Yes, but it doesn't help me code better. How it does help is using chess as a problem space. Chess is such a beautiful game to write code for because it's tightly constrained and strategically flexible. For example, one of my side projects is a chess game where each player is actually a team of players who're all playing the same game - everyone on Team White enters a move, and the most commonly entered move is the one that actually gets played, then Team Black do the same, and so on. There is so much you can do to mix coding and chess.
Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
31–40 of 64 posts
Re: Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
#32I play chess. Bet that's a shocker when you look at my user name... I don't think that chess skills transfer to programming skills - I wouldn't recommend someone play chess as a way to get better at programming or vice versa. Do I think being good at one indicates possible proficiency at the other? Maybe, but probably not. They can be approached the same way, at least below the grand master level - you can see each o…
See also my name :)
Re: Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
#33I play online. There are worse vices.
I hack the game by playing crappy openings to get people off-book. If I could play nothing but Chess960[1], I'd be happier. Chess is buggy.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess960 "... The random setup renders the prospect of obtaining an advantage through the memorization of opening lines impracticable, compelling players to rely on their talent and creativity."
Re: Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
#34I'am programmer, no time for games.
Re: Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
#35If you're asking this as a hardcore chess player interested in getting into programming, then you should just jump in and give it a try. If you are trying to play chess to increase your "programmer's IQ" then I would recommend passing. I think the honest way to think of this is that: Playing chess is a really good way of figuring out who is good at playing chess. But, the abilities and aptitudes that often help aid b…
I've never understood the 'imperfect information' thing when discussing chess. Chess _as played by people_ is full of hunches, uncertainty, prejudice, intimidation. Just look at how Kasparov played or Lasker, to see how important psychology is to chess. Or go down to Washington Square Gardens and play under the glare of dozens of people tutting at your every move.
It's so much more than an abstract problem.
Re: Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
#36Yes and No.
I'm a fairly terrible player, I played for a local team when I was younger and had the time (bottom series, sub).
I'm certainly a better programmer than a chess player.
That said I follow the game, love to play and the surrounding community of players so there is that aspect to it.
Re: Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
#37I used to play chess competitively (rating 1900+ fide), and play on internet sometimes. I think playing chess will not help to improve someone's programming skills (except if he specializes in building chess engines), but chess tends to attract the same kind of persons who go into programming.
Re: Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
#38I've 1841 Elo in Blitz on Lichess, would be happy to play with dear HNers there: http://en.lichess.org/@/kushti
Re: Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
#39I do enjoy chess: http://www.chess.com/members/view/play2draw
There really isn't much overlap between chess and programming. Programming is closer to an artisan craft than a sport.
I mean, sure, you can probably find a few strands which connect the two somehow, but really you could probably draw other weak connections to things like swimming or football or weight lifting, or for that matter even other unrelated subjects like painting or singing.
Re: Ask HN: Do you play Chess?
#40If you're asking this as a hardcore chess player interested in getting into programming, then you should just jump in and give it a try. If you are trying to play chess to increase your "programmer's IQ" then I would recommend passing. I think the honest way to think of this is that: Playing chess is a really good way of figuring out who is good at playing chess. But, the abilities and aptitudes that often help aid b…
I don't understand the imperfect information thing. The whole game is assuming what the other player is attempting to do. Can't the other player not acting how you predicted be considered a bug? Or is this more formally defined than I'm aware of?