starting

the pawn go first

I agrre with paul, that is confusing?

KIESH2

Not so. I often find myself partaking in the adventure of the knight, e.g. 1. Nf3

mmmmmmmmmmmguh...can't read more post....ngh...IQ go down....arghhhh

Why? Give some analysis to support your comment.

Since many people read these threads looking for advice on openings then I think there IS a need for some analysis to support comments like the ones you frequently make. Unsubstantiated comments are at best useless and at worst can be misleading and harmful.

d4 is a strong opening move, but no stronger in itself than e4, c4 or Nf3. All are considered very sound and playable and are frequently played at all levels of the game. Other opening moves are also completely playable, depending on your knowledge of variation, strategies and your playing style.

rich insists on proving how little he knows about chess. He scarcely misses an opportunity to fail.

You are probably 1000 points weaker. 1800 USCF otb vs you.

Whilst you definitely are lying, you have no FIDE rating.

I might be lying? You are the one with the phony FIDE rating in your profile.

Between us, which has the correct basic point values for the pieces? You, who thinks that a rook is worth 4 points?

How can you think of yourself as a good player when you don't know the value of the pieces? When NMs have told you otherwise you ignored their advice. What's wrong with you???

Which of us has claimed that that a world champion said that a bishop, knight, and rook are all worth the same? And which of us <ahem>  declares *that* to be bs, without having read all literature but just using the knowledge a solid beginner would have to know it was bs?

Your live chess rating is 800 rich. 800.

I  noted you had no response for what I wrote. You just tried to walk away from your 800 rating is all you did.

Funny, I click on your name and I see your live rating is 800. You don't get to pick and choose what you like, rich. Good games, bad games, good moves, bad moves, good days, bad days...together they define the quality of the player. Your 800 rating is just part of that.

 You don't have the power of introspection to grade yourself. Truly.

Your 800 is a true representation of your power as well. If we average 1500 and 800 we get 1250. I think that is much closer to your true strength. Subtract a few hundred to compare to sanctioned otb ratings and you are <1000.

Instead of puffing yourself up just follow the recommendations of the titled players here that have offered you help.

If you spent less time telling everyone your rating is 1500 (or so) and more time learning about the game then you would be able to answer questions accurately instead of feeding the beginner players wrong advice that will only do them harm. You never know, your rating may go up too. Just knowing the basic strategic concepts and putting them into practice while avoiding any blunders will get your rating to 1700+.

Try to listen to the advice good players give you, Rich. They are better than you for a reason - they know more about the game.

I half think you just troll on this site, enjoying winding up people like goldendog by saying things you know are completely false. If this is not the case, start taking the advice of better players and put it into practice by actually playing the game instead of talking about it.

Sorry goldendog, I appear to have expanded on your previous post - they must have crossed in the ether. Great minds and all that...

 You don't get to pick and choose. You are no better than how you play. So, <1000.

 Hopefully great minds lol.

I just wish rich would undergo a cure and start listening to some of what the titled players here have said to him. He'd get better I think.

What you say about avoiding blunders is so true. If you can remove virtually all of the 1 and 2 move material drops, you will find yourself competing very well with those players who were thumping you. It worked for me, and it wasn't a matter of talent or learning anything new. It was just being disciplined every move. Easy rating points actually :)

rich, you are a hopeless case. Stubborn and ignorant. Again I ask, "What's wrong with you?"

I kind of hope he is trolling, because otherwise he may be incurably stupid. He certainly doesn't recognise irony unless it is painfully flung in his face and clearly believes himself to be above all other posters in terms of his understanding and knowledge, despite all evidence to the contrary. I have learned that there is no point in arguing with him because he just cannot understand that he is demonstrably wrong, no matter how well the opposing case is argued. Thankfully his skin is so thick this post will bounce off him without causing any lasting effects.

My one concern is that his misguided and inaccurate comments may be setting beginners off on the wrong road.

 Yes. That is my major complaint. He doesn't have the right to screw other players up.