Internet, OTB or Tournaments?

I just read Phil-from-Blayney's entertaining forum post about Why OTB will always be best.

Phil's obvious enthusiasm -- and it bubbles through in this thread -- underlines his opening contention that OTB will "always be best".

While I would argue about the "always" I must agree with everything else he says.

Club chess at its best is great, but so often is just off-hand play. In my opinion it is identical to Internet chess. At that level I prefer playing on the Net for the freedom of being able to do it at home and to be able to move around and bark at the dog during the game.

Of course, there's a lot of social interaction at club level that is also a big plus if you prefer to have company.

But tournament play is another experience, and Phil has captured its essence.

Everybody turns up feeling optimistic. “Do I have a chance to win this tournament?” “Will I beat so-and-so today?” “Wait'll my old nemesis tries his Sicilian Dragon -- I've got a surprise move for him.” “Wonder if I'll get to play an IM, or even a GM today?” And so on.

The emotions wax and wane as the tournament (and our fortunes) do the same and, wherever you lie in the field, there's always the urge to move toward that elusive spot on the top board.

Tournament play is a different type of chess. It takes solid concentration and calculation—hours of it; and that concentration doesn't last only for a single game, it lasts for the duration of the tournament—anything from two or three days to a week or more. You dig deep into your energy pool and you spend big as you strive for every possible advantage. This is when chess takes on a whole new dimension. This is when your play moves from social to gladiatorial.

In a recent chess.com survey on whether we feel frustrated when we lose chess games I voted for "Never. It's only a game". That's true as far as social, club, or Internet chess goes but at a tournament level a blunder can be upsetting and I, like some of my friends, will confess to losing sleep over a bad one. It can get to you.

(Comically, some years ago when adjourned games were still commonplace, I read a novel about a chess player. I don't recall its name but there was one scene when he and his lady friend were connubially engaged and he let out an agonised cry. She immediately stopped and said, “Did I hurt you?” “Hurt me?” came the anguished reply, “I just realised I wrote down the wrong move in my adjourned game.” The author was obviously an experienced tournament player and my wife had a good laugh about it. She found it totally believable.)

There can be a lot of camaraderie at a tournament, too, as you renew acquaintance with people you may not have seen since the last event. My first tournament was in 1971 and a couple of the people I knew in those days are still playing. I only see them when I attend another tournament. But apart from the social interaction there can also be a tad of emotion, contention, and gamesmanship. Everything builds into a unique, and rewarding, experience.

If you haven't tried an over-the-board tournament check out the possibilities in your area. It's a whole new board game.