Chess Forum
[ mod this thread ] << - < - > - >>
| From | Message |
| nelsonnewman 10/24/2003 15:33:11 [ report this post ] |
 Subject: Why do we play?Message: I mean, really... why do we play this game? Perhaps it's for some of the reasons found in the below poem... what do you think? :-) ------------------------ The board was set, the coin was tossed. "Tails!" cried the enemy, and the coin toss he lost. Fortune was with me, Chess was my friend, So with courage I chose my favorite men. The room was quiet, for the game had begun, And I with courage the battle didn't shun. He moved the Black pieces, I moved the White. He fought for Darkness, I for the Light. The game was hard-fought, the game was fast. I won a Rook, and a pawn was passed. I had the win, a simple matter of technique, When suddenly I weakened and grew very meek. There was a reason, you see, for my shyness, For I had suffered a severe case of blindness. How could Fortune be so mean As to allow me to hang my Queen?? It was my enemy's move. I could only wait. I hoped he didn't know how badly I quaked. He reached forth his hand. My heart pounded like thunder. Would my enemy see my horrible blunder? My opponent moved -- I was shocked and amazed! For Chess was kind to me on that bright day. I told my enemy the move he had missed. He looked at the board, then moaned and hissed. I went on to win, and now can only say That Chess smiled brightly on me that day. So here's to Chess, that great royal Game, Who smiled so nicely on that bright day. --Nelson |
| anaxagoras 10/24/2003 16:03:53 [ report this post ] | Message: What a great poem! You should try to publish it in a chess magazine, really. Me? I just play chess because it impresses women. |
| riga 10/24/2003 16:11:48 [ report this post ] | ... Message: Nice poem, makes me wanna barf, but most people would like it. I play because it's fun, why else??? anaxagoras: are you sure you can pick up chicks with chess? where the hell do you find these wemon, are you sure they are? |
| mate_you_in_fifty 10/24/2003 16:26:46 [ report this post ] | nice poem,but... Message: "He fought for Darkness, I for the Light." ...something tells me this line is not going to please everyone. |
| nelsonnewman 10/24/2003 16:37:38 [ report this post ] | Color Message: doesnt matter in the line "He fought for Darkness, I for the Light." The point, of course, is that, no matter what the color, the other guy is the bad guy... heh heh ... Anyway, it's all in fun. But by giving him Black, the line works. And, because I fought "for the Light," the ending is justified ... good will win out in the end (at least we would like to think so), even if we make mistakes along the way (hanging the Queen, but the dummy didnt see it).. LOL --Nelson |
| jordian31 10/25/2003 02:12:20 [ report this post ] | Message: well, i sure dont play 'cuz im guuuuuud at it...uh uh!! |
| mester 10/25/2003 03:42:19 [ report this post ] | Message: I wholeheartedly agree with riga |
| myway316 10/25/2003 05:38:49 [ report this post ] | Don't you know... Message: ...that good guys always wear black? |
| steve_toyne 10/25/2003 06:52:58 [ report this post ] | Message: Erm...that's just a poem on chess. It doesnt really explain why anyone plays it. Hope chess as well.....c'mon. |
| youngglor 10/25/2003 09:35:50 [ report this post ] | Message: Awesome poem Chess is played because it's the biggest addiction of all, of course! When you win...you wanna get more ... Greed greed greed ;) |
| nivag18 10/25/2003 11:25:31 [ report this post ] | Why do we play? Message: I play because when I win I experience a unique feeling of exhilaration, satisfaction and accompishment. No other activity really offers me that...Unfortunately I usually lose. However the feeling when I get when I win is so strong that I keep on playing... the way i see it anyway |
| anaxagoras 10/25/2003 14:47:34 [ report this post ] | replies: Message: "anaxagoras: are you sure you can pick up chicks with chess? where the hell do you find these women, are you sure they exist?" (edited by me) Sorry to dissapoint you riga, but I was being sarcastic, hehe (a little too obvious, no?). Actually, I do play chess with my girlfriend "xanthippe," but we met in a political philosophy class, not over a chessboard. Imagine that! A woman who can translate Plato *and* push wood for fun. '"He fought for Darkness, I for the Light." ...something tells me this line is not going to please everyone.' Seriously, could someone be such a kill-joy? I consider myself progressive, but if that line offends someone it is because they *want* to be offended. It's just a poem about chess, right? |
| nelsonnewman 10/25/2003 17:29:45 [ report this post ] | anaxagoras, Message: Yer right.. its just a little ditty about Chess...and hopefully, it evokes a sense of "hey, I've been there, done that."... Nothing serious, but as in any poem, it can be read on different levels. I only used it as an example of the great feelings chess can evoke, and also of the low points.. such as when you hang a piece for no good reason.. all part of being human. So why do we play chess? My answer is that we play because we love the ups.. and downs.. of chess... and the fact that NO GAME is predictable, since HUMANS play it, with all their weaknesses.. AND strengths. :-) |
| superblunder 10/25/2003 17:46:57 [ report this post ] | I am not sure why I play. Message: I just know I want to be a master because I get a great feeling when I play a very strong game from beginning to end... there is nothing like winning against a higher rated opponent to make you feel that you are improving and getting stronger. |
| bigkev 10/25/2003 18:01:03 [ report this post ] | Why I play... Message: I agree that chess is addictive specially when you play a very good game. Often if I play a good game I find myself replaying the game to recapture the feelings I experienced when I played the game - more so on OTB than GK chess. This may be because you can see your opponent and watch the effect your moves have on him. However I also like it when I lose but didn't make any major blunders but my pieces weren't quite on the best squares. I can then find ways to improve and examine how my opponent moved so that gradually my chess improves. Chess, I find is not really subject to vagaries of chance. The dice or cards didn't fall your way so you lost or a bad umpiring decision caused you to lose. It's my opponent versus me and may the most skillful player win. |
Post a reply to this message: |
