# Chess: how often do checkmates happen in tournament play

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-how-often-do-checkmates-happen-in-tournament-play/756610>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [June 5, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-how-often-do-checkmates-happen-in-tournament-play/756610 "2016-06-05T21:33:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-how-often-do-checkmates-happen-in-tournament-play/756610/21 "2016-06-07T21:17:44Z")

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> [@glee](#):
>
> I’m a FIDE (World Chess Federation) Master currently rated 2244. I’ve played about 1000 tournament games (some in the British Championship.)  
> I’ve never been checkmated, nor have I checkmated anyone.  
> I’ve had people resign the move before checkmate, but that’s as close as it gets.  
> I’ve seen only a few checkmates in tournament play - and they were all when one or both players were in time trouble.

> [@hajario](#):
>
> That’s impressive. Chess has always fascinated me. Do you expect to make it to a higher level at some point? Do people get to keep the highest level that they have achieved (like bridge) or do they peak and then decline?

I’ve always been an amateur player, so am quite pleased with my rating. (My highest was 2390.)  
I’m 62 now, so will continue to gently decline (but if I can steer those pesky juniors into endings and avoid tactical melee, my experience should tell.)

Your chess grade is continually recalculated (here in England the Chess Federation publishes a new list every 6 months.)

However the bridge grading system is cumulative, so if you play a lot you eventually achieve a high ranking. Personally I think this is flawed (but players do like their titles…)

For your interest Jonathan Mestel is a Grandmaster of chess, a Grandmaster of Chess problem Solving and heading towards Grandmaster of Bridge. (He’s also a jolly decent chap. 🙂 )

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**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-how-often-do-checkmates-happen-in-tournament-play/756610/22 "2016-06-07T21:20:52Z")

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> [@Nars\_Glinley](#):
>
> Geeze. How old are you guys?
> 
> 1. e4 c5

Old enough to remember the AICS …

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