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Why Losing At Chess Hurts So Much (And The Antidote)

excellent blog, I think it would have helped me if it had come before. before because I found my serenity, I experienced what you are talking about, my hypothesis was that the "pain" after a chess game was mainly due to the fact that the longer a game is, the more frustration you feel by losing. The answer can be found in psychoanalysis: humans have a natural reflex: humans like to build, a long game of chess is like a sandcastle that you build patiently, the pain of losing a game of chess is a reminiscence of the child who sees his sand castle destroyed by the tide, it is ancestral and it comes from an innate reflex of survival: the caveman who loses his slowly built fire did not survive. a factor that can still be found today is that when you lose a game of chess you feel sad that you lost a good thing, I noticed that the shorter the game, the less painful is, unless if you are caught by surprise in a trap. I managed to forget the ranking, I told myself that the most important thing was quality rather than quantity and that chess is an adrenaline sport. Saying that chess is only a game makes me smile because many live from this game and therefore the intensive practice of chess makes it a sport. besides what Ted says is right, if we feel less frustration in other games or sports, it's because chess requires a strategic, tactical, positional, and psychological understanding which makes the game longer and difficult, therefore more frustrating to lose. a game of tic tac toes is short and brief, a taekwondo is short and brutal, chess is long and brutal

excellent blog, I think it would have helped me if it had come before. before because I found my serenity, I experienced what you are talking about, my hypothesis was that the "pain" after a chess game was mainly due to the fact that the longer a game is, the more frustration you feel by losing. The answer can be found in psychoanalysis: humans have a natural reflex: humans like to build, a long game of chess is like a sandcastle that you build patiently, the pain of losing a game of chess is a reminiscence of the child who sees his sand castle destroyed by the tide, it is ancestral and it comes from an innate reflex of survival: the caveman who loses his slowly built fire did not survive. a factor that can still be found today is that when you lose a game of chess you feel sad that you lost a good thing, I noticed that the shorter the game, the less painful is, unless if you are caught by surprise in a trap. I managed to forget the ranking, I told myself that the most important thing was quality rather than quantity and that chess is an adrenaline sport. Saying that chess is only a game makes me smile because many live from this game and therefore the intensive practice of chess makes it a sport. besides what Ted says is right, if we feel less frustration in other games or sports, it's because chess requires a strategic, tactical, positional, and psychological understanding which makes the game longer and difficult, therefore more frustrating to lose. a game of tic tac toes is short and brief, a taekwondo is short and brutal, chess is long and brutal

Very nice blog, I also have experienced a pressure when my parents expect a lot out of me, so when I lose I feel the need to win a game.

Very nice blog, I also have experienced a pressure when my parents expect a lot out of me, so when I lose I feel the need to win a game.
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Seriously, I lost a terrible game today. Like, I was winning, or I could of drawn, but I somehow managed to lose. Feeling alot better after seeing this article.

Seriously, I lost a terrible game today. Like, I was winning, or I could of drawn, but I somehow managed to lose. Feeling alot better after seeing this article.

that's about it and i'm "affraid" to play rated games. i love my rating points so much that i'm even ready to make second account for rated games and this account also become "the precius", since i went well on that one. i can't help but i really love this game. And yes all what was written is true I curse out loud when press Analyse that "shame" how could it be that i was so stupid or missed that move. I guess also the time factor adds additional stress and then if the game is rated it can happend that i'm playing like monkey!

that's about it and i'm "affraid" to play rated games. i love my rating points so much that i'm even ready to make second account for rated games and this account also become "the precius", since i went well on that one. i can't help but i really love this game. And yes all what was written is true I curse out loud when press Analyse that "shame" how could it be that i was so stupid or missed that move. I guess also the time factor adds additional stress and then if the game is rated it can happend that i'm playing like monkey!

From a psychological perspective, I believe the suggested antidote is incorrect. The answer is to recognize that you if you gave it your all and lost, you've gained an opportunity to learn. Keeping a diary of explanations for your losses and wins will help you to keep things in perspective. Developing objectively and viewing chess as a learning opportunity will keep your focused and calm during the game and to recover from your losses.

From a psychological perspective, I believe the suggested antidote is incorrect. The answer is to recognize that you if you gave it your all and lost, you've gained an opportunity to learn. Keeping a diary of explanations for your losses and wins will help you to keep things in perspective. Developing objectively and viewing chess as a learning opportunity will keep your focused and calm during the game and to recover from your losses.

I feel the same way. And I'm not even that good, I thought I was advanced beginner, but I'm still a beginner after a year of playing chess. Losing many games in a row feels like being kicked in the stomach repeatedly, lol!

Also when I win and check my game with so much ego boost I feel unbeatable.

I feel the same way. And I'm not even that good, I thought I was advanced beginner, but I'm still a beginner after a year of playing chess. Losing many games in a row feels like being kicked in the stomach repeatedly, lol! Also when I win and check my game with so much ego boost I feel unbeatable.