In article ,
says...
True, Paul. Mike's was just a bad analogy.

Chess is just something people don't fond interesting, largely because they
don't understand it. A good analogy would be a math competition. How many
people would find advance math competitions interesting? Very few, I guess.

Something worth pointing out:

In any park where chess is being played, the blitz games are the only ones
that attract spectators. I'll let others interpret that any way they want...


This is what I mentioned in the original post...something about speeding
up the time limits. And I've read smattering of posts suggesting the
same thing. But of course the "skill" level also has to be considered as
well.

Someone mentioned that Crazyhouse would favor the arbitrary player and
I've been thinking about that comment. If that's true...maybe blitz
crazyhouse would get interest. Since Crazyhouse doesn't require
theoretical knowledge to play...it suddenly evens out the odds of
beating even the pros at this. For example...I've been unable to beat
the computer at regular chess but at crazyhouse rules...it gives me a
better chance to beat it..and I've been successful at Crazyhouse. You
don't need book knowledge to play crazyhouse. Everytime I've played
crazyhouse on ICS at 5 minute limits...I've been winning.

The same thing for Fischer Random chess...no theory required...book
knowledge out the window...and this also evens out the odds against even
the best in the world. Everytime I've personally asked a GM to play me
OTB using Fischer Random chess...they refused. They called it
"childish" "kid's play"...but I think differently. I think these GMs who
are so good at book theoretical knowledge would be afraid to try Fischer
Random against a reasonably experienced club player...like myself. It
would mean...they could LOSE.

So I think Fischer Random, Crazyhouse chess with blitz time limits would
increase interest in chess because it's fast, exciting and without
theoretical knowledge...anybody can play and have a good chance to beat
the pros. Just my opinion.