History Main / LetTheBullyWin

* PlayedWith in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'': His underlings blatantly let Wu Zi Mu, a powerful but blind Chinese gangster, win whenever they play anything, including moving the cup when he plays OfficeGolf or lying about their cards in Blackjack, which leads to funny moments when Carl, not caring, beats him regularly. [[AntiVillain Judging]] [[EvenEvilHasStandards by his]] [[AffablyEvil personality]], "Woozie" a nice enough guy, [[BenevolentBoss especially to his men]], that he probably wouldn't care if his minions beat him or not, but to his experienced mooks it's better being safe than sorry.

This is often the case when a BadBoss plays a game with his mooks - who are too terrified not to let him win. Other times it happens between a smart but not too strong player and a not-as-smart but definitely stronger opponent. It can also happen between any kind of boss, [[BenevolentBoss benevolent]] (much to their chagrin especially if they want to play a fair, but enjoyable, game) or not, and a YesMan. The yes-man will always let the boss win because he wants to placate the boss' ego, even if the boss would rather win (or lose) fairly.

This is often the case when a BadBoss plays a game with his mooks - who are too terrified not to let him win. Other times it happens between a smart but not too strong player and a not-as-smart but definitely stronger opponent. It can also happen between any kind of boss, [[BenevolentBoss benevolent]] (much to their chagrin especially if they want a to play a fair, but enjoyable, game) or not, and a YesMan. The yes-man will always let the boss win because he wants to placate the boss' ego, even if the boss would rather win (or lose) fairly.

This is often the case when a BadBoss plays a game with his mooks - who are too terrified not to let him win. Other times it happens between a smart but not too strong player and a not-as-smart but definitely stronger opponent. It can also happen between any kind of boss, [[BenevolentBoss benevolent]] (much to their chagrin, especially if they want a fair game) or not, and a YesMan. The yes-man will always let the boss win because he wants to placate the boss' ego, even if the boss would rather win (or lose) fairly.

This is often the case when a BadBoss plays a game with his mooks - who are too terrified not to let him win. Other times it happens between a smart but not too strong player and a not-as-smart but definitely stronger opponent. It can also happen between any kind of boss, [[BenevolentBoss benevolent]] or not, and a YesMan. The yes-man will always let the boss win because he wants to placate the boss' ego, even if the boss would rather win (or lose) fairly.

* In ''Manga/TheWayOfTheHousehusband'', there's a bit where Tatsu is teaching Miku how to play golf. All of his tips are designed for someone who wants to lose without looking like they're trying to lose. It is abundantly clear that this was a skill he cultivated to avoid embarrassing his Yakuza superiors when playing golf with them.

[[folder:Comics]]

* In one ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' strip, Calvin deliberately loses the ball to Hobbes.
-->'''Calvin''': I'm losing the game, but winning an ambulatory adulthood.
* The entire events of the ''ComicBook/BlackMoonChronicles'' are set in motion because of Lucifer playing chess (and always winning) against his minion Pazuzu. The latter knows exactly how much Lucifer's promise not to kill the one who beats him is worth, so he keeps losing deliberately so as not to incur his master's wrath. Then they decide to [[CosmicChessGame play the game with mortals]] instead.

[[folder:Film]]

* The page quote (and semi-trope namer) comes from ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ANewHope'', when R2-D2 is playing and beating Chewbacca at [[https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Dejarik dejarik]], or holochess. In fact, Wookiees are so infamous for being {{Sore Loser}}s that in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' a dejarik club on the planet Abafar [[FantasticRacism banned them]] over it.
** C-3PO's advice to R2-D2, "Let the Wookiee win", has become a proverb, especially on the Internet. It means "With nothing substantial at stake, it is best to give way to whoever cares the most". Proponents of this principle argue that a lot of time and energy is often wasted on trivial arguments just because people can't stand losing. Opponents argue that it could lead to the enabling of an abuser — an extreme example would be Britain's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeasement appeasement]] of Nazi Germany in the run-up to World War II.
** Another common way to phrase it is "Is this a hill you're willing to die on?" I.e., is whatever you're defending so critical that you're willing to sacrifice something important for it - job, reputation, relationship, etc.
* DoubleSubverted in Jet Li's ''Film/War2007'', with Yakuza boss Shiro practicing sword sparring with one of his men. When he allows himself to be distracted, the other guy accidentally strikes him, and immediately begs forgiveness. Shiro calmly tells him not to worry, and that is was his own fault for allowing himself to be distracted... [[BadBoss and then cuts off]] the man's [[EarAche ear.]]
* ''Film/FlirtingScholar'': The main character is an incognito famous painter posing as a lowly servant who has to pretend that his boss is a better painter.
* ''Film/{{Friday}}'': During a game of craps.
--> '''Smokey:''' I won; gimme my money.
--> '''[[ScaryBlackMan Deebo:]]''' You what?
--> '''Smokey:''' I lost.

