Beginner's Luck

First Time Lucky

by Aaron Rice (a.rice@ukonline.co.uk)
written 28 Jun 1996

This article is classified "Real"


While experience forms the basis of excellence, and practice can push
ability towards perfection [1], a major phenomenon has continually forced
little victories against this well-founded trend.  This is called
"Beginner's Luck".

An example of this is when someone may pick up a snooker cue for the first
time in their life, and proceed to pot every single ball in sight [2] as if
they've been playing for years, while their opponent, who has had some
experience of the game, will remain speechless and idle except perhaps for a
slight swaying of the lower jaw.

It is unclear how this actually works, as someone who's never done a
particular task will doubtlessly have less of an idea of how it should be
done.  This in fact could be a contributive factor, as a beginner will not
be hindered by past experiences, the customary pressure of "having to beat"
someone who is less experienced than you [3], and the confusion of
"one-hundred-and-one" different contradictory theories of how it should
be done.

If somebody is blessed with beginner's luck, as many are, they may be so
lucky to develop this into a lucky streak when they decide to undertake this
task again.  It is more common, though, that they will find that initial
moments of fortune soon become long-lost memories as the reality of the 
situation suddenly rears its ugly head.

Therefore, it is always a good idea to remember that if someone you know,
say, takes their first turn on a computer game and gets the all-time high
score, you can be reasonably sound in the knowledge that their next turn
will prove a little more frustrating, as they begin to gain "experience".

[1] Or very close to, anyway.
[2] Perhaps even in the correct order.
[3] Failure to do so could result in a whole string of verbal abuse.

See also:
  • Ignorance
  • Luck

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