I wanted to post this topic in this forum because it's something that has been on my mind for a long time. This hasn't been an overnight kind of issue that just came out of the blue.
I have played this game of chess since I was 12 years old. I am now 33, going to be 34, and it's obvious that I don't have much to show for all my time playing. Typically chess players gradually develop their skills as they get older. Those who really put in the time to practice find out what works best for them and they get good at the game.
To me, it seems like I never got that memo.
For those of you on Lichess who have ever played a game against me, I would like to apologize to you if I have ever got up and abandoned a game while playing you. There is obviously no good reason for doing this, but I have abandoned many games. One reason I have for doing this is not because of my opponents, but because of how lousy my level of play has been. I used to be fairly good playing chess when I was younger. Today it seems like I have regressed so much that I don't even recognize what I'm doing on the chessboard anymore.
Many people call this "tilt" and I'm not sure this is the case for me. If it is tilt, I have been experiencing a really bad case of tilt for a long time now. I feel like the more I play lousy and lose games, the worse this tilt is going to get for me. I have been already warned by Lichess admins not to keep abandoning games or else my account would be terminated. I don't want that result to be the lasting image of me as an online chess player. However, something about how I play chess must change or else I don't see the need to keep playing.
If I don't improve how I play chess anytime soon, I am strongly considering walking away from chess altogether and not look back. I mean, off and on I've been doing this for about 20 years. I've never gotten the help I've needed in the form of other people to help me improve my game. I lack focus when I read chess books. I also have a ton of other things going on in real life right now which is making the idea of playing chess look silly in comparison. This sounds like a recipe for disaster for anyone who tries to play this game.
As it is now, I am taking a much-needed break from playing online chess. I am considering at the very least no longer playing online chess anywhere, and if I do ever play chess it will be in-person, over the board.
Fellow chess players, just tell me what you think. I believe that if you're no longer having fun doing something, then why are you doing it? I'm at that point right now.
I have played this game of chess since I was 12 years old. I am now 33, going to be 34, and it's obvious that I don't have much to show for all my time playing. Typically chess players gradually develop their skills as they get older. Those who really put in the time to practice find out what works best for them and they get good at the game.
To me, it seems like I never got that memo.
For those of you on Lichess who have ever played a game against me, I would like to apologize to you if I have ever got up and abandoned a game while playing you. There is obviously no good reason for doing this, but I have abandoned many games. One reason I have for doing this is not because of my opponents, but because of how lousy my level of play has been. I used to be fairly good playing chess when I was younger. Today it seems like I have regressed so much that I don't even recognize what I'm doing on the chessboard anymore.
Many people call this "tilt" and I'm not sure this is the case for me. If it is tilt, I have been experiencing a really bad case of tilt for a long time now. I feel like the more I play lousy and lose games, the worse this tilt is going to get for me. I have been already warned by Lichess admins not to keep abandoning games or else my account would be terminated. I don't want that result to be the lasting image of me as an online chess player. However, something about how I play chess must change or else I don't see the need to keep playing.
If I don't improve how I play chess anytime soon, I am strongly considering walking away from chess altogether and not look back. I mean, off and on I've been doing this for about 20 years. I've never gotten the help I've needed in the form of other people to help me improve my game. I lack focus when I read chess books. I also have a ton of other things going on in real life right now which is making the idea of playing chess look silly in comparison. This sounds like a recipe for disaster for anyone who tries to play this game.
As it is now, I am taking a much-needed break from playing online chess. I am considering at the very least no longer playing online chess anywhere, and if I do ever play chess it will be in-person, over the board.
Fellow chess players, just tell me what you think. I believe that if you're no longer having fun doing something, then why are you doing it? I'm at that point right now.