English Chess Forum

i really get sick of hearing that bloody catchphrase - you almost hear it from non playing women.

Just a game is spending a few minutes or maybe even an hour having a friendly mess about with no consequences - not spending an entire evening, weekend or even whole week playing - that is more then a game, it is life!

It's just a game if you win, it's a bloody waste of time if you lose!

Hi Joey.

"....is more then a game, it is life!"

I'm sure everyone on here agrees. But there again life is just a game.

You mentioned non playing women.

My wife, a dedicated non-player, when she discovered I had spent
£8 buying Najdorf's Best Games. (a good book by the way).

"What do you want another chess books for? Surely you know the rules by know."

I disagree completely. I think it's more important to play for the enjoyment of the game, rather than to win. If you only play chess (or any game) to win, then you're going to be disappointed half of the time. OK, you play to win, if it's 3-2, best of 6, play for the draw, of course. But really, there are far more important things going on in the world that makes losing a game of chess completely insignificant.

I suppose you could respond that games are very important and refer them to the work of John Nash. That always goes down well.

Well Nash believed most actions of society can be put in to game form in that respects. Especially ones with interaction.

Ben