4 ms·

I actually did a test myself with pot a while back, also playing against a computer, my thinking there was that it would provide the most consistent opponent sk

I actually did a test myself with pot a while back, also playing against a computer, my thinking there was that it would provide the most consistent opponent skill level. I tried varying amounts. I saw a fairly significant improvement with small doses, less than what someone would use for entertainment purposes, an amount just before what could be called a high. I think it may increase concentration at the right dosage level.

yial 10y ago
Anecdotal: I used to play chess frequently against a friend, who smoked pot pretty regularly. When he was sober, I usually would win. When he was starting to get high, he would usually win. When he was fully not sober, we would usually tie. I do not smoke, so I was always sober during these games.
- taneq 10y ago
  So you're suggesting there's something analagous to the Ballmer Peak but for pot?
  - hvidgaard 10y ago
    Jokes aside, alcohol and, pot it seems, inhibit the brains ability to process complex things. This mean you're more likely to abandon ideas that are too complex to handle anyway, and thus cover more ideas that you can handle.
    - mi100hael 10y ago
      I disagree. From my own experience, my chess game (or programming or other tasks involving concentration) suffer after even a single drink. My brain abandons complex ideas that it would normally be able to handle given some time and concentration.
tempestn 10y ago
Is it possible the advantage was related to something like creativity or insight?
- jimmytucson 10y ago
  I've had the same experience as op and yes, I think you're onto something. I'll generate a wider breadth of candidate moves, although I may not calculate each line to the same depth. I guess you could say it encourages lateral thinking (or creativity) over linear thinking (calculation). This is key for me because under normal circumstances I tend to favor solid but slightly passive lines. If my opponent is playing creative, spirited chess, he can easily gain the initiative and crush me.
- matt4077 10y ago
  Other hypothesis: any improvement in mood may positively impact your ability to think for long stretches of time.
  - tempestn 10y ago
    Yep. Or increased confidence / decreased nervousness could minimize mistakes. Lots of possibilities.
xeonoex 10y ago
I think you're probably right. I don't really have concentration problems in the first place, but in small doses, I feel like I can focus a bit better on a single thing. Too much and my brain still works but I tend to go off on a tangent, then proceed to get completely lost in thought. Also, too much means a lot of my time is consumed eating or looking for food.
uxp100 10y ago
Interesting. I, like many stereotypical nerds have smoked weed and played Magic the Gathering. With real cards, I kinda find the game irritating, but didn't feel a skill drop. Just would rather listen to music or just look at the pictures on the cards. With MTGO, the official online client for Magic, I made a number of bad mistakes. No purposeful misplays, just lots of misclicks, accidentally skipping phases, etc. But I am talking about being actually high here.

yial 10y ago

Anecdotal: I used to play chess frequently against a friend, who smoked pot pretty regularly. When he was sober, I usually would win. When he was starting to get high, he would usually win. When he was fully not sober, we would usually tie. I do not smoke, so I was always sober during these games.

taneq 10y ago
So you're suggesting there's something analagous to the Ballmer Peak but for pot?
- hvidgaard 10y ago
  Jokes aside, alcohol and, pot it seems, inhibit the brains ability to process complex things. This mean you're more likely to abandon ideas that are too complex to handle anyway, and thus cover more ideas that you can handle.
  - mi100hael 10y ago
    I disagree. From my own experience, my chess game (or programming or other tasks involving concentration) suffer after even a single drink. My brain abandons complex ideas that it would normally be able to handle given some time and concentration.

tempestn 10y ago

Is it possible the advantage was related to something like creativity or insight?

jimmytucson 10y ago
I've had the same experience as op and yes, I think you're onto something. I'll generate a wider breadth of candidate moves, although I may not calculate each line to the same depth. I guess you could say it encourages lateral thinking (or creativity) over linear thinking (calculation). This is key for me because under normal circumstances I tend to favor solid but slightly passive lines. If my opponent is playing creative, spirited chess, he can easily gain the initiative and crush me.
matt4077 10y ago
Other hypothesis: any improvement in mood may positively impact your ability to think for long stretches of time.
- tempestn 10y ago
  Yep. Or increased confidence / decreased nervousness could minimize mistakes. Lots of possibilities.

xeonoex 10y ago

I think you're probably right. I don't really have concentration problems in the first place, but in small doses, I feel like I can focus a bit better on a single thing. Too much and my brain still works but I tend to go off on a tangent, then proceed to get completely lost in thought. Also, too much means a lot of my time is consumed eating or looking for food.

uxp100 10y ago

Interesting. I, like many stereotypical nerds have smoked weed and played Magic the Gathering. With real cards, I kinda find the game irritating, but didn't feel a skill drop. Just would rather listen to music or just look at the pictures on the cards. With MTGO, the official online client for Magic, I made a number of bad mistakes. No purposeful misplays, just lots of misclicks, accidentally skipping phases, etc. But I am talking about being actually high here.