High crime. Lot of thieves. Types that steal chess. Rats.
Americans use plastic pieces and roll up boards all the time, why?
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Aug 27, 2017
0
#23
ChiefBroccoli wrote:
Since there are quite a few in support of the roll up ones, I was wondering if you also play online with a green and white piece set theme? I prefer seeing a wooden set, so I changed the default theme to that, but perhaps playing online with green and white would make the adjustment easier when playing OTB. Is this true or has no effect on your OTB performance?
I have a nice wood board too, but it is a pain to cart around. The roll-up board is lightweight & easy to handle & transport, but I do take my wooden pieces. And I do use the green & white color scheme here - mainly because the wood options aren't anything like my good wood board. But Chessbase's "maple" design is almost identical, & I use it in that program.
The only time I ever had a problem with a surface not being flat was at a crowded tournament many years ago, in the Fischer boom '70s, where my assigned board was straddling two adjacent long tables of uneven height. My wood board wouldn't have been very good on that one, either, though - noticeable slope. But not since then!
Aug 27, 2017
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#24
Oh, & I wish I could say I played better using one or the other all the time, but it just isn't so. I don't like weird schemes like red or blue for the dark squares, or Day-Glo bright boards, but anything reasonable is fine.
Aug 27, 2017
0
#25
ESP-918 wrote:
You know in that logic cheaper is better you might as well want to use some paper or cartoon board and draw some pieces and if can't afford something like $40 dollars wooden chess set , then stay at home and practice more
Most weighted, regulation size sets are not that inexpensive.
ESP-918 wrote:
I mean I get it , it's portable and cheap, easy to carry and so on. But if you go tournaments and you want some quality games out of it , how?
Roll up vynal boards, mouse pads, silicone all the same uncomfortable, not classy, cheap and dirty.
Some surfaces might not be flat and your roll up board already not good, it gets dirty quickly, it's not stable especially when you playing speed chess board moves alot, cheap looking no class.
Plastic pieces , also cheap, not classy , easier to break the wooden , metal lead comes off often etc....
So MY POINT is , why not use something more classy, nicer, more stable , which won't break your bank either and really reliable to take to a tournaments and qualifies to all FIDE standards.
Something like that:
https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Set-Tournament-Staunton-Complete/dp/B000SOGHQ4
In my opinion it's just perfect tournament set, which won't break the bank and looks fabulous, quality, classy
I wouldn't purchase that set because the pieces are ugly. A decent looking board and set of regulation size that are made of wood is more expensive.
Aug 27, 2017
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#27
i could never stick playing on those creased lined roll up boards with the green squares and big fat ugly pieces. yeeeeeeeeeuck!
Aug 27, 2017
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#28
A "quality game" to me means a reasonably well-played game (relative to my rating).
Sure the aesthetic experience of a beautiful set is enjoyable, but that's a luxury. As long as the two colors are easily discernible, with good contrast between dark pieces and dark squares (black pieces on green squares), and no bright colors, I'm content with the roll-up boards and simple plastic or wood pieces. Occasionally I see an opponent's roll-up board that has stains or paint. If it's excessively ugly, you can substitute your own set (see the TD).
Anyone who plays OTB tournaments in the U.S. knows to expect to see >90% of players using the roll-up boards. Isn't this the case most countries?
Coach_Leo wrote:
Anyone who plays OTB tournaments in the U.S. knows to expect to see >90% of players using the roll-up boards. Isn't this the case most countries?
In the U.S. do you come with your own board and pieces to the tournament? In Norway the arranging clubs comes with boards and pieces. Most common is light wooden pieces with foldable bords. Those foldable feels like they are cardboard inside plastic. Some clubs has a few wooden boards. They are used for the top boards. In Oslo Chess Festival many top boards, maybe as many as 50, was wooden digital boards designed for livesending of the games on internet.
Because in America they have to pay absolutely for everything. They have no money left to buy normal pieces.
Aug 28, 2017
0
#31
DjonniDerevnja wrote:
Coach_Leo wrote:
Anyone who plays OTB tournaments in the U.S. knows to expect to see >90% of players using the roll-up boards. Isn't this the case most countries?
In the U.S. do you come with your own board and pieces to the tournament? In Norway the arranging clubs comes with boards and pieces. Most common is light wooden pieces with foldable bords. Those foldable feels like they are cardboard inside plastic. Some clubs has a few wooden boards. They are used for the top boards. In Oslo Chess Festival many top boards, maybe as many as 50, was wooden digital boards designed for livesending of the games on internet.
Yes, in the US, the vast majority of tournaments, especially non-elite events, are bring your own equipment.
The roll-out boards you're referring to don't "slip" or anything else in blitz or bullet nor do they collect dust like you claim. If they get a little dirt on them, wipe it off. Common sense. Why would anyone spend more than needed for a good board and pieces, clock and time sheets for OTB tournaments unless you're competing internationally in which most "good" boards are approved beforehand and provided for the players. The only "extra" I spring for is the hard-bound time sheet book.
You know in that logic cheaper is better you might as well want to use some paper or cartoon board and draw some pieces and if can't afford something like $40 dollars wooden chess set , then stay at home and practice more