Every single strong GM who can make a living off playing in tournaments has started pretty young.
You asked "how adults even play this game" - they just play normally, and rather imperfectly, like the vast majority of chess players who play for fun. You don't have to be a GM, or any master, to play and enjoy the game.
Every single strong GM who can make a living off playing in tournaments has started pretty young.
You asked "how adults even play this game" - they just play normally, and rather imperfectly, like the vast majority of chess players who play for fun. You don't have to be a GM, or any master, to play and enjoy the game.
I know Bryan Smith learned the rules at fourteen. But by eighteen he was 2200 so that's not a good counterexample...obviously very naturally talented.
Indeed - I haven't heard of players in their 20s suddenly starting competitive chess and becoming GMs or anything... but there are several NM and FM users here I believe who did that and got their titles after many years.
Rubinstein, I believe, is the strongest counterexample - and even he learned chess at the age of 16, which is still pretty "young" in absolute terms.
Also, where did you read that exactly? And how old are you?
I read here, within these pages. I'm not in my 20s...lol. I'm nearly 50, give or take.
Another example is Jonathan Hawkins who went from club player to GM after leaving full time education
@OP
do you do EVERYTHING or ANYTHING with the exact expectation that if you get interested in doing it, you will be the best in the entire world at doing it?
if so you must leave a boring life indeed.
NORMAL people do all kinds of sports, arts, and hobbies thinking they will be at best "good" but certainly not "one of the best of the world"
and you can surely play chess and be 'Good' at it, if you are an adult.
well as a child you have the best grasping ability. if you started chess at the age of 35 and you reach 2000 ratings within 5 years then guess if you were a child & started chess at the age of 6 then by 20 you would be a grandmaster also.
I was a class A USCF player as a teen but didn't seriously play for over 10 years. Now 29 and 1900s USCF. I'm going to try to one day make NM, but if I don't it's no big deal. It's just my motivation to do better and it's an enjoyable hobby. You may not make expert or gain a title, but there's no reason not to play unless you just want to. Everyone, regardless of age, can improve.
No reason not to play unless you just don't want to, I meant.
Its pretty much the same as in tennis:
-If you want to Wimbledon, you have to start at the age of 5, 6 or 7.
-If you want to be a decent enough tennisplayer to compete in local tournaments, win against your friends, and have fun in the game: You can start even with 50 or 60 years
Its pretty much the same as in tennis:
-If you want to Wimbledon, you have to start at the age of 5, 6 or 7.
-If you want to be a decent enough tennisplayer to compete in local tournaments, win against your friends, and have fun in the game: You can start even with 50 or 60 years
Chess is a lot like Tennis, with the back n forth and all
@OP
do you do EVERYTHING or ANYTHING with the exact expectation that if you get interested in doing it, you will be the best in the entire world at doing it?
Yes
if so you must leave a boring life indeed.
very boring
NORMAL people do all kinds of sports, arts, and hobbies thinking they will be at best "good" but certainly not "one of the best of the world"
and you can surely play chess and be 'Good' at it, if you are an adult.
I see points and agree with generally speaking. Will consider art
@Vizh NM=national master & FM=fide master
Didn't Blackburne also learn the game rather late? (comparatively-speaking)
I started the game at 93 and was a GM by 104
Some interesting advice about learning chess when you're older here:
http://chessimprover.com/chess-master-at-any-age-a-reply-to-tim-hanke/
I think people play chess (or just anything else) primarily for fun; it's the definition of "play". Otherwise, nobody would play anything; even the most dedicated adult "weekend warriors" are just there for fun.
The OP's header is a bit misleading as it suggests the topic "Is chess only for kids" rather than "is chess best learned while very young".
There do seem to be BTW plentiful coaches out there for "kids" or "scholastic chess" (awful expression) but few who advertise themselves for adult improvers. (Do adults not want to get better at chess?). But you can find a few if you dig around a bit.
@IpswichMatt - thanks for the interesting link! Relevant for us much older guys.
I've learnt recent at my age I am out range to reach top level. The fact is one must begin asa child to have this option. How adults even play this game?