There was a survey question asked, on this site about psycology and the role it plays in chess. (if any).

So I pose this question, how much of your ego goes into your game?

And how does it affect you... if at all, one way or another?

My drive to win pushes me to find a way. ego is everything. Fischer loved crushing his opponents ego and building his own. During one of his games after he moved he wrote "knight slaughters queen". His drive to win pushed him to it. mind you he was a little eccentric but aren't most chess players?

Too much:)

Nah, your ego is everything. How you play is who you are and vice-versa. Though I think the understanding and mastery of the game affects how someone plays as much as their personality. Perhaps an increased awareness of the game changes the expression of someone's style much the same as a larger vocabulary allows people to express themselves more eloquently and succinctly in words.

For me I tend to put more importance and hence more of myself into a game if the opposition taunts or boasts, because I feel I owe it to that person to beat them :)

But then I also put alot more into a game that is fun and with someone who is amiable, because I think I owe it to them to play well and give a good game.

I've learnt not to be intimidated by someone's prowess on the board as everyone makes mistakes, and I know that losing doesn't reflect who I am as a person as much as it does my level of chess ability. I don't think some people make that distinction though :)

As far as being egotistical about playing, you can always explain away bad play. Was it Capablanca that once blamed a loss on having the sun in his eyes?

I agree, that ego is everything. Your point of view is the boastfulness of the victory and rightly so there is always the sweet taste of having won, but should one gloat about it? What of that aspect of the ego?  Conversely, the ego suffers, if one is the defeated. Do you think this will affect ones' game for lack of confidence. 

My question then is...can the game be played without the ego...if so, how can one do so in everyday life?

Let's see if I get this right, how good or bad at chess you are determines the strengh of the ego, and cosequently, ones' reaction towards ones' opponents?

Partly, but even moreso the other way around. Performance in a game can be affected by the balance between the two ego's of the players. Talent and ability being somewhat equal, ego can help decide the game by making one player feel intimidated and underperform. Of course this is the apparent ego of the opponent, expressed in a way that does intimidate. Or the ego of a player could make them feel inferior, and more likely to accept defeat.

If the outcome of the game isn't taken to be super important or a realistic reflection of ones self though, then it's easier to put ego aside and just enjoy the beauty of the dance. How much does ego come into play when you play against yourself? or a child you want to teach the game to? or a lover you just want to enjoy spending the time with?

More_Ignorance wrote;

If the outcome of the game isn't taken to be super important or a realistic reflection of ones self though, then it's easier to put ego aside and just enjoy the beauty of the dance. How much does ego come into play when you play against yourself? or a child you want to teach the game to? or a lover you just want to enjoy spending the time with?

So, ego is subject to circumstance and not at all, all prevasive.

Ego drives my playing, my studying the game, and everything else that has to do with winning. However, I tend to check my ego at the door when dealing with other people away from actual games.

I also tend to do the same as you, when other people are concerned.

To be honest though, I started this thread cause my ego get's the better of me and I kick myself in the ass for wanting to be better at chess. My impatience and intolerance with  myself just makes it worse, knowing this doesn't help either. If I could only get past being a freaking perfectionist.  Alas...sigh...cst la vie.  ha ha...