@TheJeromeGambit said in #1:
> While I might not be the strongest player I pride myself in having an somewhat original repertoire and a creative way of approaching the game with my beloved sacrifices. I go and play 1 game play my favourite french defense, hoping for a complex battle in either the Classical, Maccutcheon, Tarrasch or advance. Then I see them play exd5 and this makes me really sad. This simplistic almost ape-like move is STILL played by players rated 2000. Last time I checked - exchange french is played commonly at the 600 level not at 2000. Sorry for the rant, but I DESPISE people who do this.
Certainly, this is a highly controversial subject. IMHO creativity doesn't have to appear only in the opening. Middlegame and endgame are great arenas to get creative. On the other hand, I just remembered a famous phrase:
They say my chess games should be more interesting. I could be more interesting - and also lose.“ - Tigran Petrosian.
Arm yourself with patience, positive energy and continue to cultivate creativity!
> While I might not be the strongest player I pride myself in having an somewhat original repertoire and a creative way of approaching the game with my beloved sacrifices. I go and play 1 game play my favourite french defense, hoping for a complex battle in either the Classical, Maccutcheon, Tarrasch or advance. Then I see them play exd5 and this makes me really sad. This simplistic almost ape-like move is STILL played by players rated 2000. Last time I checked - exchange french is played commonly at the 600 level not at 2000. Sorry for the rant, but I DESPISE people who do this.
Certainly, this is a highly controversial subject. IMHO creativity doesn't have to appear only in the opening. Middlegame and endgame are great arenas to get creative. On the other hand, I just remembered a famous phrase:
They say my chess games should be more interesting. I could be more interesting - and also lose.“ - Tigran Petrosian.
Arm yourself with patience, positive energy and continue to cultivate creativity!
Now that the dust has settled, I might add my point of view.
First of all I agree with the title. A lot of players lack creativity. That is because they focus a lot on opening theory, on winning and learn a lot of moves by heart. Also following the golden rules reduces the ways you can use creativity. Let's face it. Often creative moves are the wrong moves - I had to learn this the hard way. Chess isn't always beautiful art. I personally try to focus on games and produce games that look appealing not on games that are winning. I try to use checkmate patterns that do NOT have a name whenever I can. However, it's not always possible. I always go for complex games when I can, but that's not always possible. I have to accept the fact, that there is no real creativity against the London System or other openings possible.
However I find it disrespectful to call people's moves ape-like. I have never seen someone talking in such a demeaning way. Please have some respect for others. If you don't like this variation you will need to learn another opening. #2 is absolutely right aswell, hence all the likes. It is your responsibility to play an opening where such a line you hate doesn't exist. It is good for your opponent, when his move makes you angry. Being in a war game, means you have to beat your opponent the way you can do best and this might be by making your opponent emotional (this can be by anxiety when facing attacks against the king, anger by a solid opening and so on). When you want to be a good chess player, you need to learn respect and also learn to calm yourself down.
I recently had this game, that made me quit classical online chess, because I suffer from something similar as you. However I see that it is MY fault. I lack patience. I get bored. I am the one who would need to change. In the following game we have the caro-kann Nf6 most drawish variation. In order to avoid theory I did not play Nxf6, got even a pawn up, but remained in a 0.0 position until the end. In the end it became clear that I will eventually either lose back the pawn or black has compensation in form of piece activity and king safety. Me not being able to accept the inevitable draw when playing for hours, blundered and immediately resigned after realising how bad my move was. Well, real classical chess (90+30) as a whole just isn't for me.
First of all I agree with the title. A lot of players lack creativity. That is because they focus a lot on opening theory, on winning and learn a lot of moves by heart. Also following the golden rules reduces the ways you can use creativity. Let's face it. Often creative moves are the wrong moves - I had to learn this the hard way. Chess isn't always beautiful art. I personally try to focus on games and produce games that look appealing not on games that are winning. I try to use checkmate patterns that do NOT have a name whenever I can. However, it's not always possible. I always go for complex games when I can, but that's not always possible. I have to accept the fact, that there is no real creativity against the London System or other openings possible.
However I find it disrespectful to call people's moves ape-like. I have never seen someone talking in such a demeaning way. Please have some respect for others. If you don't like this variation you will need to learn another opening. #2 is absolutely right aswell, hence all the likes. It is your responsibility to play an opening where such a line you hate doesn't exist. It is good for your opponent, when his move makes you angry. Being in a war game, means you have to beat your opponent the way you can do best and this might be by making your opponent emotional (this can be by anxiety when facing attacks against the king, anger by a solid opening and so on). When you want to be a good chess player, you need to learn respect and also learn to calm yourself down.
I recently had this game, that made me quit classical online chess, because I suffer from something similar as you. However I see that it is MY fault. I lack patience. I get bored. I am the one who would need to change. In the following game we have the caro-kann Nf6 most drawish variation. In order to avoid theory I did not play Nxf6, got even a pawn up, but remained in a 0.0 position until the end. In the end it became clear that I will eventually either lose back the pawn or black has compensation in form of piece activity and king safety. Me not being able to accept the inevitable draw when playing for hours, blundered and immediately resigned after realising how bad my move was. Well, real classical chess (90+30) as a whole just isn't for me.
