Why is Russia so good at chess?
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enderchess41
Dec 5, 2018
0
#1
I always knew Russia is very good at chess, but why?
Dec 5, 2018
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#2
1. It's not considered a game for nerds or treated on TV shows as if it's something that's not cool.
2. Since so many people know how to play from childhood, there's a larger pool of people motivated to become strong chess players.
3. Since the economy is not such that every kid have two video game systems in their homes, more people are playing board games including chess.
4. It's supported by the state and by Russian chess organizations. The U.S. Chess Federation does very little for anyone who isn't a master. I was a USCF Tournament Director and a high school chess coach. I got some support from my state chess organization, but USCF couldn't care less about chess in the schools. It's very different in Russia and some other countries.
Dec 6, 2018
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#3
ghost_of_pushwood wrote:
My dad said it's because it's so cold up there they've got nothing else to do but practice.
He was forgetting about vodka.
Dec 6, 2018
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#4
enderchess41 wrote:
I always knew Russia is very good at chess, but why?
They teach theirs kids to play at a young age. Structure, planning, team work, analysis, game plans, etc.
We teach our kids that "everyone is a winner" Participation trophies matter, and how to spot, and report bullying.
Dec 6, 2018
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#5
Russia has been able to produce the most GM's in the history of the game, this is "due to the Russian traditions and intellectual life in Russia before and during the Russian empire. After the revolution in 1917, the government wanted to make new people more intelligent with the game of chess after the top people from the Russian empire left the country due to the revolution. Before world war II, chess became part of the education system in russian schools somehow" - Karpov 2011. So yes, it has developed within the country through history.
Dec 6, 2018
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#6
ghost_of_pushwood wrote:
My dad said it's because it's so cold up there they've got nothing else to do but practice. Of course, he said the same thing about why Iceland is so good.
dont forget Norway
Dec 6, 2018
0
#7
Russians are good in chess coz it's popular in Russia. Same way Americans are good in baseball and basketball, Japanese in Go, Brazilian in soccer, etc.