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I think the problem with Chess as a social game is that there isn't enough luck in the game. It's a game where, when two people sit down to play, you pretty much know who is going to win the game.

A good social game is one with easy rules that people can learn quickly; I'm thinking the card game 'spoons': One less spoon in the center than the number of players; each person has four cards, gets one card from the left, passes one card to the right. When someone has 4-of-a-kind, they grab for a spoon; then everyone else grabs a spoon, irregardless of whether they have a 4-of-a-kind. The last person won't have a spoon, and is eliminated and the next round begins.

Chess is not a social game; women in particular are very uncomfortable playing Chess because of its competitive aspects. It's a game where men are in a contest to see who the better man is. Since, these days, a computer can give the world champion a hell of a game, I don't see the point of seeing how well I can do something a computer can do much better.

I can see why chess clubs are dying out and going to the Internet; people generally don't play chess to make new friends, and the game is no fun when two players have different skill levels.

- Sam