Why we saying good luck? • page 1/3 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

I am thinking about this question. You can choose the Good luck! option when the game starts.
I mean chess is not a luck based game, so why we say that? If someone says this in poker i understand .

Regards,
Janos

I am thinking about this question. You can choose the Good luck! option when the game starts. I mean chess is not a luck based game, so why we say that? If someone says this in poker i understand . Regards, Janos

DefeatChampion88

#2

We say good luck cuz sometimes you need luck to win the game and we treat it like a good wish

MoistChess

#3

It is meant as an insult.
Clearly chess is not a luck-based game, so when one says it, it means, "You'd best hope I make a fatal blunder because otherwise you won't win, you piece of human excrement."

It is meant as an insult. Clearly chess is not a luck-based game, so when one says it, it means, "You'd best hope I make a fatal blunder because otherwise you won't win, you piece of human excrement."

jc52766

edited

#4

In this context it could mean Good luck in that your internet connection doesn't disconnect, or that you don't drop dead during the game. Or good luck that your wife doesn't want a 20 minute conversation 2 minutes into the game ;)
Conversely there is luck involved, I mean we don't calculate all possible combinations so there is some >0% probability that we will miss the best or even good move each move.
I think there is a luck factor involved for sure. If I entertain the best move and then play it what is that THING that allowed me to entertain THAT move in the first place? If that's not luck then what is it? I didn't apriori determine what would happen next, or maybe I did but without the freedom to change it.
But this would be strongly determined by past study efforts and mental clarity as at time of decision making. So You'd be currently very lucky that historically you put yourself in this position right now to hopefully make a good move.
I think life is packed full of luck. Even over the chess board :)
I definitely need luck to win chess games. I mean if my opponent goes into god mode then I'm not gonna win. I'm pretty sure that stopping my opponent playing incredibly well is not absolutely in my control and therefore luck factor is != 0.

In this context it could mean Good luck in that your internet connection doesn't disconnect, or that you don't drop dead during the game. Or good luck that your wife doesn't want a 20 minute conversation 2 minutes into the game ;) Conversely there is luck involved, I mean we don't calculate all possible combinations so there is some >0% probability that we will miss the best or even good move each move. I think there is a luck factor involved for sure. If I entertain the best move and then play it what is that THING that allowed me to entertain THAT move in the first place? If that's not luck then what is it? I didn't apriori determine what would happen next, or maybe I did but without the freedom to change it. But this would be strongly determined by past study efforts and mental clarity as at time of decision making. So You'd be currently very lucky that historically you put yourself in this position right now to hopefully make a good move. I think life is packed full of luck. Even over the chess board :) I definitely need luck to win chess games. I mean if my opponent goes into god mode then I'm not gonna win. I'm pretty sure that stopping my opponent playing incredibly well is not absolutely in my control and therefore luck factor is != 0.

DeepFlight edited

#5

Everything requires a bit of good fortune to succeed. There are those few who wish their opponents misfortune and think insulting is the norm. (as exhibited by #3). It is a long honored tradition that shows respect and good sportsmanship. Unfortunately, a board game brings out the worst in some. We simply learn to ignore malcontents. Good luck and a handshake !

DeepFlight

#6

And perhaps my luck will show equal to yours !

Toscani

edited

#7

"Good luck" is in a way saying "Good hunting". Hope you finish the game on time.

I guess in chess it would sound a bit off saying "Good hunting", but we do search for the pleasure of capturing pieces or finding opponent errors.

With a little skill, we sometimes find something that interests us and aim our pieces in that direction.

We are out of luck when the time runs out.

Expression: Lucky for you , you made it on time.

Lucky wins are games won by the clock, not by the chess position.

The luck is in the timing, not in the chess moves.

It's not a game of chance.

