Yesterday a friend of mine came over and since we're both chessplayers the conversation quicly turned to chess.We started talking about old times and this one particular memory still makes me chuckle now.Thought I'd share the story with you guys and girls.
It was the time when we sorta had our own tournament,it was organised by the owner of a pub where we spent almost all our spare time,so it kinda was 'our' tournament.The format was like this: 1 evening every 2 weeks in a different location,5 rounds per evening,time control 15m each,first pairings are random then winner plays winner etc...
Now,you have to know that it was a very leisure kind of tourney,there were no strong players around and we didn't apply the touch piece rule or nothing,even takebacks were granted by everybody,it was purely for fun.Allthough we did have 'prizes',like an expired sixpack,a toy car,a hairbrush,scissors... that kind of thing.
Now,this one evening a clubplayer joined in.Of course,he trashed us all,we were no match for him at all.That would have been ok if he hadn't been such a nasty character.Bragging,outright making fun of people,you know the kind.
And he also insisted on the touch piece rule being applied,which made him win even more easy 'cause we weren't used to it.This made a lot of people angry and some stayed away.
One evening however,I had the chance to even the score somewhat.It was the last game of the evening and me and him were tied for first when we had to play one another.The game was tense and somewhere around move 11 he wanted to castle,BUT,he moved his rook first!Everyone was watching and you could feel the surprise going through the crowd.ILLEGAL MOVE!
I stopped the clock and told him to undo the castling move and move his rook.He refused first but was forced to comply since everybody saw what had happened.A few moves later he was about to get mated and he stood up wiped the pieces off the board and walked out the pub.
The story doesn't stop here.Two weeks later we faced each other again in the 3rd game of the evening.With both of us having 3 minutes left I set up a mate in two meanwhile attacking his queen.It was no big deal,he could easily defend both,but NOT by moving his queen.In the blink of an eye he grabbed his queen,then saw the mate threat and put the queen back.He looked at me and said in a defeated voice 'I guess I have to move my queen now?' I said 'Well,yes,that are the rules you insisted on'.He resigned and we never saw him since.
And I've been grinning since yesterday 😀
That is a somewhat hard read, but it really picks up in the last half. 😉 Perhaps the guy will come back and be more social?
I don't mind playing the touch rule, I point it out every time I see it... and let it go with my OTB friends. Social chess is the best, and it makes for better play.
P-
Originally posted by PhlabibitHe never came back,we had the tourney for another 3 years,but never saw him again.The pub owner stopped organising it after he had a stroke.He recovered well,but doesn't have the energy anymore,I guess.About the touch rule,I would apply it in serious tourneys,but not in such as we had.It was more like playing your friendsMost participants actually were my friends from years before we even learned to play chess!The first edition of the tourney we didn't even know all the rules!It gradually developed into something more serious though,in the end it was packed with clubplayers.Of course,all the normal tournament rules were applied by then.
That is a somewhat hard read, but it really picks up in the last half. 😉 Perhaps the guy will come back and be more social?
I don't mind playing the touch rule, I point it out every time I see it... and let it go with my OTB friends. Social chess is the best, and it makes for better play.
P-
Originally posted by jimmyb270Yes,as long as you're touching a piece you can move it anywhere you like,if it's legel.The thing is that you have to move THAT piece and cannot switch to moving another piece.Which is what my opponent in the story tried.
I thought the 'touch' rule applied the other way, i.e. if you keep a touch on the piece, the move isn't complete, and you can take it back.
Originally posted by SirLoseALotisn't it also that if you make an illegal move, you loose? or am i just confused?...
Yes,as long as you're touching a piece you can move it anywhere you like,if it's legel.The thing is that you have to move THAT piece and cannot switch to moving another piece.Which is what my opponent in the story tried.
but yeah-chess is meant to be fun! well-it is a game...