Players agreeing to their own time controls (part II)

[James Coleman]

Sorry - just to clarify in a better way - the reason I said I was surprised about the notation is because I used to play in a league where a lot of the boards were the old wooden style with no notation at all. So I guess what I was wondering is if someone had a genuine reason for needing to have notation (such as the autism that you mentioned) would they be exempt from writing down moves if they turned up at an away match to find they were supposed to play on the kind of board as I described above?

[Dean Madden]

I'm somewhere on the autistic spectrum, but have no problems writing notation from a board with no numbering. But as I've learnt using algebraic notation, I'd find it very distracting if the pieces were set up wrong way round, i.e. black on numbers 1&2, and white on 7&8. Much more distracting than when neurotypical people freak out if square a8 isn't white

[Richard James]

I'm somewhere on the autistic spectrum, but have no problems writing notation from a board with no numbering. But as I've learnt using algebraic notation, I'd find it very distracting if the pieces were set up wrong way round, i.e. black on numbers 1&2, and white on 7&8. Much more distracting than when neurotypical people freak out if square a8 isn't white

I don't care too much if Black is on 1 and 2 but freak out if there's a black square on the right. And I would be extremely offended if anyone accused me of being neurotypical.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi.

It does seem I have not made myself clear.

The numbers were on 'only' on the left hand side of the board
and the letters were only printed on the bottom of one side of the board.

Imagaine a board just designed for study and no opponent.

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
* A B C D E F G H

If you sat down as Black you have no letters on your side of the board
and upside numbers on your right side.

Very odd I know, but there it is.

Next time I visit the club in question I'll take photo's and see if I can
find out where the boards came from (possibly home made).

[Richard Bates]

Hi.

It does seem I have not made myself clear.

The numbers were on 'only' on the left hand side of the board
and the letters were only printed on the bottom of one side of the board.

Imagaine a board just designed for study and no opponent.

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
* A B C D E F G H

If you sat down as Black you have no letters on your side of the board
and upside numbers on your right side.

Very odd I know, but there it is.

Next time I visit the club in question I'll take photo's and see if I can
find out where the boards came from (possibly home made).

No Geoff, you made yourself clear. What doesn't make sense is why turning the board around would solve the situation!

[Geoff Chandler]

Phew!!

Because Bob sat down and played 1.e4 with the Letters and Numbers
facing him. They were correct for him.

His opponent who arrived 10 minutes late want the board turned around
so he could have the letters on his first rank and the numbers the
correct way up on his left.

I know it would mean him recording 1.e4 e5 as 1.d5 d4 making it quite
useless but this was his request. (perhaps it was his lucky side).

Chess Players are strange creatures. At the Edinburgh Chess Club we all
have our favourite seat and board. I'm you all secretly have as well.