Why do you play chess?

The objective of this topic is to hear from group people why they play chess. You can play some sports for physical reasons, gamble to win money. Why do you play chess? What do you get by playing chess?

Abraços.

I speak no Portugese, but from Spanish it looks like abraços means "embraces". Am I correct?

Abraços = hugs. 

A way to say "see you soon", etc..

Abraços.

Well that is a good question. I play OTB on Tuesday night for the social interaction and the game itself. I guess your question addresses more along the lines of why I like the game.

For me the game of chess is a chance to see how well my mind can compete with my opponent's mind. I do play on-line, but I enjoy OTB much more. 

It is a mental exercise.

I play chess because I find it very fun (and slightly addictive), and I am interested in the mathematical aspects of it. It also helps improve my spatial ability, especially in OTB chess. (I actually had a lot of problems playing chess when I first learned how to play because I couldn't see that my pieces were being threatened.)

What would be the mathematical aspects of chess, awesomechess1729? I can see many aspects in chess we can benefit from (e.g. planning, strategy, self control against anxiety, etc..) but I do not see much of mathematics..

Abraços.

Well, there is the incredibly huge number of potential chess games that could be played, and also the algorithm of chess itself, which presumably is programmed in computers. Even the best grandmasters, who have studied chess for years, fail to computers, which are simply making their moves based off of what they are programmed to do. The rules that govern chess are a system similar to any mathematical system, yet humans still cannot master it as computers do.

When I was in elementary school, the teacher created a club for the elite students, a club that anybody could join if they were well-behaved. Half of the club's name was "chess club," and the teacher would have students play chess in it. Although I didn't know how to play, something about the game just fascinated the heck out of me, I think because of the different types of pieces with each having its own type of motion, and the great depth of complexity and cleverness, which was evidenced by how long the kids would study the position before moving. It was a lot more interesting and complicated than checkers, which I played but never liked that much.

To this day I notice that anything really complicated really fascinates me: math, computers, mechanics, foreign languages, music, etc. Each of those is an entire world in itself with its own internal rules and emergent heuristics.

More recently I got back into chess after applying for some chess tutoring jobs since I thought I'd better get back in practice in case I got hired. Some of the chess videos I watched on YouTube really stuck in my mind and the cleverness of some of the positions just stuck with me and I would think about the positions and their clever continuations throughout the day. To get a little more philosophical, a well-played chess game has a wonderful feel to it, like a wonderful piece of music, where everything fits together beautifully and you have to marvel at how much work, artistry, and creativity went into such a game. That's partly why I've been holding off on playing human players here (until next year): I don't want to have a game permanently on display to the public that I played badly, that is ugly and without artistic merit. I want to be proud of each game I play, that I'd demonstrated good ideas and good understanding, even if I lose.

TL;DR lol

So how about if someone explains to me just how chess engines work. I know enough about programming to understand - maybe.

It seems to me that one of the most critical steps is how you define good vs bad - good vs bad in chess terms to a computer that only knows binary code and program languages.

Is that the big step?

Maybe that needs to be a separate thread?

Rocky, my friend, I am sure awesomechess1729 will be glad to talk about it.

When I said earlier I don´t see much o mathematics in chess, I was not thinking of chess engines programming. And I am still not sure whether chess programming has a lot of math in it or not. 

Sometimes, when I have the opportunity I like to gamble. I bet low, lose low, win low. But I love blackjack. And I love math and probabilities. So, one of these days (years ago in fact) I did program a blalckjack player. Not too difficult because there are so many " laws" that it was easy to do the " general stategy" . Poor programming technique , I have to admit. But it worked and I could spend some hours dealing with it to no conclusion...

Point is that blackjack has to do with math and probabilities and - if you want to go a little further - statistics. That is not the case of chess.

I like to play blackjack because it has a lot of numbers, probabilities involved. And I can make decisions, differently of , e.g., roulette (which I hate). I love to make decisions.

Maybe this is the reason  I love chess. Decisions at every move. 

Vai, Corinthians !!

But Zobral - in fact computers do play chess and in fact all computers know/uderstand is some level of math, so the chess programs are assigning math to chess in some form or the other.

I'm also interested in chess engines, but that's definitely a topic for a separate thread. I haven't downloaded Stockfish yet but I'm sure I will eventually. I'm not even sure how a chess engine differs from a chess playing program, but let's leave that for your new thread.

I play chess to escape from reality. Chess is a perfect world were there are clear,logical solutions to all your problems...if you play a good game.

Another reason is because I'm 31 and realized I had no hobby. Normally I go to work and do whatever( read my bio if you wanna know more.), but lately things have been slow and I realized I needed an activity. Something that works my brain out as well as develop my analytical skills, which convienently is useful to me all the time.

Also I like the people who play chess. On average they are smarter, more conversent and worldly. I wish chess.com existed 20 years ago...My life would certainly have turned out differently. Anyways I play to meet people( not here at another site, right now I'm using only the educational functions.).

I play chess because It's fun. If I could play like a Master, I would make a partial living as a chess coach.

I treat chess like a martial art( it is mentally.) so every new idea, principle or opening I learn I tell my mind that "This is to protect myself for my next fight...on the board". I like the warlike qualities chess has.

I think that's all for now. I'll come back if I think of anything else.

There is no escape from reality. Open your eyes, look up to the skies, and see.

Camberfoil, my friend, I have to disagree.

Yes, there is escape from reality. Moments, seconds, minutes, hours maybe. But yes, there is.

When you get immersed in a chess game, position, opening, whatever...but you have to be in fact immersed, there is no other thing in the world. The world is that board, their inhabitants the pieces, figures.

I remenber years ago, when my kids were very very young (only years of age) I could stay away from everything (cries, fights,etc..) to the despair of my wife...

Abraços.

I was referencing Bohemian Rhapsody.

I PLAY THE   GAME OUT OFF LOVE I,M 72 YRS. OLD AND IT,S GOOD BRAIN THERAPHY .VERY SELDOM  DO YOU NOT HAVE A CHALLENGE . PEACE.Please be relevant, helpful & nice!

That's funny, considering many of the great chess players learned to play when they were 5.

Play the game...everybody play the gaaaammmmeeee....of chess.....