What's the Point?

Yup!

What's the point of this game? Why has this board game last for 1,400 years? What is the draw? Why does it command the attention of men, women and children like it does? We all seem to place some importance on it as a measure of intelligence, yet we also know that is not necessarily true. But it makes a loss so much worse than it really is. And yet, we return game after game...

Why?

Well, we all have to figure that out for ourselves. My "why" may be different than yours. Mine, like many other "Adult Improvers" is that it's merely a hobby with a score system attached to it. Who doesn't want to get a high score, a PR, 1% better each day? Add to the fact that it comes with the possibilities of elusive "titles".  

Oh man! Just take my money, time and sanity right now. Let's get this over with. And for what? At the end of the day, for what? Well, really, it's just something to do, right? What else are you going to do? How many hobbies do you have? I draw and play chess and my motivation for both fluctuates with the tides and I need a change. The world sucks and I need something to focus on.

I look to my left and a see a bookshelf with 55 chess books neatly organized of which I have read 12. Three of which are not "chess improvement" books but more on the history and Bobby Fischer. What else does chess give us older folks? Something to collect. Book, boards, clocks and most of all, emotional damage (Just ask Levy). I have 3 boards, just ordered another today, a clock and plenty of cause to throw my phone across the room. But I've never been one to rage quit as great as that would be at times.

Why am I rambling on? I am sure I just described 90% of chess.com and 100% of the "Chess Punks". Sitting here day after day contemplating a "plan" yet I still have 43 books to read. Surely these books can unlock any true potential I may have. So, I shall start. Book after book. I decided I wanted to focus on chess improvement for 2023 and have been playing more but not really "studying". This is my accountability post. In the landscape of chess.com I am sure these litter the servers abandoned to time and dashed dreams.

Why?

Because chess is hard.

As of today, 4/16/2023:

Rapid rating: 1155 (my main focus)

Blitz: 925 (not a focus at all)

Puzzle Rush: 29 (3 min), 27 (5 min), 43 (survival)