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Why Losing At Chess Hurts So Much (And The Antidote)

#4
Great piece, which should come as a warning label for beginning chess players.

I do wonder how this is with other online rated games which also give this feedback. I do know of terrible rage quits with e-sports. You tube happily present them to you.
#5
I dont mind those emotions swings, nerves before the game, high stress during the game and finally glory or sadness. All of this makes you feel alive and that's exactly what I like about it. It's very different to other sports, for instance, playing golf Im calm all the way, "oh I made a great shoot, nice" "oh well, I threw the ball to the lake, I dont care, give me another one".
#7
You don't mention the peculiar intimacy of chess. Your king represents you. When he dies, you suffer a small death. You endure being hunted down and killed.
#8
All of the love for this post, it is certainly something that put things into perspective for me as I keep playing. One of the things that helps me stay positive even when I'm losing is music, one of the many things you can't do OTB. However, a little bit of Poison, Quiet Riot, or Beach Boys can be what helps me turn myself from a losing position to drawable or even completely winning.

This hobby is a spark of love that's allowed me to kill time, and challenges me to think more on and off the board. Getting better at taking losses in stride is something that I've helped myself and friends apply to normal day to day life as well. PMA - Positive Mental Attitude, because as long as you're having fun and enjoying the hobby the rating doesn't matter.
#9
The loser is the player who makes the last biggest blunder. An unfortunate move swings the game to a less favorable result. Realization of this blunder is what making losing so hard, especially knowing that you have nobody else to blame. It hurts suddenly, intensely and deeply, even after 40,000 times.