It's not always the person who can shoot the most paint who will win a game …
By Bruce 'Charon' Johnston

originally published in the February 2007 issue of Paintball Sports Magazine

Every year millions of players dream of becoming the next World Series of Poker Champion. The possibility that anyone can become the best poker player on the planet like unknown underdog Chris Moneymaker the 2003 WSP champ has fueled the explosive world wide popularity of Texas Hold'em poker. One aspect of poker that attracts players is that the best hand will not always win the game. In poker unlike most other games or sports a stone faced player can change a bad deal into a winning hand by making his opponents believe he is in a strong position. A good bluff is as much a part of poker as an ante, call or all in. The art of the bluff is not exclusively found at the poker table. If executed properly a good bluff can change the course of a paintball game snatching victory from the jaws of a certain defeat.

There are times on the paintball field when things will not go as planned. You can run out of paint or air, blow an oring in your remote line or suddenly find yourself alone with the other side moving in on your position. Just because you can't play like you normally would it doesn't mean you have to put up your hands and walk to the dead box. As long as you haven't been hit you CAN still have an impact on the outcome of the game. All you need to do is think outside the box, try something different and bluff the other team into letting your side win the game. When things go wrong for you the other team has no idea that you are in a tough spot. As long as the truth is hidden you can bluff them.

Strength in Numbers
If you find yourself alone, outnumbered with the other team is closing in on you and know that you will not last long in a fight remember that the other team doesn't know you are alone. Make them believe you have teammates hiding ready to spring an ambush. Yell out names of nonexistent players on your side with positions of the other team. "Austin there's one coming up on the right." "Stay where you are Scott, he is walking right up on you." Or pretend that you are answering a question from a member of your team, "What? No, no he is over by that big tree can't you see him?". If all goes well you will be able to delay the other side until your team can come in and rescue you or until time runs out for the game.

Take Some Heat Off the Rest of Your Team
Even it you can't shoot it doesn't mean the other team wont shoot at you. Be a large visible target to get the other team to waste paint and time trying to eliminate you rather then your teammates who are still in the fight. Run from bunker to bunker back and forth across the field letting the other team know where you are at all times. Every marker shooting at you means one less shooting at a teammate. This may give your team the few extra minutes they need to move up the field and eliminate the other team.

Make Them Think You are a Threat
As long as the other team believes you are a threat they will be wary of you. Get behind a bunker and pop out of different spots with your maker up like you are going to shoot. The players on the other side will see this and duck back behind their bunkers. Even though you will not be able to eliminate anyone it will keep them from running up and bunkering you or players on your team. Keeping the other side from gaining ground will help your team win the game.

Move aggressively up the field gaining as much ground as you can. Just because you have no paint doesn't mean you can't surrender other players. The only way you can surrender them is to move in close. The psychological impact of players moving aggressively up the field can be tremendous by inspiring your side and demoralizing the other side.

Try Not to Look Threatening
If you have the guts to try it there is one bluff that can work during a secure an objective style game. This trick takes nerves of steel and must be executed properly to have any chance of success. This will sound crazy but, take off your harness, set down your marker and walk up the middle of the field. You can't just walk up the field you have to look as non threatening as possible. While you are walking fold your arms and look at your feet. Every ten steps, stop and look around, scratch your butt, wave to a referee, pick up and inspect an old paintball from the ground or stretch your arms. Do anything you can think of to look like something other then a player. If someone takes a shot at you stop and wave to them. If you haven't bee hit and don't take cover the shooter will think you are not playing and will leave you alone. Continue the stroll and stop process over and over until you reach the other team's objective. The other side will never suspect this tactic (unless they have read this issue of Paintball Sports Magazine). Unfortunately you can only try this bluff once per day and it has worked.

If an opposing player sneaks up behind you, running is futile and trying to spin and shoot to get the elimination will be suicide, try to bluff the player into thinking you are on the same side. Keep your marker pointed away from the other player, wave and say "Come here quick you gotta see this." Some players will see your armband and blast you but others will run over to see what is going on. As soon as the players kneels beside you poke him with your maker and tell him he's out. The look of shock in a player's eyes when he realizes he has been tricked is priceless.

If you get near the other team's base, there is no shooting in your area but you are outnumbered with no chance of taking the other team's base alone, try to sneak into their base backwards. Turn around facing the way you came and walk backwards toward the base. When you are spotted fire a few balls away from the other team and get behind a bunker. Shoot a few more times yelling that "They are coming up over this way". Move quickly from bunker to bunker toward the base always keeping your back to the other side. The other team will be concentrating so hard on finding the nonexistent players moving in that you will be able to get into the base and surrender everyone.

If you get to a point when all hope seems lost because of a shortage of supplies or a mechanical failure, don't give up. As long as you are 'in play' you can help your team. Don't be afraid to try something different or unexpected on the field. You might surprise yourself with the different ways you can find to bluff the other team. The greatest weapon on a paintball field is your mind so use it because it's not always the person who can shoot the most paint who will win a game.