Consultation game - Definition and guide
consultation game
Definition
A consultation game is a chess game in which two or more players consult with each other and jointly control a single side (White or Black). Partners discuss candidate moves, share ideas, and agree on the move to be played. Consultation can be two-versus-two, one-versus-many, or even one master against a team of players.
How It’s Used in Chess
Consultation games are most common in casual, club, and exhibition settings. They are used to study openings, practice calculation and explanation skills, and create social, collaborative play. In formal rated tournaments, consultation is generally not permitted; each player must decide moves independently. However, special events explicitly labeled as consultation or team games are a longstanding tradition.
- Teams may appoint a captain to make the final decision or use majority voting.
- Discussions can be open (spoken at the board) or quiet/away-from-board to avoid revealing plans to the opponents.
- Time controls are agreed in advance; teams must manage discussion within the clock.
- Engine or outside assistance is typically forbidden unless the event explicitly allows it (rare in OTB settings).
Strategic and Educational Significance
Consultation games blend calculation with communication. They sharpen your ability to explain plans, evaluate positions, and reconcile different styles. Teams often assign “roles”: one player focuses on concrete tactics while another monitors long-term strategy or time management.
- Strengths: cross-checking variations, reducing blunders, and learning from teammates’ thinking processes.
- Challenges: groupthink, time trouble from over-analysis, and disagreements on critical moves.
- Training value: perfect for coaches and students to explore positions together in real time.
Historical Background
Consultation play blossomed in 19th-century cafés such as the Café de la Régence in Paris, where masters and patrons formed ad-hoc teams to test openings and entertain spectators. The format later moved online in the form of “vote chess,” where large groups collectively decide moves over hours or days.
Famous Examples
- Morphy vs. Duke of Brunswick & Count Isouard, Paris 1858 (“The Opera Game”): A celebrated consultation game in which Paul Morphy, playing White against two consulting opponents, produced a masterpiece of rapid development and mating attack.
Key idea to visualize: Morphy sacrifices material to open lines, culminating in a picturesque mate on the back rank. Try playing through the classic moves:
- Kasparov vs. The World, 1999: Garry Kasparov (White) faced a global team (Black) that voted on moves online. The game showcased deep preparation, collective defense, and dynamic middlegame themes before Kasparov prevailed in a long struggle.
- Carlsen vs. The World, 2010: A modern exhibition where Magnus Carlsen played against a worldwide team coordinating moves online, highlighting how consultation has adapted to digital platforms.
Variants and Modern Adaptations
- Vote chess: Asynchronous team voting on each move, often with discussion threads. See also vote chess.
- Hand and brain: Two partners on a side; one (“brain”) names the piece type, the other (“hand”) chooses the move. See hand and brain.
- Simuls with consultation boards: In some simultaneous exhibitions, the exhibitor faces pairs or teams on select boards.
Typical Rules and Etiquette
- Agree on decision-making: captain’s call, majority vote, or rotating final say.
- Set discussion boundaries: whispering at the board vs. stepping away to avoid giving tells.
- Time management: assign someone to watch the clock and call for a decision.
- Fair play: no engines or outside help unless the format explicitly allows it.
- Scorekeeping: one scoresheet per side listing all team members (e.g., “Black: Duke of Brunswick & Count Isouard”).
Practical Tips for Team Play
- Start with a brief opening plan so discussions don’t drift on move 1.
- Divide labor: one player calculates forcing lines; another evaluates plans and pawn structures.
- Propose concrete variations (with move orders) rather than vague ideas.
- When in doubt late in the game, simplify decision-making: shortlist two moves and vote.
- Use a consistent evaluation language (+/−, plans, key squares) to keep conversations crisp.
Interesting Facts and Anecdotes
- Morphy’s Opera Game was played during a performance of “Norma”; legend has it he tried to keep the game brisk so he could enjoy the music.
- Consultation games often produce creative sacrifices—multiple minds can reinforce bold ideas by double-checking the tactics.
- Many clubs run “consultation nights,” pairing different strengths so teammates can learn from each other in real time.