Ajedrez Real

Every year, PokerListings releases its list of Best Bets for the upcoming World Series of Poker. In the past they have picked out individuals, based on results, skill and a vast knowledge of the vagaries of the poker world. "Frankly, our predictions have been less than accurate," writes a spokesperson. "That’s why this year we’re taking the shotgun approach, aiming at groups in hopes of scoring a few hits." So PokerListings decided to go with – chess players! "If there is a group of people more prepared for success at the 2011 World Series of Poker than chess players, PokerListings hasn’t found it."

Successful transit from chess to poker: WGM and IM Almira Skripchenko

Two world-class female chess players dominated the World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational in Los Angeles this year en route to making the final table. And while Almira Skripchenko and Dinara Khaziyeva didn’t win, they proved they’re poised for big things in poker. "Historically, chess players have proven the transition to poker to be a profitable one," writes the author. 1995 WSOP Main Event champ and two-time finalist Dan Harrington is among those who played chess before he turned to poker, as is 2008 November Niner Ylon Schwartz.

Click to watch Almira at work on the poker table in Las Vegas

Plus, child chess prodigy Jeff Sarwer emerged from a life on the lam in 2009 to find incredible success on the European Poker Tour. Sarwer took his first crack at the WSOP last year and managed to cash in three events. He says chess players, and in fact anyone with a gaming background, usually come ready to play. “There really is (something fundamental about chess that makes chess players successful at poker) and I think that goes for all the gaming crossovers,” he told PokerListings. “If you have a gaming mind then you have a lot of the same foundation. It goes for Magic the Gathering, backgammon and chess."

“Chess players are bringing a lot of the competitive sports psychology with them. While backgammon is more of the math side, in my opinion chess is more of a bluffing game. Because the positions are so cloudy, it gets really messy. It is a game of complete information, but it’s purely artistic at some points. So some people can be really bad at the math in chess and still succeed, which isn’t the case in poker these days."

Almira Skripchenko, who was born on 17 February 1976, in Chisinau, Moldova, but now lives in Paris, is a FIDE International Master and Woman Grandmaster. She learnt chess at the age of six from her Russian father Feodor and her Armenian mother Naira Agababian, both pedagogues and chess coaches. In 1992 Almira became the world Under-16 champion (1992, Duisburg, Germany) and in 1993 took the bronze in the Under-18 group. In 2001, at 25, she celebrated her biggest success ever, winning the individual ladies European championship. She was chosen "best sports-person in 2001 in Moldova" and decorated with the Order of National Merit in her native country. Almira has taken part in several Chess Olympiads (with Moldova, then with France), each time playing on her team's top board.

Almira the chess player, during a German Chess Bundesliga game in Hamburg

The above picture, which has gone viral on the Internet, was taken by Frederic Friedel with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel on February 14, 2004 at 10:02:59, shutter speed 1/60 sec, F 4.50, bounce flash – and not by "Velho", as is brazenly claimed in Wikimedia Commons.

In recent years Almira has played in major poker tournaments. In 2009, she finished seventh in a World Series of Poker No Limit Texas hold 'em tournament, winning $78,664. In 2011 she won $50,000 when she finished second in the World Poker Tour celebrity invitational tournament. As of 2011, her live poker tournament winnings exceed $250,000.

Almira is a dear friend and always a welcome visitor in Hamburg. She has written a number of reports for our news page and has herself been the subject of countless more (see links below).

Almira in the Friedel household, clearly delighted by our incessant picture taking

There is a secret that must at last be revealed here: when Almira stays with us she is completely informal, obviously feeling quite at home in the German household. Occasionally the following conversation will occur:

Almira disappears into her room for half an hour. Then a subtle whiff of French perfume descends down the staircase, followed by the movie star with the flowing blond hair – just stunning.

Almira waiting for a video recording in the kitchen of the ChessBase office...

Back to normal in the evening, watching Ross and Rachael in her favourite show of "Friends"

Three generations: French GM Laurent Fressinet, husband of Almira, their daughter
Ludivine, Naira Agababian-Skripchenko, Almira, and the late Feodor Skripchenko.