Do you actually like chess?

I'm still not sure whether I like chess.

As a child, I gave it up almost as soon as I had learnt the rules, because I didn't like being beaten by people I thought weren't as clever as I was.

I started again when I was almost 40, and I have learnt quite a lot, but mostly, I have learnt that I will never be much good.

When I found this site, I liked it for many reasons. I won my first ten online games, which was nice. But the conclusion must surely be that I wasn't playing against very good opponents. Then I lost a few games. OK. And just now I have finished a win against a higher-rated player, about 1750. I looked back to see what happened in that game, and it turns out that I didn't do anything special. He gave me a pawn, and then a couple of moves later he gave me a bishop in a simple queen fork. If that is 1750-level play, and I am about 1550 - well, I find it more depressing to win like that than it is to lose.

Maybe I just don't like chess.

On the other hand, I like winning more than I like losing. So I must like it. I just like complaining too.

i would stay with chess

chess isn't just about who wins and who loses but it is about learning. OK, winning is good but losing is also a part of it. thats what i think 

well i am a 17 year old player and i am actualy notecing more and more the way my brain feels good wile planing varitations and difrent optoins my oppenent is going to play. winning is way funer then loosing but i realy injoy chess because i feal i control the game plan and the way my oppenent has to re act to my planing. ammm my point is yes i do enjoy the actual chess game and the more tactical and off the book positions the better! 

okey i just cheket out the game you won at (vs 1750) . i actualy think you are under estimating your self you played there well!. good luck

I hate all my addictions

The way you have characterized the dislike of your win suggests you not only like chess, but that you're quite smitten and should take it as a mistress.

seems that u absolutely hate losing.

chess is pretty much a lovehate relationship for me and many others for sure.

the previous quote about taking it as a mistress is good advice.

I agree with bjazz!

I absolutely LOVE playing chess! One thing that probably helps: I don't care whether I win, lose, or draw. I honestly don't.

My OTB rating is quite low for as long as I've been playing. Guess what? I don't care! It's just a game and it's fun to play.

In just the last year I've lost to a 13-year-old girl, beaten the president of the chess club I used to attend, and gotten massacred by a USCF Expert who was part of that same club - all in official rated games.

I think too many players get caught up in gaining or losing rating points, and expect certain outcomes or a certain level of competition when they play someone who has rating x as opposed to rating y or z. I'm happy that I don't feel that way about it, and I also understand why people do.

The bottom line for me, however, is that I just LOVE TO PLAY!!!!!!

Interesting post. Thanks for starting it!

I really enjoy chess.  I've met some chess players I don't like, and there are even a few people I like except for when they're playing chess, but I find the game itself to be a relaxing and challenging brain activity.  For me, it's as much fun to study and read about chess as it is to play the actual games.

--Cystem

Don't know. Haven't learned much about it yet.

AFAF has it correct; like a mistress. A love hate relationship. I get to a certain rating +2500 here and +2800 on other sites and get bored and resign all my games quit and then come back and try it again over and over again. I admit I have ADD and dyslexia but maybe a bi-polar attraction?

love it!!!

I do. Otherwise why play it? 

I LOVE CHESS! end of story! it is my favorite pastime

Of course nobody likes to lose, but chess isn't a win-win game. Somebody has to lose for other people to win.

I personally like chess because it's one of those game where you actually get to use your brain. 

Although we don't like to lose, I personally don't have too much problem with it, unless I lose so badly that I get no benefit from going over the game (whether it be by my blunder or the huge rating gap)

I play to win but it is losing that really gets me fired up to improve, and to just plain try harder.   When I go to a chess club I like to play the guys who are better than me, because the win has more meaning than winning (or losing!) against a weaker player, and I learn a lot more.

hey, you may not LIKE chess,

but you WANT TO PLAY chess, right?

I love chess, it can be disheartening to lose, but just as satisying to win. I get a genuine buzz making the mate move. Maybe I am just weird! :-)