Chess for fun? Or not?

I know a lot of people who don't play chess for fun, but as a sport, or even as an obligation. Why do you play chess? Do you play it for fun? Or for another reason?

hobby

Me too...

Fun & meeting people

I play for fun. But I'd play for other reasons if there were any...lol

I play chess for: 

-a way to challenge myself

-fun

-hobby

and a few other reasons. 

Unless you dream of becoming a titled player or something, why would you take chess THAT seriously? Sadly, even the grandmasters don't always make enough money on chess to serve as a full-time job. The top 50 chess players in the world make enough to live on, but even grandmasters in the top 100 in the world aren't usually without a "real job" and chess is just the "thing on the side" they do.

Since the money isn't there for most people, the successful ones in chess make their money indirectly such as through coaching, writing chess books, becoming chess streamers and so forth. Even if you do survive on chess, there is travel costs, food, entry fees and other expenses that ciphen a lot and lower the quality of life for many. A lot of strong chess players just go to a few chess tournaments here and there because travel costs don't make regular chess travel profitable. Why do you think so many chess hustlers roam the streets of New York's Central Park? It is because there isn't the money elsewhere, so might as well hustle games in the park for a few bucks here and there I guess?

i play chess for fun ad because its one of the onlythings i do during covid

I play for fun and the sense of pride and satisfaction that comes from improving. I would like to get better. For me, playing chess and studying are parts of the same thing so in that sense it is also a hobby.

Build my IQ

education

lol

I can’t really NOT try to win.

even if it’s for fun.

It just becomes an obsession

fun, duh