Alan et al,
IN the main, an excellent post, but I do have to differ on one major point
and that is the viewpoint expressed by Khalifman:
"Never play for the win, never play for the draw, just play chess!"
Which is a unrealistic and untenable notion. When you play a competitive
game of chess, you are out to win, especially so if you are representing a
team or county or even country. If you are not playing for individual
purposes, you are obliged from the get-go to be targeting a victory, unless
it is in the interest of the team to hold the draw.
When playing for personal reasons or on an individual basis, sometimes a
draw is a productive if not beneficial result, especially so against a much
stronger opponent.
I feel that it is a very damaging viewpoint to enter into a competitive game
of chess with the sheer objective of enjoying the game. There are many ways
to win, ethically and morally, there are debates on how this is done, but
ultimately, you are there, sat over-the-board, to win the game.
We can learn much from chess, whether by study, review, evaluation or simply
following another top-level player. When we compete though, we should strive
for that ultimate objective of victory and not be satisfied with a sheer
content of a well-played game.
Thoughts welcome.
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alan Dicey
Sent: 23 September 2018 18:44
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] "Never play for the win, never play for the draw,
just play chess!"
Why I want to learn chess
According to Sofia Polgar, "Chess is a lot like life itself, with rules and
exceptions. It is black and white and the entire scale of gray in between.
It can be beautiful or cruel and like other sports brings out many emotions
in the players. No wonder it appears in so many books, movies and paintings,
as a game or as metaphor."
There's also a Chinese proverb which says:
Life is like a game of chess, changing with each move.
I believe that is one of the main aspects which entices me to learn the
game. I like the notion that one could learn to counteract the unexpected
and would want to gain some practice in this exquisite art.
I believe learning to play well, will enhance one's analyzing capabilities
and nurture growth and development of worthwhile characteristics - as
Vladimir Nabokov puts it, in his Poems and Problems,
1969:
"Chess problems demand from the composer the same virtues that characterize
all worthwhile art: originality, invention, conciseness, harmony,
complexity, and splendid insincerity."
Wilhelm Steinitz says:
"The chess pieces are the block alphabet which shapes thoughts; and these
thoughts, although making a visual design on the chessboard, express their
beauty abstractly like a poem ..."
The components are literally just the pions/pieces on the board, but even
so: "The rigidity of the material with which we have to compose, is a more
formidable opponent than Lasker or Capablanca. Because these lifeless
opponents do not have any moments of human weakness!"
(Henri Weenink, Het Schaakprobleem, 1921)
, (From wikipedia, anonymous):
"foresight, self-control and the like, we always come back to the thought
that speculative attack is the lifeblood of chess.
"Unsurprisingly, as a player gains more and more experience, trying his best
to analyze and evaluate, he gains proficiency."
I think playing chess would also sharpen one's perceptiveness of pattern
recognition From wikipedia:
"the storehouse of similar situations in a player's recollection, is the
Rosetta Stone that eventually makes the process possible."
"Good books on strategy are a key vitamin supplement, but the training diet
must include experience."
Although, according to Chigorin, "Even a poor plan is better than no plan at
all."
Chess playing could also be a way to socialize and is one of the few pass
times, through which one could liaise and compete with and against sighted
people, while at the same time, serving as an intellectual stimulant.
It creates some common ground among so many different types of people from
so many walks of life.
"The only thing chess players have in common is chess."
(Lodewijk Prins, interview with Max Pam, 1972)
According to Goethe: "Chess is the touchstone of the human intellect."
Goethe also says: "Daring ideas are like chess men moved forward. They may
be beaten, but they may start a winning game."
Another aspect is that it's an inexpensive way to amuse oneself for hours.
"Chess is so interesting in itself, as not to need the view of gain to
induce engaging in it; and thence it is never played for money." (Benjamin
Franklin, Chess made easy, 1802.)
I suppose when you've tasted the victory of winning most games and you're
really at the stage of becoming a "Master," that may be what you play for
and then it may perhaps be a goal to always win.
But, my main reason for playing chess would be for the stimulative
interaction and I fully second Khalifman's sentiments when he says:
"Never play for the win, never play for the draw, just play chess!"
Written by a Very Dear Friend in October 2009 A brilliant Lady, an
attorney, and wonderful person I have had the great fortune to meet and
make friends with.
