![]() In chess, the pawn is the weakest piece and starts all the way back on the second rank. Usually in these kick-return touchdowns, one key block by a teammate or a juke by the returner opens up a clear path to the end zone, with only the kicker or punter futilely standing in the way. It's a special moment when a kickoff or a punt is returned all the way to the endzone, with the returner beating 11 defenders in a very improbable play. Touchdowns are common in pro football, but usually they're from set plays via passing or rushing. Like the pick and roll in basketball, the fork is a go-to tactical theme for winning players. ![]() ![]() In chess, the clear analogy is a fork, when a piece attacks more than one enemy piece or critical square at once. On a well executed pick and roll, either option should lead to a good shot for the offense, because the opponent can't defend both spots at once. After the screen disrupts the coverage of the ball handler, the defense has to make a choice: stick with the ball handler or collapse on the screener headed toward the basket. A teammate sets a "pick" against the ball handler's defender, then drifts toward the basket. ![]() In basketball, the pick and roll is a fundamental weapon for the offense to break down the defense. A teammate sets a screen for a ball handler, then rolls toward the basket. But the true lesson in chess, as in football, is never give up. Like the Hail Mary play in football, these desperation tricks in chess should usually be rebuffed with the proper defense. I found myself on the humble end of this situation in a game on the live server a few weeks ago, and miraculously, I was able to save the draw with this trick: GM Serper wrote an entire article about the Hail Mary play in chess, focusing on the threat of checkmate turning a losing position into a win.īut as IM Rensch pointed out, a Hail Mary could also be a desperate stalemate trick attempt. Chess Comparison: A desperate trick in a losing game. Play: Hail Mary, a long pass attempted at the last second by a trailing team. Let us know your proposed sports/chess metaphors in the comments section. Which applicable chess ideas could related to common sports situations? Instead of spouting the cliche that "it's a chess game between the coaches," announcers who actually knew chess could use more relevant references. IM Daniel Rensch recently observed, while watching a sports game, that it would be interesting if announcers used more realistic chess comparisons in their commentary. ![]() Sports commentators love to mention chess during their broadcasts of football, basketball and baseball games, but often these shallow metaphors don't show a true understanding of chess. ![]()
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