ONLY BLUNDER YOU CAN MAKE BEFORE THE GAME BEGINS

Something that always puzzled (and irritated) me is why non chess media almost always represent the chess board inaccurately. They either have a black square on the right corner (or should I say wrong corner?) or positioning of King & Queen is all wrong. Of course the first mistake often leads to the other but you’ll be surprised to notice how common these mistakes are.

Show business never made an attempt to understand chess properly (understandably so). Famous films like Shawshank redemption (1994), The Silence of the lambs (1991), The Davinci code (2006) & Never say never again (1983 James Bond film) had minor scenes where chess boards in wrong orientation were on display.  

 NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983)

THE DAVINCI CODE (2006)

 SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION 1994

While seeing above pictures you must have thought “but these things only happen to people who doesn't know much about chess”. Believe me, you are in for a rude shock.

In fact something of the sort happened at the biggest stage of all.

WHITE KING ON d1 & 12 RANKS???

This is a promotional banner of the so called 2004 ‘world’ championship between Kramnik & Leko. Just look at the white king & queen. Perhaps that’s the way you should set the pieces up if you are playing chess on a 12x8 chess board.

Let’s have a look at another howler. This time it's the cover of a chess book named "Your guide to better chess".

BETTER CHESS? DON'T THINK SO

Well if you want to play better chess staying well clear of this book can be considered a start. (Look at the white king again)

Reputed media organization like BBC was not immune to the decease either.

How to win at chess? hmmm... perhaps one can start by placing the white king correctly.

To conclude this post, let’s have a look at the most memorable gaffe of all. When the super computer Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov in 1997, Dr C J Tan (head of the think tank behind deep blue) was pictured on the front cover of Inside Chess. 

Once again the white king is on d1. Oh the horror! Perhaps that’s how they tricked Kasparov.

  

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