I've played it on and off over the years. My enjoyment of the game fluctuate. One of the few games of pure skill yet the lack of the element of chance makes games like poker more interesting/fun at times. Ultimately your success in chess comes down how deeply you have studied opening lines and less about who is smarter. Fischer recognized this and suggested a truer test of skill would be to randomly place your first row pieces.
I don't particular enjoy playing against the computer. Set it at a low level and it makes a dumb mistake, medium to high its wears you down number crunching every move and never making a mistake, ending in a loss or at best a draw which is as satisfying as a poke in the eye.
MSZ
Acton
quote:
Originally posted by MSZ
I keep trying to watch this, hoping to figure out exactly what happened, but I just can't figure it out, I mean it looks like she broke her neck....but how?
Anyway, moving on.....
I love playing Chess, but as you said IGK, playing against a computer sucks balls. I only ever play against other people, not nearly as much as I would like though.
LAdazeNYnights
we've had a chess thread before.
modernnosferatu started it. there wasn't really enough interest to keep it going - especially after he stopped posting as frequently.
i tried to revive it not too long ago but no luck.
i'm pretty much always up for a game. i play on chess.com but have an account on yahoo as well. i've been getting back into it lately and really enjoy the game- random week nights i'll go to a local bar and play games with friends over beers.
anyway, for practice - since playing against the comp is no fun at all...i'd suggest making an account on chess.com and play their tactics trainer it's actually not half bad. as a free member you only get 3 problems a day, but w/e. i used to be a paying member and constantly play them but now i don't pay anymore and 3 a day is pretty sufficient. especially if i take it seriously.
but anyway, i'm up for a game whenever if anybody would like.
LAdazeNYnights
also - i can't really agree with your assessment of how "ultimately your success..". at a certain level - when tactics are completely solid on each side of the board, this becomes more important. but it isn't the be-all-end-all. to play at high level, and by high level i mean competitively in live tournaments, you need to put in countless hours learning openings very deeply. to play at the intermediate level, or even advanced intermediate though - it's not necessary. take one or two openings for each side and learn them to a small degree. unless there is a great divide in amount of openings and depth studied between players it really isn't an issue i think. and if that divide exists - then a chasm in skill level likely exists as well.
fischer random chess is fun, actually- but it's a bit scatter-brained at the opening i think. i haven't played many games (you can play on chess.com tho, which is nice) but at the lower level- players typically mimic each others openings or respond to simple aggressions and develop in that fashion rather than develop pieces with an overriding strategy. which is w/e. i kind of enjoy it
bas
quote:
Originally posted by Acton
I keep trying to watch this, hoping to figure out exactly what happened, but I just can't figure it out, I mean it looks like she broke her neck....but how?
She might have just had an aneurysm.
Omega_Blue
i love chess but only when i'm playing against inferior players.
tbh i don't pay attention to opening moves, i just tend to take control of the center squares immediately and back them up with a good pawn structure.
LAdazeNYnights
quote:
Originally posted by Omega_Blue
i love chess but only when i'm playing against inferior players.
tbh i don't pay attention to opening moves, i just tend to take control of the center squares immediately and back them up with a good pawn structure.
haha i like playing against inferior players but i prefer playing players who are about the same skill as i am...or slightly better. occasionally i like playing considerably better opponents but mostly just if they talk about the games w/ me
igottaknow
quote:
Originally posted by LAdazeNYnights
haha i like playing against inferior players but i prefer playing players who are about the same skill as i am...or slightly better. occasionally i like playing considerably better opponents but mostly just if they talk about the games w/ me
I use the computer to push myself to improve. I try to think of the best move then check it against what the computer suggests. I use to think it was next to impossible to win as black but watching the computer play it has changed my opinion.
I agree the fun of playing against inferior players wears out quickly. In addition, it rewards sloppy play and bad habits. Beat someone who is a little better or your equal is very rewarding.
Mandingo
Can i be black?
tubularbills
i enjoy playing chess a lot. did tournaments and stuff as a kid (yes, i'm that much of a nerd). and +1 on the chess thread; I've played many a TA before.
LAdazeNYnights
yeah i played uscf for a little when i was a kid. only played in 2 tournaments ever tho.
igk don't you find it's a bit hard to improve that way tho?
what i mean is- even tho computer analysis shows a suggested move and the how the line plays out for a few subsequent moves with 'perfect play' it doesn't explain tactics, etc. best is just talking about it, even studying some tactics outside of games and then looking to implement them. that chess.com website actually will spit out a computer analysis of games you play - as a free member you only get one a week - but it is helpful. just not as helpful i think as the other ways i mentioned. it's good to get an analysis like that and then set it up on a board...take a look at the position you find yourself in and try to understand why the position the computer would have guided you into would have been superior.
