First-person shooters are one of the genres where the PC shines most: precise mouse aim, high refresh rate monitors and a long history of competitive play. The best choice depends on whether you want competition, a story or something to play with friends. Competitive tactical shooters Counter-Strike 2 is the long-standing reference: round-based matches where … Read more
Some of the most played games on PC cost nothing to download. Free-to-play does not mean low quality: several of the biggest competitive games in the world use this model. What it does mean is that the game makes money in other ways, and it helps to know how before you start. Competitive shooters MOBAs … Read more
Golf is more fun, and you improve faster, when you play regularly with the same people. A league or a few reliable partners also gives you a reason to keep playing through busy weeks. Start at your local course The pro shop knows which leagues run at the course, which groups need players and which … Read more
From club competitions to charity days and the major championships, golf events use a handful of scoring formats. Each one rewards a different style and calls for a different strategy. Stroke play Every stroke on every hole counts, and the lowest total wins. Professional tour events and most club championships use it. One disastrous hole … Read more
Many golfers fear bunkers, but the greenside bunker shot is the only one in golf where you do not hit the ball. You hit the sand, and the sand carries the ball out. Once you trust that, bunkers become far less scary. The setup The swing Aim to enter the sand about two inches behind … Read more
The offside rule is the law that newcomers find most confusing and the one most often debated by fans. It exists to prevent attackers from simply waiting next to the opponent’s goal, and it shapes the whole tactical structure of the game. What the rule says A player is in an offside position if any … Read more
Doubles is a different game from singles. Points are shorter, the net is more important, and the team that communicates better often beats the team with better individual strokes. Get to the net The fundamental rule of doubles is that the team controlling the net usually wins the point. Volleying from close to the net … Read more
American football can look chaotic at first: 22 players, frequent stops, flags on the field. Once you understand downs, scoring and the clock, the game becomes a strategic contest you can follow play by play. The field and the teams Each team has 11 players on the field. The field is 100 yards long between … Read more
Penalties are part of almost every football game. A single flag can wipe out a touchdown, extend a drive or flip field position, which is why disciplined teams often beat more talented ones. Offensive penalties Defensive penalties Penalties for both sides Unnecessary roughness and personal fouls (15 yards) cover late hits and dangerous contact. Face … Read more
Special teams handle the kicking plays: kickoffs, punts, field goals and extra points. They are on the field less often than the offense or defense, but they influence field position on almost every change of possession and often decide close games. Field position is the hidden score An offense starting at its own 40-yard line … Read more
