The invisble opponent- Fear of loss (poem)

The Invisible Opponent

Today, I didn’t lose a game.
I didn’t blunder a queen.
I didn’t get flagged.
I didn’t fall for some opening trap.

I lost before I even pressed “Play.”

I hovered over the seek button on Chess.com, watched the little loading circle spin...
and clicked “Back.”

Not because I was busy. Not because I had something better to do.
But because I wasn’t ready to lose. Again.
In chess, we talk about calculation, prep, blunders, openings.

But no one talks about the fear — the small voice that says:

"What if I drop another game?"
"What if I look like a noob?"
"What if… I’m not improving?"
Today, that voice won.
I resigned — mentally — before move 1.

 
🔁 But Then…
I realized:
Even Carlsen has bad days.
Even Hikaru rage quits.
Even bots blunder.

And every great player has had that moment — staring at a board, doubting themselves.

So I hit “New Game.”

 
♟️ Final Move:
If you’ve ever hovered over “Play” and backed out —
You're not alone.
But remember: the hardest move in chess is often the first one.

So go make it.

Let’s play.