Why do you think chess is not as popular in the US as it is in the rest of the world?

Answer 1

Generally speaking, Americans aren't as patient as other cultures and don't like to think that far ahead. The age of instant gratification has led us to believe that it is not necessary to plan ahead and think of possible solutions, etc.

Answer 2

For years, I was a member of the U.S.C.F. (United States Chess Federation) and played tournament chess. Outside of the chess clubs there was little interest in the game. I guess it's too slow, deep, and intellectual for most Americans. BTW: At that time, there were About 32,000 official chess players in the U.S.

Answer 3

It isn't? America is a pretty large country, with areas where chess is hugely popular. Perhaps it's just my personal exprience, but I see a lot of chess being played in the US. Certainly it's more popular in, say, Russia, but that's just cultural differances.

Elizabeth, that's an awfully ignorant statement. Chess is a deep game but hardly the only standard of deep thought. There's dozens of other games out there with more complex rules, more options on what moves to make, and more skills to test. Also, American football isn't just twenty- two men running about randomly crushing each other. They move to highly- coordinated plans based on a lot of strategy and tactics; this is in fact one of the primary reasons the sport is so popular to watch.

Answer 4

Board games, in general, are not as popular in the U.S. as they are in other countries. I belong to a boardgame group that meets weekly and the vast majority of our games come from Europe because there's a bigger market for boardgames there. We have a couple of European members and they seem to think (without looking down on us) that Americans are much more into convenience than people in other countries. Americans are more accustomed to having everything be right at their fingertips so most would rather play computer or video games than arrange to meet someone, sit at a table, set up a board, etc. That's probably only part of the answer, but I imagine there's some truth to it.

Answer 5

Geography has a lot to do with it. We live far away from areas where it has been popular for a long time, and we've developed different interests. (we are not socialized to enjoy it)

A thoughtless answer from Elizabeth.


Kyrix, you are right. There is a lot more strategy in American football than Eliz. realizes. Besides, attacking somebodys intelligence because they don't play chess is silly. Pay no attention to her.

Answer 6

Maybe because it is too intellectual. Most Americans would rather watch some mindless violence, or in some cases, indulge in mindless violence.

Not really, relix. It is from observation. It is a fact that most Americans do not want to have to think about their past times, just rush about a football pitch in full body armor knocking the opposition about, something frowned upon in chess.

Kyrix, then if it is such a great game, why is it only popular in the US? The fact is, it is not so hot. And yes, it is just a lot of huge men rushing about and running into each other.

Answer 7

i think lots of people think it is uncool and it takes along time and often if you not playing with a clock sometimes you have to wait a long time for your oponnent to move I personally love chess

Answer 8

Because we get bored really easily and a lot of us don't like to sit and think. We'd rather take the easy way out. (That's just my oppinion of course)

Answer 9

Because a chess player should use his/her brain.

Answer 10

The U.S. is more into Poker