Any chess players on here?

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#21

however in this case I know exactly what happened… I was well beaten by @Herbster yesterday

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#22

World order restored.

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#23

I’ve been working my way up some of the computer opponents, and it seemed so gradual, but now I’ve suddenly reached one who just whips me every time, like a huge leap up in difficulty. That, or I got lucky with the ones just below it and I was never really at that level…

#24

Which one out of interest?

#25

Isabel. She’s killing me. I need to go down a bot or two but I’m too damn stubborn. Managed a couple of draws among all the thrashings but that’s all…

#26

I am stuck considerably lower than that - 1300, I can’t beat consistently

#27

That’s probably around about where I should be - at most. I think I fluked a couple of those bots first time and moved myself straight up instead of sticking around to see if I belonged there.

#28

Isn’t it more fun playing other humans rather than bots?

I’m usually on Lichess, just signed up for Chess.com so maybe see you on there later.

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#29

It is! But that doesn’t stop them reeling me in with curiosity: ooh, which one can I beat? etc… :thinking:

#30

more fun yes, but for some of us more stressful

#31

Unless you suffer the indignity of being beaten by Clippy.

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#32

I’ve been warming up with the bots, primarily to try and remember how to play! Also, they work flexible hours which is handy….

Looking forward to a live game soon though.

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#33

One thing I’ve discovered is that during the 30-year gap in my playing, I’ve forgotten all the standard opening moves and countermoves (not that I knew that many anyway), so I’m trying to reinvent the wheel every time I start a new game. Probably another reason why the bots are schooling me.

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#34

Likewise. I love it when the bot says something like, “let’s play the Sicilian” and I adopt the Homer Simpson look.

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#35

It’s probably also the reason why I seem to make a beeline for the middle game, exchanging as many pieces as possible - a cluttered board makes me nervous. Trouble is, I do a big series of swaps, then it takes me a couple of turns to realise that I’m actually somehow a bishop down… :grimacing:

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#36

I use the SocialChess app. I have Lichess too, so could use that.

Up for a game.

Also up for a social chess meetup - used to go to one in a pub a number of years back.

#37

Has anyone else tried the option where the site finds you a random human from anywhere for a quick, 10-minute game? I like the way it’s one-off and chat is disabled - you play them and that’s the total sum of your interaction.

#38

Yeah, I usually play humans on 3+2, after a few games you get a grading so it matches you against similar strength people in future

#39

Yeah, that’s what best suits me. Too restless for anything longer, too slow for anything faster. Although 3 minute blitz is always fun until suddenly my time runs out.

#40

I think it’s interesting how you can tell you’re playing a human and not a bot - little things like the longer thinking time when you know you’ve put them on the spot … which goes both ways of course.

You can also guess which ones are the over-cocky 12 year-olds - I remember them well from the school chess days - when they try the old four-move-checkmate trick on you. Then when you counter it, all they’re left with is a vulnerably exposed queen and undeveloped pieces.

PS @Aspedini - I think this is the first time I’ve ever gone 20 moves without a single pawn leaving the board…! :laughing:

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