# Does playing chess qualify as a date? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 29, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851 "2015-04-29T22:53:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Umbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Umbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/1 "2015-04-29T22:53:05Z")
I want opinions. What do you think? Say someone asks you on a date and arranges the date at a park on a weekend or holiday. On the date, the only thing you do is play chess. If your date beats you in the game, would you accept the next one? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/2 "2015-04-29T22:54:34Z")
Not enough information. Did everyone have fun? ---
**Author:** ![Umbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Umbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/3 "2015-04-29T22:55:36Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Not enough information. Did everyone have fun? Let’s assume they did. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/4 "2015-04-29T22:58:59Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Not enough information. Did everyone have fun? Exactly. A date is whatever you decide it is, whether it’s a game of chess, scrabble or cleaning the side of the freeway. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/5 "2015-04-29T22:59:14Z")
Before we married, my boyfriend taught me to play chess on a date. He defeated me the first time, but I still had fun. Dopers, I married him. (Andy L) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/6 "2015-04-29T23:13:32Z")
Did she ‘King you’ (yes I know but it’s the same board) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/7 "2015-04-29T23:17:18Z")
Assuming you enjoy it, it could be a better date than the traditional one of going to the movies, where you don’t talk to each other for two hours. Question: did this chess playing happen as a date, or just as chess playing? If the latter, it could be the start of a relationship that will turn into dating. ---
**Author:** ![mrldii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@mrldii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrldii)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/8 "2015-04-29T23:17:58Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > Exactly. A date is whatever you decide it is, whether it’s a game of chess, scrabble or cleaning the side of the freeway. Agreed. “A date” is when two people spend time together, engaged in a similar activity. Whether or not playing chess is a “romantic date”, probably depends on the chemistry between the two of you and whether or not you’re playing _strip_ chess…which _could be_ awkward in a public park. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/9 "2015-04-29T23:46:07Z")
> [@mrldii](#): > > Agreed. “A date” is when two people spend time together, engaged in a similar activity. … I know\* some toddlers who had play dates together - Well I knew, they have a tendency to grow and would be considered now ‘children’. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/10 "2015-04-30T00:10:14Z")
Not enough info from the OP. And why does it need to be classified? And what does it matter who won the chess game to see them again? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/11 "2015-04-30T00:31:59Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Did she ‘King you’ (yes I know but it’s the same board) I believe the OP is the “she.” ---
**Author:** ![Umbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Umbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/12 "2015-04-30T01:34:04Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Assuming you enjoy it, it could be a better date than the traditional one of going to the movies, where you don’t talk to each other for two hours. > > Question: did this chess playing happen as a date, or just as chess playing? If the latter, it could be the start of a relationship that will turn into dating. Let’s assume the chess playing is the date. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/13 "2015-04-30T01:39:24Z")
Did anybody order Raisin Bran? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/14 "2015-04-30T01:40:40Z")
> [@Umbridge](#): > > Let’s assume they did. The chess playing doesn’t matter. The OP could equally say, > [@](#): > > Say someone asks you on a date and arranges the date at a park on a weekend or holiday. On the date, the only thing you do is get chased by a pack of vampiric chipmunks. If your date outruns you, would you accept the next one? and if I had fun, then of course I’d accept the next date. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/15 "2015-04-30T02:44:40Z")
Isn’t the first date a bit too soon for mating? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/16 "2015-04-30T03:00:59Z")
Sure, playing chess can be a date if both sides socialize and get to know each other better and have fun. There’s no reason to think that a date must be the stereotypical dinner-and-movie date. Gardening, hiking, playing chess, playing table tennis, painting a mural, can all be dates. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Spaulding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Miss\_Spaulding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Spaulding)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/17 "2015-04-30T03:21:44Z")
> [@Umbridge](#): > > I want opinions. What do you think? > > Say someone asks you on a date and arranges the date at a park on a weekend or holiday. On the date, the only thing you do is play chess. If your date beats you in the game, would you accept the next one? Sure. I like chess. Plus, I’m an extremely introverted person, so that actually seems like a really enjoyable activity for a date to me. Maybe not for every date, lol…but yes, I’d enjoy it and would accept the next date offer if everything went fine the first time. Now, not everyone enjoys chess, in fact, I would say many people don’t even know how to play chess, so I wouldn’t assume that a ‘chess date’ would be ideal for most people. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/18 "2015-04-30T11:51:22Z")
“There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection. As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affection IS the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can the food be omitted.” ― Judith Martin Did you eat? ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/19 "2015-04-30T11:56:33Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Isn’t the first date a bit too soon for mating? As long as it doesn’t end in a smothered mate it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851/20 "2015-04-30T12:44:49Z")
> [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](#): > > As long as it doesn’t end in a smothered mate it’s all good. And surely she checked before she mated [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-chess-qualify-as-a-date/718851.md?page=2)