@Sarg0n said in #21:
> So acquiring and repeating tactical motifs you call „creativity“?
If chess isn't creative, then what is it? And why do you play it?
> So acquiring and repeating tactical motifs you call „creativity“?
If chess isn't creative, then what is it? And why do you play it?
@CheerUpChess-Youtube said in #23:
>[...] In the following game we have the caro-kann Nf6 most drawish variation. [...]
I appreciate your comments in the rest of your lengthy posting, but I can't let the above pass.
By failing to play the normal 5.Nxf6+ you may have denied your opponent one of the most interesting (creative if you like) lines of the Caro-Kann 5...gxf6! Anything but drawish, this line accepts serious weaknesses on the kingside in return for strong counter-attacking play.
>[...] In the following game we have the caro-kann Nf6 most drawish variation. [...]
I appreciate your comments in the rest of your lengthy posting, but I can't let the above pass.
By failing to play the normal 5.Nxf6+ you may have denied your opponent one of the most interesting (creative if you like) lines of the Caro-Kann 5...gxf6! Anything but drawish, this line accepts serious weaknesses on the kingside in return for strong counter-attacking play.
This might help. It looks like you can still create unusual positions, make sacs and play the type of chess you want, even against the exchange French.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIErXoHh2p4
Don't give up an opening you like. Just find some unusual but playable lines against the boring variations which then make them far less boring.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIErXoHh2p4
Don't give up an opening you like. Just find some unusual but playable lines against the boring variations which then make them far less boring.
@Brian-E said in #25:
> I appreciate your comments in the rest of your lengthy posting, but I can't let the above pass.
> By failing to play the normal 5.Nxf6+ you may have denied your opponent one of the most interesting (creative if you like) lines of the Caro-Kann 5...gxf6! Anything but drawish, this line accepts serious weaknesses on the kingside in return for strong counter-attacking play.
It is not a serious weakness. That is the point. All the lines are extremely drawish and/or theoretical. No creativity in those lines. of course Nxf6 allows more, but for both sides. I did not FAIL to play it, as I said before I don't WANT to play it for very obvious reasons. I will in the future of course, however there is no weakness and it is still a 0.0 game when they recapture with exf6. It could be interesting after gxf6. Otherwise this game is more drawish than the russian defence and the french exchange combined and more boring than a d4 opening.
> I appreciate your comments in the rest of your lengthy posting, but I can't let the above pass.
> By failing to play the normal 5.Nxf6+ you may have denied your opponent one of the most interesting (creative if you like) lines of the Caro-Kann 5...gxf6! Anything but drawish, this line accepts serious weaknesses on the kingside in return for strong counter-attacking play.
It is not a serious weakness. That is the point. All the lines are extremely drawish and/or theoretical. No creativity in those lines. of course Nxf6 allows more, but for both sides. I did not FAIL to play it, as I said before I don't WANT to play it for very obvious reasons. I will in the future of course, however there is no weakness and it is still a 0.0 game when they recapture with exf6. It could be interesting after gxf6. Otherwise this game is more drawish than the russian defence and the french exchange combined and more boring than a d4 opening.
@CheerUpChess-Youtube said in #27:
> [...]It could be interesting after gxf6.[...]
If you read what I wrote once again I think you'll find that is the move I was recommending.
> [...]It could be interesting after gxf6.[...]
If you read what I wrote once again I think you'll find that is the move I was recommending.
@Brian-E said in #28:
> If you read what I wrote once again I think you'll find that is the move I was recommending.
Yes, I know. But I cannot control whether or not they play that. I think I understand your comment now better. You meant that I didn't even give him the chance to play it. Well - that is because the majority goes for exf6. I cannot play hope chess, I need to be prepared for the best move.
> If you read what I wrote once again I think you'll find that is the move I was recommending.
Yes, I know. But I cannot control whether or not they play that. I think I understand your comment now better. You meant that I didn't even give him the chance to play it. Well - that is because the majority goes for exf6. I cannot play hope chess, I need to be prepared for the best move.
@Prophiscient said in #24:
> If chess isn't creative, then what is it? And why do you play it?
Not the original addressee of the comment, but I have an answer.
I play chess because I like problem-solving. You don't necessarily need to be creative to solve problems: it's the reason why pattern recognition is so important in chess (i.e. "I saw this position before, I can use the same solution to solve the problems that it poses").
In this sense, chess is similar to programming. You don't necessarily need to be creative to be a good programmer.
> If chess isn't creative, then what is it? And why do you play it?
Not the original addressee of the comment, but I have an answer.
I play chess because I like problem-solving. You don't necessarily need to be creative to solve problems: it's the reason why pattern recognition is so important in chess (i.e. "I saw this position before, I can use the same solution to solve the problems that it poses").
In this sense, chess is similar to programming. You don't necessarily need to be creative to be a good programmer.
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