Playing Chess in Russia - The Agony of Victory
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by Rick Chapo
Russians have a thing for chess and, frankly, are
very good at it. Being from San Diego, I thought chess
was something you put photo albums in.
Playing Chess
Playing chess requires thinking ten or twelve steps
ahead. If I wanted to understand the Russian mind,
I had to learn to play chess. If nothing else, it
would be a good way to pass the time. This I was told
by Robert, an American living in the same town as
me.
I wasn't particularly excited about learning, but
gave in one day after growing tired of staring out
the window. I had seen the movie, "Searching for Bobby
Fisher". What more could I possibly need? How hard
could it be?
After beginning the game, Robert took pity on me
after I apparently made some moves that were questionable.
He explained why he was making particular moves and
the resulting implications for my king. The game proceeded
slowly while he explained strategies to his inattentive
student. Then the magic moment occurred.
I imagine every teacher suffers from the occasional
embarrassment of being outdone by a student. I like
to call it beginner's luck and invoke the empirical
evidence at horse racing tracks and Las Vegas casinos.
If you're a first timer, you will always win. It doesn't
matter if you're betting on a horse because of the
color scheme or hitting on black jack while already
holding 19 in your hand. It just happens.
With our chess game, Robert had made a particular
move and was in the process of explaining it. I sat
staring at the board and thinking deep thoughts, which
is to say I was wondering what was for dinner, etc.
Just then, I noticed something on the board, moved
my rook and declared, "Checkmate!"
Robert stared at the board. Then he started laughing.
Then he wanted to play again. Being a good sport,
I immediately announced my retirement as a chess player.
Unfortunately, I couldn't leave my victory alone
and gloated to a few people about it. Make no mistake,
Robert would beat me a million times if we played
a million games, but you have to live in the moment!
Within a few days, karma struck and I began to pay
for my gloating. People would start showing up at
my apartment with chessboards and, of course, vodka.
The games were so laughably one-sided it was ridiculous.
Typically, I would make two moves and then hear "Sah!"
which I believe meant "check!" in Russian.
My humiliation occurred more or less every day for
roughly a month. Some of the victorious would even
come back for a second pounding. Finally, I had to
take the dramatic step of refusing to answer the door.
In the end, I set the game of chess back a few hundred
years and Robert had his vengeance.
About the Author
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com
- makers of writing journals. Travel journals are
great travel accessories and travel gifts for student
travel, family vacations and adventure travel. Visit
http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles.
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