Hello guys. I'm new here and I just registered to ask you a question about chess players in general. I don't play chess myself and it is not a question about strategies or tournements. I'm french also so I hope you are gonna be tolerant with my poor english writing.
I just got in a heated discussion on a completly unrelated forum about the social background and the level of education of chess players, like those who are "real" players who play chess since several years and are like "pros" or who plays with advanced skills.
My question is the following : Would you say that in general, chess players in countries like the US or Canada or western european countries, I mean real fans of chess who are able to do more than to move 4-5 pawns, are :
a ) in general people with higher education like university degrees for example ??
b) often from wealthy families and/or have frequent private schools or more posh schools (where there were things like chess clubs) ??
I know it may sound as a weird question or maybe even stupid question, but the discussion about you (chess players) got so heated that I felt like coming to the source to ask and I found your forum. The thing is that those involved in that discussion are not chess players, or they consider them selves chess players only because the have a 5$ plastic chess set in their cupboard that they take out 3-4 times a year.
So as I said I thought to go to some chess board where people are more "specialist" and ask them if in their experience in general, they would say that authentic chest players (in occidental countries) are usually from wealthiest and/or more educated layers of society. You see for example like bridge is often an activity practice in higher social circles.
Thank you in advanced for your responses.
a) Higher education - Not all but they are generally smarter then average people.
Lennix Lewis - The boxer is a good chess player. He loves the game. So the perception of chess players has changed recently instead of normal image people have about chess players.
b) rich?
No, lots of the player are just average people. Lots of public schools are teaching chess now. It helps kids do better in school. Public schools are not expensive.
Originally posted by liricalAt the tournaments that i attend (lots of amatuers, few pros) people are from very diverse backgrounds; I would estimate 75% have degrees, but few have masters or phd's.
Hello guys. I'm new here and I just registered to ask you a question about chess players in general. I don't play chess myself and it is not a question about strategies or tournements. I'm french also so I hope you are gonna be tolerant with my poor english writing.
I just got in a heated discussion on a completly unrelated forum about the social backgrou ...[text shortened]... tivity practice in higher social circles.
Thank you in advanced for your responses.
I attended a private school and we had a smaller and more poorly funded club than the private schools around (we also never had a coach like they did). As Rahim said, some public schools are starting to use it as a teaching aid.
Originally posted by liricalThe class background of chess players in London is, as far as I can tell, completely diverse. The economic background seems that way too. The type of person chess attracts though is one more likely to be quiet, introverted, and slightly confused by normal conversation.
Hello guys. I'm new here and I just registered to ask you a question about chess players in general. I don't play chess myself and it is not a question about strategies or tournements. I'm french also so I hope you are gonna be tolerant with my poor english writing.
I just got in a heated discussion on a completly unrelated forum about the social backgrou ...[text shortened]... tivity practice in higher social circles.
Thank you in advanced for your responses.
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- 21 Apr 06
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Naturally people like mathematicians find chess good fun but the game also seems to attract a lot of lawyers out of the 5 I know each of them plays chess reguarly.
I think chess is a game that attracts people who constantly want to be mentally challenged (theres always room for improvement, even the two world champions both missed a 3 move mate in one of their recent games) so will tend to attact those who have sought out higher education and have a thirst for learning. A lot of chess players are perfectionists.
Originally posted by RahimKsum very poor people also play and some are extremely good.
a) Higher education - Not all but they are generally smarter then average people.
Lennix Lewis - The boxer is a good chess player. He loves the game. So the perception of chess players has changed recently instead of normal image people have about chess players.
b) rich?
No, lots of the player are just average people. Lots of public schools are teaching chess now. It helps kids do better in school. Public schools are not expensive.
In my 50 years playing chess, i've noticed that chess players are from all spectrums of society, ages, and races, as opposed to golf or tennis, for example. YOu don't need much equipment to play chess. The only unusual recreational aspect would be a shortage of women. I've seen a few women, some of whom are very good, but not enough. I'm not sure why. Maybe because the common saw is that chess is an old man's game, and women are not interested in old men. But this assumes that women have an ulterior motive for everything, even sport, instead of just enjoying the game. The Polgars have proven women can be very good. In reference to your question, no, chess is not a game of upper levels of society, either by education or wealth. If you talk about the very top players, however, intelligence is a big factor.
i found that a lot of the top players at many sites such as rhp and gameknot are mechanical engineers. they are smart as hell and i have no idea but a lot of them play chess and play it pretty damn well. in pottery i was making a knight in class this week and everyone asked what it was they were like what is a knight? i swear nobody out of 1600 people in my school can play above 1300 its sad. in the us i've noticed that everyoen has a percepttion that chess is for geeks.
Originally posted by kmac27Mechanical Engineers 🙂
i found that a lot of the top players at many sites such as rhp and gameknot are mechanical engineers. they are smart as hell and i have no idea but a lot of them play chess and play it pretty damn well. in pottery i was making a knight in class this week and everyone asked what it was they were like what is a knight? i swear nobody out of 1600 people in my s ...[text shortened]... e 1300 its sad. in the us i've noticed that everyoen has a percepttion that chess is for geeks.
Add me to that list, although I'm not kingpin on here yet 🙂
jj I don't have ambitions to be.
At my local chess club, there are a wide range of diversity in terms of socio-economic levels as well as education. For example, the other day, a millionare doctor who drives a BMW was analyzing a game with a truck driver . However, I've noticed that about 3out 5 or 3 out4 have degrees, more than the USA average of about 1 out of 2.
I might add that the most suprising competition was when my club played a local prison. The inmates there had never read a book, they just played night and day and boy were they sharp. They had these little plastic sets and cardboard boards. They knew no openings but knew how to get into a middle game with good chances and they were tenacious. Some of them were bank embezelers and some were child rapists, but they all played well.
Hi lirical,
No need to apologize for your english. You expressed a difficult question very clearly. Good job!
Those who've posted replies have already done a good job answering your question: Chess is a game enjoyed by people of all ages, genders, nationalities, socio-economic and educational backgrounds. In short, it is a game that offers something to everybody.
Accordingly, I invite you to learn the game and begin playing chess here with the rest of us. There are many resources on the internet (in both french and english) for learning the rules of chess and basic strategy. You'll find many fine people here from all over the world who will be happy to help you learn and enjoy the world's greatest game!
I hope to see you playing here soon. Bienvenue et bon chance!