Markovich wrote on 11/05/11 at 05:16:32:

I've always tried to ignore opponents who eat at the board, I've often wanted to ask them whether they thought they were in a a restaurant, but never did. I guess that anyone who is ignorant enough to behave like this would be too dense to understand anyway.

In most cases food at the table is not a problem, almost everyone drinks coffee, tea or water at the table for instance (in Danish tournaments beer is not unusual either, btw). 

Anyway, even if it were a problem it's hard to do anything about it except to make sure to beat them if possible - any extra motivation is good motivation. 

During the decades I've played only a few annoying food incidents come to mind: as a junior I once played an old guy who reeked of smelly cheese (don't remember if he ate it at the board or not, but that hardly matters - the stench was incredible); another local player had literally the eating style of the Cookie Monster; and one guy kept stirring his tea with clinking sounds during most of the game, taking a refill now and then as an excuse to keep on clinking...

Still, in comparison to other "chess experiences", like playing vs a guy who reeked so much that some of his opponents actually stuffed their noses with paper before their game with him; or playing against an old guy who literally smoked every second at the table during the entire game (another junior memory) - the food issues tend to fade away.

Not to mention all these guys who keep running off to smoke and comes back breathing nicotine exhaust fumes at you every time...

So I would certainly not mind an opponent who is merely reading quietly during the game...

Well I would consider it quite rude of you to eat a slice of pizza during a game of chess with me. You should consider that not everyone who is offended complains, or even affects to be offended. 

I doubt that I would play much at a club where this were allowed. What is with this world, or with these times, that people think they have the right to do this?

Quote:

Nowadays alcohol is strictly prohibited in all youth tournaments, even for visitors, most leagues (at least on state level and above) and most other tournaments which want to position themselves as a serious sports event.

On the other hand there are still clubs who are playing in a pub. In that case the innkeeper has to earn his money somehow, either through drinks & food served to the board or a table nearby, or by asking for a fee for the room.
Furthermore there are still parts of the country in which sports and beer are deeply connected. In the Rhine-Ruhr area it's normal that even many athletes (can we call a chessplayer an athlete ) drink a beer after the game.

Fllg wrote on 11/04/11 at 15:07:53:


I think it was at the traditional Travemünder Open, and at least 7 years ago. There were literally waitresses bringing beer (but also soft drinks) to the table. Maybe I'm being unfair here and extrapolating from an isolated case which happened to be in Germany. Anyway I found that surprising, but not really anything to complain about; it can only be to my advantage if my opponent plays under the influence!

In my experience, unpleasantness at the board is quite rare, and in general I find that the stronger the players, the less trouble there is.

As already pointed out, this is the main reference point:

FIDE LAW 12.6 "It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever. This includes unreasonable claims, unreasonable offers of a draw or the introduction of a source of noise into the playing area."

Drinking non-alcoholic drinks at the board is reasonable, as is eating snacks such as biscuits or chocolate. Eating anything noisy, smelly or visually repulsive is out of order.

For instance, during a long game I will sometimes eat a banana - since bananas are quite smelly, I take care to eat them well away from the board.

If there is an arbiter present, any complaint should be made via the arbiter. For an example of how not to do it, see

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/davies62.pdf

In a team match, in the absence of an independent arbiter, it is the duty of the team captains to try to ensure that the Laws of Chess are upheld. My local league has this rule:

"Team captains are joint arbiters and have all the duties and responsibilities of arbiters under the Laws, unless those duties and responsibilities clash with their role as team captain."

TalJechin wrote on 11/04/11 at 09:00:21:


Well players who sit in bughouse ARE rather annoying...

Fortunately, if you are reasonable, then the opponent almost always will be too.

Markovich wrote on 11/04/11 at 06:04:39:


I used to always eat at the board, but I have always eaten away from the board for some time now, in order to not distract the opponent. Hence I find it very annoying when my opponent eats at the board, especially on my move. 

Drinking at the board should definitely be fine, unless the person is doing something ridiculous like slurping tea from a saucer.