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The song remains the same.
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2026 5:57 pm
by MJMcCready
This is a question I have always wanted to ask GM Carlsen given half the chance: 'At what age did you enjoy chess the most?'
And so I throw it open to you guys, what's your answer and why?
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2026 6:21 pm
by Paul Ashton
Without a doubt I enjoy it the most now. I came back to it after a hiatus of 30+ years (career, family etc.) rediscovering my passion for it after encountering online chess during COVID. From there it was a short step to seeing if I could still play over the board- I could! I don't play to a very high standard but its one that I am happy with most of the time. I play openings that give me interesting games. It's good to win and the losses are part of the deal. I am a member of a great friendly club and meet some lovely people there and at congresses. These are the days.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2026 6:24 pm
by MJMcCready
I also found from a break from chess that you unlearn many things and this can make you better and enjoy it more.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2026 7:09 pm
by GrahamStuart
Great question.
I think I enjoyed it most when I joined a club, playing league chess and congresses and was improving. Like most (all) players I reached a level where I was not going to improve without a lot more work (or a more realistic position was that I had reached my peak). Family, work and other interests were impacts on enjoyment from that time.
But after a break, I am probably enjoying chess now more than any time since that position (1997). It helps being at what I would consider an excellent club, which caters for players of all levels (1000 to 2200+) with internal tournaments as well as league chess. Also helps that as now retired I can play league chess without having to worry that I have to be up early for work and playing evening chess at the end of the day which became less enjoyable.
So, for me my it was not just one age, but probably two stages, and I think this would not be an uncommon answer.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2026 7:09 pm
by Matt Mackenzie
My only sizeable break from chess was between the late 1989 Preston congress and spring 1994 Cumbrian championship - only a few quickplays in that period. But somehow I played better chess at the latter than the former, and that convinced me to start properly again.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2026 7:11 pm
by MJMcCready
GrahamStuart wrote: ↑Fri Jun 26, 2026 7:09 pm
Great question.
I think I enjoyed it most when I joined a club, playing league chess and congresses and was improving. Like most (all) players I reached a level where I was not going to improve without a lot more work (or a more realistic position was that I had reached my peak). Family, work and other interests were impacts on enjoyment from that time.
But after a break, I am probably enjoying chess now more than any time since that position (1997). It helps being at what I would consider an excellent club, which caters for players of all levels (1000 to 2200+) with internal tournaments as well as league chess. Also helps that as now retired I can play league chess without having to worry that I have to be up early for work and playing evening chess at the end of the day which became less enjoyable.
So, for me my it was not just one age, but probably two stages, and I think this would not be an uncommon answer.
Great question great answer.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 12:34 am
by JustinHorton
"enjoy"?
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 11:04 am
by Paul Habershon
If we do enjoy chess it is curious that, unlike most enjoyable activities, we are hoping it will be over as soon as possible, in our favour of course. Perhaps the enjoyment comes from the winning glow which may well last longer than the game.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 11:33 am
by Ian Thompson
Paul Habershon wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2026 11:04 am
If we do enjoy chess it is curious that, unlike most enjoyable activities, we are hoping it will be over as soon as possible, in our favour of course.
I think that's the case in many games and sports. It will apply to any game/sport where you win by reaching a specified total score, or by getting so far ahead of your opponent that you can't be caught. That's just about anything that's not played for a fixed length of time where the winner is whoever's ahead when time's up. For example, tennis (and other racquet sports), cricket, snooker, match play golf, boxing, martial arts, cycling, motor racing, running.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 11:46 am
by Pete Morriss
Paul Habershon wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2026 11:04 am
If we do enjoy chess it is curious that, unlike most enjoyable activities, we are hoping it will be over as soon as possible, in our favour of course. Perhaps the enjoyment comes from the winning glow which may well last longer than the game.
I've had games when I've been disappointed when my opponent blundered, as it ended my enjoyment of the game. Though it is true that I am more disappointed when, as so often, I am the one that blundered.
Like several here, I gave up chess for thirty years, and, on the whole, I enjoyed it more on my return. There's also less guilt now that I should be doing something else - my school homework, paying some attention to my girlfriend, or whatever.
But the original question was addressed to Carlsen, and I suspect that a professional would have a very different attitude.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 4:05 pm
by Matt Mackenzie
Well yes, I do think some degree of enjoyment is quite important.
Though equally, there will be times when even the most ardent chess enthusiast somewhat falls out of love with the game.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 4:55 pm
by JustinHorton
I don't know if what I do is ever quite "enjoy" as such, even though I've been doing this almost without a gap for around half a century.
I've said before that I often remember a work conversation from around 1990 where a colleague asked me what I'd done the previous evening, I said chess, she said did you enjoy yourself, I said I never enjoy myself playing chess and she not unreasonably asked why I did it then.
I still don't know the answer and maybe I never will.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 7:07 pm
by Matt Mackenzie
I'm sure I recall a pretty strong player from our younger years who basically said something like "being a chess master is boring as hell and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody". Unfortunately though, I have completely forgotten who it was
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 7:09 pm
by Richard Bates
Often, like many things, the enjoyment (or lack of) does not come directly from the chess itself, but the circumstances in which you are playing it. You might call it the “social” side, but it can be a bit more intangible than that.
Re: The song remains the same.
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2026 7:26 pm
by MJMcCready
Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2026 7:07 pm
I'm sure I recall a pretty strong player from our younger years who basically said something like "being a chess master is boring as hell and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody". Unfortunately though, I have completely forgotten who it was
Well, there's always the distinction of playing to improve and playing for pleasure. I remember hearing GM Speelman once say the latter was the best way to play chess.