3-11: An Old Fashioned Opponent

On Chess, Intimidation, and Earning Your Seat

At a chess club one evening this week, I arrived fashionably late, scouted the room, and found but one empty seat. It belonged to a table occupied by a gentleman named Walt, with whom I ended up playing three games. Walt could have been my Dad. He wore a nice watch and had just polished off an old fashioned. It was my first time at this particular club, and having known nearly no one, I thought for sure I was in for some rough games. My first opponent struck me as a serious and skilled player. As I quickly found out, there is something about who you are sitting across the table from that can seriously influence your performance.

The first third of the game, I like to think I played perfect book moves. Then the middlegame arrived and I noticed my heart rate rising. I had this feeling that I was facing some very real competition, and a combination of fear of losing and excitement of winning came over me. It was hard to tell exactly how much of each, though I would say 51% fear, at least in the first game. Walt took the win on game one, so I carried a chip on my shoulder into game two. Late in the middlegame, I was ahead on material and feeling 51% excitement this time. Then he checked me, and in doing so, left his own Queen sitting where mine could take it. Reacting quickly to the imminent threat, I moved my King to safety. He promptly took my Queen while politely reminding me that I could have taken his with mine. I shook my head, knowing that blunder cost me the game. Despite playing the majority of the second game more confidently and accurately than my opponent, he capitalized on a single mistake.

I entered the third and final game feeling determined, and comfortable after sharing a few laughs with Walt between rounds. By the time the endgame arrived, I breathed a calm but not yet fully deserved sigh of relief, as I surely had the upper hand. I kept reminding myself not to blunder and to take it easy, and the game would be mine. That is exactly what I did. Thankfully, for the sake of my honor, I defeated him, not swiftly but surely. After two straight losses, seeing him gently lay his King down was the highlight of my night.

These few games reminded me that very often our performance is influenced by who we are performing for, against, or in front of. It’s safe to say I was a bit intimidated when I sat down and I left having earned my seat at the table. Consider who is sitting across the table from you, in whatever your version of chess is, and whether and how much the fear and excitement you feel belongs to that person or to the game itself. Regardless of my answer or yours, I am striving to play my best against every opponent and I suggest you do the same.