04-11-2004 21:25									#1
	How do you become a good chess player? Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Or is it just one of those skills that is inherant and cannot be learned. I play strategy games, but I admit, I'm not the greatest strategist. Chess has never been my strong point. But I was thinking maybe I should improve my game. Any tips?

	04-11-2004 21:29									#2
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maybe by playing the crap out of the game and learning from your mistakes, watching what other people do, thinking about moves,etc. I'm fairly crappy at chess as well so maybe it is just a chess gene that they missed..

	04-11-2004 21:29									#3
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Play games, and then once you have learned from your various opponents, read relevant books. If you're weak in opening play, then there's a book for it. If you're weak anywhere else, then there'll be a book for that too. If you're not planning several moves ahead with each move of your own, then you should think about giving up. If you are, then start planning even more moves ahead.
Are there chess threads at 'poly? Or were they deemed too spammy? Or is that Diss' intention?

	04-11-2004 21:30									#4
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Read chess books. Learn to think ahead.

	04-11-2004 21:30									#5
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Its been a long time since I had any interest in playing chess but I did find a couple of books very useful for improving my game. The same applies to Bridge. One book really clicked with me and significantly improved my gameplay in a very short time. A couple of hours browsing a bookshop for a text that speaks on your level is probably time well spent.

	04-11-2004 21:31									#6
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that's where I'm weak at. Planning moves in advance. I can do a couple turns in advance, but more than that just confuses me. I have a bad memory, and I cannot remember all the possible moves my opponent can make with every single one of his pieces for each individual turn.

	04-11-2004 21:31									#7
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quote: Originally posted by duke o' york Play games, and then once you have learned from your various opponents, read relevant books. If you're weak in opening play, then there's a book for it. If you're weak anywhere else, then there'll be a book for that too. If you're not planning several moves ahead with each move of your own, then you should think about giving up. If you are, then start planning even more moves ahead. Are there chess threads at 'poly? Or were they deemed too spammy? Or is that Diss' intention?

feel free to turn this into a chess thread (that's what it is after all). I don't care.

	04-11-2004 21:32									#8
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Go and stay at DrSpike's house for a while. He claims to be quite good, and has a small pile of books to prove it.
He has got a very nice chess set though, so wash your hands before you go or he won't let you in. Who knows, maybe some of the other Other Games fools might turn up for a meet again.

* duke laughs as he invites everyone to Spike's house without informing him first.

	04-11-2004 21:55									#9
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I had no idea you were so cruel, duke.

I approve.

	05-11-2004 01:06									#10
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Nah, after last time I wont be so stupid as to invite dodgy 'Polytoners to my house.

As for chess I can recommend a few good books to start with. For instance any of the Jeremy Silman books are excellent. Also, join ICC (Internet chess club - you can get a 1 week free trial) and play lots of 30 12 games or something close.

	05-11-2004 23:37									#11
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Here's what works for me:
1) Don't play chess when you're tired.
2) Look for stupid moves. You must not let your opponent have a mate in one move that you can easily counter, or give a piece to your opponent in one move. This means always look at each of your pieces every turn to see if they are protected, how many times and by what, and if they are threatened.
3) If you're bad at planning in advance, use some strategic thinking: Don't plan 10 moves in the opening/mid game, just try to get your pieces out, and to get your knights in a strong position. If you don't klnow what that means, read a book or find a teacher that'll explain it (roughly a position which the opponent will never be able to threaten with a pawn).

Of course, I play when I'm tired, thus I don't see that my pieces are going to be taken by silly pawns on the next move, and end up having no knight to put in a strong position.

	06-11-2004 09:41									#12
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quote: Originally posted by Dissident that's where I'm weak at. Planning moves in advance. I can do a couple turns in advance, but more than that just confuses me. I have a bad memory, and I cannot remember all the possible moves my opponent can make with every single one of his pieces for each individual turn.

You don't need to. There should be a reason for every one of your moves, and the same thing applies to your opponent. This is what you need to look at. Suppose your opponent moves a knight up. You need to figure out why.

	06-11-2004 09:59									#13
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quote: Originally posted by Dissident that's where I'm weak at. Planning moves in advance. I can do a couple turns in advance, but more than that just confuses me. I have a bad memory, and I cannot remember all the possible moves my opponent can make with every single one of his pieces for each individual turn.

Building on what UR said...

Planning moves many turns ahead is ok, but more likely than not, trying to think that way will probably hurt your game because you simply can't see all the possibilities 10 turns down the road.

