Fair Ways to Decide Who Pays for Coffee or Lunch
When you're deciding who buys coffee or who takes the dare, what matters most is that everyone accepts the result. Here's a comparison of quick, fair ways to decide in different situations.
Where the usual methods fall short
- Rock-paper-scissors: fine for two or three people, but with five or more you get tie after tie.
- Drawing lots: fair, but it takes time to set up and follow through.
- Drawing straws: you need materials, and people may suspect whoever prepared them.
Pick one person by luck: a finger chooser
Everyone puts a finger on the phone screen, a light spins and stops on one person. No prep, done in 10 seconds. The pick is made at random as soon as the spin starts; the pause and bounce are just for show, so finger position doesn't matter.
Decide by nerve: the nunchi game
If pure luck feels too dull, try Nunchi Fingers. Players lift one at a time, and whoever clashes or holds on to the end loses. The phone makes the call, so there's no arguing about who was first.
Decide by skill: a 1v1 tournament
Play in pairs and have the losers face each other until one is left. Short games like Tug of War and Quick Draw work best.
Split random teams
Choose Split teams in Who Pays? and every finger is assigned to Team A or Team B. Teams are as even as possible, and with an odd number the extra person's team is random. No more arguing over picks before a match.
Good manners for bets
- Agree to accept the result before you start. Asking for a redo isn't fair.
- Keep the stakes at a level everyone is comfortable with.
- If the same person keeps losing, make the next dare lighter.