Takchess Chess Improvement

A Novice chessplayer works to get better at chess using an improvement program based upon the methods of Michael de la Maza and the teachings of Dan Heisman

Monday, June 25, 2007

An Unsettling Thought





Now in the world there are millions of people who play chess. So how many are better than I am ? 100 of thousands ? millions ? Here I am reading a little on chess everyday, doing chess problems and there are masses of people who can kick my butt. hmmm, perhaps it time to take out my watercolors..........

posted by takchess @ 3:08 AM  

6 Comments:

  • At 5:25 AM, Blogger Temposchlucker said…

    Maybe you should look a bit different at it.
    In Holland, 4634 people play better than me. That's 1 on 3452. So I can give a simul at the mall with little chance to get beaten. Even more since I know a few hundred people who are better than me from tournaments, especially in my neighbourhood.
    Sounds much more positive, hmm?

     

  • At 8:54 AM, Blogger hisbestfriend said…

    It is true that the only comfortable position is to be that guy. By definition, most of us can't.

    And it does lead to the interesting existential question of "why me", or the metaphysical question of "why".

    There is a decent answer to that question: Because it is fun. Beyond that, yes. Exactly. Hence the whole chasing the line question I have been bringing up.

    I always think of those swim races where 4 people beat the world record, and the 4th place guy doesn't even get a medal, and nobody remembers them, even though they just beat the previous world record. All that training, all those hours, all of the sacrifice instead of doing something else.

     

  • At 11:36 AM, Blogger Loomis said…

    Tak, this is why I'm so surprised when people are demoralized by a loss. I want to say, "what, you didn't know there were people who play better than you?"

    I understand the desire to win. I also realize that when we sit at the board we can pour our entire selves into the game and a loss can be quite painful. But we're smart people. We aren't slave to our fragile egos, we can see our place in the world and enjoy it.

     

  • At 7:37 PM, Blogger BlunderProne said…

    To err is human... to Blunder is my nature. Both in chess and in life in general, my greatest lessons are when I make mistakes. Without mistakes, risks wouldn't be taken and new paths would never be blazed.

    Hang in there. Look at it this way, I often get beaten by Kids. I know they couldn't possibly have as much knowledge as I do...they have less baggage. Natural risk takers they are.

    -BP

     

  • At 4:54 AM, Blogger takchess said…

    Well Tempo if 4634 people can beat you in Holland I imagine that would mean that 46,340 people from Holland could beat me.8)

    Thanks everyone for the comments,
    I've been a little under the weather with little sleep and in a mild funk. Most likely feeling better will improve my game.

     

  • At 6:04 AM, Blogger Temposchlucker said…

    We don't have that many clubplayers in the Netherlands:)

     

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