Chess has always been a painful hobby for me. A mirror held to up to reflect back my laziness, hastiness, dim "vision" and, with age, loss of faculties. Any of my qualities which bring me pleasure are un-illuminated by the hateful game.
I also experience chess as a mirror. I've been playing a lot since the beginning of Covid. I find my rating goes up and down based on my overall mindset at any given time. When I'm doing well with my work and my relationships, my chess rating goes up. And vice-versa! When I see my rating start to go down, I think to myself "Ok. Time to get your shit back together."
That photo is beautiful! Assuming you have a pleasant chess partner, that looks like paradise.
Send me a daily game challenge on chess.com (if you feel so inclined) - daveseathai (rating 1291). Chess.com and Substack are pretty much the only things I use my iPhone for!
Chess has always been a painful hobby for me. A mirror held to up to reflect back my laziness, hastiness, dim "vision" and, with age, loss of faculties. Any of my qualities which bring me pleasure are un-illuminated by the hateful game.
How interesting! It seems to be very common to find chess both addictive and painful. I must explore this further.
Perhaps is has a sadomasochistic quality?
I think it's something deeper than that. Masochists find pain pleasurable. I think chess players just find it painful.
Surprisingly so. My partner says she doesn't at all mind losing. I envy her.
I also experience chess as a mirror. I've been playing a lot since the beginning of Covid. I find my rating goes up and down based on my overall mindset at any given time. When I'm doing well with my work and my relationships, my chess rating goes up. And vice-versa! When I see my rating start to go down, I think to myself "Ok. Time to get your shit back together."
That photo is beautiful! Assuming you have a pleasant chess partner, that looks like paradise.
Send me a daily game challenge on chess.com (if you feel so inclined) - daveseathai (rating 1291). Chess.com and Substack are pretty much the only things I use my iPhone for!
Thank you, David! I do have a regular partner and sometimes play on chess dot and lichess too. Will bear that in mind. x
Haha. Good point.
Haha!