Why does.....

....someone play Teams? Isn't the whole point to overcome what's in front of you and win the game, or at least as many pieces possible?

just curious

For fun?

lol FFA is way fun

I better in teams

Teams is more fun!!

You can be a new friend to your random teammate  

I prefer teams. And the reason why is simple: there's no luck involved. In FFA, there's so much luck around that it's untrue. If your opponents want to, you can be dead in jut a couple of plies. In teams, however, it's entirely a fair game, and everything depends on how good your playing is, and if you can make the very best moves.

In other words, if you want a fair game 100% of the time you should play teams.

Yes

LOL fair????

Fair is  p l a y i n g the game... I still don't get how 'teaming' is  p l a y i n g  because you're not the only one playing the game but your teammate as well, like if you're in some place at a monitor and playing a chess dual with others beside you, even if it is one individual, and that individual starts as if he's also playing and begins to say where to move, that to me is cheating and as I've experienced before, instantly tell that individual to not because it's my game and they can if they choose start a game themselves..

I know there's 3 other players this game but to me it is still chess and now just a more possibly complicated or not, but certainly more happening and much more to keep eye on, and focus your open opportunities, my opinion. I am trip'n others not seeing as I describe, seriously.

4player is totally a blast but it would be far greater were there no points and, if not an additional minute than at least 25 sec delay instead the 15. just saying..

GIVEN this having no points and you just enJOY this wonderfully fun game, THERE WOULD BE NO CHEATERS because what's their point, considering there are none??

...thus ending the silliness on this site! No? lol

Who read all of that?

Not me

why then even post to be so ridiculous? Maosro

I LOVE TEAMS

I'm glad you do, but how is it actually playing like you're playing the game of chess? That's all I'm asking, I'm curious why people like the game when it's far from playing as if you are the individual who is against whomever is the opponent to win?

.....having a 'partner' completely eliminates the fun the game.. How is this not the case? my inquiry

Are you talking about teaming in FFA or the Teams variant?

only the variant... I always mute game so no one can attempt the teaming and HOPE theres not two that connect a game that are maybe the same player but on different monitors.

Then I'm not sure I understand your point. The whole idea of the Teams variant is to play together as a team and defeat the other team. What's not fair about that? Do you mean it's not fair because if the weaker player follows suggestions from the stronger player, it's as if the stronger player is playing by himself?

I originally made this thread because I only play, have only the FFA and cannot whatsoever think of any reason at all to play Teams variant and was wondering why all others are enjoying it and not seeing it to be similar as cheating, or okay.... perhaps I will say 'so very far from chess' because the object is to overcome the opponent 'yourself' and not someone beside you coaxing positioning or watching you at play while they passing you by and they like chess play too and wish to help along by adding their sense into the game I completely wish to play personally against the other 3, not any ganging up, and I as well as said before mute chat to stop any resistant opponent who desires to attempt creating a team when he's on FFA.

I am just tripping so many like playing 'gang up on the other players' because it's not them actually winning rather it's, to me a sense of cheating, but it's my view how I see how it should be played and again find it confusing others do not agree and they enjoy the oddity.

The Teams variant has more similarities with regular chess than FFA, because there are only two sides involved and there are no points. As @tommerrall949 pointed out, FFA is not a pure game of skill, whereas the Teams variant is. For the Teams variant there is some theoretical best play (although we don't know yet what it is), but for FFA there is no such thing.

If you are talking about FFA, you're absolutely right. If players decide to gang up on one player, there's not much (s)he can do about it, regardless of skill. That's why pre-planned teaming throughout an FFA game is not allowed. But in the Teams variant both sides have the possibility to gang up on one player and help defend each other, so that's completely fair.

Also, two minds are usually better than one, so ideally there should be a two-way interaction between teammates. You can learn from and support each other to perform at a higher level together. A team of two lower rated players who complement each other well can beat a higher rated player playing with a teammate who merely follows suggested moves.

If I understand you correctly, you think a game that involves teamwork is like cheating because the other player contributes to your victory and you're not doing it all by yourself? What about other team chess variants then, like bughouse, or completely different team games, like football? If you are helped by your teammate, does that mean you "cheated" and didn't actually win?

If you want to play a Teams game without cooperating, then it just becomes an FFA game in which you cannot attack the player across from you. What's the point of that? If you don't like team games, don't play the Teams variant. 

@GDII, very good answer.  My respect to you.

I don't play Teams variant, I have said that, and the only reason I created this thread was I was curious why others do play what only looks to be cheating at the game when the whole 'point' to the game is to OVERCOME the opponents attempting to overcome you, no?

"Also, two minds are usually better than one, so ideally there should be a two-way interaction between teammates. Waaa??? since when should another add to your thought where to move your piece? Of course I'm referencing not teaming, because it's still not your decision, were I to play teams, and why I do not.

You can learn from and support each other to perform at a higher level together.

And so is why I have created thread asking why would you? Would you ever play chess and wish someone to offer their take what's your best move?? So, if not, then why play the game that's teaming the moves? Confusing..

A team of two lower rated players who complement each other well can beat a higher rated player playing with a teammate who merely follows suggested moves." How then are they actually winning, regardless the game is claimed to be in their favor? Is not a game won 'you' TO win THAT GAME?