Blog Number 64

Greetings and welcome to today's random thought.

My son had his first soccer practice tonight so the daughter and I had some quality time together.  Lately she just wants me to play with her ponies.  Her aunt and nanna got her this set of horses / ponies.  There are 2 horses and 4 ponies.  A few days ago she asked me their names so I made up 6 names on the spot: Charlie & Lady (the horses); Nicole, Patches, Milky and Rocker (the ponies).  I played for 15 minutes or so after naming them and now she has decided that they aren't fun to play with unless I am playing along as well.

Not wanting to play ponies, I offered to play Yahtzee Jr.  Our is the Toy Story version so you try to get a yahtzee with either (5) Buzz Lightyears, Mr. Potato Heads, Hamms, Jessie's, or Rex's.  The Woody's are wild so if you get one of them, it counts as anything.  Now with most kids games aimed at this age group, the game involves little if any skill and winning and losing is rather random.  Unless you are me, that is.  Tonight I was slaughtered by my 4 year old.  By the time of my final turn each game I would need like (7) of something in order to win (there are only 5 die).  Overall I think my win - loss record is something like 2 - 23.  How does she get so lucky!

This is how it was when my son was this age as well.  The game then was Chutes and Ladders.  No matter, this game involves no skill as well and I swear my record was like 3 - 80.  I don't know how he did it but he hit every ladder while I hit every chute!  All you have to do is spin a wheel and move your piece.  I majored in Mathematics in college and I know what kind of odds it takes for him to win such a large percentage of the games.  It is incredible!  At that age, he was the luckiest kid I knew.

I think that is why I like chess so much.  There is absolutely no luck in involved.  There is nothing random about it.  Of course my son is winning more and more games against me as he gets better / older.  The wife and I will play every once in a while and I usually win.  However, the few times she has won well, that was just luck.

Thanks for reading my Random Thoughts.

Jon