Chess is an ancient mind game. India is considered the birthplace of this sport. For many, it will be a revelation, but chess is an official and competitive sport.
There is no physical struggle in this sport, only intellectual. In the 60s and 70s of the 20th century, chess tournaments were of no less interest to spectators than, say, football or ice hockey matches. Now, these other sports have become more popular, but chess has not disappeared. Moreover, it is present on the betting lines.
Chess is a social game. The game requires a special board with 64 squares for two opponents, one having white and the other one having black pieces. This is a logic game that combines elements of art, science, sports, and excitement. Two opponents outsmarting each other is the most common way this discipline is played, but there are cases where a group of players competes with another group or one player opposes a group and plays several games at the same time.
Types of Chess Bets
Bookmakers are trying to diversify the list of chess games, but only three types of bets are still the most popular:
- The victory of a certain grandmaster.Traditional betting is also present in chess bets. Three outcomes are offered here: a white win, a black win, and a draw.
- Double chance. Since the ‘fun’ can end with three outcomes, bookmakers accept bets on 1X and X2. This type of bet is suitable for cautious bettors. Here the bettor wagers that one of the opponents will not lose: he/she will win or reduce the match to a draw.
- Zero handicaps. There is no specificity of the results in chess, so bookmakers offer only one possibility of handicap:0. The bet is similar to a double chance because the bettor chooses a player who will not lose in the game. The difference is that if the match is a draw, the bet will be calculated as a return, i.e. with odds of 1.00. If you bet on a double chance, then it will be winning.
In addition to the main outcomes, bookmakers are trying to offer a variety of entries. The line contains bets on the total number of moves or time if limited by the rules of the tournament. There are also long-term bets on the offer. In this case, the bettor does not choose the results of the game, but how the whole tournament will end.
Chess Betting Strategy
In chess, like in any other sport, a win-win betting strategy has not yet been invented and so does not exist. In any sport, a contest might take an unexpected turn. Despite the fact that the strongest player does not always win in chess, the strongest grandmasters’ ratings don’t alter so often.
Despite the fact that there is no such thing as a win-win strategy, you can use the analysis of recent games and head-to-head matches to determine the best bet.
Chess “Catch-Up” Strategy
The “catch-up” or “Dogon” betting strategy seems to have been specially developed for chess. This is due to the fact that long-running series, either victorious or unsuccessful, rarely appear in this discipline.
The Dogon betting strategy is based on the fact that the size of a certain bet depends on the outcome determined in the previous phase. The essence of the strategy is that each new bet covers the loss of the previous one and brings profit.
In the first phase, the bettor chooses the base bet amount and bets on the selected event. In case of loss, it is necessary to catch up, i.e. compensate, the damage that will cover the previous loss. The popularity of this strategy is due to the fact that even with a large number of unsuccessful bets, you can count on a positive balance.
Draws Bets
An analysis of hundreds of matches shows that matches between strong opponents often end in a draw. For this reason, a draw betting strategy is widespread in chess. In this case, the bettor chooses a double chance or the handicap 0. In matches with the participation of grandmasters, there are more draws than losses of any of them.
Bookmakers differently count on a draw on a double chance and handicap 0. In the first option, the bet will be calculated as winning, while in the second case, it will be returned.
Where to Bet on Chess?
The list of bookmakers that accept bets on this sport is not so large but can be found in one place at Bookmaker-Expert.com.
Not all bookmakers offer additional and long-term bets, but in most cases, only a handicap and a match-winner. Usually, only major competitions are represented in the betting line: the Candidates Tournament, the World Rapid Chess Championship, the Grand Chess Tour, and the FIDE World Cup. Of course, in the world, besides these, there are many other competitions.
Chess Betting Characteristics
To fully predict the outcome of the match, it is not enough to know the rules of the game, but you must have additional information. To avoid losing bets, the bettor must take into account the following: the rating of the two chess players, physical and psychological readiness to play, statistics of mutual meetings and previous results during the competition, and the style of play of the opponent.
The outcome of matches often depends on the chance because in chess it is important to be able to react to the rapid change of the course of a game. Additional factors that can lead to a loss include the right to the first move and the availability of limited time for the move. Not all grandmasters are capable of playing rapid chess because the chance of making a mistake grows within it.
Motivation is another characteristic that should not be neglected. The level of the opponent, the importance of the game for the rating, and the size of the prize pool vary depending on the tournament. Psychological and physical readiness is very important for chess because it is a logical game and it is necessary to maintain concentration throughout the game.
Of the special features of chess betting, betting on famous grandmasters is worth noting. They usually only participate in big tournaments, so you can analyze their readiness for the match. To make your betting debut on this sport successful, you should give up big bets and start with a small payout. Increase the amount of the bet gradually after you have started to understand chess and betting on it professionally.
If you bet on bookies, logic, minimal analysis, and personal chess experience will bring you profit.