Beginner Question #2 - Evil Chess Buddy

When I first started playing I was very shy about approaching other players, so most of my games were against the computer. (Lil chess partner, and one on MSN games, mostly becuase it looks prettier).

I sometimes wonder though if this is even good practice or if it's a waste of time.  I've won exactly twice out of probably hundreds of games.  Once was a fluke, once was actual strategy (that I have not yet managed to repeat).

I usually realize I'm doomed several moves in, even if I manage not to leave a piece hanging or make some other blunder.  His moves are predictable. You'd think that was a good thing, but somehow it isn't.  His quickness in responding to my moves is unsettling.  

Did I mention this is on beginner mode?

I'm wondering if anybody can share their experience as a beginner playing against the computer, and tell me whether or not this is even worth the time.  The upside, as far as I can see, is driving home the avoidance of blunders (which are responded to swiftly and without mercy).  But I don't know if there is really strategy involved, since he doesn't plan but simply calculates.

-DaveK

Admittedly on the surface computers appear more tactically orientated. However, most of them will have elements of strategy programmed into them, for example computers know that a pair of bishops is more powerful than a bishop and a knight, bishops excel on open boards, rooks belong on open files, etc. Perhaps because you're playing at the beginner level these strategic elements are not used.

Bare in mind, however, that at your level strategic concepts are not important anyway! As I said on your first question, first iron out those blunders, and then learn some tactics. Strategy isn't necessary until a higher level.

Hi Dave, I started off by using Chessmaster, and that was great to a degree, but when I stumbled across chess.com it offered a lot more. I use some of the training tools and then try out new skills, or lack of skills against real people.. I dont think I'll ever play against the computer again!

I play against a NY22 pocket size chess computer, Chess.Com's computer, and family and friends. On the NY22 I've won games on the first four levels of difficulty. And I've lost a lot of games. The NY22 has 24 beginner levels of difficulty. I've never won against the Chess.Com computer, but each time I last a little longer, so I have hope. I've won and lost with family and friends. I find it easy to rack up the hours on the NY22. I believe the hours translate into increased skill level, because I win more games with time at higher levels of difficulty.

The problem with lil chessbast... er... chessbuddy is that he refuses to blunder.  You can't really make the levels any "easier" without introducing a forced blunder factor of some sort. 

-DaveK

The way the NY22 works at the beginner level is that it has three different engines; easy, average, and hard. I don't know what makes the engines easy or hard. As a computer programmer I can guess what make the engines different. But the level of difficulty is also controlled by the amount of time the engine gets to think (one of eight times from one to fifteen seconds is chosen). I imagine the engines are programmed to do the same things a chess player of various skill levels would do with in the limits of a computer system using knowledge engineering techniques.

In other words, the engine can be beat when the chess player's skill level exceeds the programmed skill level of the engine plus its' parameters.

I've seen the NY22 do some dumb things that I just took advantage of, but wondered about. So far the Chess.Com's computer hasn't missed a beat. If I give it an opening it takes it. But I'll keep trying.

I know that in older PC based computer chess games the levels were referred to as "lookahead levels."  You could even set the number.   I don't know if any games still have this functionality. (I had a DOS based game, but had no idea how to actually play chess.)

I'm guessing (could be wrong) that the "difficulty" level or the time settings actually refer to lookahead, and that it's examinign possible combinations.

I imagine that the easy levels entail the lowest amount of lookahead possible, but you can't go any lower than 0.  But even then, I've never seen the computer absentmindedly hang a piece.  It's incapable of making a "mistake" insofar as this would equate to a humans "not paying attention" or lack of focus.  So unless you actually add this type of blunder factor in on purpose as a programmer, I imagine it will not happen.

I might be completely full of poo, since I am not a programmer myself.    I can't imagine what goes into programming a chess game.  It hurts my brain to think about it.

-DaveK

This "look ahead" is some times called "the depth of search". Surprisingly I can adjust this on the NY22. Naturally at this time I have it set to "1".

Moving right along, I got out my trusty "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess" and it has two chapters that may interest you. First we have "How Computers Play Chess" on pages 337-356. Second we have "How to Beat the !?%@&?^!# Computer" on pages 357-368.

I haven't really studied these chapters, but skimming them didn't yield any real surprises. Enjoy!

Cool.  Probably won't buy the book at this point but that's what bookstore couches are for.

Ah, see that's where you're wrong. LittleChessPartner makes a lot of mistakes, in my opinion. For instance, I can nearly guarantee that in this position, this will always happen:

In addition, LCP always plays this line in response to White's moves in the Scandinavian, which is full of mistakes. Really, get LCP to play the Scandinavian on easy, and just copy White's moves and you'll always get this line!

Interesting Steev!  I guess for a player at my level I just don't see the mistakes, or don't get LCP into positions like that in the first place.

My advice is: Don't get caught up in the speed of LCP's moves. Take your time and thoroughly think through you rmoves.

Heh, some of them (the second diagram) are just things that you chance upon during play. I'm sure a higher-level LCP (on Medium/Hard) wouldn't make that move. Other things are considerations that you'll learn over time, things that just "feel" wrong like weakening the king's position.

General considerations when playing LCP are:

1. It doesn't pay attention to king safety. In other words, the Greek Gift sacrifice (Bxh7+) after it castles is usually a win for you (look this up if you're unfamiliar with it). Attacking the king directly usually works.

2. LCP likes to storm pawns without a plan, exposing its king or weakening a flank. Think like a human to exploit this!

3. LCP is a material grabber, so if one of your pieces/pawns is attacked in the opening, stay solid and defend it. Using the Game Explorer against LCP helps to keep your opening safe. On the other hand, its material grabbing tendencies make the Greek Gift sac or even a double bishop sacrifice always a viable plan as long as you have enough force pointing at the king.

EDIT: Couldn't agree more with RyanMK's advice. I've dropped many a piece trying to match the speed of LCP's moves. Do NOT try to play at its pace, there's no timer.

 I think you're exactly right. I've noticed that lately with the NY22. With the LCP it's really hard to do, because emotionally it's so fast in responding.