How pros count the score

saxmaam · **#21**

I figured out the answer to my question for now. Thanks

Tomer · **#22**

I once heard a story about a pro who was walking around a tournament, looking at amateur games. He walked past one particular game, where a spectator asked him "so who do you think is winning?". A few seconds later he said "I think White is ahead by 2.5". When asked how he counted so quickly, the pro said he looked at the board and asked himself "who would I rather be, white or black? - white. What if I gave black 1 extra point? Still white. 2 extra points? Still white. 3 extra points? Black. White is ahead by 2.5".

I can't remember where I heard this story, who said it, or even if its true but I thought it was interesting at least.

skydyr · **#23**

Tomer wrote:

I once heard a story about a pro who was walking around a tournament, looking at amateur games. He walked past one particular game, where a spectator asked him "so who do you think is winning?". A few seconds later he said "I think White is ahead by 2.5". When asked how he counted so quickly, the pro said he looked at the board and asked himself "who would I rather be, white or black? - white. What if I gave black 1 extra point? Still white. 2 extra points? Still white. 3 extra points? Black. White is ahead by 2.5".

I can't remember where I heard this story, who said it, or even if its true but I thought it was interesting at least.

This is the story that I recalled as well. Still not certain about the source, though.

leichtloeslich · **#24**

Tomer wrote:

I once heard a story about a pro [...]

I once heard a story of a guy who was really good at multiplying large numbers without actually multiplying them!

When I asked him how he did it, he answered

Quote:

Well, see, take 213*57 for example. Now, I subtract from that 10000 and feel like there's still some left. So I go up, 11000, still some left, Ok, 12000, still some left.

So I go on to subtract 13000, but wait! That was too much. So I go down to 12500 etc.
After doing that for a bit I arrived at 12141. Now if I subtract 12141 from 213*57 I feel like there's nothing left! So that must be the answer!

RBerenguel · **#25**

leichtloeslich wrote:

Tomer wrote:

I once heard a story about a pro [...]

I once heard a story of a guy who was really good at multiplying large numbers without actually multiplying them!

When I asked him how he did it, he answered

Quote:

Well, see, take 213*57 for example. Now, I subtract from that 10000 and feel like there's still some left. So I go up, 11000, still some left, Ok, 12000, still some left.

So I go on to subtract 13000, but wait! That was too much. So I go down to 12500 etc.
After doing that for a bit I arrived at 12141. Now if I subtract 12141 from 213*57 I feel like there's nothing left! So that must be the answer!

Reminds me of the classic chapter "Feynman vs the abacus" from Surely you're joking, Mr Feynman (definitely a book you should read, liking physics or not)

Tomer · **#26**

^ Haha fair point. I imagine pro's as being so far above my strength that I'd probably believe it if somebody told me that they can kill a group with two eyes....

How pros count the score

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