There're beginners, and there're Beginners....

Been looking for someone in my village who plays, I have two friends who play, but are about 400 level, so looking for others.

It's quite amazing, of the 6 or so people I have found, they all said they thought they were quite good, and none of them (including the two I play with), had heard of castling....

One friend got introduced to en passant 3 months into our games...

Last night's find was the best so far though, they raised the subject of chess over a game of cards, and said they know how to play and played quite a bit online.  I did my now "go-to check" and asked about castling.  Then had to explain what it was.  Then showed an example on chess.com  Their final response "Those are the kind of advanced moves you'd only see in a world championship tournament, I know the normal moves...."

It makes quite a difference, the crowd you hang with, as to how much of a beginner one feels like.

So... is this topic to make fun of your friends for not knowing a legal move?

Nope.

I thought it interesting and amusing, just how many people say they can "play quite well", who don't know something as basic as castling.

It's also interesting how one's current point of view affects your self perception.

When I watch any of the streamers or players, read posts, talk to decent players on the site etc... I feel like a complete noob.  When I am with normal "people in the street", I sort of feel like a chess master.

Probably if I lived in a city there'd be a lot of much better players.  But I don't.  No offence was intended to anyone, friend or otherwise.