Playing against a beginner

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29th August 2007, 04:40am
#21
by adeshmukh
KOLKATA India
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 106
Everything that could be said has been said and I agree with a lot of it.  The ones that had the best potential for use seemed to be Billwall's and Pawnshover's.  I would make a beginner solve a lot of puzzles and identify forks, pins, discovered checks etc. and try and recognise those opportunities in their real games.  Even a simple thing like a Strong Centre can be internalized when the player tells herself how exactly she is building one.  It makes one aware of one's thinking better when the 'right' words and phrases are provided.  A beginner might get it right the first time but can she get it right the second time AND the third time.  That is important.
1st September 2007, 04:11pm
#22
by rich
My Home United Kingdom
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 23167
Well i'm not really good but, i'm not a beginner.But when i play chess i go out there to win. And i would hate to think that someone were letting me win.And even a beginner try your best its not chess letting someone win.
3rd September 2007, 08:59pm
#23
by flourdustedhazzn
New York, NY United States
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 10
Hugh_T_Patterson wrote:

Being a bit of a beginner myself, I end up playing with people who are far superior to myself. I have a number of friends who are Masters and are willing to play games with me. Here's what they do:

They never give me anything in the way of an advantage because they feel I won't be given the same opportunity when I play in the real world of tournaments. They will, however, point out the mistake I've made after I move with some analysis thrown in for good measure. While I end up loosing the game, I win in the end by the amount of knowledge I acquire from the lesson learned during play. That's what it's all about, the lesson learned. If I am playing someone who is really new to the game, I will suggest they look at all the possible moves before making one, and then ask them to think about what the consequences are for that move (for both Black and White). I am lucky because my circle of chess friends are always willing to make a game both educational and fun at the same time. I think beginners should walk away from a game with something learned from that game.If each and every game teaches them something new, they won't become discouraged and give up before they have a chance to improve their skills. I have been lucky because in everything that I have been interested in there has been someone around to help me learn. I would never have become a professional musician if there were not other musicians around will to teach me as opposed to criticizing me.


I am currently working on the business end of this sort of arrangement, and liking it. A friend and I are playing by correspondance, and after each game (which he invariably wins) he'll write up an analysis so that I can study my good moves as well as my false steps.

15th October 2007, 09:33am
#24
by Ray_Brooks
Heart of Darkness England
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 2166

I agree with allowing beginners to take-back moves, but that's not possible here. I've settled for making hints about "what happens next", and pointing out alternatives after the event.

 


2nd November 2007, 02:21pm
#25
by gmatt
Vancouver Canada
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 80
I'm no master at chess, but I feel if I were teaching someone brand new at chess I would go along the lines of BillWall's  post. It seems that that way is most educational.
3rd November 2007, 06:35pm
#26
by Ziryab
Spokane, Washington United States
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 1552
rweasley wrote:

When I play my kids, I play with a couple handicaps, like I only have 5 seconds to make a move. If they get a little frustrated, I sometimes offer to turn the board around and let them play my pieces. We often do chess puzzles too, like mating problems, or playing with only pawns.


 I've found turning the board around to be a useful technique. Sometimes before the game begins, we set a limit of three rotations, and the beginner chooses when to rotate. Such games can become complex as I labour to keep things close so that I can come back after a rotation.


23rd January 2008, 05:31pm
#27
by rgp89
New Jersey United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 676

I recommend that you give it your all, in normal cases.  For children or beginners, it is difficult since they are just learn the game and so I would show how the moves more and use this opening position to illustriate what pieces to use in the opening then go deeply such as castling and therefore: 

    However, experience and practice is the best way to learn and develop over time.  


23rd January 2008, 05:36pm
#28
by shadowslayer
Grand Rapids, Michigan United States
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 1560
kill them and make them pay for there moves, send out all force and DON'T LOSE ON TIME! that's all I got, make them pay and they won't do it anymore
23rd January 2008, 05:51pm
#29
by Ned63
Brit working in Germany Germany
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 204
billwall wrote:

 The method that I use for beginners is to play a game, and when they make a really bad move, make a few moves after that to show them that it is bad, then go back to the position where the bad move was made.  Then I give them the opportunity to make another move.  I play that until a real bad move occurs.  Then I play a few more moves to show why it is bad, then back up to that position again.  This way a person sees as many chess patterns as possible, good and bad, so that can recognize it.  Soon, they finish and lose a game and only blundered deeper into the game.  Then I try to see if the beginner can recreate the game.  If he can remember or spot the critical positions, then he his getting good chess pattern recognition.  Pretty soon, they are able to remember and recreate the whole game, and avoid the bad moves.


I did exactly this with my kids (ages 5 thru 8) and it worked well.  I would ocassionaly throw in the odd 'unassisted' game, but only with their consent.

 

I dont like giving odds (queen, rook, whatever) because my kids would win a game and see it as a 'hollow' victory.

 

When it comes to young kids, it's important to build confidence.

 

And as Syrianchessmaster pointed out earlier, if it's a fun game, make it fun.  If not, then go for the win!

 

 

23rd January 2008, 06:02pm
#30
by Insidious
Atlanta GA United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 6

In the words of Conan:

"Crush your enemies!  See them driven before you!  Hear the lamentation of their women and children!"

 A serious player wanting and willing to improve will go back, analyze the game and learn from their mistakes.  They will always want your best game and they will seek out better players in order to learn from them.  A casual player will not care.


23rd January 2008, 06:05pm
#31
by the_chairman
Perth, WA Australia
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 89
lol reading all thse posts on teaching your kids is ironic because in 16 and have actualy taught my dad how to play. i did the above idea of thinking outloud. so when i made a move sometimes i explained its purpose sometimes i let him figure that out when he made a move i asked his reasoning and depending on what that was i said either thats a good thought or i said well whatabout this . . and suchforth.i think the biggest thing about teaching is comunication, even though in the game your rivals it doesnt mean you shouldnt offer advice or at least agive them some ideas.
23rd January 2008, 06:13pm
#32
by Docfish13
North Carolina United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 22
I play with my two boys, both under 10, alot. when they make a bad move I show them the consequences of the move right away, and let them take it back. After they move again, then I'll show them what i think was right as well as some other options. i definitly don't let them win, but I'm also no where as serious with them as I am an older player regardless of skill level. i believe that at such a young age the most important thing is for them to have fun, so they will want to play and get better with time.
2nd February 2008, 02:19am
#33
by millerthesmurf
cornwall England
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 273
i thnk u have got 2 play your hardest or else they will never learn ths the way i learnt and it also gives them the motivation 2 beat u if u hammer them daily
2nd February 2008, 02:32am
#34
by morganadelaide
radelaide Australia
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 5
if your playing them then play to win if your teaching them teach.........
2nd February 2008, 02:37am
#35
by feyterman
Auckland New Zealand
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 832
play ur best! but i would always help them and let them take back moves
15th March 2008, 07:56pm
#36
by WyoKid
Worland, Wyoming United States
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 108

I use a number of options depending on the situation.  One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is that if you have clocks you can give your opponent a lot of time while you play blitz therefore giving you less time to think about your moves. 


30th March 2008, 09:19am
#37
by Darthstapler8
United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 172
If you play inferior moves against them, they won't learn as much
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