Confusion Fu: Difference between revisions

{{quote|The best swordsman in the world doesn't need to fear the second best swordsman in the world; no, the person for him to be afraid of is some ignorant antagonist who has never had a sword in his hand before; he doesn't do the thing he ought to do, and so the expert isn't prepared for him; he does the thing he ought not to do; and often it catches the expert out and ends him on the spot.}}

* ''[[The Dresden Files]]'': Harry Dresden often defeats opponents with hundreds, sometimes ''thousands'' of years of experience on him, buttloads more magical talent and skill, and vastly superior physical abilities often by doing things that are the exact opposite of sensible. With a bit of [[Gambit Index|every Gambit trope ever]] thrown in. Yes, even [[Unwitting Pawn]]. On Harry.

* In [[Larry Niven]]'s ''[[Ringworld|The Ringworld Throne]]'' and [[Ringworld|Ringworld's Children]], doing this sort of thing is the only way Luis Wu can stay in the game against the superhumanly smart protectors... until he becomes a protector himself.

* The ''[[Belisarius Series]]'' portrays the title character as a master of this. There's a comment that if Belisarius comes to a fork in the road, where other generals would see only a choice between marching right or left, Belisarius will also [[Take a Third Option|consider the possibilities of digging a tunnel or climbing into the trees]]. One fellow says, "The general told me once that he considered the chaos of war to be his best friend." Another agrees, "He will do everything in his power to create chaos, and then take advantage of it.... He not only ''could'' be anywhere, he will be doing everything he can to make it seem as if he were one place while he is going somewhere else."