Chess Forum
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| spurtus 10/27/2004 16:26:18 [ report this post ] |
 Subject: What is chess?Message: Indeed. In an esoteric way, have you ever pondered why you play?... what is this game for you? Dont describe to me HOW to play, but WHY you play. I've recently starting playing GO, and the 'creativity' that one can get out this game really has made me ask this question to myself. The game of chess has its beauty for me in that it is a tried and tested thematic game that has 'perfect information', there is no chance; you can see what your opponent sees etc. and it is games of this nature that attract me for one reason or another that I have yet to fathom out their attraction. Anyone? Spurtus. |
| tag1153 10/27/2004 20:48:11 [ report this post ] | For me...... Message: .....chess has always held my wildest imagination. IMHO, it is the only contest that involves absolutely no chance or luck. To pit your brain vs. another in a game that is inherently fair to both and then to have to outhink your opponent to win is one of the most fulfilling things you can do. Every time you lose to an inferior opponent, valuable lessons are learned - and those lessons pay off in spades when you defeat that one monster opponent. Chess hones your critical thinking skills, and the lessons you learn at the board can serve you well in life. Planning, sacrificing, and a sense of fair play are all components of chess, and these concepts come into play in my life daily. I manage a restaurant for a living and deal with budgets (planning), working long hours (sacrificing), and managing over 80 people (BELIEVE me you better have a sense of fair play here!). The lessons I have learned from chess have made me a better manager in my professional life, and I would like to think a better person in my social life. Chess has been a big part of my life for over 25 years, and I will continue to play as long as there is breath in my lungs. I truly love this game......... Thomas |
| brobishkin 10/27/2004 21:45:18 [ report this post ] | Chess... Message: Legendary chess champion Bobby Fischer once said "Chess is life"... Chess, like love, like music, has the power to make men happy... Chess is as much a mystery as women...Chess is a method of, or perhaps, a set of guildlines for attempting to reach the truth at a progressively deeper level... This seeking brings us closer to understanding whatever we are dealing with... Through understanding, we can achieve peace of mind, knowing that we are doing all we can to get at the true meaning... Simplicity is necessary to avoid getting confused with irrelevancies, which are everywhere... Selflessness is necessary in order to get a detached view, uncluttered by ego... So why is chess life?... Following the principles of good sound chess play will help improve your game and your enjoyment of the game... It will also give you a progressively deeper understanding of the game, just as God gives you a progressively deeper understanding of life... Bro... |
| philaretus 10/28/2004 03:52:56 [ report this post ] | Message: The purpose of Chess is to defeat an opponent and crush his ego, so its mentality is the reverse of virtuous. But it may have value in diverting psychopathic desires that could issue in vice into relatively harmless channels --- someone plays Chess instead of becoming a serial killer. Of course, it is played by many people, such as myself, who have no desire to crush anyone's ego, but (like me) they tend to be unsuccessful at the game. |
| autumnbreeze 10/28/2004 07:00:54 [ report this post ] | What wonderful philosophies and.. Message: and mine, perhaps not esoteric, but as an absolute beginner at chess, having only ever played with the horses when I was younger (to the dismay of brothers and a sister whom tried to get me to play seriously), is that I play chess to make me think in patterns and combinations, i.e. to think more laterally. My understanding of what Spurtus says is - respect, and even perhaps a yearning, for the "purity" or "exactness" of chess. I hope that, as Bro suggested, that chess helps me to sift the husks from the wheat in my life. I like the idea of simplification in everything. I have felt changes in me since starting to play chess, which I think is strengthening me, in the way Thomas said. Thanx for sharing your story Thomas. As for Philaretus, I confess that I have actually felt quite stressed during the end games of some of my recent games where I have had to be competitive (i.e. go against the "grain" of being nice and co-operative) and I have yet to feel the urge to gloat over defeating the enemy. But I am sure, that over time, I will feel a greater satisfaction if I win more games. Peace to all......Celine |
| philaretus 10/28/2004 07:15:02 [ report this post ] | Message: "I like the moment when I break a man's ego." (Bobby Fischer) I would have liked to see Fischer play a computer --- a thing with no ego. I wonder how he would have coped? |
| snakeplissken 10/28/2004 14:20:21 [ report this post ] | Homo ludens Message: People like to play... When my sister and i learned chess with our father, we did it just by playing again and again. Who must do the kitchen job - lets play for it. You have lost? Revanche game! 1:1 after the revanche game? We have to play a decisive game. After the decision: oh it is to late to work at the kitchen but maybe we could play a last game before sleeping and do the kitchen tomorrow (the story could be prolonged by drawn games!) - and so on chess is fun! snake |
| premium_steve 10/28/2004 16:23:09 [ report this post ] | Message: for me chess is a lot of fun.... but it's also something that i can always improve at. i can work to become more consistent, patient, and things like that. i like the idea that i'm getting better all the time, and that i won't get much worse, though i accept that i'll forget things over time and not be in chess mode at all times. chess is just always here and i can work at it if i want, and in the same way - if i don't want to, i don't have to. it's also very nice that you can meet very interesting, fun, and funny people at chess clubs or tournaments. that would be like any other activity. it is nice to meet people who share your interests. |
| punkusmartyrus 10/28/2004 23:02:23 [ report this post ] | why I play chess Message: I play cuz it's fun, life is inherently boring. I play cuz it's an artistic self-expression of intellectual skill. I play cuz chess is philosophical in the sense that it's a microcosm of the rules governing the game of life. "To not exploit a mistake is a mistake." "survival of the fittest" "might makes right" "practice makes perfect" etc. |
| b_irie 10/29/2004 04:09:01 [ report this post ] | Ruthlessness & Individuality... Message: Are themes that I've noticed have come up a lot for me recently in chess. I have a bad habit of playing down to weaker opponents, or rising to the challenge of a higher-rated player. I'm in the process of learning from chess how to be more independent of others and just be me. |
| sly_lonewolf 10/29/2004 20:30:22 [ report this post ] | Why?... Message: For me, chess is what the late GM Eduard Gufeld has described as an art, a science & also sport. It's an art because I can express a playing style that echoes my personality & desires. I am totally drawn to 'beautiful' moves' or 'crushing sacrifices/combination', that I asked myself how did ppl see that...? Chess is science where commitment & dedication (sadly, I'm very lacking in this area) push us to do research & learning. We analyze our game for weaknesses and we hope that experience helps us to plan further next time... As for sport, this is where two gladiators will battle it out. It is said that a pawn can only go forth, so in chess there is no turning back. What ppl would call as 'luck', I would describe it as resilient & a calculated determination to win (or, not to lose!)... That is why my I liked my chess... |
| ketchuplover 10/30/2004 16:41:46 [ report this post ] | Message: Why do I play chess? Something to do :) |
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