The Open File - Betting

Submitted by NM Zug on Mon, 10/27/2008 at 12:31pm.

The Open File

by Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)

Betting

Lots of betting goes on at chess. At any tournament you can see all the players in the skittles room blowing their brains out at speed chess for seemingly no reason. What you don't see is the money passing under the table to pay off the winner. I know a couple of stories about chess betting. You might find them interesting.

The first one takes place in the early part of the 20th century and involves then world champion Emanuel Lasker. Seems old Lasker was on an ocean cruise to someplace and met up with a gentleman in the dining room playing over a few games. The gentleman (who didn't recognize Lasker) asked him if he would care for a game, as he seemed interested. Lasker was no fool. He said he might, but that he wasn't very experienced. No problem. The gentleman said he would give Lasker the odds of a knight. Lasker played him and lost, but just barely. He then offered to play again, but this time Lasker insisted that HE give the knight odds to the other gentleman. Well, this seemed rather easy money to the fellow, so they set them up for the game. This time, of course, Lasker won, but just barely. Lasker's comment to the bewildered fellow was, "Hmm...seems it's an advantage not to have the knight."

Another story I know doesn't involve any famous master, but is interesting nonetheless. There was an old master who used to play all comers for a fee, which would be returned double if they won, kept if they lost. Well, there was one fellow who kept returning to play the master night after night. It had gotten to the point where the old master was wondering if the fellow had grown tired of losing money to him and brought the subject up to some of his friends. They agreed. The suggestion was made that the old master should lose one game to the fellow in order to salve his ego. Besides, the argument went; it would be good for business. So forthwith, the old master lost a game the following evening and the fellow happily pocketed his winnings. The next night, however, the fellow was nowhere to be seen. Nor the next night, nor the next. Finally, the old master saw him playing skittles with some other players. "I've missed you", he said. "When will you be coming to play again?" "Oh, I won't be playing you again. All I wanted to do was win one game, and then I was finished. I just wanted to be able to say I beat you." There's a moral to this story, but I'll let you figure it out.

You know, I don't play skittles or speed chess for money. If I win, I feel that I'm taking the person's money, especially if the individual is much weaker than I. On the other hand, if I lose, I hate myself for playing for money in the first place. So for me, it's a lose-lose situation. It's not at all like playing poker, where luck can play somewhat of a factor, even if only over the short haul. You see, if I feel I'm going to win, it isn't betting at all. It's simply taking the person's money. And if I don't think I can win, I don't bet. So, either way, I never bet. And that's just about the best bet there is.

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Comments:

by ayllonchess - 11 months ago
Mexico

Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 155

I've never been betting on a chess or another game; I don't like betting, because it distorts the essence of the game. A game suppose to be funny, if you bet, you enjoy only if you win. So, I think we have to play only for the pleasure of play, because win and lose are sisters; and no matter what we do, the date will be with one or another.

by Spinatai - 12 months ago
Vilnius Lithuania

Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 89

Funny... My history teacher told me a story, very similar to the first one. Only it all happened in a train and the gentleman, whom the master played, was very arrogant. Instead of a knight, they refused a queen.

by Yonatanof - 12 months ago
Ramat Hasharon Israel

Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 77

Amusing tales. Thank you for sharing these.

by uberdav - 12 months ago
denver United States

Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 8

I am a gambler and have no problem laying out 20 bucks on a chess game but I do it on my home turf, usually a bar, and usually against someone I've never played before, but I lat down the rules first. Both twenty dollar bills are set together, sticking out from under the board and I insist on touch move. I also I make sure I explain touch move. I once played someone I barely knew and he brushed aside my touch move explanation. Too bad for him. In the midgame he had the opportunity to take a piece with either a knight or a bishop. After touching the knight he realized the capture would lead to a loss whereas the bishop would keep us dead even. I don't remember exactly why but it was something positional that was obvious to us both. He dropped the knight and went for the bishop. I scooped up the two twenties. After a lengthy argument I gave him the option of moving the knight that he touched, which he did. I took quick advantage and he resigned in short order. No clock money games for me, and if you are in a bar and some 40ish punk with a chess board offers to play you for twenty bucks, please remember that I'm undefeated in $20 games.

by Tycho - 12 months ago
Ottawa Canada

Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 80

My ex-coach was completely against betting in chess, saying it perverted the game and taking focus from the position into the bet. He did allow "token" bets (like a small meal, snack, or a beer), but anyone betting money on a game would be reprimanded and repeated offenders taken off the team. I think it only came to that once.