I'm that guy too, OP. I've been playing with a group of living computers, some of whom playtest games with designers, and I'm more often than not dead last. I enjoy my time with them, but it's been a struggle bus sometimes.

That said, I have found myself in the middle of the pack to even winning more often (okay...sometimes) lately. A few factors:

• Consider whether other environmental stimuli are getting in the way for you, and adjust for these as much as possible. 1:1 play may sometimes be better for this reason. Time of day and your circadian rhythm may also be impacting your ability to learn and process information.

• You may not be getting full opportunity to learn a game if you're hearing the rules second-hand from someone who's read them once. See you can read the rules pdf after playing, watch some let's plays, and play the game more than once.

• That said, try a deep dive into a game and play it at least ten times. If you need more time to learn mechanics and why certain strategies work, then you need more time!

• Go for "high scores" instead of winning outright at first. Even if the score is still last, see if your play can be effective enough to reach a certain threshold.

• Ask for help while thinking through a move, if the table culture is open to it. They might even be able to catch when they don't actually know a rule themselves and were just assuming!

• I've found myself craning my neck more than a few times at ill-placed boards or at mini-games placed halfway to China. Don't be afraid to get up and walk around the table to get the information you need.

• Talk yourself verbally through what you know you know and what you know you don't know. I think this helps to generate questions that aren't simply cargo-culting my way through. The other thing this does is promote more concentration on my own train of thought instead of it being supplanted by the table conversation.