CBS’s popular reality competition series Big Brother recently wrapped its 22nd season, naming houseguest Cody Calafiore the official winner. After starting a bit slow, Cody used strategies that included winning household competitions and making secret alliances with Derrick Levasseur before winning a decisive 7:2 final jury vote.
Over the past 20 years, the winning contestants on the show have employed a slew of gameplay strategies to help advance their chances of winning the ultimate prize money of $500,000. Some have worked like a charm, others have backfired, but all have been used by BB winners at one point during the show’s two-decade run.
Coasting/Under-The-Radar
One way to keep a low profile before springing into victorious action as the season ends is by coasting (or flying under-the-radar). This strategy entails doing very little as the show begins, allowing others to do the heavy lifting and defeat each other.
BB14 winner Ian Terry employed the Coaster strategy to perfection, as did winner Rachel Reilly in BB13. Coy Under-The-Radar winners include Jun Song in BB4, Dan Gheesling of BB10 fame, and Derrick Levasseur in BB16.
Lying
Another way to climb to the top of the Big Brother household is to outright lie, fib, and tell elaborate mistruths. Almost every single winner in the history of the show used this method at least once in their BB stay.
Guests often lie about their lives outside the BB house, as well as where their allegiances lie among those inside the house. However, lying is a risky proposition as the exposure of such could backfire and lead to a player’s undoing.
Manipulation
One of the best ways to ensure a spot in the Final 2 is a player’s ability to manipulate others inside the BB household. Rather than outright lying, manipulating entails a masterful ability to implant ideas into the minds of houseguests that appear beneficial to them.
For example, Will Kirby of BB2 and BB7 fame is one of the most masterful manipulators of the entire series. He was able to evade evictions by fostering trust among his housemates as he puppeteered his way to victory.
Secret Alliance
The Secret Alliance strategy is one of the most rampant ways to reach the finale on Big Brother. This method includes making clandestine friendships with various housemates to ensure a lack of eviction.
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Secret Alliances are often forged early in the season but can change at a moment’s notice. Winning players often belong to multiple Secret Alliances as a way to advance their way to the Final 2. For example, Maggie Ausburn used the strategy in BB6, as did Mike “Boogie” Malin in BB2.
Floating
Somewhat akin to the “Coasting” or “Under-the-Radar” method, the “Floating Strategy” involves a player roaming freely from various alliances or playing as a solo flyer.
This strategy is divided into “Aggressive” and “Passive” Floaters. Aggressive Floaters make deliberate efforts to join multiple secret alliances without telling anyone. Passive Floaters are noncommittal players who try to remain invisible en route to the Final 2. Winners Will Kirby, Jun Song, Andy Herren, and more have used this technique.
Hook-Up
Also known as a Showmance, the Hook-Up Strategy is a romantic ploy to stay in the game. This form of manipulation entails flirting with fellow houseguests and striking a romantic bond with them, thus making it hard for others to vote them off the show.
Mike “Boogie” Malin famously boasted about using his showmance with Erika Landin in BB7 to advance his way to the Final 2. Other famous BB Showmances include Will and Janelle, Dominic and Daniele, Jackson and Holly, and many more.
Winning Competitions
Although quite difficult, one of the most assured ways to be named Big Brother champion is to win the various competitions held on the show. Such challenges include Head of Household (HOH), POV, as well as a slew of physical and mental competitions.
By winning the competitions, players often avoid eviction. However, winning too many challenges can be perceived as a threat to others and may lead to eviction instead. To date, Cody Calafiore and Paul Abrahamian are tied with 14 Competition wins.
Losing Competitions
On the contrary to winning competitions, losing challenges is an alternative way to find the Big Brother finish line. The idea behind the method is to lose on purpose to avoid being perceived as a threat to other players, thereby remaining safe come time to vote.
Losing competitions is a strategy often employed by coasters, floaters, and under-the-radar players who want to get to the Final 2 with as little confrontation as possible. After all, with HOH victory comes enormous responsibility that floaters often avoid.
The Back Dooring Strategy
First introduced in BB5, “The Back-Dooring” strategy is a high-level move that incorporates lying, manipulating, and secret alliances all rolled in one.
The strategy includes the Head of Household nominating two potential evictees and replacing one of them at the last minute with the guest they want to be evicted for real. The initial two nominees work in tandem with the HOH to pull off the ruse, using veto power in the process.
Snaking
Snaking is a social strategy used in BB to feign likability in order to manipulate guests to their own advantage. Akin to backstabbing, the method often requires putting on a fake personality to fool others and affect their decisions without being noticed. Snakes will often prey upon passive floaters and shy coasters on the show.
The Snaking strategy has been employed in the past by such winners as Will Kirby, Dan Gheesling, Andy Herren, Nicole Franzel, and others.
