Playing the Opponent Not the Cards: Alexandra Prado on Chess Streaming and Strategy
Some of the greatest poker players of recent years either grew up playing chess or have transitioned from chess. The same is true, with five-tiem world chess champion Magnus Carlsen, Jen Shahade and Ottomar Ladva all showing they have what it takes at the poker tables.
Ladva’s most recent victory came at EPT Barcelona, winning a €25,000 High Roller for €439,400.
Also in attendance at EPT Barcelona, helping to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the European Poker Tour, was chess player and streamer Alexandra Prado who spoke with PokerNews all about the world of chess streaming, the similarities between the two and what she does to prepare for a match.
Preparation is Key
Just like streaming poker, Prado says that there can be unique challenges when trying to balance streaming chess with maintaining a high level of play.
“When you stream, you’re distracted,” she said. “You’re playing maybe 200 Elo points below your usual level because you’re trying to interact with the chat or show them things. Plus, it’s rapid chess, so you don’t have much time to make decisions”
“It’s about keeping the chat engaged — it’s a balance between content and entertainment. You can’t be bored. But you also have to do what your community likes. They enjoy watching you play and seeing your reactions, so for me, that’s great.”
“It’s a balance between content and entertainment”
For Prado, streaming chess is more than just playing the game; it’s about sharing the experience with her audience. Whether it’s chess or poker, she believes that streaming allows her and her viewers to connect on a deeper level. “When you stream, you’re sharing something — chess or poker. You understand that world more, and streaming anything really is a completely different world."
Watching Your Opponent
Prado draws an interesting parallel between chess and poker, noting that both games involve reading and preparing for your opponent.
“Whether you stream or play over-the-board, you have to prepare for your opponent. It’s the same in poker. You need to know who you’re playing against — their style, their level of aggression. You have to factor in everything, even their age. It’s always difficult to play against kids. I prefer playing with people my age or older. Kids are really scary!”
In recent months, Prado has found herself shifting her focus more towards her opponents than the specific position she’s in, similar to the old adage, “Play the man, not the cards.”
“I had a game yesterday against a women international master, and I was playing a new opening for the first time. I ended up in a position where I had to sacrifice a piece, but I wasn’t fully prepared. I knew the general plan, though, so I decided to play aggressively. She was shocked! She spent a lot of time in that position, just focusing, while I was relaxed and feeling great.”
“In chess, sometimes you make a move just to test your opponent and see how they react. If they seem uncomfortable, you know you’re onto something, and you can capitalize on that. I guess that’s similar to poker where you can gauge the response from an opponent when you bet or raise them.”
Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.
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