Chess and Libyan Uprisings

Everyone plays chess...even cold-blooded murderers.

I'd let him win too.

On Sunday, Muammar al-Qaddafi was seen on Libyan television playing chess with visiting Russian politician and president of the international chess federation, Kirsan N. Ilyumzhinov. Despite revolts, uprisings, NATO airstrikes and rebel Libyan forces closing in on him, Qaddafi still found time to play a quick game with the Russian politician.

According to Ilyumzhinov, who was touring African states, and the NYTimes article, Qaddafi is an amateur player, lacking any real skills or strategies. "He always moves his pieces forward," Ilyumzhinov told the Times, "He has an attacking style."

According to reports, Ilyumzhinov could have easily beaten Qaddafi after taking his knight. The Russian president of the international chess federation opted instead to ask Qaddafi for a draw, which he accepted.

Smart move.