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I Don't Like Chess Tournaments

Well said, and great blog.

Well said, and great blog.

"The healthiest option I could find was a Chipotle, located about 500 yards from the tournament hotel as the bird flies, but a 15 minute drive because of how New Jersey roads work."

You really take the car for 450m?!? And talking about healthy habits?

I understand you dont like to play long, tiring tournaments anymore, but you have to understand the vast majority do like the frustration and desperation of a 5 hour match ending in a loss and the punch of adrenaline and dopamine from a win. Carlsen and the streamer kid criticize current situation basically just because they are here to make more money, not because they care about chess, they are clearly not good examples.

"The healthiest option I could find was a Chipotle, located about 500 yards from the tournament hotel as the bird flies, but a 15 minute drive because of how New Jersey roads work." You really take the car for 450m?!? And talking about healthy habits? I understand you dont like to play long, tiring tournaments anymore, but you have to understand the vast majority do like the frustration and desperation of a 5 hour match ending in a loss and the punch of adrenaline and dopamine from a win. Carlsen and the streamer kid criticize current situation basically just because they are here to make more money, not because they care about chess, they are clearly not good examples.

No one likes tourneys! But, it is fun to win...

No one likes tourneys! But, it is fun to win...

None of the tournaments I've played in in the UK are like this.

None of the tournaments I've played in in the UK are like this.

You sound like me trying to go to parties after reading socializing is the most important thing in personal happiness and health. Hey, that's what the Lichess database says people play most, right? It must be what they play. 1. g3?! God damn it ! Statistics, right?

Anyway, there is some truth in the socializing bit, so maybe there is some in the idea it's good for you in the long run to force yourself to be part of the OTB chess world, too. It's not just the hours, it's the people, the chess, the getting out of your comfort zone occasionally. Even if it's terrible, it still makes you feel better when it's over, right?

At least that's what I say to myself while sitting in a corner at a party, drinking the 10th cocktail.

You sound like me trying to go to parties after reading socializing is the most important thing in personal happiness and health. Hey, that's what the Lichess database says people play most, right? It must be what they play. 1. g3?! God damn it ! Statistics, right? Anyway, there is some truth in the socializing bit, so maybe there is some in the idea it's good for you in the long run to force yourself to be part of the OTB chess world, too. It's not just the hours, it's the people, the chess, the getting out of your comfort zone occasionally. Even if it's terrible, it still makes you feel better when it's over, right? At least that's what I say to myself while sitting in a corner at a party, drinking the 10th cocktail.

Dear @CheckRaiseMate,

Thank you so much for writing this as well as your fantastic newsletter.

I would just send you a polite, gentle and very boundaries-respectful hug.
I find your efforts always inspiring.

Dear @CheckRaiseMate, Thank you so much for writing this as well as your fantastic newsletter. I would just send you a polite, gentle and very boundaries-respectful hug. I find your efforts always inspiring.

The time control for the event is game in 100 minutes with an additional 30 minutes on move 40, and 5 seconds delay per move. Bizarrely, this casual team tournament has a slower time control than the FIDE standard for international competition.
I don't think it's slower. 100+5 for 40 moves gives you 103 minutes and 20 seconds; 90+30 for 40 moves gives you 110 minutes. After move 40, you get 30+5 vs 30+30, i.e. also less time. And yours is "US delay", i.e. when you play faster, you lose unused parts of the delay while the FIDE de facto standard uses "Fischer increment" where you keep and cummulate unused parts of the increment.

> The time control for the event is game in 100 minutes with an additional 30 minutes on move 40, and 5 seconds delay per move. Bizarrely, this casual team tournament has a slower time control than the FIDE standard for international competition. I don't think it's slower. 100+5 for 40 moves gives you 103 minutes and 20 seconds; 90+30 for 40 moves gives you 110 minutes. After move 40, you get 30+5 vs 30+30, i.e. also less time. And yours is "US delay", i.e. when you play faster, you lose unused parts of the delay while the FIDE de facto standard uses "Fischer increment" where you keep and cummulate unused parts of the increment.

The less experienced and the weaker the players, the more they want long games. It may seem absurd, but ultimately they use more time to try to compensate for the lack of habit and good reflexes, this is one of the explanations I see, in addition to thinking that a chess game must necessarily be very long, it seems more serious and is more rewarding in their eyes.

I feel the same as you, sincerely.

Eric.

The less experienced and the weaker the players, the more they want long games. It may seem absurd, but ultimately they use more time to try to compensate for the lack of habit and good reflexes, this is one of the explanations I see, in addition to thinking that a chess game must necessarily be very long, it seems more serious and is more rewarding in their eyes. I feel the same as you, sincerely. Eric.

Great read. I stopped playing tournaments since I got married. Sometimes miss being a single, not caring when yoy eat and sleep. Haha

Great read. I stopped playing tournaments since I got married. Sometimes miss being a single, not caring when yoy eat and sleep. Haha