Infinite and Finite Games

This past weekend, I competed in my second grappling tournament. I was coming off a pretty bad finger injury and 2 month layoff. I still don’t know if I sprained, fractured, or jammed it but that’s beside the point. The main reason I wanted to compete was because I felt like I needed to test my current skill-set in a much higher paced environment. The preparation leading up to this tournament was challenging, both physically and mentally. I ended up taking 2nd and 4th place in the gi and nogi divisions, respectively.

Now that I have had a few days of pure reflection, I have some thoughts that I felt like sharing as well as some ideas that tie into what I’ve been reading lately.

Revisiting my why

So, in the beginning, I shared my reason for competing. But I’m not fully convinced if that’s the true reason I really wanted to compete. I was introduced to the topic of finite and infinite games by Chris Wojcik’s article on, ironically enough, “Why You Shouldn’t Compete”. The basic gist of finite games is that they’re games defined by rules, a set of players, and a clear motivation to win. Infinite games are much different in that they’re played for the purpose of continuation. There is no winning or losing state in an infinite game or else there’d be a clear contradiction in its definition.

When I heard about these two concepts, it brought me back to why I love grappling sports. The pursuit of getting better and learning without the outside pressures of competition is an infinite game. There is no motivation to win in a training session. This is not meant to frame competition in a negative manner or say that training is better than competition. They each have their own benefits, but the most important connection between them is they complement each other very well.

Back to the main point, I love doing grappling sports because they allow me to be curious and explore problem solving through an iterative process. I also enjoy programming for this exact reason, in fact, all activities I do are because of those two reasons. So, I’ve established my motivation for the infinite game of life but do I have a purpose to win in the finite games I’m currently engaged in? The answer to that question is yes. I play finite games for the sake of the next successive finite game. I’ve come to realize that I have limits. I find it very important to know what these are because they help me prevent injuries and burnout. So, knowing when to stop engaging in a finite game is really valuable for my long term growth.

When to stop playing a finite game

I am aware that the idea of stopping a finite game seems like you’re giving up too easily. It’s a slippery slope since there are times where giving up appears to be the best idea when in reality it’s not. We need a clear framework on when to move on from a finite game.

James Carse, the originator of the idea of the finite vs. infinite games, provides some guidance within his book. He brings up the fact that players of finite games are always free to quit at any time. This is freeing yet terrifying because of the dooming thought that we are quitting before truly being tested. However, this is a very narrow way of thinking. We often forget that finite games are played within an infinite game. Being worried about challenges in a finite game without thinking about the consequences it has on the overall infinite game doesn’t really make sense.

In my opinion, the best way to know when to stop playing a finite game is when it overshadows your infinite game. When this does happen, the finite game takes priority over the infinite game. Not allowing this to happen is very important because once the finite game ends, a loss of identity usually follows. I trust my intuition and analysis of situations enough to be at peace with all the decisions I make regarding my participation in finite games.

Key takeaways

It’s important to point out that while grappling sports are infinite games, competition is a finite game, no matter what sport. There is a clear winner in a competition setting and guidelines one must follow. Now that we have a clear idea of finite and infinite games, we can revisit the actual reason I competed/will continue to compete. It’s to lay the foundation for the next successive finite game. It’s hard to predict the future but adaptability is the closest you can get to that. My life may look different in a couple of years but the fact still stands that my infinite game(s) will still need to be played.

Infinite and finite games are everywhere. You might be playing them without realizing it. I strongly believe the most important takeaway from this concept is that infinite games generally make life more enjoyable. They’re certainly not the most important thing in the world but they do allow us to engage in the human experience in a more structured manner.

If you’re curious, here is the article I was referring to.