I spoke with a gentleman in the somewhat recent past and he talked about how he plays chess only against the computer and plays in a way where his main goal is to "take out" his opponents knights and then proceeds to the next step, which is, checkmate the king if he can. He gets in a lot of king and pawn endgames, and perhaps he wanted me to tell him a thing or two about chess. But I left it the way it was. If I had started to say stuff to him it might have been a little misguided because I myself don't know a lot of things about chess, given my rating, though, I am no beginner. I felt, that whatever I said, would only serve to confuse him. He gets something out of playing against the computer and using his algorithm for chess. The reason why he does it that way is that he is trying to avoid a support mate with the queen and the knight.
If a computer program tells someone that the individual checking their rating is rated 1500, most of the time they believe that is there rating, then they go to chess tournaments and get schooled by 5-year-olds and quits chess altogether.
I told chess.com in these forums a few times that these forums need sticky, (posts put in the front of the line and stay there forever) telling beginners and other people what they need to know, topics like, the rating system, and what is a real rating, how to get it, etc. But it seems chess.com is working on it's own things.
The theory is we all will get to a rating where we just stay at for life. Some of us believe it and own it, others keep trying to improve. I believe my own problem involves me not playing more long games, and mostly playing chess. I just witnessed a meeting of four women chess players, two from the US, and two from Europe, who I saw could read a position, that was beyond anything that has ever been seen. One side saw a tactic and played it very beautifully. I don't have that skill that they have. I just play randomly most of the time, because, like many other people, sometimes, I just make moves without a plan, because I simply do not know what to do. I've said in the past to get better at that was to study annotated master games, and play slow chess (90|30 or 45|45), so you gain the skill that if you cultivate for long enough, you will become a much better player, maybe even 2000 at least. The problem with me is that when I play slow games I make fast moves, and never use a large fraction of my time. So, when I play long games, I am usually playing at a disadvantage.
I've said in the past to only play humans, and not computers, but that is not necessary an accurate position to hold on to. There is a benefit to play against a computer opponent from time to time. You do learn things. Like for example I am learning, by playing the computer, book openings, and gain experience in them, and, I am figuring out why I blunder.
But, the best way to learn is through a coach. Not everyone can afford one. Just do what you can afford. Don't buy a book just because someone else said you need it. Buy it because you know you need it, and are willing to make a sacrifice for it, time, and money.
I'm not a beginner, so it's more appropriate to play against a computer because I know a lot about chess. In my personal opinion, you can take it for a grain of salt, if a beginner decides to play against a computer, they should do it sparingly, and play a lot more human opponents.
Those are my thoughts on the matter.
Tactics tactics tactics
How do you study tactics? Answer that question, and find out the truth for yourself.
I play humans.
Yeah, the games played between two humans are much different than what a computer would play against a human. We will never play like computers. A WGM told me that. You can find her on my friend's list.
But, in my personal opinion. I get something from playing Friz. I mean why would they make a chess program that costs over 100 dollars and isn't of any use? That alone could be a loaded questions, however, I believe I am learning more about why I blunder when I play against a computer. I still play with humans, just now I use Fritz as well. I paid for it, might as well use it. I'm not saying you should buy fritz yourself and use it to. I simply have it. So I'm using it. The situation is different for you. You have to assess for yourself if you want to play against a computer opponent, and it seems you have come to an answer, you play humans.
I'm just sharing my experience after I started playing against a computer. Beginners I know play against computers, and I can tell you they are getting better, it's just, at a slow pace, but chess is slow to process it's very slow to get better at chess. Good luck with your chess
I spoke with a gentleman in the somewhat recent past and he talked about how he plays chess only against the computer and plays in a way where his main goal is to "take out" his opponents knights and then proceeds to the next step, which is, checkmate the king if he can. He gets in a lot of king and pawn endgames, and perhaps he wanted me to tell him a thing or two about chess. But I left it the way it was. If I had started to say stuff to him it might have been a little misguided because I myself don't know a lot of things about chess, given my rating, though, I am no beginner. I felt, that whatever I said, would only serve to confuse him. He gets something out of playing against the computer and using his algorithm for chess. The reason why he does it that way is that he is trying to avoid a support mate with the queen and the knight.
If a computer program tells someone that the individual checking their rating is rated 1500, most of the time they believe that is there rating, then they go to chess tournaments and get schooled by 5-year-olds and quits chess altogether.
I told chess.com in these forums a few times that these forums need sticky, (posts put in the front of the line and stay there forever) telling beginners and other people what they need to know, topics like, the rating system, and what is a real rating, how to get it, etc. But it seems chess.com is working on it's own things.
The theory is we all will get to a rating where we just stay at for life. Some of us believe it and own it, others keep trying to improve. I believe my own problem involves me not playing more long games, and mostly playing chess. I just witnessed a meeting of four women chess players, two from the US, and two from Europe, who I saw could read a position, that was beyond anything that has ever been seen. One side saw a tactic and played it very beautifully. I don't have that skill that they have. I just play randomly most of the time, because, like many other people, sometimes, I just make moves without a plan, because I simply do not know what to do. I've said in the past to get better at that was to study annotated master games, and play slow chess (90|30 or 45|45), so you gain the skill that if you cultivate for long enough, you will become a much better player, maybe even 2000 at least. The problem with me is that when I play slow games I make fast moves, and never use a large fraction of my time. So, when I play long games, I am usually playing at a disadvantage.
I've said in the past to only play humans, and not computers, but that is not necessary an accurate position to hold on to. There is a benefit to play against a computer opponent from time to time. You do learn things. Like for example I am learning, by playing the computer, book openings, and gain experience in them, and, I am figuring out why I blunder.
But, the best way to learn is through a coach. Not everyone can afford one. Just do what you can afford. Don't buy a book just because someone else said you need it. Buy it because you know you need it, and are willing to make a sacrifice for it, time, and money.
I'm not a beginner, so it's more appropriate to play against a computer because I know a lot about chess. In my personal opinion, you can take it for a grain of salt, if a beginner decides to play against a computer, they should do it sparingly, and play a lot more human opponents.
Those are my thoughts on the matter.
Tactics tactics tactics
How do you study tactics? Answer that question, and find out the truth for yourself.