Chess- Is it all about memorizing lines?

[fitzov]

OP:

No. But there are caveats:

Especially for beginners, it is better not to memorize opening lines--there are simply too many.
There are general principles that govern opening play, and there are exceptions, but these are tactical situations that a player of a modest skill level should see.
In tournaments, it's good to have a systematic approach to what one will play given a particular opening--this saves time.

 

[Electric Amish]

Ok then....


/slowly backs out of thread and silently closes and locks the door...

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: fitzov
OP:

No. But there are caveats:

Especially for beginners, it is better not to memorize opening lines--there are simply too many.
There are general principles that govern opening play, and there are exceptions, but these are tactical situations that a player of a modest skill level should see.
In tournaments, it's good to have a systematic approach to what one will play given a particular opening--this saves time.

There are a lot of openings but you can probably memorize the first 4-5 moves for most major opening lines in a few weeks, and hope your opponent isn't one of the 50% who have learned some gambit or tricky opening that you won't be able to figure out easily. It's better than not doing anything at all and hoping you are smart enought o figure it out.

 

[Vegitto]

How would one know their 'score'? I play chess regularly, but I haven't got a clue about all of these things you're saying.. E5? BC4? In my opening, I just make room for what I think is usable, ie, moving the other pieces out of the way.

Is there some kind of site where you can get your score?

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
How would one know their 'score'? I play chess regularly, but I haven't got a clue about all of these things you're saying.. E5? BC4? In my opening, I just make room for what I think is usable, ie, moving the other pieces out of the way.

Is there some kind of site where you can get your score?

You join the USCF and then you play tournaments against people who are ranked. The more people you play and the more you win against higher ranks, the higher you go.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
How would one know their 'score'? I play chess regularly, but I haven't got a clue about all of these things you're saying.. E5? BC4? In my opening, I just make room for what I think is usable, ie, moving the other pieces out of the way.

Is there some kind of site where you can get your score?

I don't know how you get your positional score but you can add the "point values" for your pieces up to see how you are doing in terms of material. I think wikipedia has a lot of good info on chess. E5/BC5 is a type of notation describing chess moves.

Positional analysis is a bit more complicated than just scores. At least for humans. You can read a few books on basic opening tactics and strategy but ultimately you will have to learn through experience and hope that whatever you have done in study is optimizing your ability to make good decisions.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Vegitto
How would one know their 'score'? I play chess regularly, but I haven't got a clue about all of these things you're saying.. E5? BC4? In my opening, I just make room for what I think is usable, ie, moving the other pieces out of the way.

Is there some kind of site where you can get your score?

You join the USCF and then you play tournaments against people who are ranked. The more people you play and the more you win against higher ranks, the higher you go.

Oh, whoops, THAT score. You can also play online (e.g. freechess.org, chessclub.com) where the ratings are a bit more varied but generally in the same ball park.

 

[NeoV]

any free play chess programs or websites?

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Vegitto
How would one know their 'score'? I play chess regularly, but I haven't got a clue about all of these things you're saying.. E5? BC4? In my opening, I just make room for what I think is usable, ie, moving the other pieces out of the way.

Is there some kind of site where you can get your score?

You join the USCF and then you play tournaments against people who are ranked. The more people you play and the more you win against higher ranks, the higher you go.

I don't live in the USA. Maybe some site?

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Vegitto
How would one know their 'score'? I play chess regularly, but I haven't got a clue about all of these things you're saying.. E5? BC4? In my opening, I just make room for what I think is usable, ie, moving the other pieces out of the way.

Is there some kind of site where you can get your score?

I don't know how you get your positional score but you can add the "point values" for your pieces up to see how you are doing in terms of material. I think wikipedia has a lot of good info on chess. E5/BC5 is a type of notation describing chess moves.

Positional analysis is a bit more complicated than just scores. At least for humans. You can read a few books on basic opening tactics and strategy but ultimately you will have to learn through experience and hope that whatever you have done in study is optimizing your ability to make good decisions.

