Uneducated chess players frustrating?

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wasylj
dougvon wrote:

Love to play but thats all it is (play ).Its a game you can not control how someone plays so just have fun make a new friend and get over your self....


RealSelf
artfizz wrote:

 

"Horse play"

A beautiful picture?

If drawn by YOUR child: a beautiful picture?


brilliant

nimzo5

disgusted is an interesting and honest way of putting it-

I would liken it to the following;

I used to play guitar professionally, I would often be at parties or gatherings of people where a relative novice would break out a guitar and they would have a new song they wanted to play. The song would consist of three chords played in a style that is perfectly logical to someone who has learned a few types of chords and have applied the idea to different spots on the fretboard - the result was a semi pleasant combination, but not "best" choices of chord or sound- just convenient ones.

My reaction the first time was to be slightly bemused, since I could recall learning the guitar and discovering this exact same pattern after a month or two. However, over the course of ten years or so, I heard this same song played in the same brash, "adore-me I play" sort of way by many different people. My reaction now is more dismay than disgust, but I get her point.

Cugel
SK-B wrote:

I do not find it frustrating to play anyone of whatever skill level. I am always willing to play an unrated game so as not to take advantage of a beginner, but I usually hesitate to suggest it as I am concerned that the person may feel insulted.

 

Playing with a nice person, particularly if there are some comments with a sense of humor is always gratifying to me. I do not like it when I greet someone with a cheery "hello" and they do not respond, or when someone makes an irritating remark. There are some people on this sight whom I just like playing, even if there are few words, because it feels friendly.

How right you are friend.Would be glad to play a game with the likes of yourself.

Cugel
[COMMENT DELETED]
ozzie_c_cobblepot

I think the word "disgusted" is a little too strong. My former teacher, a Grandmaster, did not have this view. I mean - disgusted - is that really the word to describe it?

I find myself agreeing with a lot of what remains. Maybe I play a game against someone who just doesn't grasp the situation, and I have this beautiful plan to increase my advantage or whatever, and then they just play some random move not in the spirit of what the position requires, and they lose very quickly. I might feel a little unfulfilled, but certainly not disgusted. But I feel something, and maybe we just have different words for that.

Likewise, if I play a grandmaster, and they win without too much trouble, I don't get the impression that they're disgusted, but rather that it's just another day at the office, so to speak. Maybe also they realize that every single tournament they play at is effectively a recruitment for new students. I assume that almost all top players are always looking for new revenue streams. Again - disgusted is not a word that I would use. At my most recent tournament I beat a strong FM, and the next day the local GM complimented me on the game. That was nice. I'm sure things were more simple to him than they were to me, but I don't think he gets disgusted.

I play music also, and I know some very good players. They don't have such feelings.

I think this is more of a snob superiority complex than anything.

When I walk by a couple of people at a coffee shop playing chess, I'm not disgusted. The one guy is huddling over the pieces (he's up a whole rook or something) and he can't figure out what his next move should be.

Meh. They're having fun. I was them once.

Last thing: in chess, as in many things, the better you get, the more difficult it is to find opponents. Chess may have the internet, but ping pong does not. I know someone who is as good at ping pong (they have ratings too!) as I am in chess. He puts up with some of us who want to play him sometimes, but he wins every time. He wins all the time against people who beat me all the time, just as I can beat a 1700 player pretty much all the time, and that guy can beat a 1300 pretty much all the time, who can beat their mom pretty much all the time. If I were an in-person type of player, it would be difficult to find enough worthy opponents. So it's odd, people have these goals of getting better, of making progress, but at least in the realm of finding someone with whom you can have a fun and fulfilling game, you're always reducing your search space, so to speak.

Kernicterus

Let's face it.  Disgusting is a word choice based on that person's personal perspective/personality - little to do with chess ability.  And a lot of titled players actually seem to have what I'd call "harshly competitive" personalities and perhaps that helps drive them.

I dance at a high calibre...I don't get disgusted when I see someone trying to dance...well, most of the time I don't. 

Sceadungen

The hardest two things to learn in Chess.

losing gracefully

and

how to get a good nights sleep after it

 

rrrttt

the sicilian is the Worst!!! opening ever

pawnzischeme

To NM ozzie **:  very well put.

ozzie_c_cobblepot
AfafBouardi wrote:

Let's face it.  Disgusting is a word choice based on that person's personal perspective/personality - little to do with chess ability.  And a lot of titled players actually seem to have what I'd call "harshly competitive" personalities and perhaps that helps drive them.

I dance at a high calibre...I don't get disgusted when I see someone trying to dance...well, most of the time I don't. 


LOL, you might be if you saw me dance!

(I dance like a Penguin)

Natalia_Pogonina
Miyake wrote:
Natalia_Pogonina wrote:

Poor play by any of the partners is disgusting. The more you love chess, the more picky you get about your own play and other player's moves.


I guess miss Polgar finds your play wery disgusting.


Just ask her next time you speak to her (if ever). Btw, which Polgar sister are you referring to? Smile Even if she answers "yes", I won't be offended at all. 

And yes, I, like no one else, know that my play is often disgusting since I have been studying my own mistakes more carefully than anybody. The problem with most of the flame-comments is typical: people don't distinguish between chess and personality. For example, if I see an ugly move made by me, my best friend, husband, etc., I will consider it to be a disgusting move. But it has nothing at all to do with my attitude towards them.

