Is Chess a waste of time for non-pros? - Chess Forums - Page 3

Bad_Blunderer

Mar 27, 2014

0

#41

Well, one of the challenges in life is the need to constantly adapt and adjust. Then there are folks like me who are bad at problem solving in different situations. Bad at prioritizing. You get the drift...

There are some principles which will help chess players when they apply those to real world issues. Take the importance of TIME. Fast and accurate decision making leads to fortune. OTOH, I have watches an old man at a tournament who wouldn't do a move wile time was running out. Any move! We all know those people - they miss out on life's opportunities.

Ironically, I felt like giving up chess when I once again blundered only yesterday. But pain is part of life and maybe our defeats are more important than shallow victories?

Take cheating. I can't see a point in that TBH. Even if I had a wonderful engine at my disposal, it would detract from the essence of self improvement. Or the all important TRYING to accomplish something -vs- being n e g a t i v e and defeatist and finding excuses for beling a lazy slob. Passively watching TV all day long? Are you sure that's the future you choose for yourself?

Bad_Blunderer

Mar 27, 2014

0

#42

Another thing regarding the OP's last paragraph. There is a mysterious correlation between mind and body. Why do chess pros work out?!? Why do you think that physical fitness does matter? Have you ever done exercises before sitting an hours' long exam? (Or not)?

Leading a balanced life would also help with chess.

Someone playing Blitz or Bullet chess will have a lot going on "up there" and hand coordination is part of the whole thing.

Closing, have you noticed the issue kids have with their concentration? Well, I've seen them focus on chess games for a looong time. Beat that!

mapearson1990

Mar 27, 2014

0

#43

Your argument that chess is meaningless and a, 'waste of time' is a valid opinion and you at least make some reasonable arguments in regard to those for whom chess is not a career. On the other hand, some of the best things in life are meaningless; beauty, art, music, wine, chess. All are strictly unnecessary but each makes life better.

I see beauty in the game of chess and I am mostly happy and having fun when playing a strong opponent and trying to work out the best way to outmanouver his or her pieces to win the game. Maybe that's enough for it to not be a total waste of time. I enjoy chess immeasurably and can't imagine giving up playing for the petty reason that it doesn't make me smarter or get me more money.

Stampnl

Mar 27, 2014

0

#44

The clock keeps ticking whatever you do.. tic toc tic toc tic toc.. there is no escape.. except chess. And reading the bible. And fooling around. You know what is a waste of time? Vacuumcleaning.

You could also argue that our real selves are based in timelessness and time is just an illusion produced by our brains. Like someone standing safely at the shore watching ships sail by. Why care if a couple sink?

Chessislife2013

Mar 27, 2014

0

#45

e4myfavourite wrote:

      Last year I got interested in chess. I re-learnt the rules, learnt some tips, started playing online. I read the history of the game, biography of world chess champions.

    I have finally come to a conclusion that Chess is a total waste of time for people who don't take it as a career/profession. For people(players, coaches, Arbiter etc) who choose the game as a career,spending time on openings, Gambits, endgame does not seem to be a waste of time. For them chess joins the category of all professions from Wall Street to Hollywood . But for others, I don't think chess is a useful hobby/pass time.

What people generally say in favour of Chess.

1. Chess is an intellectual game:- In Chess, Analytical thinking,Problem solving, Memory, concentration, Foresight, Tactics, Strategy are involved. Chess is like an exercise to the mind/brain. It can improve our I.Q.

My Statement:- Although it is an intellectual game and has a glorious history, the question of whether it makes a person smarter in general or smarter at just chess is still debatable.

My conclusion is that Ches makes a person smarter at chess and probably smarter in general for kids. When one becomes an adult and got mind maturity, playing chess does not seem to have effect on his/her I.Q.
      Now I understood, in Chess what matters most is the memory power of a person than any other intellectual traits. In short, if you want to be a top rated chess player, you should be a human database of chess games. As Kasparov said" A grandmaster needs to retain thousands of games in his head, for games are to him what the words of their mother tongue are to ordinary people, or notes or scores to musicians.."

(ii) Chess teaches life skills:- From chess, one can learn how to think/plan ahead, strategic thinking, foreseeing the problems and getting adjusted to future consequences,long term thinking, sacrificing short term benefits to achieve long term goals, time management,etc.

