How to be a Polite Spectator

NM smarterchess
| Mar 18, 2014 at 2:25 PM
| Posted in: Smarter Chess Blog
| 3360 reads
| 16 comments

A friend and I were recently discussing chess spectator etiquette and how they differ from the arena of Magic The Gathering tournaments. In Magic tournaments it is considered rude to spectate for a brief period and then leave the table. Leaving the table can show an opponent that maybe the game is over and any future bluffs shouldn't be respected. In chess tournaments this happens frequently that when a blunder is made players start to leave the table. What other forms of chess spectator etiquette stands out as impolite? What do you find acceptable?

Walking away immediately after a move
Facial expressions
Grunts or snickers
Walking a few feet away and whispering to another spectator

Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Comments

18 months ago
LordCodex

If there is serious money on the line, I believe that any talking in the playing area is just plain rude. If it's a small, fun gathering with no money, no ratings, then whatever. Either way, it is important to respect the rules the TD announces at the beginning.
3 years ago
I_Am_Second

last summer at the Sacramento Championships i was playing a 2000 player that is well known for hardly staying at the board during a game. I also like to get up and walk around alot :-)

One of the local masters walked by while i wa actually at the board, and said that this was the first time he saw someone here at the board.
3 years ago
RC_Woods

alghul, I'm completely on the same page. I only look at other games after mine's completed, basically, or I pretend to look a little so I blend in nicely. (I do try to see who's better on other boards but that's about it).
3 years ago
castle0-0-0
3 years ago
alghul

I'm a slow calculator and usually do not get up from my game. If I do, it is just to stretch my legs. I cannot concentrate on other games while walking around, only my game is in my mind. I always found it amazing that others can watch other games so easily.
3 years ago
NM smarterchess

Lance I will remember that for the next tournament we play together!
3 years ago
GabrieleMiceli

During my games i never go and watch other matches.

When i'm just a spectator i try not to stay too near the table to give some space to the players. I find annoying people that talk loudly and/or laugh disturbing all the tables.

I think it's perfectly acceptable walking away immediately after a move
3 years ago
Shi_Tou

[COMMENT DELETED]
3 years ago
castle0-0-0

B.O.
3 years ago
Suman3

most unnerving is when your opponent stare at you steadily for a long period of time after making a move...embarrassing!
3 years ago
NM smarterchess

Talking to someone while staring at your board. Not good.
3 years ago
succenna

The most annoying thing I ever encountered is if they shake the leg so that the whole table quivers
3 years ago
RC_Woods

What smarterchess said. I think it's fairly typical in chess to leave the table because typically you'll also be playing a game yourself. That in itself provides plenty of reason to leave at any moment during spectating, because you have every right to be concerned with your own game right :)?

As to the talking bit - I too think this can be a bit annoying, but up until a certain level I think it's not worth the hassle of enforcing rules about it. Many club players prefer to play in a relaxed atmosphere and that's fine. Unless I had reason to suspect that my game was discussed in detail, I'd shrug it off.
3 years ago
Abhishek2

I find it annoying when my opponent talks to everyone, especially when they're looking at the board. I don't usually report them though
3 years ago
NM smarterchess

That's what I do as well when I'm in a game. Glance at another game for a bit then move on regardless of the position :)