Burning The Chess Board at Both Ends

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15th December 2008, 05:05pm
#1
by _Beowulf_
Canada
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 25

I'm not sure about you but I play on-line at other chess sites -- which shall remain nameless. I belong to teams on these sites and play in tournaments at these sites. At any one time I'm playing between 75 & 100 games. But lately I've been slowly cutting back on the number of games that I play overall -- and/or cummulatively. Why?

Because I feel that I am not putting my best game forward. Furthermore I have caught myself making mistakes and on occasion blunders which I do not customarily make otherwise. Remember I'n relatively new to correspondence chess. I grew up at a time when chess was played "mano a mano". Games were settled in one sitting in a matter of hours -- sometimes even minutes.

I apologize to some of my opponents for giving them my "B+" game instead of my "A" game. And in essence I've been cheating myself to boot. Because I'm not getting complete enjoyment out of each game. I feel a bit like a juggler spinning 75 to 100 plates dashing from one plate to another -- trying to keep the game going. I need to get my games down to a manageable number.

How about you dear reader & fellow chess player. How many games are too many for you to handle? Do you limit yourself or is the sky the limit?

15th December 2008, 05:08pm
#2
by Arv123
New York City United States
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 452

I can't handle more than five

15th December 2008, 05:14pm
#3
by _Beowulf_
Canada
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 25

I probably shouldn't be playing more than 5 at any one time. ;-)

15th December 2008, 05:20pm
#4
by stanhope13
The Celestial City or Armageddon United Kingdom
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 365

i like to stick to 1.

15th December 2008, 05:32pm
#5
by sivat
Oklahoma United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 419

I'm comfortable at 50. Higher than that and I start messing up by dashing from game to game. Right now I'm down around 30.

15th December 2008, 05:42pm
#6
by Spiffe
Orlando, FL United States
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 954

I like having about 15-20 going at once.  Much more than that, and my game starts to suffer.

16th December 2008, 02:09am
#7
by Jenkins12
Melbourne Australia
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 33

Seven's about my limit. Any more and my brain starts to hurt. Unfortunately, if your only noteworthy addiction is too many simultaneous games on chess.com, you'll never be one of the cool kids.

17th December 2008, 09:44am
#8
by _Beowulf_
Canada
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 25

Jenkins12,

I've got vices they haven't even given a name yet to. ;-)

17th December 2008, 09:57am
#9
by Maradonna
Scotland
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 2167

I've played about 30 games at one point -didn't enjoy it that much. I've got about 5-10 going on normally.

I always find that if I play less, and read more, I get more enjoyment from games. As with most things the better you understand it, the more fascinating it becomes.

Because I started chess quite recently - about 3 years ago, I remember how little I understood. I now understand my games and others games more. I love how I can now look at a game and by seeing the players moves I know roughly how good they are - whereas, to beginners or non-chess players they see nothing!

Essentially chess literacy is the most pleasurable thing about this game for me. That and playing super smoking moves ;)

 

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