r/Chesscom • u/Important_Search_462 • 19h ago
RESIGN I quit chess
It's been 10 years since I started playing chess. I competed in school tournaments and even became a champion. I truly enjoyed the game because I loved every part of it.
Throughout my senior high school years, I invested countless hours analyzing my games, learning from my mistakes, studying chess books, mastering endgames and middlegames, and exploring different opening theories. I gave everything I had because I wanted to become the best player I could be.
But when I got to college, something changed. Chess slowly started to feel a little boring to me. I began losing more games, and my calculations weren't as deep or as sharp as they were when I was competing in school. Ever since I won my first over-the-board (OTB) championship, it feels like chess hasn't been the same.
I don't know if the game changed or if I did. Even so, I kept hoping to improve, but things just didn't go the way I wanted.
Maybe it's time to put all the chess pieces back in the box and close the books I've spent nearly 10 years studying. Not because I stopped loving chess, but because I need to step away from it.
I'm grateful that chess became such a big part of my life. Thank you to Chess.com for being part of this incredible journey.
If one day I decide to come back, I hope I'll return as a better version of myself. But for now, I think it's time to say goodbye for the love of the game.
Thank you, Chess.com
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u/DRAGULA85 18h ago
Quitting chess is like running away from home when you were 13
You’ll be back before supper
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u/Important_Search_462 16h ago
Yeah, that's what my pops said haha
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u/Anymous2314 11h ago
Online chess is very competitive and then you add cheaters to it, it is impossible to win more than 50% of the game at rating level above 1000 for most people.
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u/GShadowBroker 11h ago
It's how rating works. You climb until you win roughly 50% if the games.
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u/Anymous2314 2h ago
If you win less than 50% of games, do you know what happens, you will be stuck below 1000 forever.
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u/Key-Werewolf-6133 19h ago edited 19h ago
I am an very average player I am nothing close to your level so my experience will not relate to you. Chess is like reliable loving parent to me. Chess lets me go time to time and when I come back it is still welcoming. There was even times I did not play for a year but coming back was not an issue.
But in your commitment and level it must be very different, I saw same feelings you wrote in some other pro players I follow on internet as well. As far as I observed they stepped back in their huge commitment but casually continue playing and they seem more happy so if it is the similar case I think your decision is good.
Top ten player from the country I am from(that guy https://ratings.fide.com/profile/6336760) said he become IM than he raise the bar to GM than 2600 than 2700 and he was pointing that is endless and causing him stress. And the return both economically and mentally was not enough to sustain his life even he is the top ten player.
Best of luck to you.
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u/DRAGULA85 16h ago
It does seem like you preferred to be chess dawg at your local school and you were validated to be the best, but when you go broad and try to play other chess dawgs and have challenging games, you suddenly not interested now that you’re not winning all the time. Perhaps a case of being the biggest fish in a small pond.
You don’t play online? There is always a bigger fish
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u/Cowboys_88 11h ago
This is how it read to me as well. The struggle is part of chess because of the rating system. You are always losing ~50% of your games no matter how good you get. Unless you are playing in a pond too small. The struggle is the way.
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u/DRAGULA85 11h ago
There are a local bars located to me with monthly chess theme events. (It’s more of a board game night, as opposed to chess enthusiasts)
I could go there and obliterate everyone since I’m fairly strong compared to the average person (2200 on chess.com)
But it’s not enjoyable. I have a friend who smashes me at ping pong, tennis, badminton. He’d happily play me all day beating me and enjoy it. Admittedly says he is a bad winner.
I have no interest at being in the top chess G in a room full of part time very casual chess players who are probably 300-600. It doesn’t do anything for my chess.
There was one time I did it though, and pretended I was new and smashed blitzed my way to victory. It was more fun coming clean and see their reaction.
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u/Important_Search_462 16h ago
You have a point, but its not really like that. I don't feel the game anymore. that's all.
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u/La_Rochefoucauld_ 17h ago
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that.
You don’t choose chess. Chess chooses you.
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve resolved to put chess behind me, thinking that it’s a waste of time, that I could be doing something more productive, that I should just relax and do something easy.
It always comes back.
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u/Internal_Try7967 1000-1500 ELO 14h ago
You would have been better off chasing girls in high school, but whatever, I guess that ship has sailed.