My Statement:- The statement of "Life imitates chess" or vice versa is simply absurd. Life has many twists and turns. Games like football, hockey etc teaches like skills much more than chess. In football one has a clear cut goal(Goal scoring), how to pass on the ball from one team mate to another(Planning/Strategy), Tactical/short-term gains(corner, free kicks), which opponent player will get the ball next(foreseeing), Time management, working as a team(Team spirit), etc.
   I found some links with regard to my opinion.

main.uschess.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=17341://
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/is-chess-a-waste-of-time-a-call-to-action2

BOTTOM LINE:- Everyone has the right to choose his/her career/profession. For people(Chess players, coaches, Arbiters,etc), chess is a career and they make money and a living out of it. Spending time and energy on chess give them monitory benefit.
            But for others ,memorising openings and chess theories does not seem to yield any results except to make better at chess.
So, it is better to spend time on a games such as Badminton, Table tennis,foot ball etc where you have both physical and mental involvement, where you get both the thrill of winning/losing and also physical exercise.

I would go off on a discussion of the science behind chess' effects on the brain. But I don't have time to answer rediculous questions that most people - even if they don't even know how to play - understand. You are just one of the multitued of people who are so pathetically bad at chess they rack their poor brains for an excuse to feel better about themselves.

odisea777

Mar 28, 2014

0

#46

e4myfavourite wrote:

      Last year I got interested in chess. I re-learnt the rules, learnt some tips, started playing online. I read the history of the game, biography of world chess champions.

    I have finally come to a conclusion that Chess is a total waste of time for people who don't take it as a career/profession. For people(players, coaches, Arbiter etc) who choose the game as a career,spending time on openings, Gambits, endgame does not seem to be a waste of time. For them chess joins the category of all professions from Wall Street to Hollywood . But for others, I don't think chess is a useful hobby/pass time.

What people generally say in favour of Chess.

1. Chess is an intellectual game:- In Chess, Analytical thinking,Problem solving, Memory, concentration, Foresight, Tactics, Strategy are involved. Chess is like an exercise to the mind/brain. It can improve our I.Q.

My Statement:- Although it is an intellectual game and has a glorious history, the question of whether it makes a person smarter in general or smarter at just chess is still debatable.

My conclusion is that Ches makes a person smarter at chess and probably smarter in general for kids. When one becomes an adult and got mind maturity, playing chess does not seem to have effect on his/her I.Q.
      Now I understood, in Chess what matters most is the memory power of a person than any other intellectual traits. In short, if you want to be a top rated chess player, you should be a human database of chess games. As Kasparov said" A grandmaster needs to retain thousands of games in his head, for games are to him what the words of their mother tongue are to ordinary people, or notes or scores to musicians.."

(ii) Chess teaches life skills:- From chess, one can learn how to think/plan ahead, strategic thinking, foreseeing the problems and getting adjusted to future consequences,long term thinking, sacrificing short term benefits to achieve long term goals, time management,etc.

My Statement:- The statement of "Life imitates chess" or vice versa is simply absurd. Life has many twists and turns. Games like football, hockey etc teaches like skills much more than chess. In football one has a clear cut goal(Goal scoring), how to pass on the ball from one team mate to another(Planning/Strategy), Tactical/short-term gains(corner, free kicks), which opponent player will get the ball next(foreseeing), Time management, working as a team(Team spirit), etc.
   I found some links with regard to my opinion.

main.uschess.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=17341://
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/is-chess-a-waste-of-time-a-call-to-action2

BOTTOM LINE:- Everyone has the right to choose his/her career/profession. For people(Chess players, coaches, Arbiters,etc), chess is a career and they make money and a living out of it. Spending time and energy on chess give them monitory benefit.
            But for others ,memorising openings and chess theories does not seem to yield any results except to make better at chess.
So, it is better to spend time on a games such as Badminton, Table tennis,foot ball etc where you have both physical and mental involvement, where you get both the thrill of winning/losing and also physical exercise.

If chess is a waste of time, what isn't a waste of time?

The_Ghostess_Lola

Mar 28, 2014

0

#47

The phrase 'waste of time' isn't derogatory to me....is it to you ? IMO, chess doesn't seem to accomplish much....but so what ? It's better than sitting around eating a vegetable....or better yet, being one........

SumOfAllForms

Mar 28, 2014

0

#48

skullyvick wrote:

And I think computer software has ruined a great game.

