"Boring" chess

I've seen many people say they dislike certain lines like the closed sicillian or 1.d4 because it leads to "boring" chess, well I'd have to say that if the strategic element of chess is boring to you, then you either don't understand it or else chess is not the right game for you.

So many people begin their chess carrer by studying tactics and playing open positions which lead to active piece play but also leads to inactive pawn strategy. One of the subtler and most difficult pieces to master is the pawn and how it relates to the grand strategy of promotion. I would suggest to anyone that doesn't like closed positons to start playing them and to start gaining an understanding of the aspects of pawn strategy... sure you may take a hit in your rating but in the long run it will help your game immensley.

I agree. If you consider yourself a chess player then you should attempt to understand the nuances that you find boring. I bet once you grasp an understanding, you'll find the beauty in slow strategical chess is just as apparent as that of a open tactical game. But, hey, different strokes for different folks.

I also agree. I think people that find more strategic games boring are simply overwhelmed. There is no simple tactical solution and the right move is more subtle. They are used to just calculating everything without any real plan. This no longer works. Strategic games provide very interesting chess and can often explode into tactics.

no chess game should be boring... if you don't like a closed position, open it up... i look at it this way: regardless of the board position, your only job is to select the best move each time.

Last night at the chess club I go to, I had a seemingly very boring game. It was a queens gambit/semi slav which turned into nearly identical positions with opposite bishops. I made one slight mistake, and suddenly in three moves the game opened up into a tactical nightmare, with two weak back ranks and a bunch of rooks on open files and multiple pins.

It taught me a very valuable lesson. Even in the seemingly most boring positions, there is a lot of kinetic energy on the chess board that is bottled up, which the slightest thing can set off.

Some games are indeed very boring. If you've played the exact same line a thousand times, then certainly it's not going to be all that exciting the 1001th time.

The idea of something being boring is obviously relative, so someone that suggests a certain style is boring merely states their preferences. I prefer open games, so quiet and incredibly long positional games aren't exactly exciting for me.

To each their own.

Originally posted by Dies Irae
Last night at the chess club I go to, I had a seemingly very boring game. It was a queens gambit/semi slav which turned into nearly identical positions with opposite bishops. I made one slight mistake, and suddenly in three moves the game opened up into a tactical nightmare, with two weak back ranks and a bunch of rooks on open files and multiple pins. ...[text shortened]... of kinetic energy on the chess board that is bottled up, which the slightest thing can set off.

tactical games are fun i will agree to that. but there is nothing more satisfying than playing a closed position and slowly beating the hell out of your opponent. especially if your the one losing you know a loss from a game like that is ten times worse than a tactical open game.

Originally posted by Dies Irae
Even in the seemingly most boring positions, there is a lot of kinetic energy on the chess board that is bottled up, which the slightest thing can set off.

Originally posted by ChessJester
I've seen many people say they dislike certain lines like the closed sicillian or 1.d4 because it leads to "boring" chess, well I'd have to say that if the strategic element of chess is boring to you, then you either don't understand it or else chess is not the right game for you.

So many people begin their chess carrer by studying tactics and playing ...[text shortened]... re you may take a hit in your rating but in the long run it will help your game immensley.

I like strategy in chess even more than I like tactics, but some lines are boring no matter how you look at them. The Exchange Variation in the French comes to mind, as well as most system that follow after 1. d4 d5 (Nf6) 2. Nf3.

Originally posted by ChessJester
I've seen many people say they dislike certain lines like the closed sicillian or 1.d4 because it leads to "boring" chess, well I'd have to say that if the strategic element of chess is boring to you, then you either don't understand it or else chess is not the right game for you.

So many people begin their chess carrer by studying tactics and playing ...[text shortened]... re you may take a hit in your rating but in the long run it will help your game immensley.

Originally posted by UmbrageOfSnow
I agree with you, but as a huge nerd, I feel compelled to point out that if the kinetic energy is 'bottled up', it is, by definition, [b]potential energy.[/b]

Originally posted by UmbrageOfSnow
I agree with you, but as a huge nerd, I feel compelled to point out that if the kinetic energy is 'bottled up', it is, by definition, [b]potential energy.[/b]

I find that d4 is much more fun then e4.