Friendly Game - Chess Term

Friendly Game

Definition

A friendly game is an informal, non-rated chess game played primarily for enjoyment, practice, or instruction rather than competition. It is also called a casual game, skittles game, or offhand game. Results typically do not affect ratings or titles, and players may agree to relaxed conditions—such as allowing takebacks or pausing to analyze—so long as both sides consent.

Usage in Chess

Friendly games happen everywhere: at clubs (often in the “skittles room”), at home, online via “unrated” challenges, or between rounds at tournaments. They are commonly used to test ideas, warm up, or teach.

• Online platforms: choose “unrated” or “casual” when creating a challenge.
• Clubs and cafes: players often agree on a time control (e.g., 5+3 blitz, 10+0 rapid) or play without clocks.
• House rules by agreement: takebacks for instructional purposes, starting from specific positions, or giving odds (e.g., pawn-and-move).
• Kibitzing and post-mortems: brief commentary and joint analysis are common after moves or at game’s end (unlike formal tournaments).

Strategic and Training Significance

Friendly games are a low-pressure lab for improvement. Players can experiment with new openings, sharpen tactical vision, study endgames, and rehearse time management without fear of rating loss.

• Opening experimentation: try sharp gambits or offbeat lines to learn typical plans and traps.
• Targeted training: start from a set position (e.g., rook endgame) and replay several times.
• Odds and handicaps: stronger players can give material or time odds to balance skill levels and create instructive challenges.
• Teaching: pauses for explanation, “what if?” variations, and takebacks support learning.

Historical Notes and Anecdotes

Many of the most celebrated brilliancies were friendly games:

• The Immortal Game (Anderssen vs. Kieseritzky, 1851) was played during a casual session, not in the formal event.
• The Evergreen Game (Anderssen vs. Dufresne, 1852) was also a casual masterpiece.
• The Opera Game (Morphy vs. Duke Karl/Count Isouard, Paris 1858) took place in a theater box—purely casual—yet remains a teaching jewel of rapid development and central control.

The term “skittles” comes from a casual bowling game, metaphorically adopted by chess players to mean non-serious play.

Examples

• Club scenario: Two players agree on 10+5, allow one takeback per side, and stop midgame to discuss a tactical shot—both learning from the position.
• Team-friendly match: Two clubs meet and play on multiple boards without submitting results for rating; lineups are flexible, and the emphasis is community building.
• Classic casual brilliancy (Morphy’s Opera Game, 1858):
  In the final position, White’s rooks dominate the open files while Black’s pieces sit undeveloped on the back rank—an iconic demonstration of active development in friendly play.

Etiquette and Best Practices

• Agree on conditions up front: time control, takebacks, whether to pause for analysis, and if odds are given.
• Play fair: no engine or outside assistance during the game, even if it’s casual.
• Be respectful: offer a rematch, discuss ideas constructively, and keep kibitzing light and consensual.
• Record instructive moments: even if notation is optional, jotting key positions helps later study.

Potential Pitfalls

• Sloppy habits: too many relaxed games can encourage moving instantly or neglecting calculation—balance with some serious practice.
• Unclear expectations: misunderstandings arise if one player expects strict rules and the other wants takebacks; settle terms before starting.

Related Terms

• Casual/Skittles game skittles
• Odds game odds
• Training game (set positions, theme play)
• Café or “coffeehouse” chess coffeehouse