i use my pea sized brain

I thought all games here were played as OTB.

I was briefly looking into an opening that somebody played against me and I wasn't familiar with and I felt guilty. Now, I find out people are using complete games in databases. That's ridiculous, in my opinion.

Using databases in chess is like drugs in sport! Say NO!

I would never even consider using tools for improved play! Of course do from time to time study the various parts of chess but I just feel that it would not be me playing if I used books etc.

 never touch the stuff... just wouldn't feel right to me.

Why cant people just play the game in front of them. In my opinion using aids such as those tells me you are really insecure of your game. If winning is really important to you, maybe you should turn professional. Its a game, there is a winner and a loser, mostly, deal with it.

• No wonder my ratings are in the toilet and i always get my ass kicked. where do i get these databases?
  
• and its equally, or even more silly, to use such resources as a crutch whenever you find yourself in an unusual opening.  Pity such the person who uses anything other than his brain as a crutch in chess.
  
• When I finish a game, I go through it and figure out how I lost or won.  That's how you improve.  Forget about what rules the website posts or doesn't post regarding softwares or databases.  The important question is: why bother doing it?  What's enjoyable about letting a computer or textbook make your moves for you?  What have you gained from it other than a higher rating?
  
• Im non-user..i like it better that way..believe it or not
  
• i play online because i want to play against another 'person'. i do my study after games, not during them.
  
• why not use a french computer translator, pretend you can speak french
  
• since I've never used one, or have any idea how to use databases.... is that a bad thing?
  
• I'm just an amatuer player who is learning and playing for just the enjoyment of playing.  of course i would like to win.  there have been some games that i was sure my opponent was using a dbase or something to help him/her.  it would be nice to know you were on an even playing field.  study your game AFTER you've played. i consider anything else as cheating.
  

lets keep this thread under 450, ok?

 I must admit it gets me mad too.  As my mother used to say  there's none so blind as he who won't see. What's irritating in the extreme is that 90% plus of them don't understand what a dbase actually does, or rather doesn't do.

I have played a few of the COT group and they were all fine about me using whatever, it was just a personal choice that they wanted to stick to more OTB type principles, cool with me. I am playing 2 games against one very strong COT guy under COT rules, he won one but I hope to win the other.But I must say their group profile is a tad pompous :-)

I found the biggest problem I had was not being able to use a board or the analysis board when things got tricky.

I couldn't agree more...  I often feel like they don't understand that a particular move might have a high percentage for white, but it's only high because the most popular response is really bad.  I've found moves (particularly for black in Najdorf) that have a high percentage for black, but if white plays the correct move black is hopeless.  It takes far more understanding and experience to use than they realize.

Time for an education campaign? e.g. It's Not Fair! - or was this a MISinformation campaign?

Nice job, Gonnosuke, in endeavouring to keep the record straight ... http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/using-books--databases-for-playing-turn-based?page=6 (not fogetting JG27Pyth, Sharukin, Billium248, and others).

oh dear oh dear

http://www.chess.com/tournament/game-explorer-tournament

your premium . Lookk at game explorer

aabbccdd, I think you missed his point...  He is saying that these are examples of the Non-users' reasons not to use databases.

Easy mistake to make.

o man! thats sad

The historic and epic thread A TALLY OF DATABASE-USERS & NON-USERS is no more. Let's have 30 seconds silence.

perhaps we should disband the group?

The Tally Team Non-Users group rebadged as Praxis. Perhaps we need a makeover - now that our nemesis are no longer explicit about their stance?