Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I've often been curious as to how many other wargamers out there play chess regularly over the board (not online). More precisely, my curiosity is whether success in one correlates to success in the other.

While I only play 40k, I don't want to limit this discussion to the relationship between it and chess exclusively. I play in local chess events, and even have traveled to nearby cities to participate. I have a modest chess rating of 1831 over the board.

In local 40k events, I always place in the top quartile of participants as far as battle points goes. I have not yet tested my mettle out of the city, having just started wargaming about 1.5 years ago.

I have found that some of the tactical and strategical skill from chess has helped me with identifying good tactics and strategy in 40k as well. One example is the local superiority of forces. This elementary concept is something I immediately ported into my wargaming strategy from chess. Another example is trying to understand the permutations of how the game may unfold, and make choices based upon the permutations I deem superior ("seeing ahead").

My fellow wargamers and chess players, I am calling upon you to share:

1) Your level of success in competitive wargaming events

2) Your chess rating (over the board)

3) Thoughts on how the one has helped improve the other for yourself.

I play chess and I am really good in-game.
I don't have a FIDE rating yet but my Aussie rating is around 1200.
Chess has definitely helped with my tactics, when others are stumbling around on the internet to learn what i have learnt.
"I bet you don't know what a gambit is...*snively face*"
"uh actually i do..."
"It's a brilliant strategy i adopted"
I try really hard not to fall on the floor and laugh...