Win or Lose, it's how you play the game!

I have been attending my local chess club meetings for about a month now.  The chess club meets in a restaurant on our South side of town and we take up several tables for our player's who for the majority are all under the age of 18 and attend local schools or are home schooled.  This evening I was paired up with another adult who I would say is about average and we're almost evenly matched.  Unfortunately, I lost those two games but enjoyed the challenge.

Next, I was paired with a young lady who's a home schooled 5th grader and has a chess rating much higher than my own.  I can humbly say that I put up a good effort.  She and I both made some blunders and in the end she won.  I know that I am not the best chess player, and definitely am not a Robert James Fischer.  Being humble and showing good sportsmanship is what makes a player great no matter if you win or lose.

I often loose due to blunders and falling into traps set by opponents.  Each loss is a learning experience and one cannot allow pride to get in the way of being a good sport and showing the winner respect.  I win some times, and do get tired of loosing games. Tonight was no exception, and I played hard to give my opponents a challenging game.

I'm here on Chess.com not because I want a chess rating, or play tournaments.  I am here as a Student to learn to play the game correctly, slowly, and methodically.   I enjoy a good win and want to win more frequently but, opponents aren't giving a inch on the board and exploit mistakes and blunders with a vengeance.  The beating down of an opponent to some is to crush their spirit.  I look across the board and see a "friend" who is very much like myself, and want to win as much as I do.

Only one can emerge from the fray of battle victorious, or humbled by the opponent.  It is far better to reach across the table and shake hands than to humiliate one's opponent.  Boris Spassky at the end of game 6 did just that by applauding Bobby Fischer's brilliant game play. Spassky and Fischer remained friends until Fischer's death.  Spassky said of Fischer that he was like a spoiled child but, applauded him for his mastery of the game and shook his hand.  Fischer was unsure of how to respond and left the auditorium as quickly as possible.

Chess is a mental game challenging ones intellect against another.  Personally, I need to look past my own position on the board and see from my opponents view of the board.  And that is where the real challenge lies within placing myself into their shoes.  This is not always an easy thing to do.  However, one may not be able to "see" the attack unless he takes the time to study the games of the opponent as Fischer did to learn how Spassky played, and determined how he could win the game.

I hope that I can develop into a much better chess player than I am today but, that will take time and practice playing chess games both online and with chess club members.  I would very much like to be coached during a game but cannot afford to pay someone for coaching.  A true sportsman conducting him or herself during a game should offer constructive and positive feedback to the opponent.  Doing so would set a president between each player & opponent forming lasting friendships and help each to learn from one another.  That's what friends do... it's called Mentoring a weaker player to get stronger.

I have used Fischer & Spassky as an example because they actually fed of of each other's skills & weaknesses but remained friends after the match.  And this is what I believe community is about here at Chess.com.