[[folder:Literature]]

* ''Literature/AscendanceOfABookworm'', despite its extremely status-based society, [[DeconstructedTrope desconstructs]] this in various instances:
** ManChild Sylvester hates the fact that everyone is supposed to let people of higher status take the better positions in the yearly hunting competition in the Noble's Quarter's forest. [[spoiler:This is coming from the person with the highest rank in the duchy, who is among the very few entitled to first place]].
** After getting AdoptedIntoRoyalty, the protagonist has to tell her noble adoptive brother's retainers to quit doing this, because her brother is set to inherit a seat in which competent HonestAdvisor types are more needed than [[YesMan Yes-Men]] and it's hard to tell which retainers are the competent ones if they are all holding back in hope of getting on her brother's good side. She makes the same demand of people who want to be her own retainers.
** The protagonist periodically engages in this to avoid having her opponent start outright hating the game from losing too often, when she wants said opponent to acquire skills that can be developed by playing it.
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/TheMayors": King Lepold, excited after his recent [[TheGrandHunt successful hunt]], offers his noblemen a bet about his skill. No one dares to take the risk of winning, which he interprets as them all agreeing with his opinion.

* Averted in the frequent poker games in ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. If Worf were as big of an asshole as some of the other Klingons we see in the show, this would be his strategy, but he's a rather gracious loser.
* ''Series/{{Yeralash}}'' has an episode where two boys are playing chess, and the stronger one constantly makes hidden threats. At the end, the weaker one brings an even stronger guy to sit in his place.

* Played with in ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle''. Both Francis and [[DrillSergeantNasty Commandant Spangler]] are highly skilled at pool, but Francis has been throwing games because Spangler will be upset about losing and take it out on the cadets. When Spangler learns about this, he threatens to cancel everyone's privileges if Francis doesn't give his best. Francis [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] by losing on purpose, and the match eventually devolves into a competition to see who can play the ''worse'' game of 8-ball, with both players using all kinds of trick shots to sink the cue ball at the same time as the 8. By the end of the exhibition, everyone's lost track of who has 'lost' more games, so it's impossible to declare a winner.

* ''Series/{{Narcos}}'': Pablo Escobar and one of his lieutenants [[BadGuysPlayPool are playing pool]] and talking shop. Pablo is already on edge because a rival Cartel isn't showing him the respect he thinks he deserves. Then the lieutenant unwittingly beats him. Pablo reacts by congratulating him, handing him a sum of money for winning... and immediately quadruples his "War Tax" on all of his lieutenants.
* ''Series/{{MASH}}: Charles Emerson Winchester III was [[ReassignedToAntarctica reassigned to the 4077th]] from Tokyo after creaming his superior officer in cribbage, and engaging in some UnsportsmanlikeGloating about how much the Colonel in question owes him. When said Colonel visits the 4077th, Winchester sees an opportunity to get back to Tokyo by buttering up the Colonel, engaging in this trope to do so.

* Played with in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'': His underlings blatantly let Wu Zi Mu, a powerful but blind Chinese gangster, win whenever they play anything, including moving the cup when he plays OfficeGolf or lying about their cards in Blackjack, which leads to funny moments when Carl, not caring, beats him regularly. [[AntiVillain Judging]] [[EvenEvilHasStandards by his]] [[AffablyEvil personality]], "Woozie" a nice enough guy, [[BenevolentBoss especially to his men]], that he probably wouldn't care if his minions beat him or not, but to his experienced mooks it's better being safe than sorry.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** The Chewbacca incident mentioned under "Film" above is referenced in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', on Hutta, where a Wookiee is standing near a dejarik board, with a protocol droid missing its arms and its head smashed in.
** It is also referenced in ''VideoGame/LegoStarWars II'', where Chewbacca's FinishingMove on Stormtroopers is to tear their arms out of their sockets (very easy to do with Lego figures).

* In the Pig King's Tower in ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'', Lucas must compete against several robotic likenesses of the Pig King in various events, however, in order to progress Lucas must lose the events in order to stroke the Pig King's massive ego.

