If a casual, unrated game feels like a waste of time to you then you have to ask yourself whether you're playing for your rating rather than for love of the game itself.
Because rating is an indication of how good a player you are. So if you enjoy chess (or anything in general), then surely it stands to reason that you'd want to be good at what you do.
I personally try to not care about ratings at all. I accept all takeback requests and I don't care if I lose
@Eleuthero Honestly, the hunt for rating points and chess go hand in hand. Chess is war and points are the loot after a successful campaign. All this is of course only make-belief; but it helps me to stay motivated to give it all my best and it adds weight and relevance to every single game.
It depends upon perspective. Rating is important for some people and not important for others.
I feel rating is important. It gives an idea how good a player you are.
I feel rating is important. It gives an idea how good a player you are.
@Me31years
I have to admit that I cringe a little when people talk about the "weight and relevance" of a chess game. There's no playfulness or joy in such a description. I gave up chess for 30 years primarily because the game seems to attract people who overvalue its role in their own lives. Frankly chess has nearly ZERO actual weight in people's lives. It doesn't get you a relationship or keep the ones you have healthy. It doesn't inspire OTHER people like music or art. It doesn't get you a job or help you keep the one you have. It's a narcissistic hobby.
It's good for an older man like me who uses chess for sheer fun and to maintain memory and cognitive health. Also, in online chess you can avoid the many nutters the game attracts. I'll never play face to face again as long as I live.
I have to admit that I cringe a little when people talk about the "weight and relevance" of a chess game. There's no playfulness or joy in such a description. I gave up chess for 30 years primarily because the game seems to attract people who overvalue its role in their own lives. Frankly chess has nearly ZERO actual weight in people's lives. It doesn't get you a relationship or keep the ones you have healthy. It doesn't inspire OTHER people like music or art. It doesn't get you a job or help you keep the one you have. It's a narcissistic hobby.
It's good for an older man like me who uses chess for sheer fun and to maintain memory and cognitive health. Also, in online chess you can avoid the many nutters the game attracts. I'll never play face to face again as long as I live.
Everyone has their own opinions!
Like playing soccer without counting the goals? C‘mon!
@pendru @MrPushwood @Sarg0n
I didn't mean that the rating is not needed at all. It's just that most people are too obsessed with it. They do not enjoy the game if their rating is too low.
I have such a small rating, only 1400. I urgently need to increase it. Oh no, defeat again. What can I do, will I never get 1500? My life is over... and so on.
P.S.
I talked about the ratings on the site, not FIDE. I understand that it is important for grandmasters, chess is their job. This post is not about them
I didn't mean that the rating is not needed at all. It's just that most people are too obsessed with it. They do not enjoy the game if their rating is too low.
I have such a small rating, only 1400. I urgently need to increase it. Oh no, defeat again. What can I do, will I never get 1500? My life is over... and so on.
P.S.
I talked about the ratings on the site, not FIDE. I understand that it is important for grandmasters, chess is their job. This post is not about them
#19
It is not only for grandmasters, but also for club players. I remember the time when there was no elo: who was to play on board 1 of the team? The club champion or the player who already had defeated a master? The brilliant attacking player or the fine positional player? Elo resolved all of that.
Elo also is a measure of progress or lack of it. If somebody puts time and effort in it, then he wants to know if he is doing well or not. Like a 100 m runner, he wants to know the time he is running, compare it to aothers, see if he makes progress or not. If not he might change his training schedule.
It is not only for grandmasters, but also for club players. I remember the time when there was no elo: who was to play on board 1 of the team? The club champion or the player who already had defeated a master? The brilliant attacking player or the fine positional player? Elo resolved all of that.
Elo also is a measure of progress or lack of it. If somebody puts time and effort in it, then he wants to know if he is doing well or not. Like a 100 m runner, he wants to know the time he is running, compare it to aothers, see if he makes progress or not. If not he might change his training schedule.
This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.