Questioning GMs about Chess
This is the first of what I hope to be a multi-part blog! I hope you enjoy it!
I want to shout out to @lightning for his permission to do a blog like this. He is a very big inspiration to me and I am very excited to be able to make this blog!
In this blog, we will have 15 questions and of course, all the GMs will be asked the same questions. We have 4 GMs with us today.
Question number one: What is your name? Feel free to use fake names if you want.
GM #1, Dave.
(Nice! I knew a Bird named Dave..... Hit by a big rig)
GM #2, smarty-pants.
( Oh. You're gonna have all the answers huh?)
GM #3, bread-man.
( Ohhhhh. I just got a new toaster.....)
GM #4, haha.
(Well......)
Question number two:
Who is your favorite chess player?
Dave: hmmm, I would have to say, Magnus Nakamura.
( You know those are two different people right? )
Smarty-pants, hmmm. Probably Bobby Fischer although there are a lot of good chess players out there.
( Huh. I guess you are Mr, smarty-pants....)
Bread-man, myself.
( Acceptable?)
Haha, probably GM Magnus Carson.
( Finley, a right answer!)
Question number three: What is your favorite chess piece?
Dave, probably the bishop. It is an amazing and complicated piece, much like myself.
(Uh huh... Interesting.)
Smarty-pants, I would have to say the King, it can move anywhere on the broad!
( Are you sure you are a Grandmaster 🤨🤨)
Bread-man, hmmmmmmm. I don't have a favorite.
( Acceptable)
Haha, What does favorite mean again?
( I'll count that as a pass....)
Question number four: What Chess Piece is most important?
Dave, I would have to say the queen, she is the most powerful piece.
( Not technically right but I can see your point.)
Smarty-pants, the queen, duh.
( Really? Your name fits Mr.Know-it-all)
Bread-man, hmmmmmmm. Hmmmmmm. Hmmmmmmmm.Mhmmmmmmm. hummmmmm. Oooooom. Emmmmmmmmmma!
( You ok man?)
Haha, which one is most funny?
( Is chess funny to you?!)
Question number Five: Why did you start playing on Chess.com?
Dave, It's better than lichess.
(Well... Can't argue with that.)
Smarty-pants, COVID-19 stopped the OTB tournament club I was in.
(Understandable.)
Bread-man, What's chess.com? I thought this was a dating app for old people to play chess.
( Sir, are you alright?)
Haha, because I had nothing better to do.
( I guess that's a good reason?)
Question number six: who did you first play?
Dave, I have no clue. I've played so many people.
( Fair enough.)
Smarty-pants, some random person on the street.
(Ok.......)
Bread-man, Bobby Fischer when he was just a young man.
(Sir how old are you?)
Haha, I played myself. I got a chess board and tried to beat myself!
(Uh huh... Interesting idea. I'll have to try it!)
Question number seven: what was your first OTB tournament?
Dave, last summer.
( You're a GM after less than a year?!)
Smarty-pants, never.
( I'm seriously doubting you are a GM...)
Bread-man, fall of 1962 I came in fourth, beat by one point, Young fellow, looked Kanda like you.
( Hehehe....)
Haha, 19 years ago today.
( Well happy 19th chess tournament anniversary !)
Question number Eight: Why did you start playing chess?
Dave, I started playing about 7 years ago...
( Wow, not bad for a GM)
Smarty-pants, who said I ever started?
(Uhhhhhhhhh.)
Bread-man, about 52 years ago. Played with my younger brother. He taught me how to play, he always was the smart one in the family.
(Sir, really, how old are you?
Haha, 2001.
(Hmmm.)
Question number nine: how old is bread-man?
Dave, who's bread-man?
( No one....)
Smarty-pants, 93 years old.
(Nice guess.)
Bread-man, 91 and ½.
( ♪Smarty-pants was wrong♪!)
Haha, who knows?
(Bread-man knows.)
Question Number ten: What is your favorite opening?
Dave, I like queen's gambit.
( Not bad, my favorite as well.)
Smarty-pants, who says I have a favorite? They're all fantastic!
( Ehhhh, not all of them are fantastic...)
Bread-man, daring, wanna go to seniors night at bingo?
( No, bread-man, I meant what is your favorite chess opening.)
Haha, hmmmmmmm. Probably the one when I move the knights first.
( Honestly, I don't know all the openings or their names so I'm going to accept it.)
Question number eleven: Who is your favorite streamer?
Dave, lightning! 100%!
( Makes sense.)
Smarty-pants, I like a lot of them.
(No favorite then? Alright.)
Bread-man, streamer? What's that?
( Someone who..... Never mind. I tried explaining that to my grandparents, didn't go well.)
Haha, when I watch TV or YouTube I always watch something about Minecraft.
( Uh huh.... Your choice.)
Question number twelve: how often do you play chess?
Dave, I play at least 3 games a day to stay Sharp.
( Kanda low for a GM, but whatever.)
Smarty-pants, 40 games a day.
( Now that's more like it!)
Bread-man, 0.
( I think I finally got it! Your retired?)
Haha, about 15 games a day.
( I would have to say that's the perfect answer.)
Question number thirteen: What is your favorite time control?
Dave, the 1/0 bullet is my favorite!
( Not many GMs would say that. I have to agree, bullet is my favorite.)
Smarty-pants, 10-minute rapid.
( A little long for my taste but not bad for a GM.)
Bread-man, any games that I can take a nap in-between moves.
( Hmm.)
Haha, I like three minute blitz.
( My second favorite!)
Question number Fourteen: can a WGM be as good as a GM?
* for those who don't know, WGM is woman Grandmaster, and GM is Grandmaster.*
Dave, no, for reasons I can't explain because I'm not a brain doctor.
( Noted.)
Smarty-pants, who cares?
( I do...)
Bread-man, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
( So you don't know... I guess that is acceptable?)
Haha, yes, I feel like women GMs can be just as good if not better than men. I'm not just saying this because my wife is looking over my shoulder..
( I have to say, I think female chess players' minds work differently than males.)
Question number fifteen: have you enjoyed talking with me?
Dave, not bad, some interesting questions.
( Thanks!)
Smarty-pants, I would have to say 50/50, boring questions, but very kind interviewer.
( Thanks I guess??)
Bread-man, a waste of my time, I should have been playing bingo!
( You can go now, sir.)
Haha, yes. This has been most interesting and fun. I would be happy to come back!
( That's great to hear!)
END OF THE BLOG PART!
Well, everyone! You did it! You made it to the end, I didn't even know if I would make it!
If you have a question you would like me to ask our GMs in the next blog please say so below!
See ya next time!
*there were no GMs, in this blog,*
#SayNoToWar
#LoveNotHate
#BeHappy