You need to learn why placing pieces in certain positions relative to the board and other pieces is advantageous, compared to other positions. This way, you don't have to think tons of turns ahead, but you can understand that this piece will control this portion of the board until x happens.

Try to control the center of the board and try and think about how to best position your pieces to do this, based on how they interact with each other. If you can do this, you'll be successful.

Personally, I haven't played chess in a couple years, but when I did play I managed to beat my Grandpa (ex state chess champion of New Jersey), so I have a feeling that I'm at least pretty decent.

	06-11-2004 10:48									#14
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What UR said is true, you don't necessarily need to plan far ahead, just be able to read thy enemy. Don't be afraid to sacrifice pieces (even important pieces) for large gains. It's amazing how people can get suckered into a juicy piece apparently just sitting there, of course the reverse works too, if its a juicy take its probably boobie trapped.

	06-11-2004 10:58									#15
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Play like the AI on my dad's chess game - when a piece puts your king in check, knock it off the board, and when you get into checkmate randomly move your king to a different square.

	06-11-2004 12:06									#16
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I hit my chess peak a few years ago and haven't been able to play worth beans since. What happened was the idea came to me to send a knight after a rook and I beat the computer in 10 moves and beat my Dad using the same strategy. Yes, I actually considered beating the computer to be noteworthy. Anyway the same strategy doesn't even work any more no matter who my opponent is, maybe I don't remember correctly how I did it.

I haven't had the attention span to get anything out of chess books.

I thought my main problem was being unable to think ahead, it's good to hear I don't need to.

I haven't really even tried to play chess in a while, but I did try a chess variant and am curious about other chess variants that I've heard of.

I'll have to keep alertness in mind if I try chess again anytime soon.

I kind of keep the center of the board in mind when I do play, but If I remember correctly even that strained my brain.

I think i'm not the only one who's suggested that the Civ4 Editor should be able to model aspects of chess.

	06-11-2004 12:37									#17
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quote: Originally posted by Kuciwalker Play like the AI on my dad's chess game - when a piece puts your king in check, knock it off the board, and when you get into checkmate randomly move your king to a different square.

That is terrible advice.

	06-11-2004 20:29									#18
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I think he knows that, Busta.

	07-11-2004 03:00									#19
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But it's AI... it's gotta be good

Plus, I was drunk last night when I wrote that... I can't be expected to pick up on every bit of sarcasm when I'm barely reading things in the first place

	07-11-2004 05:04									#20
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The purists are going to hate this but......



If youre playing a poor player, take white and throw everything you've got at his pawn on f7 from the word go!

You'd be amazed how many casual players struggle to beat this tactic, you also won't be amazed how many good players will eat you for breakfast if you try this tactic! So use it wisely!

Another tip that works for me (I'm like you, I enjoy the game but i'm no great shakes at it) is that it's a lot easier to attack than defend as a novice. also, any move you can make that limits your opponents choice of next move is *generally* a good thing (ie. use forks and pins)

	07-11-2004 05:20									#21
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the computer can beat my ass any day of the week.

don't try to tell me computer AI's suck. they can beat the best chess player in the world. This isn't civ3 fellas.

I can only beat them on the easy levels.

	08-11-2004 20:14									#22
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Playing a lot is my own recommendation.

I used to play it a lot... got my butt handed to me almost every time. But eventually you start seeing where you were making mistakes, correcting them, and thereby start improving.

I remember the last game I was able to play against my dad I had him almost beat, he just came from behind and surprised me with a knight. Learned not to underestimate knights that day, heh.

	09-11-2004 18:51									#23
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As the saying goes, "practice makes perfect".

But don't just play lots of games. Practice thinking right. In other words, practice taking your time thinking about what move you should make, what move your opponent might make. Don't rush. Be careful not to rush into an obvious move. In chess, often the least obvious move is the best.

I would certainly emphasize learning to think ahead. In chess, the player that thinks the furthest ahead almost always win. If you don't think ahead, you will never beat a player that does.

	10-11-2004 21:05									#24
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As I mentionned before, stay away from the obvious moves. If a move is obvious it is probable wrong. I played a game on chessmaster 8000 yesterday that illustrated that. The computer sacrificed his queen and a knight for no apparent reason, or so I thought. But 20 moves down the line, he had a rook and 2 bishops really giving my king a headache. I was able to barely avoid a mate by gettig a draw through repetition.

	10-11-2004 21:16									#25
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quote: How do you become a good chess player?

I don't know, I haven't practiced enough.

So... wanna play?