A game I played a lot with my dad was Pool. He had a full sized slate Pool table that he bought (along with a lawnmower) from a friend who was dying and he put it (the Pool table, not the mower) in a semi dedicated room in his basement. Every family member other than my mom (who was blind in one eye and thus lacked depth perception) loved engaging in the game.

There are a lot of things at which I lack talent, but Pool is not one of them; I’m better than average at it. My dad was better than I but, a few times, I won against him one-on-one. At least one of those times I accused him of letting me win. He said, and with the benefit of hindsight I believe, that he never “lets” anyone win.

He probably didn’t try his hardest, but that’s a fairly fine distinction.