Crushed by Kindle Chess

I'm getting crushed by Kindle Chess, on level 1! The chess app for the Kindle is made by Oak Systems Leisure Software. Maybe it's because I'm not booked up on the Scandinavian, but after 1.e4, this little chess program plays what would be strange and shocking to any level 1 player, ...d5! A beginner would say, "what the heck is that"? I've seen this move many times, but never followed by Qe6+ ?!

The Kindle chess program does play fair, in that it does make mistakes, but you really need to pay attention. I've played chess against other computer programs, like Fritz and Chessmaster, but those programs make obvious mistakes when I set it to easy play. Not Kindle. The app is only $2.99 and very addicting, especially since it's one click away when one is reading an e-book.

nice

>>Book - White accepts the loss of a pawn for a lead in development. What Level 1 - beginning chess player would understand this?!<<

Excuse me for saying so, but I don't see it that white has an advantage. In fact, the loss of the king side pawn poses certain disadvantages.

Also, seems like there are two games going on...one by using the play buttons (where the pawn at G2 is taken by the queen)...and also a different game by going down the list.

1. I never said that White has the advantage. No worries. I could have been more precise. How does this sound - White's compensation for a loss of a pawn is a lead in development.

I agree. The loss of a kingside pawn has its disadvantages, and a line I would prefer not to play. Is there a better way to meet the threat of Qxg2?

2. The variations in blue are not the game moves that I and Kindle made, but just alternate lines to play.

I have a Sony eBook reader. I like it a lot, but it is only good for reading ebooks...no chess. Someday, maybe Sony will come out with a tablet that is an iPad killer. Sadly...they are dragging their feet.

Good news...I have an Android smart phone that does play chess! On it, I can play against all sorts of downloadable engines. Many are free. Chess for Android is one that I really like (www.aartbik.com). At the the mid and high level of play...these things are tough!

Best of all, I also have chess.com...right from this sight. One can play online, play against the computer, tactics trainer, video lessons, come right here to this forum, etc. Fantastic!

I still prefer playing against someone in person. To me, that is the heart and soul of chess play. Meanwhile...this is the next best thing.

Your Kindle sounds quite the challenge. If it can also download chess.com...definitely worth a "look see".

In this position I've always played 5. Bf3.

You have my undivided attention.

I guess that I am pretty much living in the stone ages. All that I highlighted in red, you can do all of this on your cell phone?

I've heard of the Apple iPhone doing some fancy stuff, but I don't want to support that company because I think that their products, regardless of quality, are way over priced. I can talk and text on my cell phone, but not much else. I'm kinda scared of having an internet service plan for it.

My son, through no fault of his own, ran up a $2,000.00 cell phone data charge in just one month! The manager reversed the charges after I told the first flunky of the company that I wasn't gonna pay it, and if he didn't do something about it,  I was going to throw my cell phone in the trash because I had no clue our new phones could connect to the internet.

I was hopping mad. Since we were loyal, long time customers, the manager not only reversed the chargers, but gave us hundreds of free minutes. The flunky was typing up a payment plan so that I could pay back the entire two grand over time. Idiot!

I use a cheap Window's based PC. Maybe I'm being too cheap, missing out on the George Jetson science fiction age with the flying cars? Oh yeh...it is the 21st century. Where is my flying car? Traffic in Southern California sucks!

Another strong player suggested 5. Bf3, but I ended up with a more cramped position. I'm probably doing something wrong here.

I gave 5.Bf3 another try.

It took me 59 moves to beat the stupid Kindle app set level 1. There are 10 levels of difficulty. Pretty sad on my part. 

All 59 weak moves are my own - no opening book - no database - no analysis board. I sure hope my playing strength improves real soon. This is down right embarassing, getting tourtured by a little e-book reader!

Yes...what I said I can do on my smart phone. I have an Android phone (HTC Incredible) with Verizon. Unlimited data package...I think that's about $30/month.

