Top 10 questions a professional player does not want to hear
If you don’t have a clue about chess, I will present you a short spelling, orthoepic and punctuation guide, in case you end up talking with a professional chess player. And of course, you want to make a good impression. How would it be easier to start the discussion? My article will be based on "Don’t" section with the 10 most common questions that a professional chess player doesn’t want to hear!
- What did you do at the last tournament? Did you win or lose?
In chess tournaments, several rounds are played. The most common cases are with 7, 9 or 11 rounds. During a tournament, a chess player can lose, win or even make many draws. It would be much more relevant to ask him the final rank and what starting number he had. You would most probably receive a very clear answer and you will not confuse your discussion partner.
- Have you ever played with the computer? At what level do you beat him?
First of all, nobody uses the word ’’computer’’ anymore. It is obsolete! Now they are called engines / softwares / programs / applications and there are many. The best ones on the market are Stockfish, Houdini or Alpha Zero. For example, the free version of such software puts even the top 10 players in the world in difficulty.
3.If we play a match, in how many moves can you give check-mate me?
Be careful! You're already walking on thin ice. A chess match is used only in the case of several consecutive chess games between two players. Regarding the question, anyone who has learned the basic rules and knows how to develop their pieces correctly, will be able to withstand up to at least 20, maybe even 30 moves. For a professional player, it is not necessarily relevant how fast he wins a game against an amateur. Rather, it will help you understand the nuances of the game.
- What is the fastest checkmate?
You won't fail here. It is a common question and you will receive a very clear answer. In two moves. If I were to draw a parallel with football, I will tell you that it is the equivalent of an own goal, in the second 5, when the opponents had the kick to start the game. And I can draw parallels, not just Kasparov 😊
- Did you play with Kasparov or Karpov or what was his name? How long would you resist him?
First of all, you should know that there are two different players. Both are Russians and both are former world champions. There is a very good chance that your interlocutor did not play with any of them. Not even against the reigning world champion, the Norwegian Magnus Carlsen. If you already know this information, you will definitely make a good impression. How much he resists without losing a player is not necessarily relevant in a game between two professionals. However, a game in a few moves can be spectacular, as is a KO.
- Is the Queen the most valuable piece?
The most valuable piece that can be captured from the board is the Queen, but the most important piece is the King. If the King is attacked and can no longer block the check, capture the piece that gives him check or be moved away from the check, then he is check-mated. You can have five Queens on the board, because it will not help you to continue the game.
- How many chess games have you played so far?
If you set out to cause migraines to your chat partner, you're on the right track! To such a question, he will shake his head and answer you with another question. Like ... official? Training? Fun? Online games? Finally, he will explain you that a professional chess player plays, on average, 10-12 tournaments / year, which means around 100 classic chess games.
- Is it possible to live on chess? Do you make a lot of money from chess?
It's my favorite question. Yes, you can live and die from chess. It depends on how hard you work, how passionate you are and how talented you are. As in other sports, the talented players are more lazy, but in the end they manage to stand out and impress. Remuneration is not at the level of football or tennis, but a professional chess player in the top 100 in the world can have a decent life. If he fails to reach that high, he can opt for other jobs adjacent to chess: coach, school teacher, commentator, book author and many more. Many online tournaments with impressive prize funds have also started to be organized.
- I have a friend / grandfather / uncle who was a chess champion! Do you think you can beat him?
Usually the wording “chess champion” does not indicate any world or continental champion. At most winning a Balkan school or Olympiad. Unfortunately, in most cases, the relative or friend you are proud of is just an amateur. However, if you insist, you can say his name and wait for confirmation whether or not he was a player with notable results.
- What's your favorite piece?
Professional players don't really have favorite pieces. They have favorite positions. As chess offers millions of possibilities, the discussion partner will be visibly confused by your question. You might be better off asking him if he considers himself an offensive player or one who likes strategic positions more. Even if the question is not one of the happiest, the answer can be extremely nice.
I hope you will find this guide useful for a possible friendly discussion with a chess player. And if you really want to impress him, you can tell him that your favorite opening for black is Sicilian. Because it gives you a dynamic position. And with the white pieces you prefer a more calm game, and you start with 1.d4!
Congratulations! You have reached the end! In just 10 steps you have become a connoisseur of chess!
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