Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site masscomp.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!trb
From: trb@masscomp.UUCP (Andy Tannenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Women and Chess
Message-ID: <123@masscomp.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Oct-83 18:30:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: masscomp.123
Posted: Fri Oct 14 18:30:57 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Oct-83 04:29:36 EDT
References: <5875@cca.UUCP>
Organization: MASSCOMP, Littleton, MA
Lines: 29

Yes, physical stamina is an an advantage during a chess tournament.  On
the other hand, there are probably quite a few women around who could
run rings around 62 year old Viktor Korchnoi (semifinalist in the
current World Chess championship) and Anatoly Karpov (current champion,
who is physically built approximately like I am, and who is nicknamed
"the fetus" on the chess circuit - we're talkin' thin).  These guys
probably have more stamina and ability to concentrate than most folks
who stick to more casual endeavors, but that doesn't mean that they can
out-physical a woman who's in excellent shape.

Chess is a funny business in that sense anyway.  The stamina and
strength and concentration ability are secondary.  The primary
necessity is an overwhelming and indescribable ability to play chess
well.  The chess grandmaster does not need stamina or strength to beat
the lower 95% of all rated chess players.  The grandmaster can beat
tens of us simultaneously while blindfolded.  In a normal one on one
game, a grandmaster does not have to spend more than a second per move
in order to crush the normal player.  The stamina and strength only
come into play during epic battles against other grandmasters.

An interesting point, The US Chess federation prints ratings lists
every few months, with tables of the top 50 women, men, and kids in
various age categories.  The top US women are rated about the same as
the top boys under 14.  Certainly chess isn't a measure of raw
intelligence.  Hang around some chess players some time and you'll
discover for yourself that chess knowledge isn't a measure of raw
intelligence.  What is a measure of raw intelligence?  I don't know.

	Andy Tannenbaum   Masscomp Inc.  Littleton MA   (617) 486-9581