Was there never a time in your musical career where playing the instrument wasn't fun?? I can remember more or less exactly the time that playing the piano became fun again for me (after what, aged around 13, had seemed like an eternity). Do you believe there is any pastime/calling for which this is not the case? 
Chess Isn't Fun...
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Absolutely. Especially when I start bludering a lot, like I have recently. I keep wanting my games to be over with, though I don't feel like resigning. Usually when that happens, I take a break of a week or two. I'm trying to power through it this time.
It's not fun when I move without purpose or lose to weaker opponents because I played carelessly. Playing with a plan, taking my time and learning something as I go makes it fun!
Hi there music friend. I enjoy chess a great deal although I am losing a lot,but that does not deter me from enjoying the best game in the world. My rating has dropped considerably,down to 1250 to date,but I still love the game.I would like to know what your rating is.Probably higher than mine no doubt. I am from the UK and enjoy meeting and conversing with players from other parts of the world. I am having and have had some interesting conversations with other players which I find most enjoyable.
Best wishes to you.
Yes, I've experienced that a few times. It happens when I play or study too much chess. To cure myself from that I stop playing chess for a few weeks, or even a month or two. After that I'm good to go for a while again!
What used to be fun about it that isn't now?
Some possibilities:
Too much focus on ratings
Hitting a plateau and being frustrated by the seeming lack of progress
Tired of the training routine
Bored with the same "types" of games that come with knowing a single key opening
Just don't like chess all that much
Or a million other reasons.
Musikamole wrote:
...when it feels like work.
I must be doing something wrong because chess isn't fun right now. Does anyone else ever have this problem?
Sorry wrong quote.
Sapp wrote:
Yes, I've experienced that a few times. It happens when I play or study too much chess. To cure myself from that I stop playing chess for a few weeks, or even a month or two. After that I'm good to go for a while again!
I don't think it is a good idea to stop playing for a long stretch. Improvement comes from playing on a regular basis.
When you starting to get serious chess could be no fun at all, that's simply beacuse you aren not longer doing what was fun in the beginning.
Stop working and just enjoy, work for improvment but don't forget to play for fun!
Have you made it to a rated, OTB tournament yet? Try that. I can't begin to say what it did for my mental perspective on the game.
OTB games is real chess, real fun, online is just spending time... Waiting for the next tournament!
I have abandoned chess many times over the past decades. Fortunately, the goddess Caissa calls me back with her siren voice and entreats me to play on, once more.
KyleJRM wrote:
Have you made it to a rated, OTB tournament yet? Try that. I can't begin to say what it did for my mental perspective on the game.
Well, I just resigned from four rated Turn-Based games because my health is not so good right now. I didn't want to keep my opponents waiting any longer.
1572 - 1422 = 150 rating points lost after the four resignations.
I'll keep my 3 unrated training games on vacation status for a little while longer to wait and see if things turn around.
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I remember OTB being fun last school year when playing with my students.
I'm too far away from rated OTB tournaments. The closest one is in Los Angeles (100 miles away). Right now my wife and I are sharing a car, so the travel would not be possible, unless my wife liked chess, which she doesn't.
Maybe I could try taking my fold up travel chess set to a shopping mall when I feel better and see if anyone wishes to play. I could always bring my laptop and books to keep myself occupied while waiting.
While my health could be a factor, it's not the main thing. Something else has caused chess to not be fun right now, and I can't put my finger on it.
The analogy about musical instruments is a good one. I do remember not having any fun with my guitar the last year in college. It was work, work and more work to pass all of my performance exams to graduate. I hated playing the guitar that year and had to force myself to practice every day.
That's a shame about living so far away. I had the same problem for years: I lived in a remote part of North Dakota, about a six-hour drive from the nearest rated tournament. Now I'm two hours from St. Louis, which has a lot of big tournaments, and an hour from some smaller tournaments. The one tournament I played completely transformed the way I felt about chess.
So my solution is: Move. :)
It's sad to read, what about a chess club no one near? Do you live far away from civilization?
skogli wrote:
It's sad to read, what about a chess club no one near? Do you live far away from civilization?
I live in civilization, but don't know how civilized it is. It's a small town, not a big city.
The closest chess club is 100 miles away in Los Angeles, California, so it doesn't make sense to join because I wouldn't have the time to drive on a regular basis to develop relationships, make friends and have fun.
For me, internet chess is somewhat like the card game solitaire. It's a lonely persuit, for me. I'd rather spend the rest of my years on this planet playing a game that involves social interaction, making friends, a few beers. A chess club close to home would be quite nice.
As to moving, if I could, I would. I'm stuck working for the same school district until I retire. If I were to quit and take a teaching position elsewhere, I would take a huge paycut, about 50 percent, and never get to retire, nor afford to live on a drastically reduced salary.
I took a break and then started playing the bongcloud. It's hard to think of chess as work when your opening theory is based on being high.
Musikamole wrote:
skogli wrote:
It's sad to read, what about a chess club no one near? Do you live far away from civilization?
I live in civilization, but don't know how civilized it is. It's a small town, not a big city.
...
For me, internet chess is somewhat like the card game solitaire. It's a lonely persuit, for me. I'd rather spend the rest of my years on this planet playing a game that involves social interaction, making friends, a few beers. A chess club close to home would be quite nice.
There is one simple solution to your problem, once your health is better. Start a club up, advertise locally and on here under clubs (so google will pick it up mainly), and see what you can pull in. Our local club meets a fast food restaurant and while we don't have stellar turnout we usually have at least 4 players and sometimes more. We have around 8 that come off and on.
It doesn't take any money to start and if your town is decent size, then maybe you could pull in a few regulars too. Maybe there is a local bar and grill (so that younger people could still go) that is slow on certain days that would allow you meet (for your beer comment). Now, if you want to do USCF rated games then that will cost money, but the club itself doesn't have to.
...when it feels like work.
I must be doing something wrong because chess isn't fun right now. Does anyone else ever have this problem?