Stock market stuff, news, email, internet, chess.com (all the same features as from a laptop or desktop). That and a lot more. Very readable screen size. Can even read Kindle books, newspapers..."pinch" to enlarge or reduce text size to suit.

It is truly a wonder...including camcorder, 8 megapixel camera, voice recorder...I could go on, but I don't get a commission.

Yes, your are in the Stone Age, as you say (no offense intended) without such a device. The Apple iPhone is good, too...but I am averse to Apple for reasons that you stated (they are very closed...where Android is very open...it's a Google product...beats the pant off Microsoft).

I turn it on and off dozens of times per day (actually...it is in sleep mode when I am not using it...so instant on). I didn't buy it for chess purposes...that is just a bonus.

P.S.: I am not saying it replaces an ebook reader...not a good size for heavy-duty book or newspaper reading. BUT...the convenience...as well as the instantaneous speed and very readable screen...make it outstanding for getting news or light reading (I wouldn't read a 500 page novel on it is what I mean).

"I think that their products, regardless of quality, are way over priced".

You can get a new 16GB iPhone 4 for $199 (with contract).  If that's too much, you can get the previous version for $99 I think.  I think they even have an 8GB previous version for $49.  So if you don't mind being one rev behind, it's not that bad.  I actually don't think $199 is overpriced myself.  I actually think the ATT contract is what's overpriced, not the iPhone itself.

And as ChessStrategist said, Apple is definitely closed compared to Android (although that changed quite a bit today).  I certainly think there are valid criticisms against Apple, I just don't think price is one.  At least not on the iPhone.  But that's just my opinion.

"It took me 59 moves to beat the stupid Kindle app set level 1"

27. Qxc7# might have shortened it some.

Hi, redbirdie...we meet again.

I think you may be misreading me. I am not saying anything per se in favor of one brand or one operating system over another. Apple is fine (I even own a nanopod)and would enjoy owning an iPad2 (although, personally I'd go with the Motorola with Android Honeycomb...just my personal preference).

BTW, my phone has been sold for $50 at Best Buy...and on and off again, it is offered for free.

Bottom line...he liked the idea of what features are available on a smartphone, such as being able to get chess.com mobile. That's what we are actually talking about...not brands and their pros/cons or prices. Certainly not my intent. See?

P.S.: Please don't ship me that thermos!

Level 10 is pretty challenging even for me. There are lots of draws, but I think I've found the formulas for beating it in c4, d4, and e4, and I've been winning quite frequently lately.

I posted two games.

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 Qe6+ 4.Be2 Qg6 5.Bf3 e5, where 7.Bc4 is not possible.

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 Qe6+ 4.Be2 Qg6 5.Nf3 Qxg2 6.Rg1 Qh3, where Fritz Powerbook 2010 lists two moves for White, 7.d4 and 7.Bc4.

Is the second line what you are talking about?  I hadn't considered 7.Bc4 before. It's quite clever. I like it and will give it a try.

27. Qxc7# is not playable because of 26.Qxa6+. The queen is on the a-file. Maybe you are talking about a different move number?

I do miss mates in one often, a weakness. I'll run this game through Fritz to look for those types of blunders.

Thanks for looking at the game, and I like your blog on checkmates, if I remember correctly.

@ batgirl - Fritz found it. You had the correct move - Qxc7#. It was on move 26 however, not move 27. Good eye. Thanks!

Exactly. I don't care if these smart phones are even made by little green men hidden at Hanger 51, I want one.

Wow!

O.K. We are not talking about playing against Rybka or some other wiz bang chess engine. It's a 3 dollar cheap chess app for an e-book reader, and I doubt that the Kindle has some high end dual core processer. How strong can this chess engine/app be in terms of elo? Geez! It makes me feel real stupid.

Update: The Kindle has a 533 Mhz processor.

It's impressively strong. My first impression was, "Wow, this thing must have better hardware than I thought."