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The Downsides to Playing Chess

by Daniel on May 7, 2010

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Yesterday, I posted the upsides to playing chess. However, as I mentioned a bit in that post, there are also some downsides to playing this game, despite all of the great things about it. Sometimes, the downsides are so great, it may be almost impossible to continue. I remember speaking to one guy after a long tournament who posed the question “why do we do this to ourselves?”

In fact, I remember one occasion in particular where someone close to me was considering dropping out in the middle of a tournament due to the rough time they’d had.

The Imperfectness

Chess is an imperfect game, and, usually, the people who play chess are used to perfection, or at least pursuit of perfection. In chess, you will never be perfect. I am one of the top ranked chess players in the world (for my age). In my career, I have had one game that came close to perfect. It was in a simul against Grandmaster Shabolov. I won. Note: Read my testimonial on ChessOnDvd of how I won the game (I apologize for how poorly the site is configured and the grammer; I didn’t actually write it in such bad grammer. I personally know the guy who runs the site, and we are currently working on a deal so I can help him improve the site). I can recall numerous occasions where I thought I had played well, but, really, I had been losing the entire time. A lot of chess players happen to perfectionists, and you’re going to have to let go of that to do well.

Silly Mistakes

Chess players work hard on their games. Games often last hours, and many more hours are often spent studying. Making a silly mistake can be crushing to one’s ego. The experience of repeatedly blundering and losing the game when you were clearly winning is a horrible experience, and one that is not desirable on any level.

Hard Thinking

I’m going to write more about this shortly; but chess is a hard game. Aside from all of the studying that is involved, games often last hours, and that thinking for that long takes a lot of hard work, concentration, and determination. This is the best part about chess, for some, but also the worst, as it really is just so difficult.

Draining

This goes along with the above point, but thinking so hard for all of those hours is just so draining on a chess player. Personally, I don’t get particularly drained from playing chess, but from what I’ve heard, almost everyone does. That drain can really build up through out a tournament, and, by the end, it can get to be very difficult.

Losing

This is definitely the worst thing about chess; losing. The competitiveness is something that chess players can thrive on. However, when you’re on the losing side of that competitiveness, it is extremely tough. As mentioned above, chess is a hard and draining game. To lose after all the preparation and hard work is just amazing how hard it is. But when you win, the game is beautiful, so, in a way, it balances itself out,

As you can see, chess is not just all fun; these things are pretty difficult about chess. The emotions that go along with these aspects are large because of the devotion that a chess player has to his game. In the near, look forward to a post about how hard chess really is.

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Why Should You Play Chess?

by Daniel on May 6, 2010

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People who are just starting out with chess or are considering getting their foot into this game may be faced with the following question: “Why should I play chess?”

That’s a very good question, as chess is not an easy game: To compete, you have to think very hard, exhaust your brain, face terrible defeats, study, and work very, very hard. Hours of sweat and blood will be spent on this endeavor, and there’s got to be a good reason for it.

You’ve Got to be a Little Crazy

Anyone who plays chess has to be a bit crazy, because of all the downsides, and completely normal people usually wouldn’t put themselves through all of that trauma just in order to manipulate pieces on the board. But for intellectual people who enjoy challenging their mind, it can be a very good choice to play this game

  • It’s Fascinating

Chess is very fascinating. You have 64 squares, 16 pieces for each side, and the goal is to checkmate the enemy king. There is a ton of strategy behind it, and the possibilites are almost unlimited. In fact, it is believed there are many more possible chess combinations than atoms on the planet. To anyone who can understand the game (and you don’t have to be a genius (although it does helps)), it’s amazing.

  • It Stimulates Your Mind

A lot of smart people aren’t challenged enough. Chess is one of the most challenging tasks on the planet, and while you may normally be in contact with less smart people, depending on how smart you are, chances are good you’ll find several people at least as smart, if not even smarter, than you.

  • It’s a Great Way to Meet New People

Meeting new people is something that most of us want to do; especially friends.

In chess, your fellow competitors can be like-minded people who make great companions. Some of my good friends have come from playing chess. But be prepared for nut-cases, because there are many!

  • Ascetics

Chess is a truly beautiful game. The combinations and moves in it are unmatched for chess players by any other sport; my opinion. Once you understand the game and it’s patterns, the beauty of certain moves is truly staggering.

  • Getting Away

A chess board is a great place to get away from the daily struggle of your life. No matter how bad your finances or your relationships are, it is all erased when you sit down and play. The game is truly engrossing, and if you’re really into and serious about the game, you’ll surely forget about the troubles.

The only time when it may not be good is when you are playing badly, but that’s something else :)

  • Competition

Most humans love to compete, and chess is the ultimate competition. You face people whom you don’t know, and there will be a winner and a loser, or a draw from both parties. One of the great things about chess is that there will always be someone lower than you; someone you can beat. Winning is a great feeling.

For the reasons above, I strongly recommend playing chess. For all of the great things, the downside is that it’s hard, but chess is fun (if it isn’t for you–then stop playing), and that makes it very tolerable. The upside far outweighs the downside. So what are you waiting for: Learn the game!

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