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A wonderful letter written by Paul Morphy is in this week's postings at www.chesscafe.com.
"I am more strongly confirmed than ever in the belief that the time devoted to chess is literally frittered away. It is, to be sure, a most exhilarating sport, but it is only a sport; and it is not to be wondered at that such as have been passionately addicted to the charming pastime should one day ask themselves whether sober reason does not advise its utter dereliction. I have, for my own part, resolved not to be moved from my purpose of not engaging in chess hereafter."
Paul Morphy
Originally posted by tonytiger41He is right... its only a game, but a wonderful and exhilarating one.
A wonderful letter written by Paul Morphy is in this week's postings at www.chesscafe.com.
"I am more strongly confirmed than ever in the belief that the time devoted to chess is literally frittered away. It is, to be sure, a most exhilarating sport, but it is only a sport; and it is not to be wondered at that such as have been passionately addicted t ...[text shortened]... t, resolved not to be moved from my purpose of not engaging in chess hereafter."
Paul Morphy
It is only a game but there are many concepts and lessons in chess that can be applied to one's life. For example, planning ahead, calculating the consequences of decisions, making sacrifices to better one's life, knowing when to be aggressive vs being conservative, visualizing future senarios, etc. Chess is incredibly deep and one could study their entire life and still not master this sport.
Originally posted by 93confirmedYes, but are these truly "lessons" from chess, or principles "found in" chess?
It is only a game but there are many concepts and lessons in chess that can be applied to one's life. For example, planning ahead, calculating the consequences of decisions, making sacrifices to better one's life, knowing when to be aggressive vs being conservative, visualizing future senarios, etc. Chess is incredibly deep and one could study their entire life and still not master this sport.
Do we need chess to teach us the benefits of planning ahead in life? Would we even agree that "planning ahead" was good if the only place we could discover the principle was in chess?
Originally posted by 93confirmedsort of like boardgame zen. 😀
It is only a game but there are many concepts and lessons in chess that can be applied to one's life. For example, planning ahead, calculating the consequences of decisions, making sacrifices to better one's life, knowing when to be aggressive vs being conservative, visualizing future senarios, etc. Chess is incredibly deep and one could study their entire life and still not master this sport.
Actually, thats not far off the truth. Since I started playing chess I still do a load of stupid things, but now I recognise them as stupid immediately after I "submit" them to the world, and I keep losing due to stupid mistakes even though I should know better... but I'm a lot more calm about it all.
Originally posted by 93confirmedGive up chess and you'll have less arguments. Problem solved.
Same here. Now I when I'm trying to getting into arguments with the wife, I calculate my options in a given situation to see how I can make things easier on myself! It's atually very helpful...
Originally posted by tonytiger41paul morphy's dead...
A wonderful letter written by Paul Morphy is in this week's postings at www.chesscafe.com.
"I am more strongly confirmed than ever in the belief that the time devoted to chess is literally frittered away. It is, to be sure, a most exhilarating sport, but it is only a sport; and it is not to be wondered at that such as have been passionately addicted t ...[text shortened]... t, resolved not to be moved from my purpose of not engaging in chess hereafter."
Paul Morphy
he can't write a letter
duh
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Originally posted by exigentskyand for the non US readers, morphy was referring to the US Civil War in his letter when he penned, "We are all following with intense anxiety the fortunes of the tremendous conflict now raging beyond the Atlantic, for upon the issue depends our all in life. Under such circumstances you will readily understand that I should feel little disposed to engage in the objectless strife of the chess board. "
I hope that was a lame attempt at humor...
Morphy was the greatest chessplayer in the world of his time. The objectless strife he was referring to, the Civil War, was basically a war over slavery. I'm pretty sure he would have been on the South's side. The object of the south was to retain the custom, the North to eradicate it. Hardly objectless. M was a peculiar character. To me he seems cold, dispassionate. He never wrote any books, wanted to retain his image as a gentleman. He would accept no money prizes for his chess efforts. Physcially, he was small, fine featured. I recall no time that he lost his temper, got into an argument, etc. almost devoid of emotion. As for chess "frittering away" someone's time. I guess you could say the same for acting, painting, playing the piano or any other artistic pursuit. So, in the end, he became a "respected" lawyer whom no one would retain, a self-initiated has-been in the chessworld, without wife, children. The parallel with Fischer's career is striking, except that Fischer never completed high school and doesn't even have a ghost of a career to fall back on.