"American chess players be like, 'That's a…

“Checkmate” is a chess term meaning that a king is threatened and cannot move away, so the game is over. Some people have suggested changing “mate” (a term popular in Australia) with “checkbro,” “checkbuddy,” “checkfriend” and “checkpal.”

”£300: Which of these is a term in chess? Mark plays. C) Checkmate. Not checkbuddy, checkchum…” was posted on the newsgroup alt.tv.game-shows on September 9, 2000. “In America, chess games end with checkbuddy” was posted on Twitter by Godspeed You! Middle-Aged White Guy on March 26, 2019. “Checkbuddy No mate, yes buddy” was entered in the Urban Dictionary on January 4, 2022. “What does an American say when he wins at chess? Checkbuddy” was posted on Reddit—Jokes on April 22, 2023.

“When playing chess in Australia it’s ‘checkmate’! Everywhere else in the world it’s ‘checkfriend’” was posted on Twitter by Josh X Machina on August 11, 2014. “When you win a game of chess in England, you have to say ‘CheckFRIEND’” was posted on Twitter by Robert Schultz on November 19, 2018. “en-AU: checkmate en-US: checkfriend” was posted on Twitter by dangered wolf on January 2, 2021.

“Australian chess players say Checkbro” was posted on Twitter by Peter Muth on January 2, 2015. “American chess players be like: ‘that’s a checkbro’” was posted on Twitter by pumpusa on December 3, 2020. “Checkmate, Checkbro or Checkpal?” was posted on Twitter by MrJakobLaich on February 23, 2021. “Do American chess players say checkbro if they win? o.o Asking for a friend” was posted on Twitter by 𝑭𝒂𝒘𝒙𝒙𝒙~™ 🔞 on July 26, 2022.

“Why do Americans say ‘checkmate’ and not ‘checkpal’?” was posted on Reddit—AnarchyChess on May 19, 2022. “He’s in Canada though so they say Checkpal” was posted on Twitter by Victorium on September 8, 2022. “Checkpal? Checkbuddy? Checkthey? Checkthem? I mean it’s a fucking min field innit?” was posted on Twitter by tony on January 17, 2023.

Wikipedia: Checkmate
Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player’s king is in check (threatened with capture) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game.

Google Groups: alt.tv.game-shows
UK Millionaire, September 9
Iain Weaver
Sep 9, 2000, 4:02:15 PM
(...)
£300: Which of these is a term in chess?
Mark plays.
C) Checkmate.
Not checkbuddy, checkchum…

Twitter
Josh X Machina
@TheZebrawolf
When playing chess in Australia it’s ‘checkmate’! Everywhere else in the world it’s ‘checkfriend’.
7:28 AM · Aug 11, 2014

Twitter
Peter Muth
@TweeterMuth
Australian chess players say Checkbro
9:27 PM · Jan 2, 2015

Twitter
Robert Schultz
@_RobertSchultz
When you win a game of chess in England, you have to say “CheckFRIEND.”
12:43 AM · Nov 19, 2018

Twitter
Godspeed You! Middle-Aged White Guy
@dccarles
In America, chess games end with checkbuddy
Quote Tweet
American Vs British
@USA_vs_UK
·
Mar 17, 2019
USA 🇺🇸 vs Uk 🇬🇧
1:41 PM · Mar 26, 2019

Twitter
?????
@da_nams
checkmate? more like checkbuddy. i’m from america not australia
6:43 AM · May 20, 2019

Twitter
snarge
@snarge
Chekmate, Britain. Or as they say Checkfriend.
4:30 PM · Jun 7, 2020

Twitter
serial experiments morgan
@lateralus515
checkmate is an oppressive term against non australians
we need to use checkbuddy
5:38 PM · Jun 7, 2020

Twitter
pumpusa
@TheMobyh
American chess players be like: “that’s a checkbro”
2:27 PM · Dec 3, 2020

Twitter
dangered wolf
@dangeredwolf
en-AU: checkmate
en-US: checkfriend
6:30 AM · Jan 2, 2021

Twitter
Maple
@mapleisbestt
in america we actually say checkfriend instead
6:17 PM · Feb 19, 2021

Twitter
MrJakobLaich
@MrJakobLaich
Checkmate, Checkbro or Checkpal?
twitch.tv
MrJakobLaich - Twitch
Hey, I mod games until they break 😊I hope you enjoy the entertainment.
12:13 PM · Feb 23, 2021

Twitter
♱ THE shark 🫧🦈 ♱
@die_h4ifisch
AMERICANS BE LIKE
CHECKBUDDY
4:19 PM · Mar 5, 2021

Urban Dictionary
Checkbuddy
No mate, yes buddy.
ME:Checkbuddy! Guy:NOOOO!
by I like boiled potatoes January 4, 2022

Reddit—AnarchyChess
Posted by u/SniffSniffDrBumSmell May 19, 2022
Why do Americans say “checkmate” and not “checkpal”?
And do french canadians say “chequechum”?
Its a real brainer.
COMMENTS
Hotel_Oblivion
Checkbro
irjakr
I prefer checkbuddy
internet_please
Checkfriend

Twitter
𝑭𝒂𝒘𝒙𝒙𝒙~™ 🔞
@FawxXXL
Do American chess players say checkbro if they win? o.o
Asking for a friend
9:13 PM · Jul 26, 2022

Twitter
John Wagner [CKD]
@CommodoreKD
Pat please, you live in north america
Over here we say “checkFRIEND”
2:30 PM · Sep 8, 2022

Twitter
Victorium
@Midgarmerc
He’s in Canada though so they say Checkpal
10:10 PM · Sep 8, 2022

Twitter
DrQuasi
@dr_quasi_
Americans be like “checkbuddy”
1:48 PM · Nov 26, 2022

Twitter
tony
@tonymoss15
Checkpal? Checkbuddy? Checkthey? Checkthem? I mean it’s a fucking min field innit?
1:12 PM · Jan 17, 2023

Twitter
Saker
@SimonSinclairrr
American people be like
“Checkbuddy”
2:13 PM · Apr 14, 2023

Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/nnn_rrr April 22, 2023
What does an American say when he wins at chess?
Checkbuddy
COMMENTS
jonhasglasses
Checkbuddy would be Canadian. Checkman would be American.
ElectroFlannelGore
Checkdude, checkbruh, checkbro, checkbroski, checkbroham, checkbroseph, checkamigo, checkbuckaroo, checkbubba

“American chess players be like, ‘That’s a checkbro’”