If you love playing these games at the state fair, but usually find yourself walking away from the booths empty-handed or with a dinky Chinese finger trap as a consolation prize, then this post is for you.

Step right up, gentlemen! Today you're going to learn the secrets to beating the carnies and winning a giant stuffed animal for your gal.

General Guidelines

Assume most games are gaffed. Gaffed is carnie speak for rigged. Gaffs in midway games lie on a spectrum that ranges from "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" to downright criminal. Most gaffs don't make the games impossible to win. They just make you work harder. For example, it's common knowledge that the basketball rims at carnival free throw shooting games are usually smaller than regulation-size and bent into an oblong shape to appear larger in the front. Moreover, the baskets are often hung higher than regulation basketball goals. You can still make a basket, it just take a bit more skill and finesse.

Bottom line, if a game looks really easy to win, assume that something's been gaffed to make it harder.