About Daily Chess

I apologize if this makes you howl with laughter, but I'm curious about the daily chess feature where players are given days to make a move. It seems to me this allows players to hit books, databases and even engines to choose a move. Is that true? Is there any learning value in playing games like that? Is it popular?

I spend about 20 seconds/move avg to make my moves in daily, I'd say. 

I suppose there are those that hit everything as you say, and yes it's a great way to improve your game. ☺

i am really struggling with chess, can anyone help?

The is the equivalent of Correspondence Chess, where you would send your moves via post.

This is a very popular way to play, especially for people who do not have the time to sit for a 30 minute game (as an example).

It is usually allowed to use things like books, opening databases (that do not give computer evaluations of positions), analysis boards, etc.  Engine use is mostly not allowed (definitely here at chess.com it is not allowed) but there is no way to ensure it is not done. This requires a bit of the honor system.

In the old CC days it could take a year or more to complete a game. Even with the online 3 days/move it could take over half a year to complete one game if both sides use the full time per move.

You can get into some very complicated games this way. It has value but as with everything else in life, some get more value than others.

Correspondance chess is a great way to improve.  Nothing i can do about people that choose to use things they shouldnt.  

Slow email chess is a great way to learn an opening, especially if you are in a thematic tournament.  It actually makes you read that chessbook you bought a year ago, but have yet to open the cover.  And using chess databases, without an engine, is a great way to really study master games in the opening and study middlegame plans and endings.  Of course, those players that cheat and use engines deserve a special place in hell.

The only problem with correspondence chess is that some players drag out a lost game for months, using the maximum time to move even when there is no hope. I have gotten so frustrated, I often resign in won games rather than deal with the delay.

I play almost exclusively dailies with moves at 3 days or longer.

For me, personally, I don't usually have a lot of time during the day when I have a chance to sit down and play live games, and this allows me to spend a few minutes on a game when time allows. Also, since I'm usually on my mobile when i'm playing I do not have to worry about spotty connections and forced loses due to a brief connection interruption which has happened before.

The longer controls are also greatly appreciated when I travel for work and may spend 4 or 5+ days working 18hrs.

Different strokes, YMMV, and all that jazz.

As for a valid way to improve, I feel it certainly helps me -- though i'm a pretty weak player i'm stronger than I was before consistently having daily games going.

Thanks all.

If you play daily chess you are a loser. Or a chess player with a life. If you cheat in daily chess you are a total loser. Can't wait to see this thread locked.

I accidentally found myself in a 960 game that I didn't even notice until my second turn as white. The kings were in the normal position and I just played 1.e4 then noticed my rook and knight were transposed and found myself a little behind from move one. Anyway, I never gave much thought to chess variants before, but 960 is rather interesting since the book openings are out the window from the get-go.

Chess.com has cheat detection methods that work. Many accounts have been closed for engine abuse. If you use an engine in a dailly game you will lose your account.

Other than that, dailly is great! If you can avoid timing out you will reach 1400 easily. If you spend 60 seconds on a move and don't time out you will end up 1600+.