I’ll be honest, no one with half a conscience wants to play a game with a narcissist.

They’re risky, sometimes downright dangerous, and they never want anyone else to win but themselves.

So what’s the point of playing?

Well, just because they always want to win, doesn’t mean they will.

Tactics in this glorious world will help you beat them at the game they’re trying to play with you.

So if you’re ready…

…it’s your turn to roll the dice.

tactics required

It’s no fun having to think about tactics, we’re adults after all.

The only games I like to play are when we dust off Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit at Christmas. Blackjack is on the payroll.

But to beat a narcissist, you have to learn the game, and beat them at it.

Related : What Narcissists Will Never Admit About Their Past

And I hate to be so blunt, but it’s the only way you can hold on to a shred of dignity and empowerment. I want that for you, and I know deep down inside that you want that for yourself, too.

To the victim, narcissism is no joke.

To them, everything is greeted with a smile and a full night’s sleep. I hate that about narcissists. The way they go to bed every night, dust off their day, and sleep soundly.

They love the damage they cause, and they thrive on the drama they create.

To them, you’re just a pawn on a chessboard.

They don’t care about your feelings—but they will once you start to outsmart them.

16 Smart Tactics to Overcome a Narcissist!

Let’s take a look at all the ways—one by one—you can outsmart a narcissist.

1 Limit Your Communication

If they think they’re going to reach out to you, just back off. Stick to that forced phone call when you have to, rather than feeling obligated to do it every day.

Related : 11 Things Narcissists Do To Keep You Financially Dependent

If you work with someone, email them instead of knocking on their office door.

How can they get any supplies from you if you’re not there to deliver them?

2 Cut it off completely!

Cutting off contact drives a narcissist crazy. How can you?

Now what are they going to do? It’s a terrible time for them, and they become absolutely paranoid when you’re no longer around.

Once you were the main person they could manipulate, now you’re just a memory.

3 Tell them very little

The less they know, the better. If they know everything about you and what you do, they’ll use that information against you.

So — don’t give them anything.

Starve them.

They don’t deserve to eat at your successful table.

4 Set Boundaries – Firewalls

Narcissists love it when you bend to their commands.

They make demands on you, and they know you’ll give up all your own values ​​to give them what they want.

Related : Things Narcissists Will Never Tell You About Their Fears

Sometimes it may be for the sake of an easy life, other times it may be more fear of the consequences.

Outsmarting them can be about surprising them and asserting your boundaries. They will try to overstep their bounds, but you know better now.

Maintain your boundaries.

5 When They Don’t – Take Care of Yourself

They wear you down like you’re an old pair of slippers, then throw you aside when you’re no longer fit for purpose.

Sound familiar?

That’s what narcissists want, and that’s what they do.

So guess what happens to your well-being? It slips away.

Get it back. Get what’s due you, and more.

Your own priorities need to be made.

6 Get Support

If you need it, support is widely available. If that sounds like insisting on seeing a friend or relative to talk, do it. If it sounds like calling a helpline, do it.

Related : What Narcissists Really Want From Their Victims

If you need someone to tell you that you’re not yourself, or that what you’re going through isn’t normal or healthy – that’s what you need to seek out to outplay the narcissist.

7 Don’t fall for the lure

They love it, don’t they? They pull you in when you think they’ve gotten rid of you forever.

Maximize your empowerment by letting them go, and refusing to fall into the trap when they throw it your way.

You’ve learned the hard way, and now the narcissist must learn too.

8 Compliment Them

Talk about throwing an absolute rock their way!

Narcissists love praise. If you want to do something, or go somewhere, use it to your advantage!

Do exactly what they do, and compliment them. Compliment them. Buy them takeout.

Tell them they’re great. This should be done slowly, and not so much that they complain.

Then go for it.

Related : What Really Makes A Narcissist Panic Inside

You’ll be surprised how often they believe it.

9 Respond with a response

I know this may sound strange, but you have a choice in how you respond to a narcissist.

They want you to keep feeling like you’re losing your mind. They want to see you screaming, yelling, and even crying.

These are choices, and you don’t have to make any of them. In fact, if you respond with as little kindness and clarity as possible, the narcissist won’t get what he needs from you. His ego lives because you provide it. Without your supply – his ego falters.

10 Be Steady

Narcissists used to see you shake on your feet, be uncertain, anxious, depressed, and confused…

…Not anymore.

Now you can take a stronger stand, and you can stand your ground.

It will be annoying for narcissists, who are used to seeing you crumble, but it’s a very smart move to make you want to regain control.

11 Don’t let them see you’re upset

This is what they crave! If you’re upset, you’re in control. If you refuse to let any pressure get to you, they’ll soon realize they can’t get to you anymore. Sure, they can try.

But they’ll fail.

12 Privatize Your Social Media

Don’t want the narcissist to know everything about you?

Related : How To Brilliantly Outsmart A Narcissist

Tighten up your social media accounts! Block what you can, make it private and – the thing most people forget – delete the moles!

If there is a risk of information getting to the narcissist, find the culprit and get rid of them.

13 Keep Your Goals Quiet

Narcissists love to dig. If they could, they would walk around with a shovel!

They want to know everything. When things are going well for you (so they can screw it up), and when things are going wrong (so they can feel good, and somehow make it worse).

Related : 13 Red Flag Behaviors When Narcissists Meet Your Friends

Keep what you are doing quiet, and win without making a fuss.

14 Make Room for the “Later”

When all is said and done, with any luck, you won’t always need to outdo the narcissist.

Make room for the shards of peace amidst the chaos of their presence around you.

This space is your sacred time to heal and apply more focus to yourself.

The more love you give yourself, the more you will shine and flourish.