Chess online: Is it worth it?

Hi,

I play online chess for some time and read chess books to improve my game but is it really worth it?

I mean many people says online chess is not like OTB and since there is no club in town and that I am shy by nature, it is not a likely option for me.

Should I play video games instead,or keep spending time on learning online chess?

I guess my motivation is going down a bit but I do like chess, enough to play it every day.

You aren't playing here so we can't look at your games. Where are you playing?

You don´t need to "learn" online chess.

chess is chess.

but sure, now you can recheck your moves and consults books and databases if you want.

I you don´t want, just play it like if it were OTB, don´t use "analysis board" (don´t touch the pieces) and don´t check books and databases.

But of course, you are not going to be so relaxed when you are in the 3rd hour of a game in an endgame over the board, as when you play at home eating ice cream in your bed.

preparations for otb games and tournaments... worth a lot.

I don't know you well enough to make decision for you.

you will not find advice like that in a forum but I guess it is better than to ask a magic 8 ball. - no disrespect meant by that.

but if you like chess enough  to play it everyday you should choose to play, you can always stop if you don't like it.

We don´t know, you don´t play here, you haven´t tell us if you have made any progress, you didn´t tell us if you have gain elo.

If you like it then it´s worthy. But do you really play?

Hi Huriko896

I lived in a remote area so like you there is no nearby club and so no real opportunity for OTB. I'd like to improve at the "slower" versions of  Blitz, but at the moment playing against the clock for me is just too hard: I am too slow and make stupid mistakes; and am not sure how much I learn from such games. All in all, I do want to use Chess.com as a way of training for OTB, but also as a relaxation. So "Online" has a lot going for it.

I'd say this though: chess is not just (or even mainly) about winning or losing; if you enjoy the art and the elegance of chess, then I think "Online" / correspondence chess is well worth it: especially if you take the time to review some of your games. Combined with Chess Mentor and tactics training, I think I am learning a lot from it. A few opponents are even prepared to discuss a game afterwards, which is great as you can compare what was going on in your mind and in theirs at some key points of the game.

Incidentally, I have started to make a note of why I make some moves when I actually make them, so that in looking back at a game afterwards I can see where my thinking was misguided (or occasionally right!) That's really only possible with "Online" chess - no way could you do that when playing Blitz and probably not when playing OTB.

Have you considered trying the "World Standard Time Control Chess" group games here on Chess.com? They play games online at 90 minutes +30 secs per move, which is probably as close as you can get to OTB on the internet. I haven't tried it yet, but once my confidence and speed improve a bit I will do so.

As for video games: play them as well not instead! Sometimes just blasting away is a good therapy when you've just been crushed in chess!

Don't lose heart - chess has lasted over a thousand years, it has managed to survive as a challenging and fascinating game for us mere humans in spite of super powerful chess engines, it has a literature unmatched by any other sport or pastime,  and it's played with exactly the same rules throughout the world with minimal equipment. No video game can or likely ever will match that!

I became a chess master over 30 years ago by playing good old fashioned chess by postcard.  You learn openings, endgames, and how to analyze, if you take your time. Many online players here treat these games as if they were over the board games and move too quickly. The more time you take on a move, the better you will play, and learn. My free video lessons group has plenty of videos and support systems in place to assist you. We are the 6th largest group on chess.com and moving up! Join here: 

http://www.chess.com/groups/join?id=14246

online chess allows you to maximize your analytical ability and make the least amount of mistakes

i often find that it is difficult to come up with a plan

i think this is the best way to improve 

Thank you for you replies, it's very appreciated folks.

For those who asked, no I do not play on chess.com (not yet but I consider it at any rate this is the best forum online for sure) but somewhere else. My rating hover around 1000-1100 which is weak I would agree.

I guess I just wonder if it is worth spending a fair amount of time studying chess, to improve online. I found it demotivating when a I hear that OTB is the real chess and that not much people intend to go serious online.

Thanks guys.

I guess if you improve enough to become 2000 +. People must take it serious even online at that level otherwise they wouldn't have such a high rating.

even if many play pretty relaxing online you will still have to play your best to win one bad move and you can lose against everyone. - therefore you can become a good player.

you cannot compare otb chess with online chess. even if otb chess can be fun it is forcing you to play chess even at days you don't want to.

if you have a tournament on 7 tuesdays - you are in for a penny in for a pound. You have to play each tuesday for 4 hours each otherwise you lose that match.

until you become 1500 rated otb you can also find many who don't play chess seriously and play quite relaxing. - even otb.

thanks a lot

Online chess costs too much time.I think live chess is much better.

Actually I was refering to Internet chess as whole without distinction between online (correspondence) or live (direct) chess.

If you just enjoy playing chess, it is well worth it. If you want to be an IM or GM, go concentrate on that until you are exceptional and then come back to online for fun.

idk

guys from what to start learning chess?, i played from 7 to 11 year, had before master runk in my country Georgia, so how to start i have not remember anything names or something, gone 18 years after i stoped play live games, but online i played just for fun thats all now i am 29 and i want to play again live chess games, what you should suggest how to start? openings? or how to improve my chess, i know that we are writing our games on the paper and analiyze it, so is it good strategy to find in my town chess club and just play tournments and analyze my games everyday?, so can you guide me what should i do, something like plan, from what to start for example remember chess board and names, than analizy my games? or better analyze pro players games?, learn opening, learn midspil, endspil or everything together? I'm lost

It's understandable to feel unsure about the value of online chess compared to over-the-board (OTB) chess and to question whether you should continue investing time in it. However, it's important to remember that both online and OTB chess have their own unique benefits and can contribute to your overall development as a chess player.

Online chess can be a great way to improve your speed and tactical ability, as well as to gain experience playing against a wide variety of opponents. Also, it can be more convenient and accessible for people who don't have a local chess club or who are shy.

It's true that playing over-the-board chess can be a valuable experience, but it's not the only way to improve. You can still benefit from studying chess and playing online, even if it's not the same as playing in person