Whenever I get together with friends to play cornhole we split into guys vs. girls. The inherent competition and the associated prowess for the gender that wins are obvious, but the subtle manipulations that take place between the sexes are less so. In a game such as cornhole, where sheer brute force does not equal superiority, these under-the-radar machinations become the deciding factor. Therefore, it is in each gender's best interest to examine the devices of the other. Here is a glimpse.

Thwarting Men

There are five areas of vulnerability that are common to the male cornhole player: tossing the bag with excessive force; concentrating on each toss (like with putting); becoming easily frustrated; cursing; and an unslakable desire to drink. For each there is a straightforward line of attack.

 To offset the forcefulness of the throw, establish which male tosses the hardest and align him on the board with the most bounce. Most men will oblige a woman who asks “Could we switch so that I can watch my children?” Soon his bags will be ricocheting off the board leaving you open terrain to gently place yours.

To disturb the concentration simply speak loudly about a topic that is certain to get the male heated. Like sex. Or you could always offer a visual attention-grabber. Like something that relates to sex. Beer bottles come in handy. Honestly, how can he focus on the board with that image dancing at the forefront of his thoughts?

For many athletes “getting inside the competitors head” is the pinnacle of dominance. The formula is simple. When a male misses a shot and curses his ability, agree with him and then reinforce the comment. For example, “You are a mess today. Something must be off. Are you feeling all right?” His ego will be bruised and his manhood called into question. Score one for the ladies.

Invariably men will curse. It is second nature when venting frustration, and if stifled, can cause an inability to shake a glitch. Therefore, if a male begins on a foul-mouthed tirade, ask him to clean up his language. This is a permissible request, especially if children are around. The task will consume much of his energy, and instead of telling the board to "F-off!", he will hold it in, and silently curse himself.

The men will want to drink after suffering all this manipulation, and the best way to exploit this situation is to get them drunk. Goad your competition into pounding for all those missed shots. Pretend to pound with them. Their pride will override their sensibility and soon they will be half in the bag.

If you implement these strategies in as cunning a manner as every woman should, in no time your competition will be watching his bag bounce erratically, will have lost his focus and his ability to vent his frustration, and will then most assuredly lose, to you.

Thwarting Women

There are five areas of vulnerability that are common to the female cornhole player: having difficulty reaching the board with her toss; chatting incessantly; dismissive behavior; child-watching; and improper placement of drinks. For each there is a method of counter assault.

If a woman cannot reach the cornhole board because of a lack of athleticism or strength, be chivalrous. Suggest that she take her shots from the Junior foul line (six feet in front of the board). This will appear like a kind gesture, but the guise will be revealed once you ridicule all shots from this distance, especially if she continues to miss. Embarrassment will ensue and any hope of success will be lost.

Women love to gab and this too can be used to your advantage. Much like with their distraction technique, insert a comment or question about a topic or individual that you know will get them incensed, and their chit-chat will evolve into an impassioned conversation across the field. They will lose focus on the game and become easy pickings.

When women make a mistake in a public setting they tend to "laugh it off". This saves face and is one of the double-standards that get under men's skin. Therefore, go with it. Laugh along. Laugh harder. Turn the transitional guffaw into a shining bolt of ineptitude. Confidence will erode before you catch your breath.

Women with children are on constant alert. If you are pitted against any mother, keep asking about her child. "Where did Johnny go?" "He's not going to climb that is he?" "How good is your health insurance?" Within moments the mother will be screaming her child's name and will have forgotten that she is playing a game.

Women tend to place their drinks off to the side while playing. Mostly to free up their hands, but also because their drinks tend to be mixed concoctions or contained in special glasses. You now have an easy target. That drink will spill with an errant bag toss or an accidental kick. This will force the female to leave the game to refresh her drink. This allows for distraction from outside forces, such as children and gossiping friends. If she returns, her interest will no longer be on the game.

If you move slowly and seemingly out of pure innocence, you will raise no red flags. Women are always suspicious of men's intent, and cornhole is just another platform for their paranoia, so tread with caution. However, success can be yours if you watch for the cues and then strike accordingly.

Know Your Enemy

It is paramount in any battle to understand your opponent. It is not enough to watch the surface. You must also read the messages that swim beneath. Therefore, be on the lookout for these behaviors and the myriad ones that exist in various idiosyncratic forms. Your game will improve and your friends will thank you for it. But beware, the other half of the species is watching you, too.