--- when is chess not chess - - - I think chess person to person and chess on line against a person are two different games ?
- do you agree or disagree ?
- your thoughts ?
I think there is the psychological factor in both, over-the-board, and online chess. But, in online chess, you play with a "poker-face". Your emotions are hidden from view.
For some reason I always had a much easier time in OTB play; for me it's just easier to visualize the board especially when considering your opponents moves. But I'm weird.
I agree... I play WAY stronger OTB. I find that the tactile nature of OTB makes it feel like playing in a sandbox vs. online, which feels like the written part of a driving test.
I've always played much better against computers and online than I ever do OTB. For some reason I always make really stupid blunders in OTB that I never make in computer chess.
I feel a lot more motivation to do well over the board.
Computer chess is chess, but over the board chess is real chess. I consider online computer games practice.
I like to play OTB when it doesn't matter, i.e. no ratings involved. If ratings are involved OTB, I so totally suck, as I make many blunders. For whatever reason, don't seem to do well when I think my rating is in jeopardy.
Yet, when I play online, I think I do pretty well, still some blunders - but different. I feel like my game has improved a lot playing other people online.
I used to play computer chess - but got tired of that. With computer chess, you have to always make the 'perfect' move, because if you don't, you know the computer will. I like playing against other people, because it brings more variety to the game. Some moves will be the same as if a computer had analyzed the position, and sometimes the moves will be lessor, and sometimes the moves will be brialliancies that a computer could never have come up with.
I will continue to play online chess with other people that like to play this great game.
IF you want to improve your chess, you should probably dedicate some time to learn chess notation...it will oly take 10 minutes.
I have taught chess notation to kindergarten children who can say to me now "Brendan, I think Bxc6 can eat his queen next!!! 
"... so just give some time to notation, it will open the door to studying from chess books, websites etc.
Without chess notation a chess player doesnt have a language to speak.
A computer can only calculate, and only knows to look for whatever the programmer "tells" it. In contrast, a real person can play intuitively.
Also, in timed games, it may be hard to program a computer to know what first to look for.
Perhaps touching pieces has some sort of psychological effects.
Don't forget external conditions in OTB like the sun (if outside) or other potential distractions.
As for me, I prefer OTB; but since nobody cares about chess where I am, I don't get the chance very often.
There is a human factor in OTB, but still way less than in poker. There really are no tells, since everything is readily available on the board for all to see. Even if you seemed quite taken aback, the opponent can't look inside your head.
There should be no huge difference, it's just what you are used to. If anything, an OTB board looks nicer and I'm more focused in a real game.
Sorry about your bad experiences, however I can assure you there is nothing wrong with OTB games, unless if you had a bad social disorder. Keep trying, and look for nicer people to play.
btw- two games of backgammon for every chess game sounds like hell. I don't think I could do it. Backgammon?? Oy.
Chess is a complete information game. So psychological ploys are unnecessary. IMO they are a kind of hope chess. Just learn to play better.
xz
- well I got to thinking - since computer chess came to be I have played thousands of games - one time I was on one site - and I won 17 games straight - it was on a Saturday - and it gave me a 2000 rating - a European ( Dutch ) invited me to join his team - then the next day , Sunday , I went to the library to play again, thinking I could give chessmasters a rough time - - - well I lost 7 games straight - - - I was so demoralized I could not and did not want to play 17 games to see a win loss ratio - - - then I connected with the Dutch fellow and I played him five games and lost all five - - - he insulted me saying you play like a kid and most kids play better - - - last I heard from him -
-- well I don't know the openings and don't read the books and can't read chess notations but I have played thousands of games on the computer
- - however I think computer chess is different than playing real chess person to person
- - one time - - I was working with a " nerd " - and the he would play chess with me but only if I played two games of " backgammon " for every one "chess game " with him
- well in tennis - any type is cheating is called " gamesmanship " - - - well human to human chess - involves some degrees of " gamesmanship " -
- it is like poker - you can notice if the person is hiding a panic attack because he made a big mistake like put his queen in take or something like that -
- you can go to pretend to make a move only to take your hand back and look at his response
- when it is not your turn you can stare at him
- you can look and see what part of the board his eyes are focused on and look for emotions twitches or any other kind of odd behavior
- you can intentionally take lots of time to make a move and see if it puts him off
==== you cannot do any of this when playing computer chess ( not talking tournament - with the clock thing - talking about two people " friends " playing a friendly game no clocks
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- and then on computer chess - you play great players with " low " rankings
- they read the books / they know the openings / they study chess a bit / and or some of them on this site on others took chess in school
--- when is chess not chess - - - I think chess person to person and chess on line against a person are two different games ?
- do you agree or disagree ?
- your thoughts ?