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Learn to play chess online

chesscademy.com

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Re: Learn to play chess online

#51

Post by chatwinra »

codeshaman wrote: post #39

I love chess, but I abstain from playing, because when I start, I become obsessed with it and it takes over my life. I spend more and more time training, doing analysis, reading up, playing, trying to get better at it and become very touchy about my rating number.. And then I ask myself - why should I get better at chess ? I already play better than everyone who doesn't play chess. I play worse than anyone who can de…

I used to play quite a lot too. I think the thing that stopped me was the realisation that to get really good, you have to memorise openings and responses to openings. If you don't, you'll be working from a disadvantage from the start (if you play someone who knows the opening responses).

My favourite bit was always the middle-game - fun through pure invention and strategy that can't be laid out in a book for memorisation because of the almost infinite possibilities!

I really the book "My 60 Memorable Games" by Bobby Fischer- it really gave you an insight into a great players' thinking:

Re: Learn to play chess online

#52

Post by mattmanser »

vewnew wrote: post #32
gautamnarula wrote: post #18

For those who already know how to play chess but want to get better (preferably quickly with minimal, targeted training), I wrote a guide called "How to Get Good at Chess, Fast" that hit #2 on HN: http://www.gautamnarula.com/how-to-get-good-at-chess-fast/

Joined HackerNews today. Thanks for sharing this!

Hello! As a friendly warning, you shouldn't post "thanks!" type posts on HN. They'll get d/ved to oblivion.

Re: Learn to play chess online

#53

Post by bluedino »

codeshaman wrote: post #39

I love chess, but I abstain from playing, because when I start, I become obsessed with it and it takes over my life. I spend more and more time training, doing analysis, reading up, playing, trying to get better at it and become very touchy about my rating number.. And then I ask myself - why should I get better at chess ? I already play better than everyone who doesn't play chess. I play worse than anyone who can de…

That's likely true with anything else in your life. I love to cook, I'm much better than people who doesn't cook but I'm worse than anyone who dedicates 4-8 hours a day every day.

But I don't care, I enjoy it so I keep doing it. Do you not enjoy chess enough to play it without needing another reason?

Re: Learn to play chess online

#54

Post by gedrap »

codeshaman wrote: post #39

I love chess, but I abstain from playing, because when I start, I become obsessed with it and it takes over my life. I spend more and more time training, doing analysis, reading up, playing, trying to get better at it and become very touchy about my rating number.. And then I ask myself - why should I get better at chess ? I already play better than everyone who doesn't play chess. I play worse than anyone who can de…

I used to feel the same way, although I didn't get anywhere decent - quit playing after a few months. I thought I won't become anywhere near good so what's the point.

But that was young me, when I would try to be really really good or just quit it, whatever it was :)

Nowadays, I wouldn't care that much. Am I having fun? If yes, I should continue. If no, I should stop doing it if possible. So I'd say as long as you enjoy the time spent playing, that's cool if you worry about some number of the online service (as long as it doesn't get too far). If 5 years later looking back you could say 'oh yeah, that was fun', that's great. Just have fun.

Re: Learn to play chess online

#55

Post by weavie »

codeshaman wrote: post #39

I love chess, but I abstain from playing, because when I start, I become obsessed with it and it takes over my life. I spend more and more time training, doing analysis, reading up, playing, trying to get better at it and become very touchy about my rating number.. And then I ask myself - why should I get better at chess ? I already play better than everyone who doesn't play chess. I play worse than anyone who can de…

Yes, I have an obsession with doing stuff that is practical and has real tangible benefits. I can't justify sinking hours into something that won't really advance me in anything other than getting better at chess. If I ever struck my millions and had loads of free time on my hands, maybe it would change for me..

Re: Learn to play chess online

#56

Post by hibikir »

gk1 wrote: post #5
mulligan wrote: post #2

There was some chess tutorial going around online that I failed to properly bookmark. The tutorial was premised on the fact that for casual fun games, you shouldn't have to memorize a bunch of strategic openings and instead adopt some of the older methods of playing before everyone memorized everything. Does anyone remember this and have a link to it?

That's usually the recommended way of learning chess: 1. Basic moves and tactics 2. Advanced tactics 3. Strategy 4. End game (when few pieces are left the board) 5. Middle game 6. And finally, openings

When I was taught by a GM, and the way I teach kids, start a bit different.

-Basic moves and tactics -Very simple endings (RR+K, then Q+K, finally R+K). Without this, many games between kids just can never even finish! -Strategy -Basic opening theory: Nothing memorized to even 5 moves, but evaluation of the first 2 or 3 opening moves in basic lines, built upon the basic chess knowledge we had been taught. This way we avoid very short games that teach little, because white was silly and started with G4, or moved their queen 5 times in a row.

After that, kid's games look like chess: They have a beginning, a middle and an end in a sensible number of moves and many moves are about gaining material. Once we reach that point, we really can start talking about higher level topics. It's only then were openings are left for the end, because understanding things like tension and weak squares is far more useful. Kids probably have played over a hundred games too, so they can also start to see patterns, so they start having to have some intuitions about combinations all by themselves.

Re: Learn to play chess online

#57

Post by metamet »

codeshaman wrote: post #39

I love chess, but I abstain from playing, because when I start, I become obsessed with it and it takes over my life. I spend more and more time training, doing analysis, reading up, playing, trying to get better at it and become very touchy about my rating number.. And then I ask myself - why should I get better at chess ? I already play better than everyone who doesn't play chess. I play worse than anyone who can de…

Same thing happens to me.

Then a few years ago, I started doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which sort of tapped into the same challenge/logic pathways.

But BJJ is a physical activity, so that helps justify the obsession.

Re: Learn to play chess online

#58

Post by sivanmz »

First time I tried chess on my phone. Fat finger is a usability problem with irreversible consequences. I had to abandon a game.

Maybe drag and drop is not the best interaction model here.

Re: Learn to play chess online

#59

Post by codeshaman »

bluedino wrote: post #53
codeshaman wrote: post #39

I love chess, but I abstain from playing, because when I start, I become obsessed with it and it takes over my life. I spend more and more time training, doing analysis, reading up, playing, trying to get better at it and become very touchy about my rating number.. And then I ask myself - why should I get better at chess ? I already play better than everyone who doesn't play chess. I play worse than anyone who can de…

That's likely true with anything else in your life. I love to cook, I'm much better than people who doesn't cook but I'm worse than anyone who dedicates 4-8 hours a day every day. But I don't care, I enjoy it so I keep doing it. Do you not enjoy chess enough to play it without needing another reason?

I rarely cook to win :).

You play chess to win and losing is stressful and unpleasant. So you train more to increase your chances of winning. I still enjoy playing just for fun, but after a couple of "fun" games, the competitive side kicks in and it stops being fun and becomes a goal.

Re: Learn to play chess online

#60

Post by colund »

gautamnarula wrote: post #18

For those who already know how to play chess but want to get better (preferably quickly with minimal, targeted training), I wrote a guide called "How to Get Good at Chess, Fast" that hit #2 on HN: http://www.gautamnarula.com/how-to-get-good-at-chess-fast/

I'm sorry, but I think your guide just reiterates the old wisdom that one needs to practice a lot and analyse games.
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