Professor X and Magneto: How Would They Play Chess

Hey Everyone,

I was thinking today about the X-men, and I've always enjoyed thinking about what Charles and Erik's games would be like. I'd love to hear what you think about what each of their strengths might be and what openings they might play.

I like to think Magneto is probably around 1950 FIDE. He is an attacking player, very naturally skilled and tactical, but has not put an insane amount of study into the game. He grew up in a concentration camp, but after getting out played chess as an outlet and found it fascinating due to it's attacking nature and intellectual challenge. He probably is very good at punishing the mistakes of lower or equal players. He would be an e4 player, and probably play things like the sicilian and KID as Black.

Professor X is probably around 2050/2100 FIDE. He was tutored in chess as a boy growing up along with his other intellectual endeavors. He has put a fair amount of study into the game, and thus is much more positionally strong. He understands the game deeply in a subtle way, and is a strong defender. He is well placed to counter much of Erik's style, but they end up in exciting, double edged games due to their conflicting styles. He would play d4, and as Black probably the French/Caro-Kann and the Semi-Slav/Nimzo-Indian. 

What do you guys think? Have I underrated them, any thoughts on possible openings or how the games might go?

Given they're comic book characters...

 ...Their games are mostly drawn.

I remember in X men first class, Eric challenged Charles.  It seemed as if they had played together many times with roughly equal results.  However you are forgeting that charles know what his opponent is thinking.  That ability is worth too many rating points...

Oh yes.  Of course.  But when he challenged him in the movie he did not inted to wear it.

Haha I assume Charles would want a fair game and wouldn't read his mind. He's too ethical, and doesn't tend to read his friends.

Really though? People tend to think this, but I don't think it would be worth that much.

If you were reading the mind of a player much better than you, you'd either disagree or not understand the evaluation. Sure it's worth something, but not so much I think.

It would only be really useful if the opponent were weak and played for tricks.

When players thinks in chess they think about lots of things.  They also, and I have noticed myself by thinking, justify there thoughts with rationalities.  This would be a great feast and learning experience for a telepath. 

Magneto would definitely need to wear his helmet. One thing we know for sure, Magneto would not open with 1Na3,1Nc3,1Nf3, or 1...Nh3 as white and would not play Alekhine's Defence or the Indian Defences as black...How do I know this ? A million geek points for those that can tell me !

didn't know magneto was such a stickler for the queens gambit.

ISWYDT. ;)

KInd of.

I've played lots of what I'll call "analysis games" face to face with stronger opponents, where we talk about everything. And if the game starts to turn bad for one player we'll even go back 10 moves or something and try again.

It's helpful, but maybe not as amazing as you might think. If they're much better their evaluations and calculations simply don't make sense to you.

e.g. "white is better here, maybe winning"

"but I like black. Black has a better rook and is a pawn up"

"the rook is unimportant, white is close to winning if he follows this general plan"

"but black can win ____ in the mean time, I don't see what white is doing"

"winning _____ also doesn't matter, white is still better"

Then of course you play it out and many moves later to your surprise white is better. Somehow black's position ran out of things to do. So you go back 10 moves, try something else, and this just happens over and over.

Long story short, if your opponent is much better, they could sit there and tell you their evaluation and plan, and you'll still lose

And if you could read their mind, they wouldn't bother to analyze many different bad moves, because they know they're bad automatically... some of those bad moves may be your first choice.

Plus how many times do you think "he can't possibly play that, I prevented it" then the opponent thinks a long time, plays it anyway, and now you're in trouble lol.

if you can read their mind, you just wait until the guy realises he made a blunder, then go all in.

This deserves an appreciation post.

You've never thought "oh crap, they can play this move!"

Then after calculating for a minute or two you realize you're fine?

Also if the telepath's opponent comes up with a winning combonation on his move, the telepath is helpless.

the telepath can just beam thoughts into the opponents mind like "i have no chance against this guy, might as well resign in a few moves".

Oh yeah.  lol  Forgot it wasn't just mind reading.  Yeah, eric is totally lost every time.  But I think Charles has ethics...

they really should allow us use Beats headphones when playing these telepaths, it's just as bad as playing someone that keeps going to the toilet with his iPhone.

You keep carrying on about the mind reading as though people forgot Dr X read minds anyone who follows X-men knows his code he doesn't cheat at chess. He would never read someones mind to win a game of chess. Also what's with the guessing what magnetos opening move was it was plain as day Magneto's opening move was E-3. My favorite as well. Magneto was unconventional. As am I E-3 has always been my favorite move it confuses the stick in the muds that think you have to capture the 4 center squares. It is a highly effective defense against the 4 move mate even more effective at winning when you play white and bait the 4 square players into leaving the kings pawn hanging unprotected and suddenly find themselves a pawn short on early exchanges.  E-3 it's not just for beginers it confuses the pros. Glad it's not common just won a match and rematch on it. Personally it makes more sense to have 2 pawns defend one pawn instead of getting stuck on the defensive trying to protect your pawns with power pieces.