I have the opposite problem, since I tend to defy human nature (perfection: it is possibly my greatest flaw, and my remaining human quality). When left to my own devices without attempting something new, I follow patterns that are too logical to be effective due to the nature of chess- there is no perfect strategy or inpenetrable defense, only selectively balanced mediums. With the little experience I have I find it difficult to find balanced strategies to use against different situations.

oi, mad props to xFangblade!!  ^_^  I'd definitely go for a good game than an easy win, i don't know anyone who'd want an easy win instead of a good game.   

and i'm not too nice!!!  >/////< 

lol hime x3 u r too nice

i agree with u =] it's human nature to risk losing for a chance of a greater prize, winning, which is why we try so hard to win

i think it has a lot to do with pride, if we work hard to get where we r, we feel at lost when we lose,  however when we win, i think it depends a lot on how we win that makes us feel good =] both sides want to win, but usually both sides prefer a good game to an easy win =]

What are you saying sorry for?! I just wanted to point out that I wrote about the same thing.

O.O  wow, mr. R...  but I'm sure that you deserve to win and I get that way sometimes too, and even in a losing game I try to find a way to win, but tell me, why are you afraid to lose?  That's all I need to know.  I guess it's just my way of looking at it, and I can't really do much to change it right now, but one day when I get as good as you are, I will think the same.  ^_____________^

As for paolodm, I'm sorry!  >////<  I didn't know you already wrote about it!  I just started using my blog...  please forgive me! 

http://blog.chess.com/paolodm/the-feeling-of-losing

I wrote about the same thing.

that's interesting.  I've known a few players that were more afraid of losing than driven to win...I have never had that feeling.  I always throw myself into a game, and often find myself almost manically, desperately, looking for ways to complicate the game, to create winning chances for myself at too great a cost.  yes I win some of them but find myself often being overly aggressive and missing a fine point, to end up in a losing game.  but still, anytime I sit down to play a game, I feel I MUST win...that I DESERVE to win...that I will do anything and everything I can do to WREST the full point from my opponent, who I'm sure doesn't NEED to win as badly as I do.