Yes. I started being serious about playing chess when I got COVID (April, 2023)
Should you play chess when sick?
Sort:
Mar 22, 2024
0
#5
CharlestonViennaGambit wrote:
Should you play chess when sick?
Why not? It helps pass the time between upchucks.
I played an OTB game once with 38.5C fever and got mated in 18. I hope I didn’t infect my opponent since it turned out to be the measles.
No. Anything that distracts you and/or makes it more difficult for you to think increases your chance of losing.
During the 1972 World Chess Championship between Boris Spassky (Russian champion) and Bobby Fischer (American challenger) Spassky requested a medical postponement because he had a cold. It was granted after the match physician went to Spassky's hotel room, examined him and recommended he not play the next game. The postponement was granted. When play resumed Spassky's play was described as not as good as he had played in the previous match games. Possibly the effects of the cold were still lingerng.
I have a book covering the match. In it, Fischer's string of consecutive wins (twenty, at one poing) earned the nickname of "Fischer fever." Grandmasters noted that in past games they had never been able to defeat anyone in good health. The losing player was always indisposed in some way and wasn't playing up to par.
Mar 23, 2024
0
#8
I was at a tournament once and had a fever of 39C and i got first place. Lucky me, they said
Mar 23, 2024
0
#9
If you feel like playing, then why not?
It also depends a lot on the illness, sometimes cognitive abilities decrease so much it's painful to play anything. Sometimes I have a fever and I feel more focused than ever. But it's important to objectively see when "you are losing, because you are sick and not playing at your level"
Mar 23, 2024
0
#10
OTB tournaments NO. Online YES. It's boring to stay home without activities. If you lose points, you will get it back when you're well.
22 days ago
0
#12
CharlestonViennaGambit wrote:
Should you play chess when sick?
depends on how sick and if over the board or not
22 days ago
0
#13
Zunayed_781038 wrote:
Yes if u feel like playing. It may refresh your mood
last post was an year ago? dang!
22 days ago
0
#14
When playing chess whilst sick, I gained 400 Elo in bullet. Make of that what you will
If you are contagious, absolutely do not play OTB. During Covid, several people died when they were infected at a bridge tournament.
I sometimes play skittles online when sick. It passes the time, but usually leads to a major loss of rating points. Don’t do it if you cannot tolerate losing a few hundred points.
My most miserable OTB tournament experience occurred when I developed a migraine during a game. I spent about three hours in blinding pain. Still managed to win, but never want to repeat that.
I was sick and lost my queen twice but had to keep playing because they were group games. . .
I even posted this to the organiser . . .
Sure. Being sick can help you have a great performance. You may feel miserable the whole time, but you might be brilliant. I have had some great games while being sick. One time I got a 105 on a hard test when I had COVID.
21 days ago
0
#19
Stormy-Boy-2007 wrote:
Sure. Being sick can help you have a great performance. You may feel miserable the whole time, but you might be brilliant. I have had some great games while being sick. One time I got a 105 on a hard test when I had COVID.
bro what 
Should you play chess when sick?