Smartest Survivor Players

Made final 4 first time she played and final 3 second time she played. Had amazing social AND strategic game yet has never won. But unlike boston rob, she didn't have to be placed on an island full of star-struck idiots who were almost oblivious to the idea of oposing boston rob. His game is painfully unimpressive when he has the worst competition is the history of survivor. Cirie would have won Micronesia if it were final 3.

Executed most of the blindsides in Micronesia and also being a very smart and strategic player from the very beginning. Surprised she isn't ranked higher, especially below Parvati.

Smart, strategic, silent killer, very socially aware, excellent skills at reading other players and assessing their strength and weaknesses.

She probably isn't the best overall Survivor player ever, but anyone who denise she is the smartest player ever is either an idiot or a racist.

Dominated two seasons! Dominated both misfits and all-stars he can control people so easy and he can also have his allies wrapped around his finger, he had one of the best players in parvati wrapped around his finger, because he can control peoples minds like no other. The best there is the best there was and the best there ever will be RUSSELL HANTZ

Yes, Russell made it to the end twice, but as soon as people new his game-- he could no longer do that. In Survivor outlasting isn't enough! You must make it to the end, while placing the right people on the jury. If the jury doesn't respect your game &/or you you can never win, no matter how many time you outlast! Russell isn't mike hollaway-- he'll never win this game; therefore, can not be the best.

Mastered the art of mind control, and had two seasons worth of castaways bending to his wishes to avoid being the next to fall victim to his wrath. No-one can argue he 'outlasted' like no other player in history for two seasons. His only downfall was overestimating the Jury's appreciation for the game and not seeing they would take things so personally and give the title to two 'social' players.

Russel Hantz was both strategic and manipulative. He knew all the best ways of getting in people's heads and making people do what he wanted, like, for instance, hiding the machete so no one could eat coconuts. Although he wasn't the most likable survivor castaway, he was still the smartest.,

I don't understand why B. Rob is #1! It took the guy 4 times to win and the only reason he won that time is because he was up against the stupidest cast ever! Parvati has played the game 3 times, made it to the end twice and her worst placing was 6th! That's skill! Compare that to Rob, who didn't even make the jury 2 out of the 4 times he played!

This game is 30% physical, 34% strategy, 35% social and 1% luck. Parvati not only tops Russel in all of these categories, but she also achieved something that he couldn't do which is winning a season. She should be 1st with Boston Rob (who is still behind her since she beat him, but not by much. )

Parvati shallows is still the best female survivor winner of all time and I love her strategy and if she played survivor again I think that she could win again I love her so much I think that she also gets the award for the hottest female survivor player and winner to ever play and I think that she should come back.

As good of a player she is, she is not the smartest but still is very cunning.

Knew the game was about storytelling, and manipulated other people with that rhetoric. He may have made some bad moves but he was a brilliant player who very clearly had things figured out.

Probably his smartest move was cozying up to Probst. But he should have won All-Stars and -- with the exception when he was duped by Hantz -- played the last three seasons he was on (prior to WaW) as flawlessly as anyone has.

I have never seen a better strategic game then Mariano's game in Survivor Redemption Island. When someone on the jury defends your game by saying that everyone else should vote for you and only you, even when they were not in an alliance with you, you know you dominated the game.

Russell got lucky with there being so many immunity idols in his seasons! Rob didn't need them--he's an original strategist who dominated with brains not idols. He's charming, strong, smart and and amazing puzzle solver and strategist. He's perfect!

Now that he had finally won the Redemption Island! It is prove that he is the best ever! Russell big and smart move but can not get any vote at the end of the day. Rob Mariano, smart move, best in puzzle, social game, challenge (although maybe getting old)

You don't win Survivor twice unless you're smart and perceptive enough to read people. Don't necessarily like her, but she deserves all the accolades she gets. Too bad she quit on WaW.

Sandra dominated strategically better than Russell, in my opinion. What she did was take Russell's weakness, which was finding out that someone was targeting him, and using that to her advantage. She may not have been as strong as him, or anybody (okay, maybe one of the weakest players of all time), but she knew that people would be taking her to the finals because they perceived her as weak, and that they could beat her, but she was able to use her strategy to win the game. That alone makes her the smartest survivor, for outsmarting the most manipulative and strategic players.

Although Pavarti uses her good looks, and Russel finding all the hidden Immunity idols, Sandra was a truly smart player. She didn't use good looks, or immunity idols to form alliances with other players. She won 2 times as well! I just wish to see the seasons she was in to remeber her smart decisions

Two time winner and good at under the radar. But if she were just a little more physical she would be out soon after the merge.

Gotta give credit to the most realistic fake idol move to David. Whee!

That fake idol move was funnier then Ozzie, his looked REAL

Hatch invented the game. There would be no legendary players without him.

Cochran's game in survivor caramoan is very underrated. He orchestrated 2 main pivotal blindside on Andrea and Brenda and had a voice in just about every other elimination. Did he have an easy ride before that? Yes but that shouldn't be a flaw in his game, luck just came his way and he capitalized on it. He didn't freak out like Malcolm, (my second favorite player of that season) who was so used to going to tribal from his first season that the break he got from the favorites' immunity streak caused him to overstrategize.

He practically pulled the greatest underdog of survivor history. Even when he may not have made the best move his first season, Cochran ultimately redeemed himself in the second season after he kicked butt in challenges and manipulated both Brenda and Andrea. Hats off to him.

His redemption in his second season proved his true passion for the game. He teamed up with whomever was necessary to get to the end, and the check of one million dollars.

Biggest liar to play the game.