Chess is the oldest board logic game. According to one version, it appeared in India more than one and a half thousand years ago and was called “chaturanga”. Modern chess is played by two people on a 64-square board for white or black pieces. The game is considered over if one of the opponents checkmates the opponent’s king, the time allotted for the game according to the rules of the tournament runs out, one of the players resigns, or both agree to a draw.
If this material had been written not in our time, but in the early 70s, it would be safe to say that chess is one of the most popular sports. Over time, such “mastodons” as football and hockey, ousted chess from the sports Olympus, but even now large chess tournaments attract a lot of attention. Bookmakers have not spared this sport and are actively accepting bets.
Grandmasters at the chess Olympus rarely change. The 16th world chess champion, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, has held the crown since 2013.
Types of chess bets
In some bookmakers, you can bet on the total number of moves in the game, whether the championship will end with special additional games (rapid chess, blitz chess, armageddon chess).
But there are more specific outcomes in this sport.
White or black wins (“W1” or “W2”). The traditional type of betting on the main outcomes of the competition is also typical for bets on chess. Also, betting on the main outcomes includes the option of betting on a draw.
Double chance (“1x” or “2x”). This option is liked by more cautious players, such bets imply that a particular opponent will at least avoid defeat in the game, that is, either he will win or the game will end in a draw.
Zero handicap. Since in chess there is no account in a particular game, bookmakers offer only one handicap option. It is important to note that this type of bet differs from the previous one: a bet with a handicap (0) also implies that the specified participant of the competition will at least avoid defeat (not lose), however, in the event of a draw, the bet with a zero handicap is calculated as a refund, and a bet on a double outcome is a win.
Also, some bookmakers may offer long-term bets on chess, for example, on the victory of a certain athlete not in a specific match, but on the basis of the entire tournament.
Chess betting strategy
There is no win-win strategy in chess, as in any other sport. But there are also peculiarities that, with the right analytics, can be used to your advantage.
1. Strategy “catch up” to chess
You can find out what the catch-up strategy is in a special section of our School of Betting. This strategy is most suitable for chess tournaments. Chess is one of the few sports where any protracted streak of players is extremely rare.
* Example: if an athlete has lost 2-3 games, then you can catch up with a draw 1-3 times. But it is worth remembering that the catch-up strategy is one of the most risky.
2. Bets on a draw
In chess, a draw with the participation of grandmasters happens much more often than the outcome of a victory for one of the athletes. In this case, a safety net works well for one of the players with a zero handicap. You can learn what a zero handicap is in our betting school.
* Example: in the match “White” against “Black” you took the victory of “White” with a handicap of 0. If the match ends in a draw, the bookmaker will calculate the return of the bet.
Is it possible to win regularly by betting on chess?
As we already wrote, there is no win-win strategy in chess, as in any other sport. To reduce your risks, you need to understand the specific sport you are planning to bet on.
Chess is a special game where, in addition to the rules, you need to know the psychological state of the athlete, his habits and even the weather conditions. After all, the state of health of a grandmaster in bad weather can deteriorate, and chess is a logical game that requires serious concentration.
Having the necessary information, following the tournaments and the chess world in general, you can tremendously increase your chances of winning. Good luck!