I lost my chess ambition

I have been playing OTB tournament chess off and on since 1973. I am not a gifted chess player. The highest USCF rating I ever achieved was 1968 and that was in the 1990s when I was in my 30s. My ambition back then was to break 2000 but after hitting 1968 my rating quickly dropped down to the 1800s. Now I am rated about 1740 and I only play 1 or 2 OTB tournaments a year now. I used to study chess, but about a year ago I just lost my will to do any kind of studying. Now I basically play blitz on the internet which I enjoy. I think about making another huge effort to try to get as good as I can get and think about sometimes using a coach and all the good software available - especially after I retire. But is it worth all that effort to gain 200 or so rating points? I actually play well enough now to enjoy the game and not embarass myself in the few tournaments I do play. Sometimes I really miss the intensity of getting real obsessed with tournament chess. Other times I'm glad that I'm now more well rounded and retired from all of that. This is my rambling rant for the day. Can anyone identify with me?

I can relate. I too started playing tournaments in the 1970ies, but I realized early that I would never be a master (and also, back then when I would have needed it most, I had no support and especially no access to a good coach).

I still periodically experience those bouts of "obsession". These seem to come in waves. In between I had huge year long breaks where I thought I had completely lost interest, but it always got me again after some time.

However, I have stopped playing OTB tournaments in the 1990ies, and now play OTB on weekends only with friends (some of them are still very active though, with FIDE ratings of about 2000). I'm very glad internet correspondence chess exists, there I seem to have found my niche - I even joined my first tournament a few days ago.    

Simply, to be or not to be.

I think pleasure is the most important thing.

I think you are right, but some intensity can bring pleasure. I guess the good life is finding the right balance.

When you're a kid, yeah (mainly because you've got nothing else to do).

When you're an old guy, like you or me...probably not. 

I can totally relate...my rating has dropped hundreds of points in the last couple of years. Part of the reason is ....Internet chess...when I do something every day , I get burnt out on it. I used to make beautiful chess tables..friends said" you should start making them and selling them".. I tried that and after awhile, it's became a job and now, I no longer make chess tables. I had more ambition about chess when all I could play was over the board chess. But, on the other hand, I like chess to much to just play over the board...I catch myself playing just out of boredom...how sharp can I be when I'm doing that...Internet chess in my case is a catch 22!

you play like a retard, you were never higher than 1300, unless your senile now

Thank you for the feedback. I'll take it under consideration.

I can relate. I learned to play in febuary( yeah 2014). I am 31 years old. My ambition is to be an FM one day. I figure 10-12 years...enough about me...remember this. They have a Senior World Championship. Current Champion is Victor Korchnoi. I recently learned he was th greatest player to NEVER be world champion...my point is don't give up. Korchnoi was over 80 when he won the Senior World Championship. If you get knocked down..get up again. I've seen your stats. You can be a FM. Get a coach. You already hav chessboard instincts tht only come with years of experience. All you need knw is to learn the higher concepts of chess.

I lose 9/10 games everyday (to my computer, I want to be alittle better before I play people). I still keep going and I've never even gotten to 1740 like you...to me thats awesome! If you still have that part in your brain that NEEDS a chess game everyday...do...not...give...up.  Good day bud.

most common reason people leave chess has something to do with ratings. :(

I can relate to the OP, I have been playing competitive chess since the early 1990's and am in my early 40's now, when I was young I had high chess ambitions so I would try to play in as many OTB tournaments I could get to and if I missed a tournament I would feel a sense of emptiness and was glad when that particular tournament finished as I was not missing an opportunity anymore. Family and work life intervened in the early 2000's and have made chess more of a serious hobby since then, but that had not stopped me following the latest trends and playing internet chess, but in the last few months my total chess interest has dwindled quite dramatically where I am now concerned that I may stop playing and studying chess completely. My ability has sort of remained the same for the last 10 years and has not started to go down hill but I suppose that youthful ambition has now subsisded and I can't see the reward of studying chess like I use too. Maybe when I my family and work life become more managable then I will get back into my old ways when I am in my 50's.

maybe play for fun

Leon_Czolgosz wrote:

you play like a retard, you were never higher than 1300, unless your senile no

Alive can be butthead, you can be beavis.

Sort of finding a new enthusiasm for chess now. And have recently started to play Chess 960 on this site under correspondence time controls. I find the new positions a joy to play and the relaxed time control more enjoyable.

Chess 960 is awesome. I play it at ICCF.com.

I lost all my ambition for everything, not just chess. I just want to spend my time wallowing in self pity...

life sucks, but you got to stay in touch with your hobbies bro...when your ready return to chess....

I have found if you have a personality above wallpaper or watching paint dry you can get bored often while playing chess. Persevere or go pn dr phil show hes a motivater.