New friends



It's good to see I'm not alone! I've recently played a couple of guys I'd like to go out for a beer with - one I met in a tourney - but they're always on other sides of the world :)
But at least we can play a fun game. All of you hit me up for a game if you like. I'm just JoeChess player, but we'll have fun.


I'm like the latter except reversed,I came here to play chess,and chatting is the nice fringe benefit

But that robs of the chance to experience your endearing personality! Come on...we all love the game. Embrace the friendships!!




Did you ever spend a few days playing a game with someone, and near the end of it (usually when it gets pretty clear who's going to win) the silence gets broken in the chat box and you find out that this opponent is a pretty cool person to chat with?
I do all the time. Yet, there seems to be some sort of initial barrier where chatting is presumptuous. Maybe your opponent doesn't want to talk, and so, out of respect, no one breaks the ice.
It caused me to realize there's a couple of levels of chess players. Some are very much in it to hone their game, and that's pretty much the driving force. And that's cool. I want to hone mine, too, and Chess.com made a better player (though not an outstanding one, yet) out of me in short shrift. The other kind comes here more to socialize with other chess players, and while honing their game is a nice fringe benefit, it isn't a driving force.
My question, dear readers, is which are you? I'm the latter variety. I often find myself wanting to chat it up but holding off because I don't want to presume the other person is a chatter.
What do you think?