Most Clever Strategies Used in Squid Game

Summary

• Strategy is key in Squid Game, helping characters like Gi-hun and Sang-woo survive deadly games.
• Smart plans like licking honeycomb and tricking opponents are crucial for overcoming challenges.
• Intelligence and innovation outside of the games can also contribute to characters’ survival.

Squid Game is a series in which its characters must be both smart and strong in order to deal with the many deadly games that come their way. A single misstep can lead to their demise, further adding to the tension that viewers are likely to feel just as strongly as the game’s participants.

This is why some of the best strategies in Squid Game should be lauded for their ingenuity. Sometimes, great strategies are also used outside of the games, making for a fresh change of pace that many fans enjoy.

8

Seong Gi-hun Licking The Honeycomb To Make Things Easier

Helped Him Cut Out The Most Complicated Shape In The Game

• Occurs In: “The Man with the Umbrella” (Season 1, Episode 3)

Seong Gi-hun is a protagonist who goes through numerous struggles before eventually reaching the end of the twisted killing games. However, there was a moment where it looked like he was bound to be eliminated. This would have been the case, too, had it not been for an impressive strategy he deployed.

During the Honeycomb game, Gi-hun makes the mistake of picking a shape that’s the most complicated to cut out. The realization causes him to sweat, making him realize that liquid could thin the honeycomb and make it easy to cut out the shape. This flash of brilliance helped him cut out the umbrella in the nick of time, permitting him to survive and see another day.

7

Oh Il-nam And Cho Sang-woo Using Their Brains To Win Tug-Of-War

The Team Survived Despite Being Physically Weaker Than The Opposition

• Occurs In: “Stick to the Team” (Season 1, Episode 4)

The Tug-of-War game made for an interesting sight, with teams being formed based on physical might and leading to some alliances being discarded. While Gi-hun’s team was weak, they survived because of some wise words from Oh Il-nam.

This frail old man made up for his weakness by detailing a sound strategy that was meant to tire out the opposition. While this was helpful, they were still on the brink of elimination, until Sang-woo told everyone to take a step forward to trip up their opponents, coming out victorious in this twisted game.

6

Cho Sang-woo Tricking Ali By Taking Advantage Of His Trust

A Cold-Hearted Yet Effective Strategy

• Occurs In: “Gganbu” (Season 1, Episode 6)

A move that made most fans actively hate Cho Sang-woo, this strategy was implemented during a twisted game of marbles that pitted friends against each other. The game they chose ended up being disastrous for Sang-woo, who was on the brink of losing to Ali.

This is where he used his ingenuity, fooling Ali by giving him a bag of rocks while taking all the marbles for himself. It was a heartless move, and Sang-woo himself couldn’t fathom what he’d done moments before turning the cheek as Ali was mercilessly shot.

5

Seong Gi-hun Taking Advantage Of Oh Il-nam’s Apparent Forgetfulness

It Wasn’t Until Later That Gi-hun Found Out He Was Being Played All Along

• Occurs In: “Gganbu” (Season 1, Episode 6)

When Gi-hun and Il-nam end up being paired together, the protagonist finds himself losing in a guessing game. However, this is when he decides to exploit his opponent’s aging mind and use it against him.

He lied through his teeth and took all the marbles Il-nam had rightfully earned, only to be figuratively slapped across the face when the old man revealed that he knew what Gi-hun was doing all along. It wasn’t until the end of the first season that Il-nam’s true nature was revealed, which ended up dampening the impact of this strategy even though it was smart of Gi-hun to take any advantage he could get.

4

Do Jung-soo Using His Expertise During The Glass Stepping Stones Game

The Glassmaker Was Able To Help The Main Cast Survive Till The End

• Occurs In: “V.I.P.S” (Season 1, Episode 7)

When the remaining participants are tasked with playing Hopscotch, they are horrified to discover that they have to base their decisions on luck and hope that the glass doesn’t break from under them. Thankfully, after Do Jung-soo showed his acute perception as a glassmaker, he was able to lead the group to relative safety.

However, the VIPs weren’t huge fans of this and turned off the lights, forcing Do Jung-soo to rely on sound instead. This was a good strategy but one that would’ve taken too long, which is why Sang-woo decided to push the man to his death and clear the way for the three surviving players to come out victorious, albeit at a terrible cost.

3

Thanos Using Drugs To Not Be Overwhelmed By Stress During The Games

A Surprisingly Effective Way To Deal With The Stress Of The Twisted Games

• Occurs For The First Time In: “001” (Season 2, Episode 3)

There’s a reason why Thanos came out as the viral star from Season 2 of Squid Game. This rapper found out that the killing games were serious and decided to deal with the stress by taking drugs.

This turned out to be a surprisingly effective strategy, removing his nerves from the equation and letting Thanos progress through numerous games without any major issues. Unfortunately, his luck ran out when he was on the verge of choking MG Coin out and was fatally stabbed with a fork in a truly shocking moment.

2

Seong Gi-hun Hatching A Smart Plan To Kickstart A Coup

Could’ve Turned The Tables Had It Not Been For The Double Agent Working Against The Contestants

• Occurs In: “Friend or Foe” (Season 2, Episode 7)

It was clear from the get-go that Gi-hun was constantly seeking out a way to neutralize the games from the inside. This was achieved by becoming a willing participant and enacting a coup at the end of the Special Games, where players killed each other in a brutal display.

His genius plan to remain unconscious and take the weapons of the guards inspecting the bodies was a bold move, but it was one that paid off. This rebellion may even have been successful, but the actions of a coward and a traitor prevented Gi-hun from achieving his goal.

1

Hwang In-ho Infiltrating The Games To Neutralize Gi-hun’s Impact

Destroyed Any Chances Of The Coup Succeeding At The End Of Season 2

• Occurs In: “001” (Season 2, Episode 3)

Just like Season 1, the second season of Squid Game featured another 001 contestant who worked as a double agent. Hwang In-ho is the Front Man, the overseer of the games who decides to be a willing participant, a risky strategy that pays off.

He was able to fool Gi-hun and the others into thinking that he was on their side, only to betray them at the last second. He killed any hopes of the rebellion succeeding and heartlessly murdered Jung-bae in front of the protagonist as a form of punishment.