Answers.Body: <p>To me, it just seems A is asking for a match of 8 games. If you exclude the possibility of draws, you'll need 5 wins to win such a match. This is similar to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playoff_format#Best-of_formats" rel="nofollow noreferrer">best-of-X</a> formats used in playoffs in many sports.</p>
  
  <p>In any case, it's not terminology specific to chess. You might have more luck on <a href="https://english.stackexchange.com/">English Language &amp; Usage</a> or <a href="https://ell.stackexchange.com/">English Language Learners</a>.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-12-18T12:11:19.403Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-12-18T12:11:19.403Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-04-13T12:55:20.563Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Glorfindel
Answers.Body: <p>Essentially, you would not ask for "best five out of eight" unless you have, excluding draws,</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>lost 4 points</li>
  <li>can win 5 points within 8 games.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>But these together are mathematically impossible, as that would require 9 games.</p>
  
  <p>It doesn't get better if draws are allowed.</p>
  
  <p>The reply should be "best 5 out of 9."</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-12-19T05:06:55.763Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-12-19T05:06:55.763Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Dean C Wills
Body: <p>The following dialogue is between two chess players at the end of a game. Does it mean &quot;you have lost 4 games so far, what is your idea about going for the 5th game and developing the competition to 8 games&quot;?</p>
  <p>Dialogue:</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>A: Checkmate! Care to try for best five out of eight?</p>
  <p>B: No, Thank you.</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>The source: <a href="http://www.clockwork-comics.com/2012/09/06/i-like-the-way-you-think-schlumberger/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.clockwork-comics.com/2012/09/06/i-like-the-way-you-think-schlumberger/</a></p>
  
Tags: <terminology>
Title: What does "best five out of eight" mean?
ThreadText: # What does "best five out of eight" mean?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-18)
  
  The following dialogue is between two chess players at the end of a game. Does it mean "you have lost 4 games so far, what is your idea about going for the 5th game and developing the competition to 8 games"?
  
  Dialogue:
  
  > A: Checkmate! Care to try for best five out of eight?
  >
  > B: No, Thank you.
  
  The source: <http://www.clockwork-comics.com/2012/09/06/i-like-the-way-you-think-schlumberger/>
  
  **Tags:** terminology
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2016-12-18. Score: 5
  
  To me, it just seems A is asking for a match of 8 games. If you exclude the possibility of draws, you'll need 5 wins to win such a match. This is similar to the [best-of-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playoff_format#Best-of_formats) formats used in playoffs in many sports.
  
  In any case, it's not terminology specific to chess. You might have more luck on [English Language & Usage](https://english.stackexchange.com/) or [English Language Learners](https://ell.stackexchange.com/).
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2016-12-19. Score: 2
  
  Essentially, you would not ask for "best five out of eight" unless you have, excluding draws,
  
  1. lost 4 points
  2. can win 5 points within 8 games.
  
  But these together are mathematically impossible, as that would require 9 games.
  
  It doesn't get better if draws are allowed.
  
  The reply should be "best 5 out of 9."
  
  
  ---
  
  