I play it as a hobby, I have exams to prepare for and want to study engineering in the future but chess is something I always like to turn to whenever I feel like having a different type of intellectual stimulation.
Obviously I want to improve but I am no where near committed enough to classify myself as "super serious".
I learned how to move the pieces as a boy and a tiny tiny bit of strategy from my father...and how much each piece is worth...how to checkmate....then a friend taught me some basic opening strategy in high school and we played every once in a while...wasn't til very recently, as an adult, that I have gotten into chess. Just finished my first chess book. Love it now more than ever. I see you are from SoCal. I used to live down there in several places. Do you know Ocean Front Walk in Santa Monica and Venice? Some people sit out there at the shore and play.
Chess is a drug 
Initially it is fun, then it becomes addictive and nothing can pull you away...
If you go to the extreme end, you'll end up in the park homeless, but as long as you have a chess set, its ok.
It is fun. But it draws in smart obbsessive people that begin to make it not so fun for casual woodpushers
It is fun. But it draws in smart obbsessive people that begin to make it not so fun for casual woodpushers
Wow, nice observation. 
I loved chess from the first day I learned the basic moves. That was a loooong time ago. I came home and taught my 7 yr old brother to play. We didn't have a chess set but we had a checkerboard so we made a set out of "creepy craw lies" (a popular toy at the time). Our pawns were the ants. Anyway, we played for fun, and we played other kids for fun. It seems as though everyone now is either super serious or doesn't play at all. Does anyone else notice that? Are you having fun?
You made your own set. That is pretty good going. Cannot say we ever had to do that as kids when we began playing really badly.
Chess is fun mostly - because it is just a little game- but if you read some of the forum posts you will see that many people take it way too seriously. Possibly because they have no other interests, a really boring life or no real friends or all of those. Keep it fun though.
Chess is a drug
Initially it is fun, then it becomes addictive and nothing can pull you away...
If you go to the extreme end, you'll end up in the park homeless, but as long as you have a chess set, its ok.
Similar to video games, actually. Or alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs....but a little better for you...
I play chess at work when there isnt any tourists to hunt in okavango
Yes, chicken, there are outdoor chess boards at the main beach where I live. Sometimes occupied by homeless guys. I have not tried a pickup game there. Maybe I'll take a set with me next weekend and see what's up.
Chess is one of those things that it's more fun to talk or read about than to participate in. During an actual game, there usually isn't much fun or enjoyment until you get to a winning position that you're trying to convert. But you can't appreciate it as much until the game is actually over.
Chess is a drug
Initially it is fun, then it becomes addictive and nothing can pull you away...
If you go to the extreme end, you'll end up in the park homeless, but as long as you have a chess set, its ok.
I love that you say this. I am a college student and often find myself unable to focus in class because I'm thinking about chess. Non chess players always say to me, "you play tons of chess? that must really help with your ability to concentrate!" I'm going to start responding with, "Yeah, about as much as heroin helps you concentrate."
Yes, chicken, there are outdoor chess boards at the main beach where I live. Sometimes occupied by homeless guys. I have not tried a pickup game there. Maybe I'll take a set with me next weekend and see what's up.
Yes, I have seen them in Santa Monica/Venice at the beach. Also, there is a crazy Italian guy (looks homeless but he is not) who sits out with a chess set and clock in Laguna Beach right at the beach. No one beats him. I only beat him because he handicapped himself with time. He got so mad that he started swearing and threw the board and pieces into the air. He has even beaten two GMs a few games (but them the GMs started using psychology and winning).
Really! I am talking about Laguna Beach. Maybe he is who I saw. Small world....
Chess awakes the competitive nature in human, and its rather hard to just having fun in chess, when the goal of the game is to debilitate your opponents' king, and your opponents try to do the same to you.
And i guess, more good of you at chess, more competivite you are and it makes you stay away from fun part of chess, since your intention is clear now, to paralyze your opponent. More win will bring superiority feeling and makes you leave fun chess.
People vary a bit here. Even if I had much more talent then I do I would lack the competative drive to get truly good at the game. I just feel like exploring chess is an addiction from which I hope never to be cured. But I know some hypercompetative types at my club who seem to experience more stress than fun or intellectual delight.
V_Eric_S wrote:
Chess awakes the competitive nature in human, and its rather hard to just having fun in chess, when the goal of the game is to debilitate your opponents' king, and your opponents try to do the same to you.
And i guess, more good of you at chess, more competivite you are and it makes you stay away from fun part of chess, since your intention is clear now, to paralyze your opponent. More win will bring superiority feeling and makes you leave fun chess.
Really! I am talking about Laguna Beach. Maybe he is who I saw. Small world....
I guess it is a small world. Wow. I used to live in Laguna Beach for a several years. There are (or were) a couple picnic tables right at the main beach. Across the street from places like BJs etc. Right near where they play volleyball. You live there? Nice town. This guy doesn't work. He is there all day every day, with a thick accent and crazy hair. He is very good at chess.
I loved chess from the first day I learned the basic moves. That was a loooong time ago. I came home and taught my 7 yr old brother to play. We didn't have a chess set but we had a checkerboard so we made a set out of "creepy craw lies" (a popular toy at the time). Our pawns were the ants. Anyway, we played for fun, and we played other kids for fun. It seems as though everyone now is either super serious or doesn't play at all. Does anyone else notice that? Are you having fun?