When chess is no longer fun

About 2 years ago I had 1700 ~ 1800. I could play relaxed, listening to a song, doing anything on the board. So I increased from 200 to 300 rating points, remaining stable between 2020 ~ 2080.

However, chess is getting more tense for me. I can't play anything anymore, it's like 'swimming with the sharks' now. The victories are now sweaty, hard, the feeling after the game is one of relief rather than joy.

Has anyone here ever had this feeling? Does it only tend to get worse?

I'm not a tournament player, I play lichess ONLY, but as my level increases, the fun goes away!

I find this interesting, so I decided to share my experience!

From now on there seems to be only pain and suffering lol. I'm adept at cynicism (philosophically speaking), so I avoid bringing free worries, but it seems that from now on there is only hard work and pleasure will be less frequent ...

Maybe if I played tournaments I would get a boost of motivation, but playing only online and against players so hard for my skills is kind of frustrating!

Againt, I find this interesting, I had never thought about it! This is the sporting side of chess! That romantic and civilized two-player atomosphere playing a game of chess (like Magneto vs. Xavier in X-MEN) doesn't seem to exist in the lichess, there are only bloodshot opponents trying to win at all costs!

reflexion moment... lol

Love it or leave it. I will never leave.

It may not have much merrit coming from me, but if chess was easy and the community was weak would you really still play, let alone enjoy it? Chess being a mental battle (mostly with yourself) is part of what makes it fun. Also i recall a wc or top gm saying if u dont love or enjoy the game you've lost already (not sure on the exact quote). That being said im sure the titled level is very trying and the pressure to perform is surely there even if its just like a mental/pride thing. Hope you it passes for you and you continue to enjoy the game.

I still feel inspired by chess every day. There is always some way to improve at the game whether it be a simple middlegame idea or an entirely new opening line. Honestly, I think chess gets more interesting as you get higher rated. Even the slightest imbalance like bishop vs knight or a slightly asymmetric pawn structure can be the end of the game. Often these deep positional ideas lead to some of the best tactical combinations as well! NM ChessNetwork is one of my favorite streamers and one thing that I've noticed is he places a lot of care into each and every move. Every opening decision, every trade in the middlegame, and every intricacy in the endgame requires every ounce of your undivided concentration.

So is chess less fun because it becomes more difficult at the higher levels? I would say maybe but chess definitely becomes more interesting :)

Have you ever considered playing real chess OTB? What's the point of only ever playing online? Nobody cares about your lichess ratings.

#5, indeed. Just online skirmishes about monopoly Elo points, training. The real meat is hunted offline.

I also think online Chess is hard. The internet is not a chess club with a family atmosphere. The extreme fetish with rating numbers is pathological. Fake Elo numbers are the breeding ground for cheating. Another reason why the internet opponent is so strong. Offline computer chess or real OTB is the purest and most honest form of chess. Even chess engines are pleasant opponents if the right level is chosen.

Don't get me wrong: I love online chess and of course everyone wants to bump their ratings up as high as they can eventually. I'm just saying that if the OP is truly finding himself lacking motivation, taking things to the next level might help.

There are online rated games for both FIDE and some national associations. That plus OTB tournament play should rejuvenate you. When you're simply playing for a rating boost and nothing more, of course thing are going to get stale at some point.

do it as me : stop playing rated then you get chill again

#5 I cant play OTB I live in a place with no tradition in chess and when I know someone who knows how to play they are too beginner.

#9 I thought about it. Playing unrated games might get me in touch with cool people who like the game, accept a postmortem discussion of the variants that each has missed ... I also fear that the loss of motivation is due to the blitz.

#2 I love chess, but I was never a fan of the sport side. I'm afraid this sport side will be highlighted in the blitz, because victory and defeat depend a lot on skills and less on what I consider 'real chess'.

I will try Correspondence Chess or unrated games... The idea of ​​rating is bad for my relationship with chess. It's probably a character flaw of mine, but ... not everyone was born to compete ...