"Good luck" is in a way saying "Good hunting". Hope you finish the game on time. I guess in chess it would sound a bit off saying "Good hunting", but we do search for the pleasure of capturing pieces or finding opponent errors. With a little skill, we sometimes find something that interests us and aim our pieces in that direction. We are out of luck when the time runs out. Expression: Lucky for you , you made it on time. Lucky wins are games won by the clock, not by the chess position. The luck is in the timing, not in the chess moves. It's not a game of chance.

Zhai

#8

@MoistChess
Yeah i tought the same but there are some answers which explains more clearly.

@jc52766
Yes I agree with you, there are luck because humans make errors.

@Toscani
Good explanaion! This explins why chess is one of the most complicated games. You can not simply win by brute force calculation like a machine. There is psychology (in real life board), time pressure, Verbal pressure. Chess is like real life. But in optimal situations there is no luck, but we are humans.

Interesting thread for sure

@MoistChess Yeah i tought the same but there are some answers which explains more clearly. @jc52766 Yes I agree with you, there are luck because humans make errors. @Toscani Good explanaion! This explins why chess is one of the most complicated games. You can not simply win by brute force calculation like a machine. There is psychology (in real life board), time pressure, Verbal pressure. Chess is like real life. But in optimal situations there is no luck, but we are humans. Interesting thread for sure

BOT Sidonia-ChessEngine

#9

As I human I think it is hypocritical to wish my opponent Good Luck when I play in a match for my chess club. I am of course hoping to win, and in that sense I do not wish him luck at all. Instead, as I shake his hand in a friendly manner, I say ...

"Enjoy your game."

And I mean that sincerely. I have had some games which were very close hard fought battles with no clearly visible (to me) blunders. These games can be very enjoyable, even if I lose. And that is what I am really hoping happens to them.

Luck does have a lot to do with things in chess. Since better players should be playing higher rated opponents, either side ought to have a realistic chance of winning a normal game. How can a chess engine looking X moves ahead beat a version of the same chess engine looking a move deeper? It happens. Because a move might look good at depth x, look bad at depth x+y and then look good again at depth x+y+z. The engine that sees x moves ahead might then "luckily" play the correct move.

I (the engine author) played a game on Tuesday and won. I missed some of my opponents moves (ie hadn't considered them), and luckily found that they were not too bad for me. I also played a move that "felt right" in time trouble, and luckily it turns out that it was sound.

There is a lot of luck in chess. But its averaged away over time by a number of games.

As I human I think it is hypocritical to wish my opponent Good Luck when I play in a match for my chess club. I am of course hoping to win, and in that sense I do not wish him luck at all. Instead, as I shake his hand in a friendly manner, I say ... "Enjoy your game." And I mean that sincerely. I have had some games which were very close hard fought battles with no clearly visible (to me) blunders. These games can be very enjoyable, even if I lose. And that is what I am really hoping happens to them. Luck does have a lot to do with things in chess. Since better players should be playing higher rated opponents, either side ought to have a realistic chance of winning a normal game. How can a chess engine looking X moves ahead beat a version of the same chess engine looking a move deeper? It happens. Because a move might look good at depth x, look bad at depth x+y and then look good again at depth x+y+z. The engine that sees x moves ahead might then "luckily" play the correct move. I (the engine author) played a game on Tuesday and won. I missed some of my opponents moves (ie hadn't considered them), and luckily found that they were not too bad for me. I also played a move that "felt right" in time trouble, and luckily it turns out that it was sound. There is a lot of luck in chess. But its averaged away over time by a number of games.

dRr0x0rZZ

#10

We say it because intellectually we know that chess is a game of skill, but from our experience we know that skill isn't always the deciding factor. So we acknowledge our mortality, our inability to decide the game by skill 100% of the time, by saying "good luck".

Or if nothing else, saying "good luck" is a way of letting your opponent know that you're interested in a good, sporting game.

We say it because intellectually we know that chess is a game of skill, but from our experience we know that skill isn't always the deciding factor. So we acknowledge our mortality, our inability to decide the game by skill 100% of the time, by saying "good luck". Or if nothing else, saying "good luck" is a way of letting your opponent know that you're interested in a good, sporting game.