She is living in Pretoria, South-Africa, Reana Van Der Walt With best
regards God Bless Alan Plantation, Sunny South Florida
Alan et al,
IN the main, an excellent post, but I do have to differ on one major point
and that is the viewpoint expressed by Khalifman:
"Never play for the win, never play for the draw, just play chess!"
Which is a unrealistic and intenable notion. When you play a competative
game of chess, you are out to win, especially so if you are representing a
team or county or even country. If you are not playing for individual
purposes, you are obliged from the get-go to be targetting a victory, unless
it is in the interest of the team to hold the draw.
When playing for personal reasons or on an individual basis, sometimes a
draw is a productive if not benefitial result, especially so against a much
stronger opponent.
I feel that it is a very damaging viewpoint to enter into a competative game
of chess with the sheer objective of enjoying the game. There are many ways
to win, ethically and morally, there are debates on how this is done, but
ultimately, you are there, sat over-the-board, to win the game.
We can learn much from chess, whetehr by study, review, evaluation or simply
following another top-level player. When we compete though, we should strive
for that ultimate objective of victory and not be satisfied with a sheer
content of a well played game.
Thoughts welcome.
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alan Dicey
Sent: 23 September 2018 18:44
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] "Never play for the win, never play for the draw,
just play chess!"
Why I want to learn chess
According to Sofia Polgar, "Chess is a lot like life itself, with rules and
exceptions. It is black and white and the entire scale of gray in between.
It can be beautiful or cruel and like other sports brings out many emotions
in the players. No wonder it appears in so many books, movies and paintings,
as a game or as metaphor."
There's also a Chinese proverb which says:
Life is like a game of chess, changing with each move.
I believe that is one of the main aspects which entices me to learn the
game. I like the notion that one could learn to counteract the unexpected
and would want to gain some practice in this exquisite art.
I believe learning to play well, will enhance one's analyzing capabilities
and nurture growth and development of worthwhile characteristics - as
Vladimir Nabokov puts it, in his Poems and Problems,
1969:
"Chess problems demand from the composer the same virtues that characterize
all worthwhile art: originality, invention, conciseness, harmony,
complexity, and splendid insincerity."
Wilhelm Steinitz says:
"The chess pieces are the block alphabet which shapes thoughts; and these
thoughts, although making a visual design on the chessboard, express their
beauty abstractly like a poem ..."
The components are literally just the pions/pieces on the board, but even
so: "The rigidity of the material with which we have to compose, is a more
formidable opponent than Lasker or Capablanca. Because these lifeless
opponents do not have any moments of human weakness!"
(Henri Weenink, Het Schaakprobleem, 1921)
, (From wikipedia, anonymous):
"foresight, self-control and the like, we always come back to the thought
that speculative attack is the lifeblood of chess.
"Unsurprisingly, as a player gains more and more experience, trying his best
to analyze and evaluate, he gains proficiency."
I think playing chess would also sharpen one's perceptiveness of pattern
recognition From wikipedia:
"the storehouse of similar situations in a player's recollection, is the
Rosetta Stone that eventually makes the process possible."
"Good books on strategy are a key vitamin supplement, but the training diet
must include experience."
Although, according to Chigorin, "Even a poor plan is better than no plan at
all."
Chess playing could also be a way to socialize and is one of the few pass
times, through which one could liaise and compete with and against sighted
people, while at the same time, serving as an intellectual stimulant.
It creates some common ground among so many different types of people from
so many walks of life.
"The only thing chess players have in common is chess."
(Lodewijk Prins, interview with Max Pam, 1972)
According to Goethe: "Chess is the touchstone of the human intellect."
Goethe also says: "Daring ideas are like chess men moved forward. They may
be beaten, but they may start a winning game."
Another aspect is that it's an inexpensive way to amuse oneself for hours.
"Chess is so interesting in itself, as not to need the view of gain to
induce engaging in it; and thence it is never played for money." (Benjamin
Franklin, Chess made easy, 1802.)
I suppose when you've tasted the victory of winning most games and you're
really at the stage of becoming a "Master," that may be what you play for
and then it may perhaps be a goal to always win.
But, my main reason for playing chess would be for the stimulative
interaction and I fully second Khalifman's sentiments when he says:
"Never play for the win, never play for the draw, just play chess!"
Written by a Very Dear Friend in October 2009 A brilliant Lady, an
attorney, and wonderful person I have had the great fortune to meet and
make friends with.
She is living in Pretoria, South-Africa, Reana Van Der Walt With best
regards God Bless Alan Plantation, Sunny South Florida
