Is virtual chess spelling the end for the traditional ways, where you attended a club once a week and played in a league at the weekend?

Is the social aspect on the way out?

Although I read somewhere that on line chess is holding its own against other online games.

Playing online and OTB are not mutually exclusive, and like many I do both. 

But, in any case, IME chess clubs are not very sociable. During the games you can't talk and after the games most of the other guys either leave, or don't particularly want to socialize. I'd even say the majority are not very interested in talking about chess.

The chess clubs I've attended in the USA involved at least as much social interactionn as chess competition, although usually with some chess context.

Mijin has a point.

I often find the stronger players in a club avoid playing the weaker players, and mainly stick to themselves.  Can be a bit daunting for a weak player or a new member

I like to look into his eyes, and indeed, his very soul at the moment I crush my opponent's ego.. ''Checkmate'', I cooly whisper, tipping my fedora as I do so. 

 Can't do that over online chess, just "lolololol i owned u gg no re".  It just isnt the same.

Is that psycho babble "sly Uses"

its poetry, like all the the things I do  "seamus1"

It's being a butt-head.

I suppose virtual chess is the way to go if you want to improve your game.  Especially the on line games, where you can work through many variations off board.

Maybe we are all one giant computer game.  For more on this check out the final episode of "Through the Wormhole" on the Discovery Channel narrated by Morgan Freeman.

For a time I played computer games.

Great fun, but addictive.

Chess I enjoy more, but can be addictive too

Maybe it's me - a personality quirk, possibly  prone to getting addicted to things.

Anybody else experience the same

I'm getting visits to this thread every day.

Please leave a comment somebody.

If anything I think 1 good OTB game can be worth 100 online games.

Depends on how you play your online games tho.

 I found my game has improved somewhat after playing on line chess.

I play only one or two games at a time.  That way I can take my time playing over the variations and so make less mistakes.

I play some live chess too normally of 30 minutes duration.  That way I can keep my hand in with OTB games.

Although I read somewhere that on line chess is holding its own against other online games.

im not really sure on how to play but im learning and ppl are beating me but i  dont care really its fa fun game so aja ja figthing!

What chess online allows is a variety of people to play that wouldn't normally do so because of life's schedule. I mean local chess clubs are mostly held once a week in the evenings and some people work at that time or even at night so they can attend the sessions. So, that's why online chess has it's advantage.