Yahoo! editors have selected this article as a favorite of 2012. It first appeared in Yahoo! Games in February, and turned out to be the most popular Games article promoted from the Yahoo! Front Page all year. Readers shared tips in the comments section like, "For me, the trick to winning was this: when you hit the drop button, the claw needs to hook either under the arm, in between the legs or in a ribbon of the toy you want." One commenter told a story about a generous arcade game vendor who lowered the difficulty level on his claw machine just to make kids happy. That got more responses, such as "Claw guy made me smile, nice story! THANKS for sharing!"

Squatting menacingly in the corner of your favorite restaurant, movie theater, supermarket or bowling alley, the claw machine is a harsh mistress. There's something unmistakably hostile about its steely, three- or four-fingered grip, and something immeasurably frustrating about the feeling of horror and loss you get as your prize slips from your tenuous grasp at the very last second.

Don't despair. Instead, even the odds a little. Follow these simple tips, and you can't lose. (OK, you can lose, but you'll lose a little less often.)