-->'''Mr. Regular:''' If a Porsche Cayman driver loses a race, they'll just go buy more polo shirts. But if [[SoreLoser a Corvette driver]] loses a street race... [[DisproportionateRetribution they call the cops.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': During the annual Nuclear Power Plant company picnic, everyone has to let Mr. Burns win the sack race.
** Similarly, in a comic story in ''Simpsons Illustrated'' magazine, Homer lets Mr. Burns win at golf.

* Played with in the episode "Teed Off" of ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife''. Ed Bighead is playing a game with his boss Mr. Dupette, and is instructed to let Dupette win. The groundskeepers at the golf course enforce this [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill by shooting Ed's ball down with]] {{piano|Drop}}s. However, they did not count on Heffer, who rigs the game back In Ed's favor. Mr. Dupette actually turned out to be a good sport, and congratulated Ed on the win. Ed does however get the crap kicked out of him by his supervisor, who got quite the VillainousBreakdown from his efforts to prevent Heffer's interference.
* ZigZagged in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' where Bojack unwittingly agrees to compete in a rigged GameShow against Creator/DanielRadcliffe. Both characters are the bully in a way, as Daniel was cocky and rude towards Bojack, but Bojack was set up to be the {{heel}} for the audience to root against. Despite everyone's pleas to just play along, Bojack [[{{narcissist}} lets his pride get in the way]] and cheats his way to victory only to sabotage himself in the end to spite Daniel [[SkewedPriorities in spite of the fact that the whole thing was for charity and his shenanigans resulted in them getting nothing]].
* The croquet game in Disney's ''WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland'' is rigged in the Queen of Hearts' favor, with the cards playing the wickets moving so that the ball goes through every time. When one misses, he is inevitably sent away [[OffWithHisHead to the chopping block]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', Jake convinces Finn to play an outlandish card game with him because his girlfriend won't play with him anymore. Finn, who's never played before, does much better than expected, causing Jake to become increasingly agitated. Eventually, BMO tells Finn that Jake gets extremely upset whenever he loses a game, so to make things easier on both of them, Finn throws the game.

-->”Like, I hope you let ‘im win, Scrappy! This guy looks like a sore loser!”

** It is also referenced in ''VideoGame/LegoStarWars II'', where Chewbacca's finishing move on Stormtroopers is to tear their arms out of their sockets (very easy to do with Lego figures).

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[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action Television ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

[[folder: Web Video ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Zig-zagged in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' where Bojack unwittingly agrees to compete in a rigged GameShow against Creator/DanielRadcliffe. Both characters are the bully in a way, as Daniel was cocky and rude towards Bojack, but Bojack was set up to be the {{heel}} for the audience to root against. Despite everyone's pleas to just play along, Bojack [[{{narcissist}} lets his pride get in the way]] and cheats his way to victory only to sabotage himself in the end to spite Daniel [[SkewedPriorities in spite of the fact that the whole thing was for charity and his shenanigans resulted in them getting nothing]].

* ''LightNovel/AscendanceOfABookworm'', despite its extremely status-based society, [[DeconstructedTrope desconstructs]] this in various instances:
** ManChild Sylvester hates the fact that everyone is supposed to let people of higher status take the better positions in a hunting competition in the yearly hunting competition in the Noble's Quarter's forest. [[spoiler:This is coming from the person with the highest rank in the duchy, who is among the very few entitled to first place]].

-->'''Mr. Regular:''' If a Porsche Cayman driver loses a race, they'll just go buy more polo shirts. But if [[SoreLoser a Corvette driver]] loses a race... [[Disproportionate Retribution they call the cops.]]

* Discussed in ''Series/GameOfThrones''. King Robert Baratheon has a fondness for fighting and violence in general, which allowed him to win all his battles in his GloryDays (save for one). After becoming king and getting out of shape, he gets a reality check by his new Hand of the King (Lord Eddard Stark), who wisely remarks nobody in the Seven Kingdoms would dare to injure the king (let alone [[AdiposeRex one]] [[YouAreFat too fat]] for his armor) in a tournament and any finalist would rather let him win to save their face. His reaction? He [[MundaneMadeAwesome ''orders'' Ned to drink a glass of wine]] and reluctantly follows his advice to leave younger men jousting.

* DoubleSubverted in Jet Li's ''Film/{{War}}'', with Yakuza boss Shiro practicing sword sparring with one of his men. When he allows himself to be distracted, the other guy accidentally strikes him, and immediately begs forgiveness. Shiro calmly tells him not to worry, and that is was his own fault for allowing himself to be distracted... [[BadBoss and then cuts off]] the man's [[EarAche ear.]]

