On WGM Natalia Pogonina's website pogonina.com, if you scroll down there are some polls on the lower left-hand corner. The second question really caught me off guard. What does that have to do...with anything?? Take a look and comment if you feel it is appropriate. Link to pogonina.com here.

Edit: Link doesn't seem to be working, for some odd reason...just open a new browser and type in pogonina.com to see what I mean.

Yeah I drop by her site once in awhile and I always thought that was a little weird, but I'm not offended or anything.  It'd be a big problem if everyone went into the bathroom and... (not sure about site rules here but you know what I mean) in between rounds.  (Just think of the high school tournaments!) I've personally seen conflicting research about possible effects of sexual satisfaction before other sporting events, but those, predictably had more of a physical element (sorry, I don't have my bookmarks on those anymore)

I think she's doing something with Kama Sutra & chess.  Probably should let her speak about it...if she's actually doing something with it.

Anyway, if so, I suspect the poll feeds into that.

Yeah, that question is just insane.

Heh, I thought both activities would be mutually exclusive.  No wonder those scorecards are always written so scruffy like.

Maybe she's just looking for some evidence so that she can ask her new husband to lay off the good stuff before tournaments (makes a change from the old headache excuse).

maybe she's looking for more ... input ... from her husband during tournaments.

lucky bugger!

It's the second time someone opens a thread at Chess.com about the poll. It's indeed for the  Chess Kama Sutra book - we just needed some stats for the chapter about sex during tournaments.

lol input

Apropos of nothing, that is a well-done web site.

Apropos of the topic, the poll question is unusual and perhaps unexpected. That hardly makes it insane.

Both topics depend from position? :)

That questiion does makes sense. Sex is lik a stimulant to keep ur brain active. It works- I've tried it

Oooh she's hot.  And a WGM too?  I could marry her if she wasn't smarter than me (and already hitched)  .  Phew, lucky escape then.  Sex in a Chess tournament?  If you are reading this Natalia you should know that sex is, for 90% of the male population a thing that is to be done when the opportunity presents itself.  I don't play in tournaments, if I did I couldn't possibly say to an attractive woman 'Sorry dear, I'm playing Chess tonight.'. If my mates every heard about that I'd never hear the end of it.  Screw the Chess, so to speak.

Natalia is clearly a very brilliant chessplayer and a very active promoter of chess. Chess needs more people like her.

However, with the greatest of respect, IMO any proposed link between sexual activity and success at chess must be questionable - at best.

Natalia is clearly interested in capitalizing on her gender, good looks and sexiness while in the process of promoting chess. One cannot really blame her for that. After all, most top chessplayers are unattractive, near-middle-aged men. And Susan Polgar does it (to a rather lesser extent). However, there is a certain amount of overemphasis on Natalia herself (one might even go so far as to say conceit), rather than on chess. I can think of no other homepages of prominent players where there is such a bias. Perhaps there needs to be a bit of balancing?

chessoholicalien That's a good point you're making. This "bias" is probably due to the fact that the website is managed by her hubby. Natalia herself is a very modest and nice girl, she doesn't ever show off or try to self-promote. However, Peter seems to be so proud of her and her achievements that he's publishing lots of photos, interviews, etc.

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oops inappropriate probably lol.

Thanks, IMCheap. That's good to know. Maybe Natalia herself ought to take more control over her own site?

I don't know if any one has EVER had sex in a chess tournament since the beginning of time.

okayyy.....

I think chess can handle a little glamour. A good move played with a sweet smile? yes please.