After midterm "wave elections" in 2006 and 2010, the calmer outlook this time reduces the stakes of electoral competition next year.
The shift to oil a few years before World War I involved a major dislocation in naval logistics and changed the stakes of imperial competition.
Genuine dislike between rivals raises the stakes of the competition.
This match also helped introduce the idea of stakes competition, since Staunton won the £100 put up by supporters of the two players.
The colt's perceived flaws are his slow times in his Grade I stakes victories, a lack of competition in his previous races and, finally, geography.
What has changed is the spirit of competition: the stakes have changed.
Not so in New Mexico, where they can run with up to 50 nanograms of the drug, more than double the amount allowed in a higher class of competition called graded stakes races.
In a matter of months navigation on the mobile platform has become a commodity, table stakes in competitions for a global audience of hyper-connected nomads.
It is the purest form of competition, no money at stake.
Olympic business has doubled at betting exchange Betfair, while William Hill said a record £30m will be staked across the industry during two weeks of competition.
I think probably the days of high stakes competition in Chicago are over.
