i try to study chess now and again, but i find it so complex and draining. theirs so much to read so many different ideas and variations. and yet in the end everything is all relative since know 2 games are exactly alike (except for the opening, but even then the types of variations are endless).
simply put chess isn't fun any more! i found chess used to be enjoyable. now that i know some openings i find them boring to play like if someone plays the sicilian i'll know the first 8 moves but its just boring playing similiar games over and over again.
i feel like giving up! i could better spend my time reading something interesting or going back to school. the fact is if i dont study my game wont improve and if i do the climb will be slow, long and agonizing.
is anyone in the same boat as me? why should or shouldn't i stick with continuing to play chess? i figure i could play the odd game now and again but just stop taking chess seriously.
Originally posted by ArrakThat's the same mistake I made. Once I picked up a chess book I was damned. I feel it is so much better to come up with the moves yourself. Here's what I did, I am now back into chess.
i try to study chess now and again, but i find it so complex and draining. theirs so much to read so many different ideas and variations. and yet in the end everything is all relative since know 2 games are exactly alike (except for the opening, but even then the types of variations are endless).
simply put chess isn't fun any more! i found chess used hess? i figure i could play the odd game now and again but just stop taking chess seriously.
I took a 6 month break. During that time, no chess at all. Period. I came back, and now it is so much better. I don't depend on databases or books anymore.
To address how to improve. I recommend doing puzzles and tactics instead of reading. There's a chess tactics server, I don't know the site, but it is great for deliberate practice. Perhaps somebody can provide the site name, or type it into google?
Studying is only warranted if you want to achieve something, something measureable. Studying to "become better" is a not a goal, it's an endless dream that ends up being a complete waste of time. You need a measurable goal, which surprisingly VERY FEW players have, despite what they think. I've found that those with determined tangible goals, no matter how small, often improve faster and more efficiently than the "I want to be an overall better player" types. Goals can be winning club/school championship, win Class B section in a local tournament, obtain a master title, beat your father, whatever. Goals are NOT learning the sicilian taimanov variation, the lucena position, solving 50,000 tactical problems, and R+P vs R endings.
Studying chess (or pretty much anything) cannot be done half ass during your spare time, you will achieve nothing.
For me, the game of chess itself is not fun. There's nothing fun about moving pieces around on a wooden board. The fun comes from winning, achieving something, something that can be measured.
Originally posted by ArrakIt's all part of the road. There will be times when you are bored, enthusiastic, happy, angry. Keep improving and working though. It's a great game. When you don't know what to do, do tactics ! Straightforward and enjoyable.
i try to study chess now and again, but i find it so complex and draining. theirs so much to read so many different ideas and variations. and yet in the end everything is all relative since know 2 games are exactly alike (except for the opening, but even then the types of variations are endless).
simply put chess isn't fun any more! i found chess used ...[text shortened]... hess? i figure i could play the odd game now and again but just stop taking chess seriously.
Originally posted by ArrakSome random thoughts: Many chessplayers go through this, even GM's! Boris Spassky once said. "Studying endgames is like quitting smoking, it's a smart idea, but not very enjoyable". Tactics books tend to be more interesting than most. Playing through games that use your chosen openings without deep anaylsis will still make you aware of attacking and defensive ideas you may not have thought of before. Memorizing a bunch of book openings is just not necessary. Try to balance your play, and study times. Above all... don't be afraid to take some time off now and then, we all need it. -bill718 😏
i try to study chess now and again, but i find it so complex and draining. theirs so much to read so many different ideas and variations. and yet in the end everything is all relative since know 2 games are exactly alike (except for the opening, but even then the types of variations are endless).
simply put chess isn't fun any more! i found chess used ...[text shortened]... hess? i figure i could play the odd game now and again but just stop taking chess seriously.
Originally posted by Arraki was in the same boat and thought of quitting. now i play wild attacking openings that dont need much study, i even created my own system to make me play the kind of chess i thought was fun. i dont do to many books anymore but im going to read a few soon. the most progress youll find is the tactics like everyones saying, so you might want to do that. and yes that is really fun too!
i try to study chess now and again, but i find it so complex and draining. theirs so much to read so many different ideas and variations. and yet in the end everything is all relative since know 2 games are exactly alike (except for the opening, but even then the types of variations are endless).
simply put chess isn't fun any more! i found chess used ...[text shortened]... hess? i figure i could play the odd game now and again but just stop taking chess seriously.
Originally posted by Arrakyou are probably the kind of player that memorize openings but when it comes to middle and endgames, you lose due to poor tactical play.
i try to study chess now and again, but i find it so complex and draining. theirs so much to read so many different ideas and variations. and yet in the end everything is all relative since know 2 games are exactly alike (except for the opening, but even then the types of variations are endless).
simply put chess isn't fun any more! i found chess used ...[text shortened]... hess? i figure i could play the odd game now and again but just stop taking chess seriously.
I may be the only player I know who doesn’t worry about becoming better.
Yeh it would be great if my grade went up 400 points overnight. But I think that soon after I would start wishing it was another 400 more. It is never-ending. Well at least until I’ve become the greatest player in history. But then I guess I would still be frustrated because I haven’t solved the game completely. Always remember its just a game. I’m sure a 1000 rated player gets just as much enjoyment out of the game as a 2000 rated player.
We all have a level that we can reach without hard work. Some may wish to study hard to improve on that. That’s okay if they are enjoying the study. If not, don’t study. Keep saying to yourself its just a game, just a game, just a game................