alcohol helps, actually just being honest can get the point across
Chess Jerk


One night an arrogant newcomer showed up at our chess club. I played him. He would comment on how stupid my moves were. He even laughed at some of my moves, sniggered at them. He beat me repeatedly. I didn't play him anymore after that first night. But he kept coming, playing others while displaying the same obnoxious behavior and beating everyone.
Then we had a club tournament. I was paired against him in the first round. He had the White pieces. In a cold controlled rage of brutal revenge, I played a French Defense of great precision. He was not laughing as I expanded on the queenside. First I won a pawn. Then I won another. With my position superior and two pawns difference, he didn't play through to the endgame. He resigned and left without a word. Apparently humiliated by my beating him, he did not return for the rest of the tournament games, and in fact never came back to the chess club again.

It sounds like a pretty direct approach wins in a landslide.
If I do have to follow through and remove him, do you think it will sour him on chess in general ? On one hand, if it does, the less jerks playing chess, the better for us. On the other hand, I don't want be responsible for pushing him away from a game that we all enjoy, and for which he seems to have tremendous apptitude. Maybe that is me making an excuse for being nonconfrontational, but maybe it has some merit. This kid is no Bobby, but I'm sure he was tough to handle too. Any thougts?

One night an arrogant newcomer showed up at our chess club. I played him. He would comment on how stupid my moves were. He even laughed at some of my moves, sniggered at them. He beat me repeatedly. I didn't play him anymore after that first night. But he kept coming, playing others while displaying the same obnoxious behavior and beating everyone.
Then we had a club tournament. I was paired against him in the first round. He had the White pieces. In a cold controlled rage of brutal revenge, I played a French Defense of great precision. He was not laughing as I expanded on the queenside. First I won a pawn. Then I won another. With my position superior and two pawns difference, he didn't play through to the endgame. He resigned and left without a word. Apparently humiliated by my beating him, he did not return for the rest of the tournament games, and in fact never came back to the chess club again.
That story warms my heart.



If I could beat him badly, that might work. Sadly, he is better than me at chess. Our games are always close, usually a pawn makes the diference, but he is better.
I'm fairly certain his mom will take up for him. She believes her son can do no wrong. Then I have twice the problem. I can't kick the mom out of work. In fact she probably has more sway there than me.
Thus the kid gloves hitherto.

Chess and arrogance should not be mixed. It's a game of respect. And I would note that you are dealing w/ a cocky 17 year old. But it seems that the problem lies w/ the fact that you work with his mother. You have to make the decision that is best for the club w/out jeopardizing your proffessional workplace. In response to the last post...if the mother would back her son when you in privately tell her what's going on then she's even more ignorant than him; because she is an adult. Frankly judging by your replies to the posts we've made, it seems as though you've already made a decision as to what course of action would be best for YOU. We don't know the finite details so just do what you think will work best and hope it doesn't come back to haunt you one way or the other.
P.S. Whether the kid is talking trash to Noobs or players more skilled than him, it doesn't make him fit for any club or activity.
How do you handle a jerk in your chess club ?
I don't want to kick anyone out, yet I know the club would grow if he were gone.
Any suggestions on dealing with a cocky 17 year old that won't listen, and talks trash to beginners ? I don't have any kids of my own, so I don't know how to deal with obstinate resistance to logic and polite persuasion.