starting

Sorry Rich, but respect needs to be earned. You have completely lost my respect and that of most people who post in the same threads as you who understand about the game. Sometimes I find your comments entertaining, but mostly they worry me that you are giving poor advice to those who are just beginning.

I'm sure this doesn't worry you in the slightest because of your incredible self-belief in the face of all odds and all logic, but it would serve you well in the long run if you did take it to heart.

Also, Rich, your goal is to become the highest rated player on Chess.com, right? It'll... only take you ten years.

I came across that conclusion becuase your rating is on average, 1500. The top rated player on Chess.com is... Higher than 2800, possibly 3000.

I didn't intend to offend you, I just was giving my opinion.

Rich showed in my game with him that he completely disregards the value of the rook.  He willingly sacrificed his rook for my bishop and gave me all the compensation as well.

I would have taken your bishop on b1.  Even if my plan was to capture on a2, I would be down a piece for two pawns.  Not enough compensation!  But according to your definitions of point value, I might as well be winning because knights are worth less than pawns.

KillaBeez, you rolled him up in 20 moves, your otb is 1457 USCF and your chess.com rating is 1900--about 400 points higher than him--and instead of taking advice from a stronger player rich just argues. Classic rich.

Imagine how NMs here feel when rich spits in their eyes after offering him correction on the most basic things.

If I were lucky enough to have had a master tell me anything when I was younger in the game I would have run home and put it in the vault. These guys are masters for a reason.

.... and rich will always be average (at best) for a reason.

Blitz ARE part of your rating... if GMs had 3 days to ponder their moves, they would cream you. They would make anyone seem like a patzer. Or if a computer had 3 days to look through all the variables. They would have seen every move that can happen in the game; trust me, they can calculate 2 billion things in a second. Blitz are true tests of will; it shows how quickly you can respond, it teaches you how to manage your time, and while it may not train tactics etc. it gives you stronger play in general and is a determining factor in the game.

Also, I did tell my chess friend (2006 CFC which is Canada's rating) about your claims and he thinks your d4 opinion is incorrect. Knight moves are quite versatile, and no opening truly is better than any other (unless you play extremely unsound ones like the Elephant Gambit for Black) because all are quite playable.