Analysis board

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terrasect

I occasionally use the Analysis Board (AB) during my games, but it feels like I'm cheating. Nevertheless, I know that my opponent has access to it too and that I can't stop him from using, therefore I feel a need to use it too.

 

Note that I'm NOT arguing for removal of the AB; if that happens, those who want to use it will just use another board, physical or virtual, to play around with the position before making their move.

 

If this was purely a play-by-mail (PBM) type system where everyone took the time to deeply analyze each move, that would be one thing. But when both players are online at the same time, it's possible to play "live" or as close as you can get to it. The problem is that the game can shift from being "live" to PBM at any moment, simply by one of the players using the AB.

 

If during a "live" game, one of the players has to temporarily stop playing but doesn't let his opponent know, what does the opponent think? Why, he thinks that the other player is probably analyzing the game in the AB, even if he's not. The opponent ends up with an unfair advantage.

 

I am currently only using the AB when it becomes crucial to see 5+ moves ahead, and my little brain can't handle it. I suspect that my use of it is pretty average compared to other players.

 

Of course, when the real Live Chess comes out, this whole argument will be moot. Everyone will be assumed to be using the AB during regular chess, and time constraints will prevent use of any analysis board during Live Chess. So, here's hoping for it coming out sooner, rather than later!

 

Keep up the good work, Erik and team.

Creg

Since On-Line chess replaces the days of postal chess the analysis board makes perfect sense. The objective of postal chess was to afford one the time to analyze the position, and become a stronger player. What is to stop you from pulling out a chess set and going over the moves? Might as well put the AB there.

Remember, the objective is to become a stronger player. As long as it is only you doing the analysing. Using a computer would be cheating as you are using assistance from another source. Your analysis is only as good as you are, but it helps teach you to see things, which in turn helps you with OTB chess. 

terrasect

As I made clear in my original post, I do not advocate removing the Analysis Board. It's much better than having to go to other sources for the same purpose.

 

Online chess may replace postal chess (on this site, anyway), but it also replaces live chess (until the real Live Chess goes, um... live). As such, the AB is problematic.

 

For me, and I'm sure many other players, the objective is not only to become a stronger player but to be able to compete without either player being handicapped. As it stands now, the only way you can assure of this (ignoring chess computers), is to to make it clear to your opponent before the game that you intend to use the AB to its fullest.

Creg

I don't view on-line chess as a competition, but rather a training ground for my OTB play. If competitive on-line chess is preferred, and it will most likely happen in time, then clearly the AB will have to be removed. This is not to say I use the AB. For me part of my learning process here is to increase my own board vision and to do that I choose not to use the AB. How else would I improve for OTB play? 

Still I see it's purpose especially for beginners. Maybe even akin to training wheels on a bicycle?!  

 

Quaff
I believe the Analysis Board is and should be used freely and not viewed in any way as an advantage. I use it in every game. I for one cannot reproduce the same (athough limited) level of thought process in multiple games if I am going to spend a relatively short amount of time on each move. I play at several sites and if I took longer than I do now over each move (which would be likely without the use of the AB) I would never leave my computer desk. I don't think on-line play should be compared in the way it often is with OTB play.   
Creg

<Quaff> Excellant point, and something I did not think about. That makes much more sense, especially when it has been a few days between multiple opponents. I have been using the notes feature for the same reason. Many members like myself work for a living, and to remember one thought process from one game to another over multiple days just isn't going to happen.

BigAlex
I don't see any issues regarding the AB usage. My objective here is to be a better OTB player. I think the real masters always use some kind of external board when analysing variations
payet_alexandre

Since the minimum frequency for each turn is one day, this website's system can more be considered (for now) as a system where players take the time to really analyse deeply each turn (of course this could include reading some articles on the openings for exemple).

Like it has already been said, this is the best way for a player to improve itsanalisys skills by not playing intuitivelly. 

I think what needs being pointed out here is not the Analysis board which as everyone here agreed has its true place but the lack of a more quick kind of game like for example  allowing games where each turn would have max time of 5 minutes.

Of course this is maybe not what most player here are searching for but i think this would be a fun improvment.

The drawback of that is that probably some not serious players would leave such games which would end by timeout and therefore frustrating the oponent.

Quaff
Thanks Creg. I also use the notes, I like to think in conjunction with the analysis board, in that I try to work through some moves on the AB, come up with something I think may be of use (which might if I'm lucky consist of a 3-4-5 move sequence) note it down and then either make my move or revisit it at a later time (in case there's something really ugly I 've missed). That's the theory anyway, it can be time consuming, hence I don't use the two together as much as I should.
JM_Dutch

Using a computer to analyze your position during your game is an unfair advantage and completely defeats the purpose of playing a human opponent. If one player uses this computer analysis, it is clearly unfair to the other player, who would not have the ability to analyze at the same depth as the computer. If both players use the AB, then it is just two computers duking it out with humans simply making the moves the computer is telling them to. I am amazed that any players on here would not see this. If both players agree ahead of time and are purely playing for study purposes, sure the AB makes sense. But if you and your opponent are intending to play an honest human vs. human game I believe the players should agree not to use the board DURING the game. Use the analysis after the game for learning purposes, of course, but during the game it completely defeats the purpose of competition.

Martin_Stahl

This topic was started before the site had Live. An analysis board is allowed in Daily/correspondence but not in Live and using engines in either is prohibited.

 

https://support.chess.com/customer/en/portal/articles/1444879-fair-play-on-chess-com-what-you-need-to-know

 

 

JM_Dutch

ok great that makes a heck of a lot more sense. Sorry for my misunderstanding, and thanks for clarifying. 

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