Chess

Life

from JoeUser Forums

Any time I start getting involved in something on more than a cursory level, it starts affecting how I think.  It doesn't affect WHAT I think, just how.

Some of the guys at work have taken to playing chess during lunch.  I used to play a long time ago, and still retain a rudimentary knowledge of the game and play at a level I would describe as "just good enough to not be considered a beginner anymore."

One of my friends at work, Lucas, turned me on to a site called Chess.com that has all manner of features for the chess lover.  I highly recommend it, but that isn't the point of this blog.  What inspired this blog was that when I went to this site, there was a poll question: "Does playing Chess affect the way you think?"  And there were two answers - pretty much a simple 'yes' or 'no.'

Having only resumed my interest in Chess for about two weeks now, I find that even small amounts of playing are affecting how I think about other things.  In particular, I am finding the objectiveness of Chess refreshing.  There is no debate over the situation on the board.  The two opponents could be as different as different gets in life, but Chess makes for an equalizing middle and undebateable ground where they can meet and suspend, at least temporarily, all differences of opinion.  For a short time, life for each player boils down to the same thing, and both must adhere to the exact same rules.  In the course of play, and perhaps it's just for me, something develops outside of the game - an increased understanding that whatever life's rules are, they are the same for everyone.  It is only our perception of those rules that differ.  For some reason, I find that uplifting.

If you do happen to take an interest in Chess and go to Chess.com, my name there is OckhamsRazor as well.  Send me a friend request and let's play a game - perhaps we'll learn more than who is the better chess player!

6,084 views 29 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

I suck at chess. :P

 

I think anything you do or learn about can be used to view the world with.  Each thing will have an overall, grandiose kind of meaning even if it's just a game.  For instance, here at school I've viewed the world through several lenses- chemistry, statistics, religion, biology, economics, and probably will continue to see it through many more.  All rules and knowledge have some overlapping value with the rest of the world.  Chess, as you say, can be an equalizer...but you can apply it to the world using the very pieces.  In life you have your simple pawn, charging ahead not knowing what the hell is going on, people like the knight, hopping around and dodging, the bishop who seems to never take anything head on, the slow weak king, the pushy bitch of a queen, the forward marching rook.  It's an interesting take on the human psyche....even though I just kinda made it up. :P

Or maybe it's just too early in the morning and I'm overthinking things.

~Zoo

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Hey there, Ock,

 

Glad to see you are back at a real game :)  Chess was one of my first loves.  I played daily at chess clubs, enjoyed speed chess, and game study.  Stay with it and you will find your mind to be even more highly disciplined than it already is. 

 

I signed on to chess.com, but came up blank on your name.  I am Sodaiho there.

 

Be well.

 

 

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'll play you here if you want a game. :D I adore board games, but that doesn't make me any better at them. Chess is more of a study than a game sometimes, though.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

In life you have your simple pawn, charging ahead not knowing what the hell is going on, people like the knight, hopping around and dodging, the bishop who seems to never take anything head on, the slow weak king, the pushy bitch of a queen, the forward marching rook. It's an interesting take on the human psyche....even though I just kinda made it up.
End of quote

That's kind of along the lines I was referring to.  To further the analogies, the simple pawn is a bit like the common man.  Individually, he holds little power, but when he has other men behind him (friends supporting - other pawns), the church behind him (power via religious association - bishop), an army behind him (power via military force - knight), power of a defensible location - rook...etc...his power grows in the perception of his enemy.  Combine any of those supporters where more than one are supporting, and that power grows even further until this one little man *seems* to be more than he is, but it's just an illusion.  The man, of himself, still bleeds profusely if you cut him.  Take away his support, and his bravado is revealed as mere self aggrandizement.  Ok, I'll let the metaphor end there for now :P

I signed on to chess.com, but came up blank on your name.  I am Sodaiho there.
End of quote

Found you just fine, Sodaiho.  Friend request and game challenge sent!  I'm excited - by what you've said of you and your history with chess, I look forward to a sound thumping which means I stand to learn something, and I like that :)

I'll play you here if you want a game. I adore board games, but that doesn't make me any better at them. Chess is more of a study than a game sometimes, though.
End of quote

Whatcha mean by "here" exactly?  If you plan to post moves as comments in this thread, I'll need to set up a board somewhere :)

To Zoo and J who allude to their playing abilities, I like to look at it like golf.  I love golf, and I suck at it terribly, but every game offers me a chance to take a peaceful walk on a big well kept lawn with a few of my friends.  As long as I stay focused on that, it's a lot of fun :)

 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

P.S.

