Chess Hustlers
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Who is a chess hustler anyway
In reply to, #25.. Since, 'contra' means, 'against' - Perhaps, it was the 'quirky' habit, those players had, of reminding themselves.. that, they were not only playing 'against' someone; But, {my guess}, a verbal reinforcement, {if you will}, In hoping to prevail, 'against' their current opponent.
Similar, perhaps, to the 'fencing' custom, of periodically shouting, 'touche`'!
Could well have been, Flank_Attacks, though it seemed to be some kind of rule as they would shout out 'contra' at the same moment as hitting (yes, really hitting) their clocks. (It was like Jamaican dominoes in that the game was not played in an atmosphere of reverent calm.) That said, I think your explanation is as good as any I've thought of.
I'm intrigued, Dale, but as I don't play backgammon, your explanation still leaves me as stupified as Dr Watson.
A doubling cube proposes the doubling of the stakes.
You can resign and pay the regular price or play on at double the stake.
If a person accepts the doubling of the stakes and plays on then only they can make the next doubling of the stakes.
The doubling cube begins the game under no one's control but after it is used only the player controlling the cube may double the bet.
Hmm what happens when u mess with chess hustler
Yes, that makes absolute sense, Dale. Thanks! Mystery solved after forty years. I can now close the case on that one and sleep easily again.
I wonder about the origin of the expression?
Feb 28, 2017
0
#32
That is a very nice looking young lady in the photo here at the top of page 2, will she come over to my place to play Chess ? lol.
Feb 28, 2017
0
#33
Most of them are bullet experts who play weird bullet openings and try to win on time, at least when there's a clock involved
I want "CHESS GROUPIES!"
chess hustler get hustled
robbie_1969 wrote:
chess hustler get hustled
Who is that kid? Is it a prodigy?
2Q1C wrote:
She knocked over her king in the beginning. Kept saying check to her opponent. With manners like that I hope she is not a prodigy.
Its Realpolitik dude! 
robbie_1969 wrote:
2Q1C wrote:
She knocked over her king in the beginning. Kept saying check to her opponent. With manners like that I hope she is not a prodigy.
Its Realpolitik dude!
Seriously though do you have an answer for me? Is that kid the next Karpov or Peter Svidler or something?
VladimirHerceg91 wrote:
robbie_1969 wrote:
2Q1C wrote:
She knocked over her king in the beginning. Kept saying check to her opponent. With manners like that I hope she is not a prodigy.
Its Realpolitik dude!
Seriously though do you have an answer for me? Is that kid the next Karpov or Peter Svidler or something?
she just hustling dem hustlers dude!
robbie_1969 wrote:
VladimirHerceg91 wrote:
robbie_1969 wrote:
2Q1C wrote:
She knocked over her king in the beginning. Kept saying check to her opponent. With manners like that I hope she is not a prodigy.
Its Realpolitik dude!
Seriously though do you have an answer for me? Is that kid the next Karpov or Peter Svidler or something?
she just hustling dem hustlers dude!
But like how old is she? Is she ranked? I'm asking if she's going to be like the next World Champ or something. Because is she's 3 and beating or drawing grown men, she obviously has potential.
Chess hustlers used to operate in a cafe on South End Green in Hampstead, North London called The Prompt Corner. Nice cafe too as I recall. It was all five minute blitz with clocks and they used to shout out 'contra' every now and then for reasons I didn't understand. (Only played with them a couple of times.) That was back in the 60s and 70s. It had become a pizza place last time I was in that area.
Does anyone else remember The Prompt Corner? And can anyone tell me what 'contra' might have meant? No Nicaraguan jokes por favor. I know who the Nicaraguan contras were (see my flag), some from first hand experience.