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I Don't Like Chess Tournaments

I very much appreciate this as an inactive organizer. I have pretty much given up OTB chess while my daughters grow up. ICCF correspondence has hit the spot, even if it's engine-assisted, although engines have gotten so good in recent years that it's really hard to use them instead of follow them.

I very much appreciate this as an inactive organizer. I have pretty much given up OTB chess while my daughters grow up. ICCF correspondence has hit the spot, even if it's engine-assisted, although engines have gotten so good in recent years that it's really hard to use them instead of follow them.

You've inspired me to go to more tournaments since I could stand to lose a bit of weight!

You've inspired me to go to more tournaments since I could stand to lose a bit of weight!

"I also suspect that many players who say they want more time would end up preferring shorter time controls if they got accustomed to them. When my opponents go into deep thinks, they often don’t end up making good decisions"

I saw this same topic many times, "the longer I think the worst my move", not exactly true, I can't say if this a thing of modern chess (Chess after the rise of Queens Gambit, Chess.com, Lichess and PogChamps) or if it was always like this, but the point is.

Most people don't want to play 10+0 on a REAL tournament because you WILL lose due to flagging and WILL win due to time, I can 100% guarantee you, that this will happen in any OTB tournament. Now give it a 15+5 there will be time trouble and some people don't like losing a completely winning position because he blundered a Rook on move 63. And then you make the game longer! Like 30+10 and 60+30 and so on, until you reach the absurdity of a 6 hour game.

I would agree with you, if you said something like, "If I'm spending more than 10 min on a move, there's something wrong" I guess chess tournaments by design reinforce this kind of playing, but hey, come up with a solution then, and you will revolutionize Chess!

"I also suspect that many players who say they want more time would end up preferring shorter time controls if they got accustomed to them. When my opponents go into deep thinks, they often don’t end up making good decisions" I saw this same topic many times, "the longer I think the worst my move", not exactly true, I can't say if this a thing of modern chess (Chess after the rise of Queens Gambit, Chess.com, Lichess and PogChamps) or if it was always like this, but the point is. Most people don't want to play 10+0 on a REAL tournament because you WILL lose due to flagging and WILL win due to time, I can 100% guarantee you, that this will happen in any OTB tournament. Now give it a 15+5 there will be time trouble and some people don't like losing a completely winning position because he blundered a Rook on move 63. And then you make the game longer! Like 30+10 and 60+30 and so on, until you reach the absurdity of a 6 hour game. I would agree with you, if you said something like, "If I'm spending more than 10 min on a move, there's something wrong" I guess chess tournaments by design reinforce this kind of playing, but hey, come up with a solution then, and you will revolutionize Chess!

I feel like you should consider opting out of tournaments. They seem to include a lot of things which you don't like: e.g. crowds, travel, (and potentially getting sick), studying etc. You CAN like chess and not like tournaments. That is perfectly ok!

I play in a chess club and there are people there who play at the club, but they don't go to tournaments. Or they just participate in the clubs own tournaments and so don't have to travel. You could also just play chess casually with friends. That way there's no stress, and you are just doing it for enjoyment.

I hope you find a way to relax and enjoy your hobby, and fit it together with family life, and work. Everyone has these types of issues, so know you're not alone!

I feel like you should consider opting out of tournaments. They seem to include a lot of things which you don't like: e.g. crowds, travel, (and potentially getting sick), studying etc. You CAN like chess and not like tournaments. That is perfectly ok! I play in a chess club and there are people there who play at the club, but they don't go to tournaments. Or they just participate in the clubs own tournaments and so don't have to travel. You could also just play chess casually with friends. That way there's no stress, and you are just doing it for enjoyment. I hope you find a way to relax and enjoy your hobby, and fit it together with family life, and work. Everyone has these types of issues, so know you're not alone!

To borrow from Apocalypse Now:

I love the smell of chess players in the morning.

Of course, after lunch they may start to get a little gamey.

And in the evening? Well, there's a reason many hang out in the bar.

To borrow from Apocalypse Now: I love the smell of chess players in the morning. Of course, after lunch they may start to get a little gamey. And in the evening? Well, there's a reason many hang out in the bar.

I went to a fairly small weekend tournament once, and there was a family of a kid who was playing there, like two or three younger siblings, just having to sit there all weekend in the lobby playing tablet games. Both parents were there - why not let just one take the chess player, and the other kids get to have a weekend at home?

I went to a fairly small weekend tournament once, and there was a family of a kid who was playing there, like two or three younger siblings, just having to sit there all weekend in the lobby playing tablet games. Both parents were there - why not let just one take the chess player, and the other kids get to have a weekend at home?

Bro went to too many tournaments and was late for all the tournament guess who he is join my team pls:3

Bro went to too many tournaments and was late for all the tournament guess who he is join my team pls:3

I've always found chess tournaments useful because whenever I lose or even just get 2nd I get super motivated and driven to work harder at chess. My most recent tournament I got 4 points out of 4, but got 2nd due to tie breaking rules and I got the same motivation as losing.

I've always found chess tournaments useful because whenever I lose or even just get 2nd I get super motivated and driven to work harder at chess. My most recent tournament I got 4 points out of 4, but got 2nd due to tie breaking rules and I got the same motivation as losing.

@Graque said in #13:

Is it possible most people feel this way about long games---they don't actually have fun playing them, but feel like they are obligated to do for some reason (e.g. for rating, titles, improvement, experience, whatever)?
Like in many other areas, I'm apparently not "most people". If I had to choose between one 90+30 game and a 5-round 14+5 tournament in our club, I would almost always take the 90+30 game. Rapid doesn't let me think enough (15+10 or 20+5 are still playable but sadly most tournaments rather use something like 10+5, 15+3 or 15+2), most games are decided by a stupid blunder or running out of time and, worst of all, I cannot analyze the games later.

Unfortunately the "society ADHD" affects most areas of our lives and chess is no exception which is where the popularity of blitz (or even bullet) or at least rapid and dislike for classical time controls comes from. But for me, one of the reasons why I started playing chess again is that I'm worried about this and having to focus on a chess game for few hours and dismissing all the usual distractions is a great way to fight it.

@Graque said in #13: > Is it possible most people feel this way about long games---they don't actually have fun playing them, but feel like they are obligated to do for some reason (e.g. for rating, titles, improvement, experience, whatever)? Like in many other areas, I'm apparently not "most people". If I had to choose between one 90+30 game and a 5-round 14+5 tournament in our club, I would almost always take the 90+30 game. Rapid doesn't let me think enough (15+10 or 20+5 are still playable but sadly most tournaments rather use something like 10+5, 15+3 or 15+2), most games are decided by a stupid blunder or running out of time and, worst of all, I cannot analyze the games later. Unfortunately the "society ADHD" affects most areas of our lives and chess is no exception which is where the popularity of blitz (or even bullet) or at least rapid and dislike for classical time controls comes from. But for me, one of the reasons why I started playing chess again is that I'm worried about this and having to focus on a chess game for few hours and dismissing all the usual distractions is a great way to fight it.

Like many others, big part of the blogpost talks about specific aspects of typical tournaments in author's country (my guess is USA) but makes it sould as if these problems were general. But chess tournaments (or even classical open tournaments) can be organized in very different ways in different countries.

Like many others, big part of the blogpost talks about specific aspects of typical tournaments in author's country (my guess is USA) but makes it sould as if these problems were general. But chess tournaments (or even classical open tournaments) can be organized in very different ways in different countries.