Chess Mentor isn't very helpful:

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5th December 2008, 02:10pm
#1
by Nilesh
Philadelphia, PA United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 488

I agree it's a free service. I agree that it usually in a game there is one correct move or maybe a few correct moves. But I usually have to guess 10 or so times to get one move and I'm a fairly decent player. I feel like chess mentor only helps those who are really good because a.) you don't get much of a trial b.) when you do you spend half your time guessing moves (and find out why you are an idiot) instead of learning anything c.) it doesn't have progress from low to medium to difficult since all of the games are GM or so games.  Any comments on how it's helped (or not) other people?

5th December 2008, 02:18pm
#2
by bart225
kelowna bc Canada
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 221

I totally agree with you ,I've tried a few times and find it very frustrading . Often I don't even understand the language /explanation given . Is this program for beginners ?

5th December 2008, 02:19pm
#3
by Akuni
Nova Scotia Canada
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 1211

I disagree completely

5th December 2008, 02:30pm
#4
by D_Morphy
New Orleans United States
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 62

I actually found it to be pretty helpful.  Even if I couldn't always get the right move I learned why the move I picked was incorrect most of the time.

5th December 2008, 03:03pm
#5
by erik
Mountain View, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 9876

then you are CLEARLY using it wrong.

first, having a short demo is to encourage you to subscribe and has nothing to do with how helpful the service is. and "I agree it's a free service." is just wrong. it is NOT a free service. it is a paid service for chess players who recognize the value of getting trained by chess professionals.

secondly, forget about the timer.

thirdly, you shouldn't be making random moves. you should only move when you are VERY CONFIDENT in the best move. how would you get there? use the hints, buttons, and other tools provided.

the point of chess mentor isn't to guess the best moves. it is to use the mentoring tools to help correct your chess thinking.

complaining about it is like saying a gun isn't very good when your thumb is on the trigger and the skinny part is pointed at you ;) learn to use it!

here is a video that gives you a good overview of how to use the service:

http://static.chess.com/images/video2/chessmentorpromov3.html

 

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