A few of the biggest poker gamers of current years both grew up enjoying chess or have transitioned from chess. The identical is true, with five-tiem world chess champion Magnus Carlsen, Jen Shahade and Ottomar Ladva all exhibiting they’ve what it takes on the poker tables.
Ladva’s most up-to-date victory got here at EPT Barcelona, successful a €25,000 Excessive Curler for €439,400.
Additionally in attendance at EPT Barcelona, serving to to rejoice the twentieth anniversary of the European Poker Tour, was chess participant and streamer Alexandra Prado who spoke with PokerNews all in regards to the world of chess streaming, the similarities between the 2 and what she does to arrange for a match.
Preparation is Key
Similar to streaming poker, Prado says that there will be distinctive challenges when attempting to stability streaming chess with sustaining a excessive stage of play.
“Once you stream, you are distracted,” she stated. “You are enjoying perhaps 200 [Elo] factors beneath your normal stage since you’re attempting to work together with the chat or present them issues. Plus, it is speedy chess, so that you don’t have a lot time to make selections”
“It is about protecting the chat engaged — it is a stability between content material and leisure. You may’t be bored. However you additionally need to do what your group likes. They get pleasure from watching you play and seeing your reactions, so for me, that’s nice.”
“It is a stability between content material and leisure”
For Prado, streaming chess is extra than simply enjoying the sport; it’s about sharing the expertise along with her viewers. Whether or not it’s chess or poker, she believes that streaming permits her and her viewers to attach on a deeper stage. “Once you stream, you are sharing one thing — chess or poker. You perceive that world extra, and streaming something actually is a totally totally different world.”
Watching Your Opponent
Prado attracts an fascinating parallel between chess and poker, noting that each video games contain studying and getting ready in your opponent.
“Whether or not you stream or play over-the-board, it’s a must to put together in your opponent. It’s the identical in poker. You want to know who you are enjoying in opposition to — their fashion, their stage of aggression. It’s important to consider all the pieces, even their age. It is all the time tough to play in opposition to children. I favor enjoying with folks my age or older. Youngsters are actually scary!”
In current months, Prado has discovered herself shifting her focus extra in the direction of her opponents than the particular place she’s in, just like the outdated adage, “Play the person, not the playing cards.”
“I had a recreation yesterday in opposition to a girls worldwide grasp, and I used to be enjoying a brand new opening for the primary time. I ended up able the place I needed to sacrifice a chunk, however I wasn’t totally ready. I knew the final plan, although, so I made a decision to play aggressively. She was shocked! She spent quite a lot of time in that place, simply focusing, whereas I used to be relaxed and feeling nice.”
“In chess, generally you make a transfer simply to check your opponent and see how they react. If they appear uncomfortable, you recognize you’re onto one thing, and you’ll capitalize on that. I assume that is just like poker the place you may gauge the response from an opponent if you wager or elevate them.”
You may observe and subscribe to Alexandra Prado aka alexandrachess on Kick
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