Media comments on chess

[Alistair Campbell]

I believe "Good Morning Britain" (which is some sort of television program) revealed last week that erstwhile Scottish International footballer Kevin Nisbet was "a fabulous chess player" whilst at primary school in Cambuslang. I'm not sure if this ranks higher than "champion" or not, nor can I verify this claim.

[Gordon Morse]

There's a photograph of the Danish football coach sitting at a chess board, in this article from 'The Guardian'. He's just won the game!

The photo is rather more prominent in the article in the printed edition of the newspaper:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... g_Internet

[Mike Gunn]

If you look closely at the picture you will see that the board contains only white pieces.

[NickFaulks]

If you look closely at the picture you will see that the board contains only white pieces.

Gordon did say that he won.

[Gordon Morse]

The black king is on his side, in the 'resignation position', just in front of the board, something that is not so clear in the Internet version of the photograph.

[Mike Gunn]

If he has taken his opponent's king then he has lost!

[Stewart Reuben]

Gordon Morse >I was a victim of a series of accidents, as are we all.<
We are also the beneficiaries of a series of accidents.
This is often called 'luck'. In poker I had two losing years out of 48.

[Gordon Morse]

It's a quote from 'The Sirens of Titans' by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. athough i knew it first from the song, inspired by the novel, by Al Stewart.

It seems a particularly appropriate quote for chess players!

[LawrenceCooper]

"It's a bit of a chess match" Sam Matterface on ITV after an uneventful first 15 minutes of Belgium-Portugal.

[Stewart Reuben]

Gordon Morse > I was a victim of a series of accidents, as are we all.
It seems a particularly appropriate quote for chess players!'
I don't think that is correct. In my opinion, there is no luck in a particular chess game. Luck is happenstance beyond one's control.
e.g. catching a virus, or being in a car accident despite taking reasonable precautions. These are both unlucky.
Winning on a lottery, is lucky.
Quote: 'People, say I am lucky. I find the harder I work, the luckier I get.' I have traced that back to Benjamin Franklin - so far.

[Gordon Morse]

My tongue is/was slightly in my cheek. I don't think we need to be too serious or literal!

[Tim Spanton]

Gordon Morse > I was a victim of a series of accidents, as are we all.
It seems a particularly appropriate quote for chess players!'
I don't think that is correct. In my opinion, there is no luck in a particular chess game. Luck is happenstance beyond one's control.
e.g. catching a virus, or being in a car accident despite taking reasonable precautions. These are both unlucky.
Winning on a lottery, is lucky.
Quote: 'People, say I am lucky. I find the harder I work, the luckier I get.' I have traced that back to Benjamin Franklin - so far.

A matter of opinion, of course, but in my view there are things that can happen in a game outside of the players' control that can impact one player more than the other, eg a clock malfunction that allows extra thinking time, extraneous noise at a critical point, an arbiter making a wrong decision, the same position appearing on a demonstration board, overhearing a spectator's comment on the state of your game, etc.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Tim,

There was a thread on 'Luck in Chess' viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2423

I'm of the opinion it plays a part in chess.

You move a piece but unknowingly you have prevented a winning combination.
Your opponent has not blundered and you for a completely different reason have accidently thwarted his winning move.
I'd call that lucky. (what other word can you use.)

[NickFaulks]

I'd call that lucky. (what other word can you use.)

Couldn't agree more, I have always said that. I also don't believe GMs are exempt - who sees the final twist in their games is still random, it is just further ahead.

[JustinHorton]

Our match commentators here are not just giving us "partida de ajedrez" for the second time in the match, but seeing as substitutions are about to be made, "sacrificiar un peón" as well.