What is chess?

What does chess mean to you?

Today, I just got a message from a chess coach, https://lichess.org/@/Sayito_Lazetic. He asked me if I wanted chess lessons. I told him I already have a coach, and I don't need one. Then he showed me this offer. $5 to increase my rating by 300 ELO. That's not it. Sure, if I could, I would.
"You will beat many of your opponents easily." He typed.
"Chess is not about winning. It's about having fun." I replied.
"But don't you want to win?" He asked.
"Yeah, sure, I want to win, but the reason you play chess is because you like it, not because you want to win. Winning just makes it more fun, but chess is not all about winning. It makes the game more fun, and it makes you happier. Plus, losing, or making mistakes helps us improve."

Here’s another example. One of my friends on Lichess, Naomi123123, we were having a tourney, and instead of trying to win, she offered a draw. She’s a great friend.

Do you see my point? Chess is not about winning. It’s about having fun, and enjoying it.

What do you think of chess as?

Most people would think of it as a game, but that’s not all. Here are many things I think of it as:

• A giant mind training puzzle

Chess is training your brain to think in many different ways. Check out Naomi123123’s forum to see what I mean:
https://lichess.org/forum/team-we-are-the-chess-lovers/your-brain-on-chess-5-superpowers-youre-growing-every-game#1

• A hobby

What would you do if you had 30 minutes of free time to do whatever you wished to do? I would probably come straight to Lichess. Hobbies can be things you like to do, but in my opinion, chess is something that I LOVE to do.

• A way to earn prizes and money

I have an upcoming OTB (Over the Board) tournament later this July. And it’s my first. Even though I’m only 8, I find chess a good way to earn trophies, ribbons, and money.

So, you see, chess is not just a game. It can be many different things you never knew thought of. Also, if you aren't enjoying it and just arguing with your opponent about 1 single take back, you really don't know what chess is. It's just a game. Something you should enjoy. Nothing to argue over.

Thank you everyone for reading this! Please feel free to share you thoughts in the chat!
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