Higher rating = more, or less fun ?

greetings, greetings. i use two openings, 1. white = the english, 2. black = the sicilian.  the short time i have played this game i've tried to learn quite a number of openings but i've given up...   i'm in it for fun.  it is addictive.

These thoughts of Mon. Rousseausp have entered my mind also on occassion.

I have decided to think this way: I like it more when I know why I won and why

I lost. Before I thought they were lucky and I was smart...now I know the truth!

It is like going hand over hand climbing up a rope, it's hard to realize that you

are making progress until you look down and see how far you have come and

what that strength has given you. I still enjoy the hell out of it when I win

and curse myself when I lose and perhaps even more appreciate the nuances

of a well played tactic or combination even if I'm the fallguy.  :)

Both!!!  If you play for fun then your rating is bound to go higher!  

I think you are thoughtful . We have a old saying :"learn, ask, think,discern,and do."  sorry ,but my english is notvery good.The translation is not very correct,but I think is good for you.

the original  edition       :  " 博学之，审问之，慎思之，明辨之，笃行之"

Most players are not capable of the heavy memorization needed to compete at the highest levels in chess. I personally feel that studying in the name of rote memorization is fruitless. It is better pour over these games/theory/openings in order to establish patterns. If you can understand the basic strategic objectives of a given opening/defense then your homework has been worth it. I personally use GM games and theory/opening books to give me a rough idea of what I ought to be doing in a particular game. I typically decorate the suggested structure of a given opening/defense with my own style where I see fit.

I would like to get a significantly higher rating and then let you know. A man said "I've been rich and I've been  poor. Rich is better. 

The more a Player studies Chess and increases his or her skill and vision the more he or she sees Chess as a piece of architecture with deep spiritual beauty and harmony with all of it's parts linked together not separate fragments. 

If you only see variations in front of you that give you a headache memorizing and not the art or the spiritual beauty of the game on a deeper level your not getting Chess.

I found i enjoyed it more as i learned. The moves came alive the more i understood all the intricacy's of how it all goes together and works so well if u get it right, even in the openings at first seems vain repetition but then u start to understand the underlining concepts and see the beauty in how its constructed and the more i see it the more i appreciate it right through to the end games. To much to learn and always news concepts even in the openings are being found. I cant imagine someone finding this game boring especially as u gain more and more understanding. Even masters games become more clear to me as time goes on and i start to improve alittle.

I agree with Wormstar too. He put it way better than I could. I liked playing when I thought openings were just moves to open the door for the big pieces. After seeing people get a big advantage from openings, I've improved mine. This adds to my enjoyment of the game. I try not to get too caught up in rankings, or not playing someone ranked too much lower because of point losses. I think the real fun is learning. I have opponents that it took me 4, 4, and 6 straight losses before I beat them. Boy did that feel good. But I learned from them.

Hehe. As an addict in recovery, what your friend said can be true.

 Its a very valid question' but I don't think most of us have to worry  about getting  so good ,or reaching a rating so high that chess stops being fun , I've  read a few very high rated GMs say they stopped playing for fun years ago .