Fair warning: My attempt to memorize every card in Dominion backfired
I used to prep for game night by drilling every Dominion card into my head. It ruined the fun because I could see all the best moves ahead of time. I dropped that habit, and now our games are sloppy but way more enjoyable. We actually finish with smiles instead of sighs.
Hey @milaw14, that 'just a card game' line is something I hear all the time about hobbies people care about. It's not just cards, it's like when people say sports are 'just a game' or art is 'just a drawing'. For the people into it, it's about skill, friends, and excitement, which are really important! I see this everywhere, like at work where some tasks seem small but mean a lot to others. So when someone's deep into a card game, it can get serious because it's their main interest. Saying it's not serious ignores all the work and care people put into what they love.
Memorizing Connect Four patterns once made me hate playing it with my niece. I got so focused on blocking every possible move that I stopped noticing she was just happy to drop the red chips. Turns out letting her win sometimes made both of us have a better time. Chasing the perfect strategy can blind you to the point of playing together. Fun’s usually more about who’s at the table than what’s on it.