@theodorecalexico said in #11:
> lol DAH XD
then go and concede an own goal !! Afterwards you will be much better ))
I experienced this period a long time ago. I set myself simple objectives: abandon any attempt to reach a precise rating, only to play for fun. because most of us just want that. have fun playing. and once you are experienced, you will see that the pleasure of playing is also rejoicing in a defeat, because it is someone else's victory
> lol DAH XD
then go and concede an own goal !! Afterwards you will be much better ))
I experienced this period a long time ago. I set myself simple objectives: abandon any attempt to reach a precise rating, only to play for fun. because most of us just want that. have fun playing. and once you are experienced, you will see that the pleasure of playing is also rejoicing in a defeat, because it is someone else's victory
"The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life." Paul Murphy.
@unitywolf said in #13:
> "The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life." Paul Murphy.
That is just it. Morphy did NOT spend his life on chess. Indeed, he essentially discontinued participation in serious chess competition after 1858 (the year of his 21st birthday). I do not think that the supposed Morphy quote is authentic. I have never seen anyone identify a nineteenth century source for the supposed quote. It does not make sense that Morphy would have believed that a life (wasted or otherwise) was required to "play chess well". With most of his life (nearly all of his adult life) left to go, he had already managed to be widely recognized as the best player in the world. Morphy is reported to have thought Anderssen was a "master". Does it seem at all likely that Morphy believed that Anderssen had wasted his life?
There is a somewhat similar comment about billiards that has sometimes been attributed to Herbert Spencer: "Moderate skill in billiards implies a certain amount of mental capacity, but such skill as you have displayed is clear evidence of a misspent youth."
If I remember correctly, Spencer, in his writings, reported that someone had made a comment along those lines (about billiards), but denied that he himself had ever expressed agreement with such a sentiment.
> "The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life." Paul Murphy.
That is just it. Morphy did NOT spend his life on chess. Indeed, he essentially discontinued participation in serious chess competition after 1858 (the year of his 21st birthday). I do not think that the supposed Morphy quote is authentic. I have never seen anyone identify a nineteenth century source for the supposed quote. It does not make sense that Morphy would have believed that a life (wasted or otherwise) was required to "play chess well". With most of his life (nearly all of his adult life) left to go, he had already managed to be widely recognized as the best player in the world. Morphy is reported to have thought Anderssen was a "master". Does it seem at all likely that Morphy believed that Anderssen had wasted his life?
There is a somewhat similar comment about billiards that has sometimes been attributed to Herbert Spencer: "Moderate skill in billiards implies a certain amount of mental capacity, but such skill as you have displayed is clear evidence of a misspent youth."
If I remember correctly, Spencer, in his writings, reported that someone had made a comment along those lines (about billiards), but denied that he himself had ever expressed agreement with such a sentiment.
@Brian-E said in #2:
>
> Chess has a wonderful advantage. There are other ways to enjoy it rather than only attempting to excel. You can learn about it and appreciate it as well as playing it. Games are recorded so that we can admire the art of chess masters and learn from them.
> (...) Enjoy the game, learn from it and appreciate it. It's not for nothing that this game has been so hugely valued and enjoyed for 1500 years!
Agree 100%. That is precisely the point, in my opinion too.
It's a bit like in music, for example: it's not that if you don't become a great pianist you stop playing the piano or stop getting interested in music. You keep cultivating it, appreciating it, and maybe trying to play as much as you can, as best you can.
Of course, the competitive element in chess is very strong, but there is also the other aspect, which you rightly pointed out, and which can be very satisfying.
And in any case, even from a purely competitive point of view, you can get satisfaction from the single game, for example by winning it in style, or perhaps playing with great precision... not only if you see your rating increase.
>
> Chess has a wonderful advantage. There are other ways to enjoy it rather than only attempting to excel. You can learn about it and appreciate it as well as playing it. Games are recorded so that we can admire the art of chess masters and learn from them.
> (...) Enjoy the game, learn from it and appreciate it. It's not for nothing that this game has been so hugely valued and enjoyed for 1500 years!
Agree 100%. That is precisely the point, in my opinion too.
It's a bit like in music, for example: it's not that if you don't become a great pianist you stop playing the piano or stop getting interested in music. You keep cultivating it, appreciating it, and maybe trying to play as much as you can, as best you can.
Of course, the competitive element in chess is very strong, but there is also the other aspect, which you rightly pointed out, and which can be very satisfying.
And in any case, even from a purely competitive point of view, you can get satisfaction from the single game, for example by winning it in style, or perhaps playing with great precision... not only if you see your rating increase.
Set smaller goals which are easier to achieve.