When does Chess become....well fun?

learning is fun...especially if free

Chess is torture.

chess is for masochists

it's all about your attitude and expectations. that's how ALL of life is - our happiness is a product of our mindset. if you think "fun" = winning, then it will only be fun when you win. if you tell yourself that "fun" = improving, then it will only be fun when you learn something from your games, and winning easily wont' even be fun. 

life is about the process, the journey, and being in the moment. if you attach your happiness to outcomes instead of process, you will be unhappy. learn to enjoy the process. 

(hoping off of soapbox...)

Chess becomes fun when you remove the competitive element and you do not care if you win or lose.....literally playing for fun.

90% of chess players are drawn to the game for the competitiveness and the inherent improvement facility.

The game can be taken very seriously, or played for a lark.

It is rather addictive  and the fun can quite quickly be replaced by obsession and "bloodlust".

I am where you are I think. Back when I played more it was friendly games and because we wanted to get to the end game, we would frequently warn each other when we made blunders and other bad moves.

This kind of created bad habits for me, but I know if I stick to it I will improve. I sprung for the membership here and have been having fun and learning a lot with the lessons and problems. I like reading about chess and re-creating some of the games in the books I read, and watching others play.

I havn't been a member long, and still, as have not won a game, as of yet. I am starting to see patterns though and when I lose it's beause of really stupid blunders, not because I am aimlessly moving pieces around. But like americu stated, if I accept I am not going to win for awhile, it's a lot of fun, especially if I give my opponent a run for the money.

So it's very fun for me as long as I accept that I have much improving to do. I think the important thing is to not give up. When I was very young I would give up too quickly when I tried to learn new things. As I got older, I discovered that if I stuck with what I wanted to learn, I would eventually reach a point where everything would click and all of a sudden I would know it!! 

I have noticed that if I am tired, or distracted I cannot play chess, so I use those times to do the lessons or read. I have decided to only play when I am able to give the game my full attention, otherwise it's just a waste of everyones time.

If you want you can add me as a friend and we can play. You will probably beat me so it should be fun for you. We can chat about our moves after you beat me.

bloodlust is rampant on chess .com, especially in the forums

I wonder if some IM John Watson 2010 comments on opening selection would be helpful.

"For players with very limited experience, I recommend using openings in which the play can be clarified at an early stage, often with a degree of simplification. ... you will have to get used to playing with open lines for both sides' pieces ... teachers all over the world suggest that inexperienced players begin with 1 e4. ... Of course, you can also play 1 d4 ... A solid and more-or-less universal set-up is 2 Nf3 and 3 Bf4, followed in most cases by 4 e3, 5 Be2 and 6 0-0. I'd rather see my students fight their way through open positions instead; however, if you're not getting out of the opening alive after 1 e4, this method of playing 1 d4 deserves consideration. ... a commonly suggested 'easy' repertoire for White with 1 Nf3 and the King's indian Attack ... doesn't lead to an open game or one with a clear plan for White. Furthermore, it encourages mechanical play. Similarly, teachers sometimes recommend the Colle System ..., which can also be played too automatically, and usually doesn't lead to an open position. For true beginners, the King's Indian Attack and Colle System have the benefit of offering a safe position that nearly guarantees passage to some kind of playable middlegame; they may be a reasonable alternative if other openings are too intimidating. But having gained even a small amount of experience, you really should switch to more open and less automatic play."

winning combinations are fun

endgames are the greatest fun