Do you gravitate towards highly competitive activities? Are you not content with watching tv or reading a book in your free time? Here are three competitive hobbies to try at home:
Chess – A Timeless 1v1 Competition
Chess is a game of strategy with an extremely high skill ceiling. While the setup and pieces start the same every game, there are almost an infinite number of possible chess game results. The game is a great test of memory, decision making, and pattern recognition. Chess players use a ranking system. Your skill level will be instantly recognizable by other chess players and allow you to measure how you are progressing as player.
Chess is globally popular and easy to find opponents. Between a physical chess board, chess websites, and mobile apps, you can play games no matter where you are. The chess community also has frequent tournaments. Some high skill chess players play in tournaments for prize money or even stream their games for online audience.
A great chess resource is www.chess.com , which offers both games against computers and live opponents. Right now (Friday 2pm), there are [x] people playing live. The site also offers in-game analysis, chess puzzles, and chess lessons. The entry version of chess.com is free (supported by ads).
Poker – Combine Math & Math
Poker is a card game with a similarly high skill ceiling. Most people think of casinos or high stake gambling when they hear “poker”. However, poker can also be played at home with friends or online. Poker tests your math skills, risk assessment, and emotional control. Combining math with the challenge of reading your opponents to get a feel for the strength of their cards makes poker more skill oriented than other chance based card games.
Similar to chess, poker is globally popular and easy to find opponents. A deck of cards is a common household item /easy travel with. Winning (or losing) Friday night poker with your friends might be exactly the motivation you need to take your poker to the next level. There are also a number of online and mobile poker applications that will allow you to play for free or bet money against live opponents. Casinos with table games often offer cash games or tournaments. Note: poker is gambling and comes with risks. I prefer tournaments, which have a set $ amount that participants put in for the night. If you stay calm under pressure and want to literally bet on yourself, poker could be a competitive hobby worth exploring.
Video Games – Take Your Skills Worldwide
Video games offer an wide range of playable content. No matter what type of game you like to play, it is highly likely that both a casual and competitive version of this game exist.
Video games and competition go hand in hand. Many classic video games that I played growing up, such as Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart, are still loved and played in in-person tournaments. More modern video games such as Fortnite and Fifa offer online play, as well as online tournaments with monetary prizes. Many games allow you to track your all-time stats in real time or offer a game-wide rank. If you do not like multiplayer games, single player games such as Elden Ring can provide hundreds of hours of split decision making & frustration.
It feels like the combination of the global pandemic, content streaming, and pro esports teams have increased overall video game popularity. Streaming and tournaments make video gaming a potential money making hobby for player of all ages.