Strip H-O-R-S-E

“The game is H-O-R-S-E.” Jim started. You were still nervous. You weren’t that good a shot. However, it could have been worse. You weren’t dressed for a regular game of basketball. Playing 21 or two-on-two would have been disaster. “However, the penalty for missing a shot someone else made is not getting a letter. Instead, you must take off an article of clothing. Same thing for making a shot that everyone else makes.” There was no need to explain what would happen when someone had no clothing left to take off.

“And the handicap?” Linda asked.

“Each of uses only what we have on right now.” Joe offered, “Each of you are starting with four articles of clothing; blouse, bra, pants and panties

“Joe and I have only our shorts and jockstraps.” Jim concluded. Linda folded her arms across her chest incredulously. It was the equivalent of starting off with ‘H-O’. Two letters was not much of a handicap. Jim and Joe looked at each other.

“Both of us will shoot between each of your shots.” Joe conceded, “I will shoot after Patty and then Jim will shoot after me and before you, Linda.”

“I will also shoot after you, Linda,” Jim continued, “And Joe will shoot after me and before Pat.”

“Finally,” Joe picked up, “If either of us miss, it is considered a miss even if the other makes a shot.” You looked at him somewhat confused.

“Let’s say Jim follows Linda’s miss with a miss of his own and I then make a free throw.” Jim explained to you, “You can take any shot you want as if I had missed as well. Furthermore, if you make the same shot, it will be as if I had started the string and will have to strip if it goes all the way around.”

“Good enough.” Linda said tossing you the ball. You weren’t sure about the handicap, but you don’t know what to object to. It took you a moment for you to realize that everyone was waiting for you to shoot. Hesitantly you bounced the ball a couple times. As you realized you still had the skills you developed in high school, you dribbled to the top of the key. It didn’t take you long to decide what shot to take.