With Chess.com, you can "post" your game on the internet.  I'll ask my buddy Mark how to do it, and when Sodaiho and I have finished (which will be a long time from now since unless we were both online at the same time it's going to amount to one or two moves per day) I can post the game and people can either play it like a movie, or step through it a move at a time and see what we played.  Pretty cool!

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Got your challenge. Thank you.

I'll be with you soon.

Be well.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Signed up and ready to play. Might as well use a site to do it, heh.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
I used to play Chess all the time back in the day and loved it as it's about the only game I know of that relies on pure skill and zero on chance. Heh, and one BIG thing I learned about chess: don't try to play it drunk 'cause there's no way you're gonna win. Unless, of course, your opponent's drunk too.  ;p 
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Oh, and you are quite correct -it DOES change the way you think. IMO it oughta be taught in the schools these days.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Heh, and one BIG thing I learned about chess: don't try to play it drunk 'cause there's no way you're gonna win.
End of quote

Haha...the very thought :P

Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I used to play Chess all the time back in the day and loved it as it's about the only game I know of that relies on pure skill and zero on chance. Heh, and one BIG thing I learned about chess: don't try to play it drunk 'cause there's no way you're gonna win. Unless, of course, your opponent's drunk too.
End of quote


I can't even win sober. :(

~Zoo
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
We are in it deep just now. I took a break, awhile ago, as I am playing four games simultaneously and Judge Judy came on. My Little Honey and I have a daily afternoon date to watch her show together. Goodness, Ock's just captured a pawn! Yikes!
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Go Ock! :D

Anyway, other perfect information no luck games include 'Go', 'Chinese Chess' (which has a chinese name I don't remember), and 'Blokus'. Checkers also fits into this category but I believe it's been solved... Tic Tac Toe fits, too, but that's been solved for a while.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Here's a list of games that are close and whether they really are or not.

Board Game GeekList
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
We're still at it...from the other games I'm involved in, I clearly need more play!
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

I think I'll go at the computer for a bit...try to hone my skills. :P

~Zoo

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Anyway, other perfect information no luck games include 'Go', 'Chinese Chess' (which has a chinese name I don't remember), and 'Blokus'. Checkers also fits into this category but I believe it's been solved... Tic Tac Toe fits, too, but that's been solved for a while.
End of quote

Don't forget Othello (which is probably on the list you posted).  I rather liked that one, too, back in the day.

I think I'll go at the computer for a bit...try to hone my skills.
End of quote

Was that you as Zoo06 I saw in the new members area when I logged on earlier?  If so, I'll send you a friend request :)

Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
Its over. I resigned. Good game, Ock. I look forward to another!

Be well.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
I did forget Othello...

Hive is an amazing game, too. Got to play that one the other day.
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Was that you as Zoo06 I saw in the new members area when I logged on earlier? If so, I'll send you a friend request
End of quote

Sure was...unfortunately I'm sucking awfully bad...it'll take awhile until I start kicking computer ass, then I might actually take on a person.

In short, I ain't doing so hot. :P

~Zoo

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

The pleasure was mine.  It was a real battle.

I tried to post the game here, but alas, it seems like JU doesn't like iframes, so no go :/

Thanks again, Sodaiho...I'll get to the new game some time tomorrow :)

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

If you're haunting these online chess places on a regular basis, and playing at the highest levels, you may run into him.  If ya do, do tell him Sabrina sends her love.
End of quote

Will do, though I tend to run from people with skills like that...at least until I have time to study a bit more :)

Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
(Showing my geeky colors here)

I freakin' love chess. I suck at it, but I love it. But the thing that caught me the most about your article was this, Ock:

Any time I start getting involved in something on more than a cursory level, it starts affecting how I think. It doesn't affect WHAT I think, just how.
End of quote


The same thing happens to me. For example - lately I've been playing a lot (and by a lot, I mean like almost every day) GalCiv II. (Thanks, Stardock. Your game sucks my life away.)

I find the strategies that I use in that game altering my studies, etc. When I'm sitting there in my history class thinking, "man, if they had used X style of diplomacy like I use with the Korx" . . . then I know I need to turn off.

Maybe I'll have to get back into chess.