kick ash wednesday
today is ash wednesday, for us roamin’ catholics, the first day of lent, or as i call it, christian ramadan, a time of fasting and preparation and all that to get you focused, in the right mindset, back on track.
i will also do that with chess. sort of. more on that later.
yesterday, after i got fed up with chess and didn’t want to play it for a while, wanted nothing to do with it for a bit, i of course did the most logical thing: i went to chess club. i had a great time.
i really like the chess club (i wonder if i can call it “my chess club” as i don’t’ go every week, and i feel more like a visitor then a regular) because it is exactly how i imagined a chess club. a good mix of beginners and “old pros,” everyone is friendly and helpful, the chess playing is serious, but the attitude is care free and jocular. we talk as we play, about whatever, joking, kibitzing, talking about the game as we play it. it’s like a chess party. i played 4 games, won two, lost two, and after the games, we went over them a bit, discussed moves, etc. really a great time.
ok, so the buddhists have this idea of “every time is the first time/you begin anew each time” or something like that. (i apologize to any buddhists, i am a bit sketchy on it, i vaguely remember the concept from reading “dancing wu li masters” by gary zarkov). each chapter is chapter 1. always a fresh look at something, always an untainted, unbiased approach to whatever you are engaged in.
i remember back when i started, how i knew a lot less, yet i appeared to be “better” if only because of my false sense of knowledge. i would approach each game with “i’m gonna kick this guy’s ass” and sometimes, i did. now that i think, i sometimes think too much, as if learning has put my mind in a structured box, and i expect to lose because the other guy “knows more” based off his rating or his years of chess. i lose before i begin, based off preconceived notions.
and this is how i’m gonna approach the chess. i will approach it as if it’s my first time at chess, not with the ignorance of a first timer, but the enthusiasm, the “blank slate mind” without any preconceived notions, like a clean air filter ready to pick up each particle of dusty chess knowledge. maybe last night re-energized me, maybe i just needed a few hours break instead of a day or a week, but i’m excited. i have a tournament coming up end of the month, and i need to be ready for it.
most people think lent is only about giving something up. it’s also about doing something, either praying more, donating more time, volunteering more, being more understanding of others and more forgiving, etc. all in the effort to become a “better person.” i shall also take this time to become a better chessplayer as well.
Wahrheit said,
February 6, 2008 at 10:28 am
There ya go–one of them deep thinkin’ Buddhi dudes woulda said all the Universe is a cycle of inhale, exhale, you was exhalin’ de other day and in the second when the breath was all gone you wrote yer now-famous “fuck chess” post see, everthing is in cycles, you know all ’bout that from bein’a cycler yourself, now we’re inhalin’ the pure fresh air o’ chess love, one love, it’s bright golden and beautiful, and eventually the the exhalation of the blue negative will come round, over and over, just remember what that come sround, go around, which my Daddy, who was no Buddhi dude, also knew.
I’m not a Catholic yet, but for Lent I’m givin’ up regret.
drunknknite said,
February 6, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Damn, I was so close. I was going to say 15 hours at first so at least I was closer than that. Glad to see you’re enjoying yourself again.
chessed said,
February 6, 2008 at 12:51 pm
One of the best ways I found to be ready for a tournament was to take a few days off of chess right before it. There’s nothing worse than realizing in the middle of your second game that you’re so burned out that you don’t care - and the rest of the tournament is still in front of you like a monster.
There’s no way to recover at that point.
I like to think of chess as a mental exercise - no desire to crush anyone, just to make the most out of every move. The ultimate goal is to win, of course, but it does make losing while playing a good game and acceptable result.
I don’t even know if that last made any sense!
takchess said,
February 6, 2008 at 2:41 pm
So is the Dancing Wu LI book on the same shelf as your Herman Hesse, Carlos Castenada .Al Watts books? I imagine it is in a stone throw of Stranger in a Strange Land as well.
My Lent observance is no Junk food , candy, soda
Pawn Shaman said,
February 6, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Playing chess like you do in “your” club has got to be one of the best ways to learn. Its enjoyable and conducive to altering your game as it goes. Its way more focused on the individual rather than a specific opening or tactic or whatever. Plus its a good way to meet people. Especially old creepy dudes.
I gave up fast food for lent. Especially Jack in the Box dollar menu. mmm.
abuteague said,
February 7, 2008 at 8:11 am
I had to change the way I think about ratings because it was costing me games. I was doing math in my head before I finished the game. I would go to the next round depressed about a loss.
My new perspective is to collect well played games. In particular, I try to collect 10 wins against each rating class. I go to the tournament knowing I need some wins against class b players and a win against a class c player. Amazingly, when I lose a game, it doesn’t bother me as much. It is less a judgment about my playing ability and more about a missed opportunity. My next game is in front of me and it is another opportunity. I like chess again. After a loss, I’m hungry for a win instead of weak. This just sets me up with a better perspective when I come to the board.
This also tells me when I should start playing up. For example, I qualify for U1500, but I’ve almost collected 10 wins from class c. I only have 6 from class b. This means I’ve become comfortable in class c and it is time to move on to U1800.
The rating thing is still there, but now I’m excited for the next round regardless of the last game’s result. Each time I come to the board, I get to start a new game.
chessloser said,
February 8, 2008 at 8:08 am
wahrheit - nice comment there, bob dylan…i don’t know if you were joking or not, but giving up regret is what lent is truly all about…that’s the whole purpose of lent…
drunknknight - don’t worry, you’ll get lots of other opportunities to bet on how long i quit for…
chessed - it all made sense, and good advice about taking a break…
takchess - actually the book is in my sciene section, (my books are dived into sections) as its about quantum physics…
pawn shaman - but what if i’m one of the old creepy dudes?
abuteauge - that is excellent! thanks for that….
Wahrheit said,
February 8, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Well heh, it was all a joke–except the last line!