What makes you say that, @skullyvick? I've only ever known computer chess. Whenever I play humans I get beaten! So in a way, I sympathise with OP. Every few years I pick up chess again, get beaten soundly, think it's no game for amateurs and swear off it. And every few years I come back to it :)

mystoffelees

Mar 28, 2014

0

#49

Although I will never be an expert chess player, nor make money at it, chess is a very important part of my life. For me, chess sharpens my critical thinking, improves my memory, makes me pause to consider the effects of my actions in everyday life, provides a way to shut out the troubles of life for a short while, gives me a social outlet, satisfies my desire to read interesting books and articles, and more - all while being one of the few games where the element of luck plays almost no part...

Aksyonov

Mar 28, 2014

0

#50

pfren wrote:

Surely enough chess is a waste of time for lazy people.

By the very definition of the word, "lazy" people are going to waste a lot less time on chess than dedicated ones.

The only persons for whom chess is truly a waste of time are those who dedicate enormous amounts of time to it, yet never achieve their goals with it. It is only those folks who can look back on chess at the end of their lives and say, "You know, I'd have been a lot better off earning money, drinking booze, and chasing women instead."

TheRocketKing

Mar 28, 2014

0

#51

yeah pretty disrespectful to say that "chess is a waste of time for lazy people" when there are a lot of people trying to get better but don't know where to start, it's not their fault the better players are brats and don't want to help. They just need a direction on where to go in order to become a better player, like study a specific book, tactics training, etc

The_Ghostess_Lola

Mar 28, 2014

0

#52

(Aksyonov)

It is only those folks who can look back on chess at the end of their lives and say, "You know, I'd have been a lot better off earning money, drinking booze, and chasing women instead."

Yes, but I don't think people on their deathbed are going to be saying, "Gee, I wish I would've spent more time hunkered over a chess board." It'll probably be more like regret not cultivating better personal relationships and subduing your ego for the better....'cuz death is the ultimate humbler........

Mal_Smith

Mar 28, 2014

0

#53

mystoffelees wrote:

Although I will never be an expert chess player, nor make money at it, chess is a very important part of my life. For me, chess sharpens my critical thinking, improves my memory, makes me pause to consider the effects of my actions in everyday life, provides a way to shut out the troubles of life for a short while, gives me a social outlet, satisfies my desire to read interesting books and articles, and more - all while being one of the few games where the element of luck plays almost no part...

As the OP said there is no proof that chess sharpens general critical thinking skills or general memory. Practicing chess makes you better at chess, but there is no proof it makes you better at anything else. If you want to socialise more surely there are better & easier ways to do that! Instead of shutting out your troubles why don't you put the intellectual effort you put into chess into solving them? I play it because it is more fun than anything else I can think of doing at the moment.

Ghostess Lola - I wish I had spent more time hunkered in front of a chess board, then I'd have had more fun. Money, booze, and chasing woman haven't been all that... and put those legs away, we're trying to play chess .

And what's wrong with being lazy? "The Idler" is one of my favourite magazines.

Likhit1

Mar 28, 2014

0

#54

The most common arguement coming from people who couldn't get beyond beginner and gave up.Extremely sad and pitiful.Do you think we play chess to improve our intelligence,memory,life skills or some crap liike that?We play chess because we love it.

odisea777

Mar 28, 2014

0

#55

Obviously it depends on your values and how you define "waste of time."

if chess is a waste of time then all games, hobbies, and leisure activities are a waste of time. I don't buy it.

The_Ghostess_Lola

Mar 28, 2014

0

#56

(BackTo1200OrBust)

Practicing chess makes you better at chess, but there is no proof it makes you better at anything else.

Agreed....Chess is modular........

p.s. Love your name....makes me laugh !

e4myfavourite

Apr 1, 2014

0

#57

To all people who have criticised me , I want to say you one thing

"Be in a neutral state of mind and honestly review Chess, its pros and cons."

holon23

Apr 2, 2014

0

#58

I feel chess helps in concentration and other things .. i am a musician and i notice it helps me somehow .. but everyone its different who knows

madhacker

Apr 2, 2014

0

#59

I think Chess.com should remove the font size and bolding functionality from this text box...

gabrr82

Apr 2, 2014

0

#60

Well, the problem is, a hobby shouldn't be useful at all. A hobby is exactly the opposite of an useful activity. You shouldn't play and study chess because it has some utility, you should do it because you like. Chess is a form of escaping from the "utility" life (which is, in my point of view, pretty oppressive).