Hi all,
Watching the major chess tournaments, I see that when the players sit down, someone else makes the first move for the player with white, which some players keep and some change. My Google-fu is letting me down, and I can't find out why. I can't phrase the question in a way that avoids lots of results about opening theory. I presume this is some tradition or ceremony. Does anyone know what it's about?
There is a ceremonial first move which has often been played by a celebrity or person of notice, but it is not the official move. So, both Carlsen and Nepo have had some fun this match retracting the ceremonial move and playing a different move when the clock starts and the game officially begins.
You can watch this short Instagram reel from Chess.com's page to see Nepo retracting the move.
Hi all,
Watching the major chess tournaments, I see that when the players sit down, someone else makes the first move for the player with white, which some players keep and some change. My Google-fu is letting me down, and I can't find out why. I can't phrase the question in a way that avoids lots of results about opening theory. I presume this is some tradition or ceremony. Does anyone know what it's about?