How do I get rid of the annoying messages on Facebook?

[Mrs Bothwell]

I'm talking about the ones that show up when you log on in the lower right hand corner next to the Chat option. They always have a little red flag. with a number telling you how many of them there are. I don't want to get rid of all of them, just the ones from games I have played only once, yet they send me reminders to play their game three times a week. And a few other mindless messages about my "Pick 5" or something else I have little interest in. It is getting hard to sort out the things I actually do care about. Thanks