Comments on: Superstition in Chess http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/ Paul Hoffman on words, chess, food, science, and everything else that's big fun. An exploration of ideas in my book King's Gambit: A Son, a Father, and the World's Most Dangerous Game. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:16:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: pollychess http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-1073 pollychess Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:57:40 +0000 http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-1073 Now that my chess seems to suck no matter what I do I've given up on superstitions in chess. :-) However I'll admit to the following happening at times in the past: If I'd win facing one direction in the playing room, I'll continue to play facing in that direction until I lose. If I lose I'd change directions in the next round. If I lost seated in both directions then I'd ignore taht ritual. BMR (Before Mon Roi) I would have lucky pens, or lucky colors of ink. Red was by far my most unlucky color of ink. I think I lost almost every game I ever played that was notated in red ink. Variations on red such as orange or pink were iffy. Blue, green and black were safer ink choices. I can't say I have a lucky shirt. I have many chess themed blouses and sweaters. You may not have noticed, but I was wearing one of them at your Marshall CC book signing. Since I wear different ones to various tournaments it's hard to say if I have better luck wearing one versus another. I do have some particular chess pins that I like to wear to tournaments. I feel naked if I don't have at least one of them on my collar, or lapel. However I don't feel they bring me luck or jinx me. Now that my chess seems to suck no matter what I do I’ve given up on superstitions in chess. :-) However I’ll admit to the following happening at times in the past:

If I’d win facing one direction in the playing room, I’ll continue to play facing in that direction until I lose. If I lose I’d change directions in the next round. If I lost seated in both directions then I’d ignore taht ritual.

BMR (Before Mon Roi) I would have lucky pens, or lucky colors of ink. Red was by far my most unlucky color of ink. I think I lost almost every game I ever played that was notated in red ink. Variations on red such as orange or pink were iffy. Blue, green and black were safer ink choices.

I can’t say I have a lucky shirt. I have many chess themed blouses and sweaters. You may not have noticed, but I was wearing one of them at your Marshall CC book signing. Since I wear different ones to various tournaments it’s hard to say if I have better luck wearing one versus another.

I do have some particular chess pins that I like to wear to tournaments. I feel naked if I don’t have at least one of them on my collar, or lapel. However I don’t feel they bring me luck or jinx me.

]]> By: paulhoffman http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-994 paulhoffman Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:01:56 +0000 http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-994 I write in King's Gambit about different players' views on whether sex before chess helps or hinders. The late Aleksander Wojtkiewicz told me that it depended on what kind of sex. Good sex, he said, could make a player more creative at the board. I write in King’s Gambit about different players’ views on whether sex before chess helps or hinders. The late Aleksander Wojtkiewicz told me that it depended on what kind of sex. Good sex, he said, could make a player more creative at the board.

]]> By: Robert Bonin http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-954 Robert Bonin Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:53:54 +0000 http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-954 The one thing that may help is to avoid sex the night before a morning game. As with many other pursuits, sex can tire one out more than he/she thinks and it could effect game performance and concentration. The one thing that may help is to avoid sex the night before a morning game. As with many other pursuits, sex can tire one out more than he/she thinks and it could effect game performance and concentration.

]]> By: Irvin http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-926 Irvin Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:41:37 +0000 http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-926 I have followed the same ritual for the last 10 years or so: Before any tournament I attend, weak or strong, I make sure to be in good spirits (this is specialy important if I want to enjoy the experience). Then I arrive with a full stomach, pace around a bit, saying hello to a few friends, watch the games for 45 minutes, remind myself once again that chess for a 47-year old run-of-the-mill master like me is a total waste of time and not a very pleasant experience. When it comes to chess, watching others suffer has become a very pleasurable activity! Seriously, though, Paul: I just finished your book and would love to talk about a few subjects in that book. You're invited any time you're in NY. Please, let me know... I have followed the same ritual for the last 10 years or so:

Before any tournament I attend, weak or strong, I make sure to be in good spirits (this is specialy important if I want to enjoy the experience). Then I arrive with a full stomach, pace around a bit, saying hello to a few friends, watch the games for 45 minutes, remind myself once again that chess for a 47-year old run-of-the-mill master like me is a total waste of time and not a very pleasant experience.

When it comes to chess, watching others suffer has become a very pleasurable activity!

Seriously, though, Paul: I just finished your book and would love to talk about a few subjects in that book. You’re invited any time you’re in NY. Please, let me know…

]]> By: paulhoffman http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-922 paulhoffman Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:02:16 +0000 http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-922 As for the eating habits of three of the New York Knights before their matches, Pascal Charbonneau and Irina Krush dine at Piadina, an Italian restaurant down the street from the Marshall Chess Club. Jay Bonin usually has Chinese food just around the corner from the Marshall. As for the eating habits of three of the New York Knights before their matches, Pascal Charbonneau and Irina Krush dine at Piadina, an Italian restaurant down the street from the Marshall Chess Club. Jay Bonin usually has Chinese food just around the corner from the Marshall.

]]> By: Atomic Patzer http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-921 Atomic Patzer Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:35:14 +0000 http://paulhoffman.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/superstition-in-chess/#comment-921 It was nice meeting you on the 13th and thanks for signing my books. it was a fun evening. What I do before and after a tournament has become a ritual with me. Before the event, I like to get a pork-roll, egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast at a place near me in Trenton NJ and listen to real rockin' music to set the mood. After the event, I get pizza (even though I'm on a low carb diet) to celebrate or to feed my depression. It was nice meeting you on the 13th and thanks for signing my books. it was a fun evening.

What I do before and after a tournament has become a ritual with me. Before the event, I like to get a pork-roll, egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast at a place near me in Trenton NJ and listen to real rockin’ music to set the mood. After the event, I get pizza (even though I’m on a low carb diet) to celebrate or to feed my depression.

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