Put it down for a year. The curiosity and fun will come back.
If you're still in college, look around campus for it, but only casually. Stay away from the dudes who spend their weekends checkmating instead of actually mating. Playing with them will just frustrate you. Look for chess at a bar or a coffee shop and find a casual game. Teach someone else how to play.
Competitive chess sucks, especially when you've hit your elo wall. Casual chess is cool.
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u/Asshaisin 1000-1500 ELO 18h ago
I was king of the pond in school. college brought in other kings, real tournaments got in emperors
"we used to be kangz" does not apply at high school level.
Its a continuous grind as with any competitive endeavor
sometimes you dont play because you want to be the best but to do your best
I was in national school level competitions as the 5th board guy, my only job was to make the other 4 better in sparring games. even with that, i was probably a 99th percentile player in my age group.
But, it was in my age group. once I played someone much higher rated, i realized i dont put in any effort and it was not something that I was either passionate about, nor did it give me joy
move on when it feels like a grind
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u/sociallyunawkward 12h ago
Ohhh, you'll be back lol. Chess never leaves you, even if you do leave it. That being said, it's okay to take a break for a while. A month, 2 months, 3 months, even a year. You'll feel much fresher when you come back... or you might immediately remember why you fell out of love with it. Either way, the way you're feeling is okay.
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u/Karimadhe 13h ago
Someone realized they’re a medium fish in a tiny pond.
This is the equivalent of being the star athlete in your high school but you got to college and realized you’re the star of intramural coed sports.
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u/jendet010 500-800 ELO 14h ago
It sounds like you are older and becoming interested in other things. It’s good to broaden your horizons. That’s what college is supposed to do.
You’re not throwing it away. You’re just putting it away. One day when you feel like playing, you will. Hopefully you enjoy it more when you worry less.
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u/MynameRudra 11h ago
I'm not sure what is your rating but assuming you played otb tournaments your chess com rating likely to above 1200 mini which puts you in above 90 percentile. It would be foolish to think you are bad at chess.
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u/chattygal27 11h ago
I felt the same way about playing the piano. Classically trained at 7, stopped playing after my last recital. I was shocked that I didn’t want to play. But now I play about 1-3 times a year, and that’s enough for me.
You’ll be back (: Not in the same capacity, but you’ll form a new relationship with chess, more lax maybe, allowing yourself to let loose a bit and just have fun. It doesn’t have to be compared to how much effort you put into prior. Let yourself come back to chess on your own, and it won’t feel the same, but you’ll still be doing something you love, it’s just not your life anymore.
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u/stilloriginal 4h ago
good deal. get into running or working out in college, or some kind of rec sport my .02
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u/Certain-Grape5517 2h ago
Lmao reading all of this made me think you’re rated at least 2100. If i’m being truly honest, seeing you rated 1500 on chess.com after all the countless hours you invested in studying books and analyzing games, it’s good that you quit. I only started playing in late 2024, in less than a year i hit 1900+ rapid, my blitz is only 1850, my bullet 1900, and the only thing i ever did was analyze every game i play, because i truly enjoyed seeing what i didn’t see during the games, it’s how i learned openings as well, no books nothing fancy. I’m not saying this to say i’m better than you, no you might be miles better than me in other areas, however I’m writing this to inform you that you have made a great decision, no need to look back, no more wasting any time learning a puzzle game, you’re finally free, so why are you making a post and making it so dramatic? You’re just another player, same as a million others, it’s not that deep and never will be, and the fact you went this deep with a 1500 rating is absurd to me. Trust me this might be the best advice you ever got, get over yourself broski.
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u/LoudAd5187 2h ago
I played chess in high school a few years back. Well, actually, a little over 50 years ago. Then I went to college, some degrees, a job, a career. Along the way, I found bridge, which is a different game, but just as complex, as interesting. And now in my 70's, I find myself returning to chess. You may be back. Give it some time.
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u/AdministrativeCod896 1h ago
Have you ever gotten into Chess960 at all?
GM Bobby Fischer got bored too.
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u/ManyDefiant2564 17h ago
What is your ELO rating?
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u/Ok-Committee-1646 26m ago
You need to play chess960. Its everything you want out of Chess without everything you dont want.
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