When I start playing racing games with new friends I hold back and I let them win and lull them into a false sense of security, always letting them win in very close circumstances but once they're hooked I let rip.
In fighting games in the arcade, I've developed a method of playing blind... closing one eye and keeping the one very slightly open..... just so that I can see the feet of the characters (That's all I need) Heh, heh.
I had loads of eager challengers heh, heh..... I even had one guy trying to wave his hand in front of the screen lol.
In Fighting games I play random select, win 1 lose 2, win 1 lose, till they get hooked and then when I feel like it I totally destroy them and tell them I was lucky.
Have you guys picked up any other methods over the years?