Trash talking, the lighter side of chess
Chess is not a physical contact sport. In chess, contact is made with the mind, sometimes through speech, sometimes silently. Speech is not allowed in a conversational manner during local and international competitions. Therefore, the bulk of conversations occur before and after tournaments. And that is when the preposterous element of trash-talking comes into effect. Trash-talk centres around baseless and meaningless talk - a kind of foolish and light-hearted banter. In Guyana, trash-talking in chess is quite popular.
In most instances, trash-talking involves gossip. It is a common sight to witness a hubbub of players gathered around a central trash talker who relates humorous stories pertaining to national and international politics, sport and music. Some players love to issue warnings about their impending games in a jovial manner.
‘Beware the ides of March!’ Loris Nathoo tells his opponent if the game promises to be short. In my case, if I spot a checkmate on the horizon I seek to preempt the proceedings by signing the score sheet and ensuring my opponent notices the nature of my written excursion. Some players get up suddenly from the playing table as they force a move which wins a piece, say the frightening knight fork which wins the queen or a rook.
My chess acquaintance “Tex” loved to claim he is busy during a game, and he has to go out, as he secures a commanding position on the chessboard. Of course that was the time when free speech was allowed during tournament games. Alternatively, if he is losing the game, he complains to the tournament director about the persons who are quiet witnesses to the game. Inevitably, Tex complains that he cannot breathe, and the playing area is much too hot, although working fans are in evidence.
Dennis Patterson, ‘Patto’ likes to demonstrate his next move to an opponent when he envisages a superior position. He plays as if he had missed a move, telegraphing a new move which would win the exchange or calling check. Onlookers would admonish him by advising that it’s not his turn to play. Jovially, Patto would say, “It’s not me to play?” In feigned innocence!
Trash talk is friendly and funny. It is a universally accepted norm in speed chess. Not the FIDE regulated speed chess tournaments where the no-speaking rule would apply, but in friendly games.
Laurence Fishburne, playing a streetwise speed-chess player, brought trash talk out eloquently in the family movie Searching for Bobby Fischer. From time to time the New York newspapers carry stories about speed chess in Washington Square where it is immensely popular during the summertime. Names like Vincent Livermore and Jerry ‘Poe’ McClinton come immediately to mind. They play the one dollar games and are feared as much as ranked grandmasters.
Known grandmasters disguise themselves and engage the Park ‘grandmasters,’ the Park chess hustlers in Washington Square to play the game. A Guyanese star chess player, who once represented the country overseas, turned out to be hugely popular in the Square.
Chess players like myself, Nandalall, Webster, Nathoo, Kriskal Persaud, Braithwaite and others, understand the concept of trash talk in chess. It is entertaining fun and calms chess players before an important tournament. I’m anticipating that it stays with us. 7. c5 c6 8. Bd3 Bg4 9. Nge2 Re8 10. f3 Bc8 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Bg5 e5 13. b4 Nf8 14. Bh4
Bh6 15. f4 e4 16. Bc2 Bg7 17. b5 Bd7 18. Ba4 Qc8 19. h3 Nh5 20. Rb1 f5 21. Qb3 Bf6 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Qb7 Ne6 25. Nc1 Rb8 26. Qxc8 Rexc8 27. Nb3 Nc7 28. Na5 Nb5 29. Ne2 Na3 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Bxc6 Bxc6 32. Nxc6 Rb2 33. Nc3 Rc2 34. Ne7+ Kf7 35. Ncxd5 Nc4 36. Rb1 Nh5 37. Nc6 Nd2 38. Ncb4 Nxb1 39. Nxc2 Ke6 40. Nc7+ Kd7 41. Nd5 Ke6 42. Ndb4 Nf6 43. d5+ Kd7 44. d6 Nc3 45. Nd4 Nfd5 46. Na6 1-0.