How can such a simple game as chess be so hard to learn? Sometimes it is just frustrating: I just logged off ICC where I finished another day of lost 15 minute chess games. And I am not even trying anything fancy - I just try not to lose too many pieces. Seriously, in an attempt to reduce the number of blunders I make, I try to force myself to be careful by sitting on my mouse hand. This is supposed to remind me of checking my moves for blunders before I make them. In theory, at least. Only too bad that after a couple of moves I seem to forget even this most simple thing and switch to autopilot, making the same good old blunders. Conclusion: chess is not that hard to learn but it seems that some people like me are simply stuck with their bad habits, which is dreaming up attacks instead of keeping my own king safe for me. it is fun to learn more about chess strategy, but it will never make me a better player unless I solve this very basic problem that no amount of tactics problem solving is able to cure. I guess I "just" have to force myself to become more disciplined, but that does not sound like a fun hobby to me. And after all, I play chess to relax and have fun, and not to chastise myself.

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written by Trooper, February 02, 2008

Considering you are relatively new to the game, I think you've done really well. I've been playing for years since I was a kid, and you're better than me.

I think you're just playing against opponents that are better than you, and they get the edge.

Losing is good, if you learn from it. And if you don't know what you did wrong... blame it on the game of Chess, with it's vast complexities.

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written by Christian, February 02, 2008

I experience the same on Chess Tactics: as soon as I reach a decent rating, it plummets again due to blunder after blunder.

How about playing against a computer with an "undo move"-option: whenever you blunder, take back your move and note down the blunder. Focus on avoiding blunders in your game, and get some hard data on whether you actually commit as many blunders as in previous games as you proceed. Playing against a computer should help you relax and not become frustrated as much because it's simply a machine you're playing, so you don't feel "humiliated" when taking back a move. I recommend "Kasparov Chess"; a nifty little game with a very realistic feel even to low-rated computer players.

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written by Sciurus, February 04, 2008

Thanks for the support! I will certainly not give up that easy

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written by Dreadpiratejosh, February 07, 2008

Hey Sciurus, you are a very good player and I wouldn't worry about losing 15 minute games too much. That's still a quick time control in my opinion. I too, love an attacking game and enjoy trying to attack my opponent, even if it means I end up losing from premature attacks.. i think it makes for a more interesting game (for both players).

Josh

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written by Richard, February 10, 2008

ICC is a tough place to play. There's a lot of good people to put a beat down on someone. Perhaps you should try an easier play ground. Yahoo or someother place where the serious players don't hang out. I get spanked all the time on FICS. I seem to have better results at the less serious sites.

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written by Sciurus, February 11, 2008

@Josh:
that is why I like to play against you: always entertaining!

@Richard:
Thanks, nice to see that there are others who also think that the competition at ICC is stiff. I am not so much frustrated about losing itself but more about the way I lose chess games. Even after more than 2 years of trying to become a decent chess player I am leaving pieces en prise. I thought I should have learnt not to do that anymore.

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written by pheadrus, February 14, 2008

Hi Scirius,

I have not read all of your posts, but I suspect that you have to work on your move selecting proces. It appears that you do a blundercheck before playing your moves, but this may not help you at all if you don't know what you have to look for. I will blog a post on the move selecting proces soon.

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written by Sciurus, February 14, 2008

Hi Phaedrus,

thanks for the comment. I am looking forward to the upcoming blog post, you made me really curious! Until then, I will continue to work on the blundercheck, though, because I cannot explain my worst blunders otherwise (and it won't do harm to improve on this I guess).

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