How to get your friends to enjoy a game of chess?

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hobbelpaardtomaat

First off, I am an absolute novice player and not good by any means.

However, I do enjoy playing chess a lot, and I would love to play more with my real life friends/family.

Problem is that I totally crush them.

How do I make the game more enjoyable for them? Just sacrificing pieces to give them an advantage, really feels like insulting them.

Also, babysitting them through the whole game, doesn't work either.

Or should I just accept that chess is a dead game to most people, and rather play a visual more appealing game like settlers of Catan or videogames like fortnite?

bong711

You can't force others to like Chess like you do. Play other board games or card games

ESP-918

Give them rook odds and bet some $ with them to give them some motivation 

hobbelpaardtomaat
Well i am not going to force anyone. Just looking for possibilities for them to make it enjoyable.

Maybe I can give their rooks superpowers, like the queen or something.
hobbelpaardtomaat
I think money will work for some of them, but i dont want to spend it myself.
Debistro

It takes a certain type of person to like chess. You could use the angle of chess as a healthy mental exercise, and not anything competitive. See if they like solving simple chess puzzles. If they like it, and they like chess as a way to keep their brains active, there is potential, otherwise no.

HorribleTomato

You could also, after basic tactics like #6 stated, play sacrificial attacking lines that make the game exiting.

ESP-918
hobbelpaardtomaat wrote:
I think money will work for some of them, but i dont want to spend it myself.

Well if you win then you don't have to spend,  you can actually earn some.

Bet small $ like a dollar for a game or 50cents if it is blitz and give them say one or two pawns advantage or a knight or a rook up to you

KeSetoKaiba
bong711 wrote:

You can't force others to like Chess like you do. Play other board games or card games

Sadly this answer is correct. I had the same problem, I was not very good - yet crushing those around me; I created my chess.com account to find players closer to my level to play against. Unfortunately, you can't "give" them motivation to play chess. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. I would love if more of my friends play chess, but luckily chess.com helps with that. 

aidan0816

Chess is a pretty complicated game and takes a lot of time investment just to become an okay player.  If they know the rules and have played before but haven't put the effort into actually learning the game, they probably won't ever.

Perhaps instead you could make new friends/family who will actually like chess.  Either go onto meetup.com and find local chess meets or go to local chess clubs and play people there.  Be social, meet people, connect with them, and make new friends.  Or even make a family, find another player you get along with well, ask them out, keep dating until you get married, have kids and teach them to play chess.  Then you'll have all the friends and family you need to play chess against you.

hobbelpaardtomaat
aidan0816 wrote:

Or even make a family, find another player you get along with well

 

I messed up this part, my fiance physically hates chess. Although she brings me cookies whilst playing.

Will probably teach chess to our little daughter, hope she likes it.

hobbelpaardtomaat
Debistro wrote:

It takes a certain type of person to like chess. You could use the angle of chess as a healthy mental exercise, and not anything competitive. See if they like solving simple chess puzzles. If they like it, and they like chess as a way to keep their brains active, there is potential, otherwise no.

 

I think you are so right. I find it difficult to introduce them to chess in a non-intimidating manner. Your tips might help with that.

hobbelpaardtomaat
ESP-918 wrote:
hobbelpaardtomaat wrote:
I think money will work for some of them, but i dont want to spend it myself.

Well if you win then you don't have to spend,  you can actually earn some.

Bet small $ like a dollar for a game or 50cents if it is blitz and give them say one or two pawns advantage or a knight or a rook up to you

I think they probably like the challenge, but honestly I don't think we will become long term chess-buddies this way.