A method of making a
decision fairly between
two choices, and also a very simplistic
game. For example, in a
soccer game, to decide which
team starts with the
ball, one team calls "
tails" or "
heads" after the
coin is thrown into the air. It's standard practice to call your choice while the coin is in the
air. Some
people look at the coin on the ground once it lands, and whichever side is upwards is the
winner. Others catch the coin in their
palm, and then flip it over into their other hand quickly. Once again, whichever side is up wins.
Some people argue that one side of the coin is lighter than the other, so that it's more likely to come up (the heavier side would go downwards). However, that's more
superstition than
anything. A fun game to play on your little
brother or
sister is to say, "Heads I win, tails you lose," since no matter what you win.