
Magic: The Gathering
The Settlers of Catan
Risk
Pokémon Trading Card Game

[Trevor]

Chess
Texas Hold'em Poker
Go
Diplomacy
Bridge
The Settlers of Catan
Dominion
Twilight Struggle
Hearts
Risk
Magic: The Gathering
Pokémon Trading Card Game

[ShadowLurker]

The Settlers of Catan
Dominion
Texas Hold'em Poker
Diplomacy
Chess
Go
Hearts
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Risk
Bridge
Twilight Struggle
Magic: The Gathering

[MichelSableheart]

Never played the bottom 4, so they don't rank high wrt favourite games.

Go
Magic: The Gathering
Risk
Bridge
Chess
Texas Hold'em Poker
The Settlers of Catan
Hearts
Diplomacy
Dominion
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Twilight Struggle

[implosion]

heh, i took a class on game theory, so i actually know what this means. I feel special.

Hearts
Risk
Texas Hold'em Poker
Chess
Bridge
Diplomacy
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Dominion
Go
Magic: The Gathering
The Settlers of Catan
Twilight Struggle