| Picky Pawn Pusher |
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| By Joel Benjamin | |
| June 9, 2006 | |
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Dear Joel,
You have every right to be able to identify the chess pieces. Never play with a set that makes you feel uncomfortable. Always bring a standard set so you will be able to use your own. Your opponent probably doesn't want to use his "weird" pieces. If he does, and he has Black, the director may still rule in your favor if your opponent's pieces are deemed non-standard. Don't feel bad about this; your opponent was trying to gain an edge by "weirding" you out.What do you do if your opponent shows up with a weird looking chess set? I prefer a standard set, but I feel rude bothering my opponent about it. What set do you prefer and what was the worst chess set you've ever had to play a competitive game on? Picky Pawn Pusher Most sets are pretty much the same. Any Staunton design wood or plastic set works for me. I find it more important to bring a digital clock. That way I always know how much time I have left. A lot of analog clocks are difficult to judge if you don't have experience playing with them (and your opponent likely does). I was saddled with the worst equipment at the 1994 Moscow Olympiad. Like many Russian sets, the queen and king were difficult to distinguish. This confusion factored into our team's slow start. When we got acclimated to the pieces, we made a major charge and just missed out on a medal.
Joel Benjamin
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