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Yesterday, I was in a Japanese online game (囲碁) forum and before a game
started an opponent asked me:

```

    あんた、マジできる？
    
```

I only know マジ as a colloquial way of emphasis, so I couldn't figure this out.
Was he asking me if "I'm any good"? It also turned out that he was very bad at
the game - to a degree where he probably didn't know the rules. Maybe he was
asking me if I knew how to play?

Can someone please explain how the マジ fits in there?
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2017-01-04T18:12:32.407
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2017-01-04T22:14:03.337
2017-01-04T20:43:09.227
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question
colloquial-language
Meanings of マジできる
This sentence is ambiguous, and can mean both of the followings.

  * Can you really play go?  
(マジ means _really_ (not lying), できる means _can play_ )

  * Are you (in fact) a very good player?  
(マジ means _really_ (emphasis), できる means _competent/good_ )

Before you play, if an opponent doubt you know the rule, he may say this in
the first sense. After you showed your good go skill, the same opponent may
praise you using this phrase in the second sense.

Well, if I were in the same situation, I might ask the meaning. -- どういう意味ですか？
ルールを知っているかという意味ですか、上手かという意味ですか？
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2017-01-04T21:39:45.343
42265
2017-01-04T21:39:45.343
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answer
If you know how it is used for emphasis, you should be aware of its meaning
"seriously". This dictionary
[entry](http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B8) (one) has:

> serious (not capricious or flirtatious)

There are two ways to interpret your line in question.

One is

> Can you play seriously? (= Let's not go easy on each other)

The other is

> Can you actually play? (=Do you even know how to play?)

Considering it was asked before a match, I would believe your opponent is
asking the former, though it's not a good way of asking
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2017-01-04T22:14:03.337
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answer