It thought it was good. So damn good I beat it's ass into a pulp

[Kruno]

Note to mods: This is not a discussion on 3d games or anything to do with computers. It's ment to be a discussion on chess in general. Yes I do mean the board game. I only posted a pic to show that I can defeat the pc in Chess on the easiest mode but that's just because I am so damn proud of myself :p

Anywho, can someone give me pointers that I could use in chess. Some things are not so dang obvious unless you are a champion player.
I'm no champion. :)

[thcdru2k]

play your moves, and the other guys moves in your head. basically more you play the more you gain the ability.

when i play, i don't act on impulse over the opponents threat. don't play the threat, but start your own attack and get your pieces on strategical points early in the game. if you play the threat, thats what the person wants, and you'll get yourself in a trap. don't play to take pieces, always look for checks. control the center, and work stronger pieces to the other end of the board to limit the kings movement.

[Cereal-Killer]

Yeah, always try to control the four squares in the center...

[Nephilim]

I used to be in the USCF so I've played my share of chess.

There are mountains of books on the subject of strategy/tactics in chess. A lot of them will go over championship games move by move and explain the thinking behind each move.

If you can, try to think as many moves as possible in advance. Start out with one or two moves and work your way up slowly. Whenever you see chess games where the players are just sitting there staring at the board, that's what they are doing. Working move-by-move to try to consider every possibility that the other player could use.

If you decide to check out some books about chess, a lot of them will reference the grand masters of the chess world. Names you should look for are Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer, Rogelio Ortega, and Lev Alburt.

[Kruno]

That's a lot fo reading :o
I try not to act on my opponents threats but it's so damn hard not to. He moves a horse near my pawn, I take the horse because my queen was in threat. Would a move like that be correct?

[Nephilim]

Well, it depends on where the rest of the pieces are on the board. Another way to go about it could have been to see if you could move to threaten his queen. Of course, he may just sacrifice his queen for yours, but then you would have to assess if it is worth the risk.

Are you hurting for pieces (i.e. does he have more bishops/knights/rooks on the board than you)?

Is your queen threatening something important of his?

Would losing your queen leave you open for something more vicious?

Are there more of his pieces (than just the knight) threatening your queen?

If you move to protect the queen, does it leave you vulnerable elsewhere?

If you move the queen to protect her, does it leave you vulnerable elsewhere?


See? These are just a few of the questions you can ask yourself in these sorts of situations. Chess is an EXTREMELY deep game. If you'll pardon the cliché:

Easy to learn, difficult to master.