Using a ball in chess

[MJMcCready]

Over the years we've all been caught up in conversations on how to improve chess or what changes we would make if we were empowered to do so. You hear many different answers and explanations and some which are no different.

I was thinking how could we improve the game so that it becomes more popular than what it is. Then it occured to me that if we can introduce a ball into the game, that would improve chess no end. But how do we introduce a ball into the game? I was thinking that maybe you could turn the pawns into balls seeing as they have a ballhead. Then you could flick them about. Kids would love that. Or maybe you could bring your own ball and boot it at your opponent when it's his turn to move.

They're my best two suggestions so far. How else could we use a ball in chess? Maybe a game of headers during matches or something? As I am sure you agree, there's no ball in chess. But that's just wrong. All the best games use a ball, like Football, Cricket, Rugby, Snooker and darts for example. Does anybody have any other feasible suggestions for using a ball in chess? And don't forget, computers can't use balls, so we can go back to being better than them again.

[NickFaulks]

Then it occured to me that if we can introduce a ball into the game, that would improve chess no end.

But don't we all know that the ball is a natural vector of disease?

[MJMcCready]

You have a point. So pawns are more likely to spread disease than rooks, and not just because there's more of them?

[Ian Thompson]

You're 12 years late with your idea. Here's a chess set where every piece has a ball at the bottom - https://uk.umbra.com/products/wobble-chess. Not sure if you could flick them on the supplied board, but you should be able to on a normal flat board.

[Geoff Chandler]

There is also



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Football-Chess ... 1843821869

[Joey Stewart]

So many sports commentators like to use the expression "this is like a game of chess". But you don't often hear chess commentators saying "this is like a game of football"

[Roger de Coverly]

But you don't often hear chess commentators saying "this is like a game of football"

I believe I have heard a decisive move not infrequently described as "putting the ball in the back of the net".

It didn't take long for "Game Over" to move sideways from the first generation of video games and become a chess commentator's standby.

[MJMcCready]

Well, I often say that I like to play with a flat back three, by that I mean if I castle kingside I don't move any of the pawns in front of it if I can help it. When I played for Bedfordshire against Nottinghamshire we had a halftime break during the match. Cheap biscuits and scolding hot tea served whilst play was stopped. Half-time team talks might work as could substitutions. If someone is playing rubbish, have him subbed and someone else take his seat.

[Roger Lancaster]

So many sports commentators like to use the expression "this is like a game of chess". But you don't often hear chess commentators saying "this is like a game of football"

Perhaps because you don't get many chess players falling over and claiming they were tripped by their opponent?

[MJMcCready]

I've seen chess players dive as they walked past their opponent then got an arbiter to either disqualify him or get him to buy them a new mobile phone. I've seen many Grandmasters pull that trick. Rolling around on the floor pretending to be injured so that they could get their opponent sent off. Chess players are much bigger cheaters than footballers. I had a game once where I went to the lavatory and when I got back all my pawns and pieces had been removed from the board. When I asked my opponent what he was playing at, he brought out a second score sheet showing they had already been captured earlier in the game. I wouldn't have minded but we were only on move 13.

[Roger Lancaster]

I had a game once where I went to the lavatory and when I got back all my pawns and pieces had been removed from the board. When I asked my opponent what he was playing at, he brought out a second score sheet showing they had already been captured earlier in the game. I wouldn't have minded but we were only on move 13.

You were obviously playing a rank amateur. In the circumstances you outline, real professionals fix a lock to the lavatory door and win on time while you're still bellowing "Somebody let me out!".

[MJMcCready]

I was once told I drew a game I won. My opponent was unhappy that he didn't see I left my queen en prise for 17 moves and took the loss badly. He reported it as a draw when I checkmated him. Scoresheet solved the issue.

[Joey Stewart]

I suppose the chess equivalent of football diving tends to take place in time scrambles - the sort of people who leave pawns on deliberately ambiguous squares to buy an extra move, hold the clock down on their opponents press, knock a bunch of pieces over but press the clock anyway and trying to force the opponent to fix it, making illegal moves and setting your clock running to buy them a bit of extra time ...etc etc etc.

[John McKenna]

What Joey decried, above, is the wrecking ball.

[MJMcCready]

The beauty of cheating in chess is it often shows people for what they really are.