Addiction

Hi everyone,

I'm a chess addict. I play frequently every evening online, usually 5 - 10 games on live. I always play the same openings, mostly on autopilot and I usually play whilst on the phone, eating, browsing the internet etc. I think that I probably concentrate and think about my moves in 30% of my games. I dream about 3 or 4 move tactic combinations. I mostly play when I'm tired. I often play badly enough on autopilot that I feel guilty about playing with the other player and I usually apologise for wasting his or her time. I don't know how to get rid of this compulsion whilst still enjoying playing chess. Live chess is too accessible for me, it's like a black and white form of crack without the physical harm and social deprivation. Does anybody else suffer for something similar?

Kind regards,

schismatic

 Surely a typo?

Sometimes I too feel that I am 'addicted' to Chess. It certainly makes an excellent distraction from the drudgery of everday life. I recommend that you do what I did and stop playing lots of short games, instead try to play just a few long games every session (30 minutes minimum). You'll actually enjoy playing more when you  concentrate and put more thought behind your moves. Only playing blitz just fosters sloppy playing.

What he's saying is that unlike chess, crack doesn't lead to physical and social difficulties.

Bobby Fischer - I like the moment when I crack a man's ego

Well 600 games in 30 days how many is that a day 20?

I thought they made crack from coca leaves, now I know better. Thanks!

 oinquarki was clearly being sarcastic in implying that chess does lead to physical and social difficulties 

Me too, addicted that is - oh.. but not to crack, just chess - everything chess: playing (badly so I do Quizzes and surveys) reading chess books, dreaming about chess.

I don't play with my wife though - chess, chess, i mean i don't play chess with my wife.

I was clearly being sarcastic in saying that chess leads to physical and social difficulties more so than crack cocaine...

Not the best demonstration there

This is more like it.

Where are the chess boards?

See bottom right