On the other hand, the critics are absolutely right: a coach should never tell his student that his moves suck. Otherwise he may just damage his self-esteem. Therefore, it's strange to think that I might tell an amateur that his moves are "disgusting" - why should I? However, my inner scale of chess quality will instantly qualify the move as such. But isn't it just natural? Or should I start believing that blundering queens is absolutely brilliant and needs to be praised? Wink

Kernicterus
Natalia_Pogonina wrote:
Miyake wrote:
Natalia_Pogonina wrote:

Poor play by any of the partners is disgusting. The more you love chess, the more picky you get about your own play and other player's moves.


I guess miss Polgar finds your play wery disgusting.


Just ask her next time you speak to her (if ever). Btw, which Polgar sister are you referring to? Even if she answers "yes", I won't be offended at all. 

And yes, I, like no one else, know that my play is often disgusting since I have been studying my own mistakes more carefully than anybody. The problem with most of the flame-comments is typical: people don't distinguish between chess and personality. For example, if I see an ugly move made by me, my best friend, husband, etc., I will consider it to be a disgusting move. But it has nothing at all to do with my attitude towards them.

On the other hand, the critics are absolutely right: a coach should never tell his student that his moves suck. Otherwise he may just damage his self-esteem. Therefore, it's strange to think that I might tell an amateur that his moves are "disgusting" - why should I? However, my inner scale of chess quality will instantly qualify the move as such. But isn't it just natural? Or should I start believing that blundering queens is absolutely brilliant and needs to be praised?


I don't think anyone is flaming.  I think a lot of people find the use of the word "disgusting" to describe chess moves to be...well, disgusting. 

Our moves are all relatively "disgusting" at the end of the day, unless you've played perfectly.  I don't think a person as logical as I assume you to be...would think the only other option is telling someone their queen blunder was brilliant.  How about the logical and emotionally uncharged idea of just saying "bad move" or "move that will put your position behind"? Maybe even "not well thought out move"...disgusting is just a horrid way of putting it.  But maybe you are disgusted...and that's fine - it's how an anorexic motivates herself. I expect high level chess players indulge in a lot of the same highs and lows and self hate. 

I can see when someone's dancing is lacking rhythm or fluidity.  And some people just don't have it, poor dears.  The extreme perspective you choose to take on such moves is a result of your own personality... 

ozzie_c_cobblepot

Has anybody considered that perhaps this is a translation thing? I might say that my moves sometimes are crap, or that they are awful.

themothman

If you wanna see perfect moves play a computer, or spok at 3d chess.  Pretty soon the computers will be best hands down.  It's just a matter of time, and the computer having more resources.

Natalia_Pogonina
ozzie_c_cobblepot wrote:

Has anybody considered that perhaps this is a translation thing? I might say that my moves sometimes are crap, or that they are awful.


Maybe. If so, then just excuse me. I am not a native speaker. Probably "disgusting" is not the proper word to use here. What I meant was that when I see a move that is bad, I will always notice that it is bad, no matter how much I respect or love the person who made it. At the same time, it doesn't at all imply that I am going to criticize the player, or allow myself to make fun of the mistake. Of course not. On the contrary, I'm always willing to help - offer advice, cheer up, root for someone.

Kernicterus

Ozzie.  Hence the penguin photo.  lol.  Can't wait to see those moves.

jonnyjupiter
artfizz wrote:
Natalia_Pogonina wrote:

... A simple analogy: a good violinist would be disgusted by someone producing horrible sounds from his beloved instrument. And there's nothing personal: not everyone is supposed to play the violin well, not everyone is a good chess player, etc. ...


 

I'm not convinced. I think a good musician would feel encouraged that a beginner was starting along the same path (but maybe not using the master's instrument to learn on!)

Since chess is competitive, in a match between an experienced player and a less experienced one, the more experienced player should be prepared to give odds. THEN we'd see how great that great player's play really was!


It depends on the context. If I am at a gig/concert listening to a poor musician then I will feel very disappointed, perhaps cheated. If I am teaching guitar to a beginner who has not yet mastered their skills I will be happy that they are trying.

If I'm playing a professional gig with a beginner in my band I will get increasingly annoyed, perhaps even angry with the wrong notes or lack of sophistication in their playing because it reflects badly on me. If I'm at a jam session with a poor player who is just having a go, then I'll enjoy teaching them some ideas/trying my best to make them sound good and will not be at all concerned if they completely mess up. Context is the key. And so is A major.

Valiant_Princess

i dont find playing any player frustrating what i find frustrating is when i cant think of what to play next i enjoy it when they play something unexpected it keeps it interesting chess is after all a game it should be fun not taken too seriously

unless you are in a comp and want to take it serious

Elubas
polydiatonic wrote:
Natalia_Pogonina wrote:

Poor play by any of the partners is disgusting. The more you love chess, the more picky you get about your own play and other player's moves.


Wow Natalia, I do hope you're tring to be a little funny with your opening sentence.  Poor play is just that, poor play.  "Disgusting", as you put it, is simply your emotional (over) reaction based on your personal expections.  To say to some novice (I'm referring to the OP here) that his "poor play" is disgusting is inproper.  By your reasoning your best games would mostly be judged as "disgusting" by anyone looking at them who a class or two stronger than you.  Poor/strong are relative terms that come into focus only contextually.  A great game for a novice might be one where they don't hang any pieces.  A great game for you, or me for that matter, would be something entirely different.  Lighten up, it's good for you heart.


Well the annoying part comes in when you lose to this person OR that person thinks he's really good.