Meh, I've only lost once. But then again, I don't play against skilled players (I think)..

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Vegitto
How would one know their 'score'? I play chess regularly, but I haven't got a clue about all of these things you're saying.. E5? BC4? In my opening, I just make room for what I think is usable, ie, moving the other pieces out of the way.

Is there some kind of site where you can get your score?

You join the USCF and then you play tournaments against people who are ranked. The more people you play and the more you win against higher ranks, the higher you go.

Oh, whoops, THAT score. You can also play online (e.g. freechess.org, chessclub.com) where the ratings are a bit more varied but generally in the same ball park.

Both of those are NOT free.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Vegitto
How would one know their 'score'? I play chess regularly, but I haven't got a clue about all of these things you're saying.. E5? BC4? In my opening, I just make room for what I think is usable, ie, moving the other pieces out of the way.

Is there some kind of site where you can get your score?

You join the USCF and then you play tournaments against people who are ranked. The more people you play and the more you win against higher ranks, the higher you go.

Oh, whoops, THAT score. You can also play online (e.g. freechess.org, chessclub.com) where the ratings are a bit more varied but generally in the same ball park.

Yeah, but it really depends on where you play and who you play, to challenge youself, if you play online you must play against really good players.

At a chess tourney, most of the people are really good to begin with.
Of course, I only played a few and then I stopped playing chess all the time, so meh...

I really, really suck at chess now though. Too impatient, and I see things and moves less accurately now. I think I Dained my Bramage in college. 😉

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: torpid
Oh, whoops, THAT score. You can also play online (e.g. freechess.org, chessclub.com) where the ratings are a bit more varied but generally in the same ball park.

Both of those are NOT free.

Freechess.org is free.

 

[Vegitto]

Could you give me a direct link to where I can get my score?

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: torpid
Oh, whoops, THAT score. You can also play online (e.g. freechess.org, chessclub.com) where the ratings are a bit more varied but generally in the same ball park.

Both of those are NOT free.

Freechess.org is free.

Weird, it is now.. The first time it tried to charge me $59.95 on a creditcard..

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: torpid
Oh, whoops, THAT score. You can also play online (e.g. freechess.org, chessclub.com) where the ratings are a bit more varied but generally in the same ball park.

Both of those are NOT free.

Freechess.org is free.

But it just lets me play chess..

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: torpid
Oh, whoops, THAT score. You can also play online (e.g. freechess.org, chessclub.com) where the ratings are a bit more varied but generally in the same ball park.

Both of those are NOT free.

Freechess.org is free.

But it just lets me play chess..

Do you want it to cook you dinner or something?

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: torpid
Oh, whoops, THAT score. You can also play online (e.g. freechess.org, chessclub.com) where the ratings are a bit more varied but generally in the same ball park.

Both of those are NOT free.

Freechess.org is free.

Weird, it is now.. The first time it tried to charge me $59.95 on a creditcard..

Must have been some scam site or typo. FreeChess.org has been free since it has existed. There may be some interfaces you have to pay for if you want to use them, I guess. ChessClub.com is free as a guest but you do have to pay to play "rated" games.

 

[Vegitto]

If possible 😛. No, I want to know my score.. You guys here are 1300-1800, I wanna know if I can compete.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: torpid
Oh, whoops, THAT score. You can also play online (e.g. freechess.org, chessclub.com) where the ratings are a bit more varied but generally in the same ball park.

Both of those are NOT free.

Freechess.org is free.

lol, it's called freechess.org for christ sakes.

 

[Vegitto]

So? Some other 'free*****.com' aren't free, either.

 

[Vegitto]

Any online (flash) games which will tell me my score?

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
Any online (flash) games which will tell me my score?

Kind of hard to give an accurate score like that. I think chessmaster has a guesstimator.

 

[Vegitto]

Good enough 🙂. Care to link?

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
Good enough 🙂. Care to link?

It's a program you have to buy, but there may be a 30 day trial or something.

 

[Vegitto]

Damn..