Anybody play? I just started about a month ago and I have really enjoyed it. I'm really excited to get better!

Can anyone tell me a good way to improve? Right now I can beat the "Chess Titans" game on level 5. I got the Chess for Dummies book and I've been working through it. I feel pretty comfortable with the basics like how to evaluate a trade, good pawn structure, controlling the center, etc. To practice I mostly play with my roommate. We play a game or 2 almost every day and for several hours on the weekends. We started talking about our moves during the game, but I worry that it's the blind leading the blind. (she is a little worse than me) Is it good practice to play with someone who is a worse player, or does that just develop bad habits?

If anybody wants to play online, let me know!

12/19/2011 5:30:57 PM

Paging Xare.

12/19/2011 5:50:39 PM

I'm pretty horrible, but played some as a kid. How do you play online? I'd be down to play online but just know that I have a history of rage quitting if I start losing a lot.

12/19/2011 5:53:20 PM

I click a Nerdchick thread and a Brita water filter commercial comes on my TV

12/19/2011 6:04:12 PM

Paging Erios.

12/19/2011 8:16:49 PM

I've played since I was probably in 1st or 2nd grade, but that doesn't mean I'm any good. I've never really studied all the theory and strategy.

12/19/2011 8:46:24 PM

Im playing TheBullDoza right now

12/20/2011 12:01:06 AM

I used to play a lot, but not like I studied or learned much about strategy--just enjoy playing.

It always shocks me that a lot of people I know don't know how to play chess.

[Edited on December 20, 2011 at 12:39 AM. Reason : d]

12/20/2011 12:39:11 AM

I've played since I was probably in 1st or 2nd grade, but that doesn't mean I'm any good. I've never really studied all the theory and strategy.

12/20/2011 3:22:23 AM

I play 4-8 games a week with a buddy of mine...

12/20/2011 8:12:09 AM

played a lot as a kid up until about 14 - picked it back up casually a year or two ago - play with the chess.com iOS app online and do the tactics trainer - i'm nowhere near as good as i used to be as i don't have the patience to think out every option a few moves ahead anymore

to start with - learn one opening strategy well (if you are playing beginners then i'd probably go with a more obscure one that catches people off guard) and then one or two more to provide some balance

to stay sharp i think playing with pre set boards and trying to figure out the best move(s) going forward help

12/20/2011 9:43:11 PM

i used to like playing, but once i learned to program it pretty much ruined games for me. my mind immediately turns to thinking about algorithmic solutions and then i get bored

12/20/2011 9:48:13 PM

^ That's how a computer would play. Don't think that way because you'll never be good at it. Humans can use plans/tactics.

12/20/2011 11:26:57 PM

I played a lot for a couple years and forgot about it. Every rare once in a while I'll pick up a game on http://www.instantchess.com/, get pissed because I played poorly, and play a few games until it starts to come back to me. That site is a good place to pick up random games with people from a lot of different backgrounds if you want to get a ton of experience quickly.

It really will change the way you think about the world. Spending a couple hours a night focusing on what the other person is thinking while trying to beat them at a particular task will inevitably affect your interactions with people IRL as you start to apply those tactics to your co-workers, associates, managers, etc.

[Edited on December 21, 2011 at 1:33 AM. Reason : l]

12/21/2011 1:30:35 AM

I would have thought the nerdchick to already be a grandmaster
Anyway this is old school, but chess is an old school game.

"The Complete Chess Player" by Fred Reinfeld

12/21/2011 11:51:07 AM

I got an ipad app that I play occasionally. It has a coach feature that has stepped my game up a bit.

12/21/2011 12:37:40 PM

Anyone ever play 4 player chess? Rules are a bit different, but is fun in its own way.

Nerdchick kicked my ass in our last chess match...I need to up my game!!!

12/21/2011 11:15:27 PM

Nerdchick, you might want to try chess.com. It's free with ads, but ad-free when you pay the annual fee. Paying the annual fee also gives you access to chess mentors, videos, tactics training, and all sorts of stuff.

You can also play other players by email, live, app, etc...

I think it's pretty worthwhile if you do get into chess.

whenever I'm bored I just look at my app and see if it's my turn and make my moves.

12/22/2011 1:36:06 AM

^^ multiple versions but blitz 5min with being able to play a captured piece as a move is my favorite - the strategy is so drastically different and that makes it fun

12/22/2011 6:42:50 AM

Quote :

"Can anyone tell me a good way to improve?"

For a beginner, buy/download a copy of Chessmaster 9000. It has tutorials from Josh Waitzkin, the guy who the kid in "Searching for Bobby Fischer" was based on. He'll teach you basic terminology and strategy that will help learn and improve. There is also a huge library of games between grandmasters and situational drills that will help.

Good luck beating it though, on a normal desktop PC it has an Elo rating of 2718, which would make it a top 100 player in the world.

[Edited on December 22, 2011 at 9:28 AM. Reason : ]

12/22/2011 9:27:54 AM

Work through Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps. I used to play competitively and when I was on your level it really stepped up my game.

12/22/2011 3:57:19 PM

I got Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan's book, "Winning Chess Openings." He's really entertaining and I recommend his books for players of any level. My opening has improved a lot using some simple techniques. But I feel lost in the middle game, so now I need that book!

12/22/2011 10:01:16 PM

I'm interested in playing someone in Chess.


I have Chess with Friends on iphone, or if you desire another medium, I will do so much to oblige.

1/30/2012 3:40:05 AM

play occasionally on Yahoo! I think my record stands at something like 1 win, 1 draw, and maybe 14 losses

1/30/2012 7:29:01 PM

i use the chess.com fairly frequently but the live play only works on wifi right now for some reason - it used to work on cellular but doesn't currently

the tactics trainer on there is a decent time passer as well

1/30/2012 8:39:56 PM

lemme know, I'm eager to play.

1/31/2012 2:14:00 AM

Anyone interested is doing a TWW chess tournament? We'll give like 15 days to sign up and then we'll make a bracket?

11/18/2012 3:48:29 PM

[Edited on November 18, 2012 at 6:08 PM. Reason : geniusxboy = fred durst]

11/18/2012 6:06:55 PM

keep TROLLIN' TROLLIN' TROLLIN' TROLLIN'

12/6/2012 8:29:58 PM