* DoubleSubverted in Jet Li's ''Film/{{War}}'', with Yakuza boss Shiro practicing sword sparring with one of his men. When he allows himself to be distracted, the other guy accidentally strikes him, and immediately begs forgiveness. Shiro calmly tells him not to worry, and that is was his own fault for allowing himself to be distracted... [[BadBoss and then kills him anyway.]]

* Discussed in ''Series/GameOfThrones''. King Robert Baratheon has a fondness for fighting and violence in general, which allowed him to win all his battles in his GloryDays (save for one). After becoming king and getting out of shape, he gets a reality check by his new Hand of the King (Lord Eddard Stark), which wisely remarks nobody in the Seven Kingdoms would dare to injure the king (let alone [[AdiposeRex one]] [[YouAreFat too fat]] for his armor) in a tournament and any finalist would rather let him win to save their face. His reaction? He ''orders'' Ned to drink a glass of wine and reluctantly follows his advice.

* Discussed in ''Series/GameOfThrones''. King Robert Baratheon has a fondness for fighting and violence in general, which allowed him to win all his battles in his GloryDays (save for one). After becoming king and getting out of shape, he gets a reality check by his new Hand of the King, which wisely remarks nobody in the Seven Kingdoms would dare to injure the king (let alone [[AdiposeRex one]] [[YoureFat too fat]] for his armor) in a tournament and any finalist would rather let him win to save their face. His reaction? He ''orders'' Ned to drink a glass of wine and reluctantly follows his advice.

* The page quote (and semi-trope namer) comes from ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ANewHope'', when R2-D2 is playing and beating Chewbacca at [[https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Dejarik dejarik]].

* Zig-zagged in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' where Bojack unwittingly agrees to compete in a rigged GameShow against Creator/DanielRadcliffe. Both characters are the bully in a way, as Daniel was cocky and rude towards Bojack, but Bojack was set up to be the {{heel}} for the audience to root against. Despite everyone's pleas to just play along, Bojack lets his pride get in the way and cheats his way to victory only to sabotage himself in the end to spite Daniel [[SkewedPriorities in spite of the fact that the whole thing was for charity and his shenanigans resulted in them getting nothing]].

* The entire events of the ''ComicBook/BlackMoonChronicles'' are set in motion because of Lucifer playing chess (and always winning) against his minion Pazuzu (who knows exactly how much Lucifer's promise not to kill the one who bests him is worth), who keeps losing so as not to incur his master's wrath. So they decide to [[CosmicChessGame play the game with mortals]] instead.

* ’’WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheGhoulSchool’’ has Scrappy-Doo distract a giant well-dweller the group is trapped with by [[ThrowingTheDistraction luring it into a game of Wall Ball by bouncing one off the narrow space]]. Before long, it gets into the game and manages to swat the ball, but Shaggy is more nervous about the affair when it roars while continuing to try hitting the now speeding ball.

* ’’WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheGhoulSchool’’ has Scrappy-Doo distract a giant well-dweller the group is trapped with by [[ThrowTheDistraction luring it into a game of Wall Ball by bouncing one off the narrow space]]. Before long, it gets into the game and manages to swat the ball, but Shaggy is more nervous about the affair when it roars while continuing to try hitting the now speeding ball.

* ''Series/TheWire'' has a variant of this where Mayor Royce will go to play poker with some of the city's high rollers, who lose on purpose to him, so that the money they "lose" to him in turn becomes bribe/campaign donation money for Royce. (And so Royce allows them to get away with all of their own bits of corruption.) This way they're not breaking any laws against illegal contributions or bribes, they're just all guys playing a game, and it's a coincidence that the Mayor is walking away with all the cash. Some of the other players grumble about it, however, because Royce has become so greedy over the years that they're starting to get fed up with how much they have to lose in order to appease him.

* ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', "Teed Off": Ed Bighead is playing a game with his boss Mr. Dupette, and is instructed to let Dupette win. The groundskeepers at the golf course strictly enforce this [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill by shooting Ed's ball down with]] {{piano|Drop}}s. However, they did not count on Heffer, who rigs the game back In Ed's favor.
** Actually somewhat subverted since Mr. Dupette was actually a rather good sport and was completely oblivious to the fact that the executives are rigging the game in his favor. He didn't really mind losing and even congratulates Ed when he does win. Ed does however gets the crap kicked out of him by his supervisor, who got quite the VillainousBreakdown from his efforts to prevent Heffer's interference.