Originally posted by Eladarthere's the fun of playing, the fun of learning, and the fun of doing things well. it depends on which aspects you tend to enjoy the most.
So no matter how you slice it, chess goes like this:
More fulfilling, but less fun while you are getting better
More fun when you accept where you are at and simply play to play
Pretty much everyone follows this cycle?
Originally posted by randolphExcept as you get better, you play better opponents, so you don't win so much, then you get a bit better. Repeat to fade.
1) more fun to win
2) you win more if you get better
---> more fun to get better
In an OTB environment, there is also a social side to it. Without that, it feels a little soulless to me .. probably why my chess interest is flagging before the start of the new season 🙂
Up to a certain level it is only fun if you learn new things. I think you would get bored of winning or losing in the same old way and would want to learn some new opening/tactic and strategy. THere is then immense satisfaction in using it.
THis learning may or may not make your chess noticably better.
The above, hoever, requires a time investment i can no longer be bothered with so I am happily enjoying playing at my level. If i did improve by learning/dedication I think i would enjoy the process but after reaching the new level would feel little added enjoyment.
Originally posted by EladarI remember Spassky saying he was bored knowing so much about chess and he wished he could just have a game without knowing anything about the openings so he could just enjoy the game. Maybe the answer is don't try and learn details about theory, just play.
I was just wondering why I should get better at chess. Are games more fun? Or is simply so that I can say that I'm better than others because my rating is higher?
Originally posted by Palynkathere's always blitz for the crazy stuff. try any weird and foolishly aggressive complication, screw it up, shrug it off, and start a new game. at move 2 you won't even remember the previous stupid loss.
Personally, it's much less fun for me than it was when I first joined. No more crazy games where the balance keeps tipping from one side to the other like a drunken sailor. Now it's all about slowly tightening the grasp.
I'm getting worse now that I don't play a lot. Maybe I'll get the fun back.
it's amazing how far you can get with insultingly bad openings in blitz. like pushing all pawns 1 square before doing anything else. (of course those backfire often as well, but not nearly as often as you'd think.) - here you lose the initiative, and grasp at straws for 20 moves to get it back. no drunken sailors allowed.
Games don't become more fun.Chess can be enjoyed at any level.
They do become more interesting,deeper.Lots more to talk about afterwards.
The learning is fun too.And,I'll admit it,when other players think of you as a strong player or dangerous opponent that is fun too.
And yes,I think there is some joy in understanding more.
toet.