Yes, I agree. You can recognize patterns much more easier on a 2D plane than on a 3D one. I can see patterns and formulate tactics easier than if I was observing the board at an angle.
Of course, if you use plain chess pieces, it is not much harder to recognize familiar chess moves and strategies.
OTB I've noticed that some players really get over the board. I've seen this on occasion and thought it almost physically intimidating to the other player - but if it makes inofrmation processing easier.....
There may be an advantage to the 2D sets but ultimately it boils down to what the player is accustomed to.
Pre-Comp days we played on 3D and solved problems from diagrams. Everyone seemd happily bi-lingual.
Yes I always use the 2d boards when online or using any chess programs. I alway wonder why games like chessmaster brag about adding 100 new 3d boards and never really adding to the 2d boards, or even just making them bigger...That was a hint to UBIsoft!
I wonder, would it be legal in an OTB tournament to use a 2d side board to examine? Not a computer of course, but like a paper board with moveable pieces.
No analysis boards allowed, even though in the FIDE candidates there were rooms the players could retire to that had the current position for them.
About 3D boards: I guess they are for bragging rights (best looking) and as a selling point for less serious players. Personally I never have used the 3D boards.
Anyone else think that a 2D representation of the game , as on here or against a computer program is easier to cognise ?
What I'm saying is that a when we have our OTB sets we have more information to process in our brain. For instance OTB, we are not looking over the board directly and so have to handle perspectives of board and pieces....