Is it even worth it?

Hello. I have been playing chess for a while now and investing alot of my time on it. Doesn't seems like its worth it to invest on a game I'm not even good at honestly. Never been good with any games I have ever played in my life. I'm probably tired and frustrated. I honestly don't know anymore. I have been playing alot, watching alot of lessons and playing alot of puzzles. Doesn't seem like it's worth it to play this game anymore tbh.

skill issue tbh L/10

@simplegameforme please just stop. and btw, OP is better than you.

If you're feeling frustrated and burned out with chess, it may be helpful to take a break and reassess your approach to learning and practicing the game. Consider seeking guidance from a chess coach or joining a chess club for personalized instruction and support. Remember that the enjoyment of playing should be a priority, and it's okay to explore other interests if chess is no longer fulfilling for you.

The main thing I have to say is that you are probably aware that sandbagging, for ex by hanging the queen purposely, is against the rules. So, don't do that. But I'm guessing it's just out of frustration. Which is understandable, but let's say you don't think about performance; do you enjoy the game? If so, it may be worth continuing, but if not, there's nothing wrong with stopping.

You lose lots of games on purpose... maybe not quite sandbagging (you're not crushing people when you win) but obviously makes this topic look silly when you often resign before move 10 (and I'm not only talking about your recent losses).

Oh wow I didn't take a closer look as I assumed it was only a few games and out of frustration. Please....stop doing that, and don't post a topic like this.

Forget about the openings. Learn how to think during the game and openings are going to be piece of cake. I can teach you EXACTLY how to think during the game (opening, middlegame and endgame). Your chess understanding will never be the same and you will improve a lot. I charge €20/h, but if you can’t afford too many lessons, don’t worry. I can teach you a lot in an hour. Here to help if you are interested.

If you want to study by yourself, read ‘Logical Chess’. It is really instructive book. You have it on youtube as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eTB7oHeRgM&list=PLUrgfsyInqNa1S4i8DsGJwzx1Uhn2AqlT

My only advice is play less and play longer time controls. Play like one game a day, 30 minute rapid game. Don't play for win, loss, draw or rating points (At least for now). Play to improve your game, wins don't matter, losses don't matter. Just analyze your game (as one analysis a day is free). Jot down what you did wrong and try to internalize it. It may make no sense at the beginning but overtime you will improve. Invest remaining day on what you were doing already, puzzles and lessons. For puzzles devote at least two to five minutes for each puzzle. Don't draw arrows or highlights (Its a bad habit). Try to visualize all moves without touching your mouse first and then make the move. I don't know about this site, but if you do puzzles on lichess, It remembers your unable-to-solve puzzles and you can revisit them on a weekly or monthly basis.

Finally, don't let anyone discourage you. Just play if you enjoy. I have a cousin who is 500+ rated and still enjoys his games because he does not care for ratings or improvement. He is learning like a gen z from Youtube Shorts and Tiktok.

If you think its become a burden mentally, its ok to call it quits. At the end of the day, its a silly board game which is literally a "War Simulator". Take up new hobbies. I myself take a break from chess and start solving sudoku from time to time.

I have no words.......reported the above comment (which I don't want to reproduce) for being unspeakably inappropriate, not to mention that the username is extremely inappropriate as well.

I think it is definitely true that chess is inherently not “worth it” if you do not enjoy it. Chess is is not for everybody and the amount of reward vs input of effort is low.

Chess can have value if you are entirely aware and conscious that this is a way of spending time strictly for the process and NOT for the RESULT. Kind of like Zen meditation and focus on the current moment and the moments of beauty that mind can focus on. 

You should search internet about Marcel Duchamp writing about chess. He viewed it as an artistic activity of the mind as opposed to a competition of sport. Sort of like accepting that ultimately all activities are objectively not going to benefit the person when the person dies, so chess is a voluntarily chosen subjectively enjoyable activity similar to appreciation of art or nature.

Why does it matter to you?
I will stop responding to you, in the hope that I don't contribute to you responding more to this thread.

You should not be allowed to post here

nope, it isn't, the better you become, the more dissatisfied you are

same with the fitness industry

Interesting....haven't found that the case for me. Sure I want to improve, but the desire to do so hasn't somehow increased with my skill level

If it's not fun then then something should change. Either you need to find a way to play for fun rather than putting too much pressure on yourself or should do something else with your time which you find more rewarding.

Maybe more the opposite... the more dissatisfied you are, the better you become.

But sure, there is the funny experience of getting to ____ rating and having the impression that players rated the same as you aren't amazing when in the past you thought they were god-like, that's certainly a continual experience.

Oh, you mean like that.

Sure. A quick life lesson for people: happiness doesn't come from anything outside of yourself. If you think "I'll be happy once I have _____" or "once ____ happens" you're sure to be disappointed over and over.