Is that why he played chess all the time and did not want to do
anything else?

On Aug 10, 12:03 pm, Zero wrote:
Is that why he played chess all the time and did not want to do
anything else?

While I doubt he is fully autistic there is wide spectrum of disorders
that fall on the autism chain. Fischer may have OCD which is
characterized by excessive devotion or obsession with one or a few
things. OCD can be severe or it can fairly manageable depending upon
the individual.

Most people think of the movie Rain Man when they think of Autism, but
I actually know some very high functioning autistic people who can
live relatively normal and productive lives.

Most high functioning autistic people have developed coping methods to
manage their disability. Coping methods may include standard
routines, limiting of distractions or even medications.

Actually this was an interesting question that I'd never heard anyone
ask before.

Zero wrote:
Is that why he played chess all the time and did not want to do
anything else?



It is possible that psychologically speaking, that anything outside the
norm, is in a view, broken. And it is quite reasonable to state that
not just grandmastership, but those that so destroy the norm that they
stand by themselves, are broken. In any of the mental fields.

They may be useful, they may have desired qualities, but often this
leaks out in other more well known disorders. OCD, Paranoia,
Maniacism, schizophrenia, suicide. From computer programmers,
philosophers, artists, musicians, and chess players.

Chess has an interesting attribute in that paranoia is a useful trait to
playing well. This enhanced paranoia can be seen in many of the world
champions, and even the chess organizations, and the people that run
them. This paranoia has led to people historically attacking the game
and the players, and caused the players to be wary of others.

As one of the more "normal", it is often impossible to understand the
talented and broken other than appreciate their output. And if
anything it should remind everyone, that the mind is a very interesting
and incredible thing.

THE BOBBY FISCHER THAT WE LOVED

An article by GM Larry Evans that may shed some light on this issue is
scheduled to be published in the September issue of the British
magazine CHESS.

JohnnyT wrote:
Zero wrote:
Is that why he played chess all the time and did not want to do
anything else?



It is possible that psychologically speaking, that anything outside the
norm, is in a view, broken. And it is quite reasonable to state that
not just grandmastership, but those that so destroy the norm that they
stand by themselves, are broken. In any of the mental fields.

They may be useful, they may have desired qualities, but often this
leaks out in other more well known disorders. OCD, Paranoia,
Maniacism, schizophrenia, suicide. From computer programmers,
philosophers, artists, musicians, and chess players.

Chess has an interesting attribute in that paranoia is a useful trait to
playing well. This enhanced paranoia can be seen in many of the world
champions, and even the chess organizations, and the people that run
them. This paranoia has led to people historically attacking the game
and the players, and caused the players to be wary of others.

As one of the more "normal", it is often impossible to understand the
talented and broken other than appreciate their output. And if
anything it should remind everyone, that the mind is a very interesting
and incredible thing.

Bs'd

More like the Asperger syndrome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

Genius never comes alone, it goes hand in hand with some mental
disorder.

Like Korchnoi said: "All grandmasters are crazy, they only differ in
their level of craziness."


Eliyahu

"Chess is not something that drives people mad; chess is something
that keeps mad people sane." -British IM Bill Hartston (quoted by GM
Evans)


Eliyahu wrote:
Bs'd

More like the Asperger syndrome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

Genius never comes alone, it goes hand in hand with some mental
disorder.

Like Korchnoi said: "All grandmasters are crazy, they only differ in
their level of craziness."


Eliyahu

On Aug 10, 12:58 pm, Bruce wrote:
Most people think of the movie Rain Man when they think of Autism, but
I actually know some very high functioning autistic people who can
live relatively normal and productive lives.

Another true to life story (when it comes to cards) is the story of
Stu Ungar. He was regarded by many as one of the greatest poker
players of all time. He won the World Series of Poker three times,
which inlcuded his back to back wins in 1980 and 1981.

Ungar was a genius and had a chessplayer-like abilitiy when it comes
to memory. He was able to keep track of every card in a six-deck
blackjack shoe. In 1977 he was bet $100,000 by Bob Stupak, an owner
and designer of casinos, that he could not count down the last three
decks in a six deck shoe. Ungar won the bet.