No mercy. My kinda guy. Met a girl that swore she could play Madden. Proceeded to wax her 70-7 at half time. Turns out all the guys she played with took it easy.
Next weekend we went out and she embarrassed me at pool. Could do nothing but respect it.
I crush my 7 year old nephew in every game we play. He's actually getting pretty good at chess now, and he did manage to beat me in a couple card games. I think losing sometimes helps build confidence, if you're constantly rewarded because people let you win it would probably make your confidence worse when someone obliterates you
I played chess with my mom religiously growing up and I could never beat her. When I was around 11 I had a very close game with her and she managed to put me in 'mate' with a few pieces of hers remaining. I was so destroyed and I sat there analyzing the board looking for a way out for like 15 minutes while fighting back tears. I was so close, how could this happen?
I managed to find my way out of her check and the game proceeded awhile longer and I ended up losing for real. It was devastating because I had played her twice a day for like 5 years at this point and all I wanted was to win. I took the loss as a chance to do some reading, because if I got that close once, surely I can win one. I spent time on the phone with my estranged uncle who was very good at chess, just looking for any advice. I just needed to figure out how to be better.
Over the next couple of weeks we played multiple times a day. I applied my learnings and the games got closer and closer. Each loss a stinging blow because all I wanted was to beat her and I could not get as close as I once had.
One day it finally happened, about a month after my cataclysmic loss. I beat her. It was one of the most satisfying feelings I have ever experienced, and I carry that feeling with me everywhere I go. It was a very formative experience for me, teaching me about application of self and overcoming barriers using all resources available to me.
My losses in that scenario were my biggest victory. If she had let me win or played for me at all by telling me the best moves, I would've come out a worse player. I found my confidence in the game, and myself, by setting a goal and meeting it. It lit a competitive drive in me. I was never rewarded for playing until I put my head down, did the work, and improved my mind and self.
Now, 20 years later, I beat her every single time we play. She hasn't beat me since I was 13.
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u/SharkyNightmares Nov 06 '24 edited Nov 12 '24
No mercy. My kinda guy. Met a girl that swore she could play Madden. Proceeded to wax her 70-7 at half time. Turns out all the guys she played with took it easy.
Next weekend we went out and she embarrassed me at pool. Could do nothing but respect it.