Seconds (chess) - role of the second

Seconds (chess)

Definition

In chess, a “second” is a player’s assistant who helps with preparation, analysis, training games, psychological support, and logistics before and during a competition. Seconds are not allowed to communicate with the player while a game is in progress, but they play a crucial role in pre-game preparation and between rounds. Elite players often have a team of seconds, led by a chief second.

How the term is used

Common phrases include “to second someone” (serve as their assistant), “a team of seconds,” and “chief second” (the lead assistant). In top events—especially World Championship matches—seconds prepare opening files, simulate likely scenarios, and help devise match strategy. During the adjournment era, seconds analyzed sealed positions overnight; today, they focus more on openings, engine-assisted analysis, and opponent profiling.

Roles and responsibilities

• Opening preparation: Building and updating repertoire files, preparing novelties, surprise weapons, and anti-prep. Example: preparing deep Berlin or Najdorf files to steer the opponent into known territory. See also Berlin Defense.
• Opponent study: Mining databases for the opponent’s tendencies (time usage, opening choices, risk profile), and crafting targeted game plans.
• Engine workflow: Running large engine analyses, managing cloud/cluster resources, curating trustworthy lines, and avoiding “engine overfitting” to unrealistic best play.
• Sparring and training: Playing training games in relevant structures and time controls; creating thematic positions and drills.
• Endgame and adjournment work (historically): In the adjournment era, seconds specialized in adjourned positions; today, they refine tablebase-informed endgames.
• Logistics and psychology: Managing schedule, rest, nutrition, and keeping morale high; serving as a sounding board for strategic decisions.
• Security and secrecy: Maintaining strict operational security around files, novelties, and devices; using NDAs and compartmentalization.

Strategic and historical significance

Seconds have shaped match outcomes for over a century. Their impact was especially visible in the adjournment era, when overnight analysis could decide games. In the engine era, seconds orchestrate heavy computer prep and “memory-friendly” repertoires tailored to the player’s style. Match strategy—when to play for two results, when to change openings, and how to conserve energy—often runs through the chief second.

• Pre-engine era: Soviet teams around Botvinnik and Karpov systematized seconding with structured training camps and role specialization.
• Adjournments: Seconds often analyzed sealed positions until morning, turning complex endgames into wins. See Adjournment.
• Engine era: Seconds must reconcile best-engine lines with practical play, prepare low-risk sidelines, and anticipate opponents’ computer prep.

Notable teams and anecdotes

• Vishy Anand (2008–2012 World Championships): Worked with Peter Heine Nielsen, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Radosław Wojtaszek, and Surya Ganguly. Their broad repertoire prep helped Anand switch openings seamlessly mid-match.
• Magnus Carlsen (2013–2018): Collaborated at various times with Peter Heine Nielsen (chief second), Jon Ludvig Hammer, Laurent Fressinet, Ian Nepomniachtchi (notably 2014), and Daniil Dubov (2018). Flexible, practical prep became a hallmark of his camps.
• Fabiano Caruana (2018): Rustam Kasimdzhanov served as a leading second, contributing to deep, principled opening work.
• Boris Gelfand (2012 vs. Anand): Peter Svidler and others assisted; Gelfand’s precise, disciplined prep led to multiple high-quality theoretical battles.
• Historic notes: Bobby Fischer’s second William Lombardy played a pivotal supporting role en route to Reykjavik 1972; Garry Kasparov often relied on Yuri Dokhoian, among others.

Examples: where seconds matter over the board

Seconds often build deep files in critical main lines. A classic example is the modern treatment of the Berlin Endgame, where teams analyze forcing sequences to neutralize 1. e4. The following illustrative line shows the well-known Berlin structure many teams explore in depth:

In World Championship play, such positions are prepared move-by-move with engine assistance and human curation, including sideline traps and practical improvements.

How to become or work with a second

• For players choosing seconds: Look for repertoire fit, trust, complementary strengths (e.g., sharp tactician plus strategic endgame specialist), solid engine skills, and good communication.
• For aspiring seconds: Build a track record of accurate files, clear annotations, disciplined version control, and reliability under time pressure. Respect confidentiality.
• Ethics: Assistance during a live game is prohibited. Prep must occur before the round or in rest days; online in-game help is cheating.

Usage examples

• “She flew in two seconds for the Candidates: one to handle Najdorf files, another to spar in Catalan structures.”
• “My chief second recommended switching to the Petroff in Game 7 to neutralize his preparation.”
• “They kept the novelty secret—only the chief second and engine operator had the final file.”

Interesting facts

• The word “second” echoes boxing and fencing, where a “second” assists the competitor outside the ring.
• Modern seconding often uses strict OPSEC: air-gapped laptops, compartmentalized files, and code names for novelties.
• Some players rotate seconds during a match to avoid predictability and leaks, or to bring fresh ideas after rest days.

Related distinctions

• Coach vs. second: A coach works long-term on general improvement; a second is mission-focused on a specific event or match.
• Sparring partner: Plays practice games and positions; may or may not serve as a formal second.
• Team captain (in team events): Handles lineups and strategy but doesn’t usually prepare opening files for a single player.

Historical references in famous events

• Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, 1997: While not a traditional “seconded” match in the human-vs-human sense, Kasparov’s camp included strong analysts to navigate new territory versus a machine.
• Anand vs. Kramnik, 2008: Anand’s seconds helped craft dynamic repertoire choices (e.g., in the Meran and Nimzo-Indian) that brought him critical wins.
• Carlsen vs. Anand, 2013/2014: Carlsen’s team emphasized practical, low-risk openings and superior middlegame/endgame play over deep forcing novelties.