What's Your Perfect Balance of Games? AKA Chasing the Dragon

[Funkyterrance]

My ultimate ideal balance of games would be enough games so that when I spend some time on the site, between responding to new forum posts and taking turns in my games I have no moments of twiddling my thumbs. The other side of the coin is that I don't want to have so many games that I can't spend at least 2 minutes a day on each game, three times a day. I am guaranteed 30 minutes 3 times a day and I play only standard games.
What's my magic number?
What is your magic number/ideal?

[Georgerx7di]

2...

[Mr Changsha]

2 trips under my direction staggered so that the second begins as the first enters the mid. game.

2 trips under someone else's direction.

A few large standard games.

Possibly a speed game or two a week if I am so inclined - which I currently am not.

Personally, I play best if I only have a few games. I like to have one or two positions in my mind that I can ponder over through the day and have found that even only four games played under the 'dictatorial' method to be mentally very tiring.

I have never really understood the 30+ games at a time mentality. I get that one needs to occupy time, but I personally find ploughing through game after game to be the most enormous chore. I like to check my games in the morning and then allow those positions to linger in my mind. At the end of the day I check them again and make my decision. I probably spend about 5 minutes a day actually studying a map...but my games are at the back of my mind throughout the day and are something my mind may turn to when sitting in a cafe (I spend an inordinate amount of time in cafes), waiting for a taxi, having a shower etc.

So for me CC is invaluable as it gives me something to think about throughout the day. I don't play CC so that I can be a slave to it; forcing me to keep to its schedule, making me sit down in front of it for hours at a time. Rather CC occupies my time and mind in a more subtle, less invasive way. I have plenty to occupy me in reality (work, friends etc) what I need is something to ponder at those moments when nothing is going on. I don't want to fill that time making numerous tactical decisions, but would rather sit somewhere quietly and visualise the board.

But that is, of course, just me.

[DoomYoshi]

I like to have 1 or 2 clan games, 1 or 2 casuals. The rest tournament.

I like 50/50 team games and single-player games.

[Funkyterrance]

Thanks for the input guys, so far very interesting perspectives. I would have guessed that the average number of games would be much higher, especially for premium members. However, when I think about it, the quality of my games would most likely increase up if I lowered my count. I suppose the cheapskate in me wants to get the most for my CC dollar and of course there is my adversity to idleness while on the site combined with my 90+ minute a day addiction. When I do decide to spend more time on here than usual (this time of year is always slow, business-wise) I want it to be action packed. Even with the possibility of speed games you just can't force games to start when you really want them, you've got to have some already cooking. All this being considered I usually have 10-15 games going at once but depending on the time of day I decide I really want to "hang out" here(usually late evening), I am mostly wishing I had more games going. Conversely, when I have closer to 20 I find myself rushing my "mandatory turn load" when I have a busier day.
I've had days where the balance is quite perfect and left me with a nice CC afterglow once my playtime was over. I find myself longing for this balance but to this day cannot nail it down. It just comes or it goes, with no definite correlation between gameload, forum activity, etc.. I have a feeling for me it is somewhere between 13 and 18 where my chance of CC bliss is optimal but trial and error is not a viable option atm. I do tend to play mostly doubles games, perhaps mixing some trips or quads into the shuffle would get me closer to the sweet spot.
I must say I'm envious of Mr Changsha as he appears to have found his "Chi", at least in regard to CC.

[Jippd]

3-5 games which are not already "decided". Decided meaning there is already a clear cut winner or the direction of the game is clearly understood and there is only one real way that it will play out.

[donelladan]

around 50-70 games

[Funkyterrance]

around 50-70 games

[iamkoolerthanu]

around 50-70 games

Same!

[macbone]

Hm. Ideally, I'd like to keep my game load down to around 12-15, but that's nearly impossible for me.

2 SoC Standard or Terminator games
3-6 SoC Team training games
~8 clan games
At least one tournament, which can be anywhere from 1-10+ games at a time
Team games for fun (this number fluctuates, but usually this is 5-6)
A few Escalating Standard/Term games

So ideally, I'd play maybe 22-35 games at a time, but normally I do twice that number.

[Funkyterrance]

Hm. Ideally, I'd like to keep my game load down to around 12-15, but that's nearly impossible for me.

2 SoC Standard or Terminator games
3-6 SoC Team training games
~8 clan games
At least one tournament, which can be anywhere from 1-10+ games at a time
Team games for fun (this number fluctuates, but usually this is 5-6)
A few Escalating Standard/Term games

So ideally, I'd play maybe 22-35 games at a time, but normally I do twice that number.

I would think that the SoC games would be very unpredictable as far as timing goes since you are generally playing with a whole group of new players and have no clue to their habits?

[macbone]

Right on, but they're fairly predictable as to my gameload.

What kills me is when I sign up for multiple tournaments, or add a few Standard/Terminator Escalating games, but non-team games don't require as much time and attention as team games do.

[Gilligan]

I'm not sure that I've been under 80 the past few months.

[codierose]

6+hours speed speed speed and more speed
but alas there is not many peeps there any more so probably not that many games 10-15 a day. then theres 20+ tourney games and 6+ clan games then the fun friend games 10+

[Funkyterrance]

Right on, but they're fairly predictable as to my gameload.

I think perhaps this is indicative of a deep level of experience.

I'm not sure that I've been under 80 the past few months.

Now that's just crazy.

6+hours speed speed speed and more speed
but alas there is not many peeps there any more so probably not that many games 10-15 a day. then theres 20+ tourney games and 6+ clan games then the fun friend games 10+

Again, crazy. I need a shoulder massage after a couple of speeders. Once a night at best is enough for me.
6+ hours... your energy drink bill must be through the roof!