Etiquette of handling pieces

I've noticed that, when analyzing a game, chess players - particularly of a high level - will often pick up pieces using two fingers and almost fling them to the destination square in what looks like a casual sort of way, whereas when playing, the pieces are always grasped between finger and thumb and placed deliberately. Is this a recognized/accepted convention?

I was once eating cheese puffs during a game, I got cheese all over my opponents set. He was quite upset, this was poor etiquette on my part. I was embarassed. I won, but the next time I ate M%M's.

Veering wildly off topic, that reminds me of this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FmwxrCQutE

It's normal. In a game the move played will have come after some thought, therefore the player will make the move in a decent-looking manner. Whereas in a post-mortem the players are just examining ideas- they are essentially calculating as they would in a game but playing the moves on a board instead of in their head. The opponent can then see their analysis and learn from it and point out possible improvements, and vice versa.

Thanks, chess700. I appreciate the basis of the two modes of thought & play, but find it interesting that it should be reflected so obviously in the 'body language' of the players.

Always remember: If you mistakenly pick up the wrong bishop to deliver your coup de grâce, directly use it to stir your coffee and then place it back gently on its original square. Perhaps you can convince the TD that you indeed had no intentions of moving that piece. 

Would it be fine if I used orange juice?

Sure. If you use a cream and two sugars in your juice. 

I once did pick up the wrong Bishop in a tournament game to recapture a piece on the opposite color. Blew a won game and ended up struggling to draw the game.

The opponents that insist on slamming pieces onto the board when they believe they are playing a brilliancy are the ones that annoy me. I make it a point of delicately placing the refuting move, then grinning like the Cheshire Cat. 

I had the same personal experience (i.e., grabbing the wrong color bishop for an h7 Greek Gift winning attack ... mine fizzled to a loss after being required to move the first-touched bishop and losing material on any exchange).

I have a question about piece etiquette. Say I'm going to capture a piece on e5. Should I remove the piece from e5 from the board, then move my piece to e5, or should I pick up my piece, move it to e5, then remove the piece being captured?

If you pick up the wrong Bishop, is it proper to throw your drink in opponent's eyes, thrust the piece into his/her heart, and tell the TD you do not know why he quit and demand the win?? 

Here's the deal: if you pick up the captured piece first you WILL have to capture ... if you pick up the capturing piece first, you still have the option to make a millisecond decision on where to place it down. 

Very keen observation fburton! Analyzis is just casual I think.

Slick_Bick: It's a matter of preference, not etiquette. I prefer picking up the piece I'm capturing first, but even I unconciously vary my move-order :)

We prefer the legerdemain maneuver. First pick up the piece you wish to place on e5. Palm it in the center of your hand. Hover the hand over the e5 square for a couple of seconds building suspense. Deftly switch your piece for the piece you are capturing palming the captured piece in the process while saying something like voilà! Your opponent will be amazed and unsettled at your mastery of slight-of-hand and may even blunder on the next move.  >:[

 Suggestion:  move up to a country like Canada that cultivates gourmet snacking tastes. 

We have something similar to M&M's but far tastier (they're called 'Smarties').

sftac

To Saber4 ...

                    O.J. is better shaken , not stirred !

                                                                           ---Uncle Bill

Going back to the original post...  we had a very strong player at our local club that would act in the manner you describe, i.e. deliberate manipulation during the tournament game & then "magic fingers" during analysis.  But his one particular idiosyncrasy, no matter blitz or long time control OTB, was twisting or (he,he) screwing the pawn.  I still think it's funny.  I don't remember him screwing the other pieces but if he was moving a pawn; he'd twist it 2 or 3 times & then hit the clock.

Yeah, lot's of people screw in pieces.

It's fun to say j'adoube and then unscrew them.

LOL