I'd just interrupt them and say "show me the position" and have them set it up on the board. If they say "you know, when you took the knight" I'd be stubborn and say "I don't remember, can you show me the position?"
When I was new I couldn't see 3 moves ahead on the board in front of me much less remember a position and follow someone talking fast. Years later I keep up in analysis with players of similar strength. I don't think it's a matter of being a fast processor or slow. There are always stronger players who remember more and can go deeper in the analysis faster than you can keep up. In my opinion it would be rude to say a bunch of variations to me if I wasn't keeping up. Like I said I'd ask them to set up the position and show me. That way we could talk about it.
And usually (unless they're a professional player or it was a forced tactic) the analysis they're giving without a board isn't very good. Looking at it on the board helps you find better moves. After a game at the club if I think a previous position is worth looking at I'll say something like "let me ask you about this position" and I'll set it up and suggest a move.
chess players talk too fast for me at post-game
But yeah, if you remember the position in your mind, and the moves aren't that hard for you, but you just can't keep up, then maybe you have some sort of processing or hearing difficulty. Can you read fast, follow a regular conversation, and talk fast? If so then I'd guess they're just better players and after you practice for years like them you'll be good enough to follow it.
Well yeah, if others can follow the speaker and you can't, then it probably means you either have bad hearing or take a long time to process a move. If you are very old, there is nothing you can do about this
Where in the OP's post did he mention that he's old?
Give it some time bud. It won't take long until you can remember your games, and understand what they're talkin' about. Take wafflemaster's advice and be stubborn and have them show you the position.
thank you very much everyone. waffllemaster, yes, thanks, that's very helpful. It will take some time, and setting up the position will help a lot. and jadarite, yes, it makes sense what you write too. thank you.
On another note, how do you guys feel about people commenting about a game that is still being played? Would it be okay for me to look up and say 'excuse me, can you let us play our game quietly?'. This is in the 'casual' section of the club; not a tournament game, and its informal. Is it common for people to comment on a game while it is being played?
thank you very much everyone. waffllemaster, yes, thanks, that's very helpful. It will take some time, and setting up the position will help a lot. and jadarite, yes, it makes sense what you write too. thank you.
On another note, how do you guys feel about people commenting about a game that is still being played? Would it be okay for me to look up and say 'excuse me, can you let us play our game quietly?'. This is in the 'casual' section of the club; not a tournament game, and its informal. Is it common for people to comment on a game while it is being played?
Different clubs have different cultures. Some conduct their play relatively formally and the rooms tend to be quiet - not as quiet as a tournament hall perhaps, but they wouldn't be mistaken for a social group. Others are much more informal, with varying degrees of kibitzing that goes on.
After you've been to a club several times, you will see what type it is and what the norms of conduct are. The default, of course, is not to comment on ongoing games.
I don't know about the rest of you, but at my local club, we have rated long TC tournaments...so it more or less is a tournament hall.
Are they speaking notation as it is written? At any rate, you have to know what position they are talking about. If they do not provide this, the problem is on there end not yours.
Once while watching a game between lower rated players I noticed one of the players blundered and I started laughing. The local expert chimed in, "mate in 3." This was rude on both of our parts, and yes you should complain about someone turning your game into a tactical puzle when you are still playing it.
yes you should complain about someone turning your game into a tactical puzle when you are still playing it.
yes, that is precisely what one guy was doing. I didn't appreciate it. thanks. Turned our game into a tactical puzzle. While we were playing.
They are just showing off. You know if they don't play they can see it from their angles. When you play, you have to think.
1. So either post #2.
2. Or you can let them talk. If you can't take it anymore, just walk away. They are looking for troubles.
3. If you let them talk. Stay calm. And just listen and digest what you can. Don't worry abt the things you don't understand. Or take some notes.
When they finally leave, just play the game again and look at your notes.
4. Forget it and concentrate on the next game. When you play in a 1 day or 2 days tournament, it's better to forget the games you've played and work on the next game.
yes you should complain about someone turning your game into a tactical puzle when you are still playing it.
yes, that is precisely what one guy was doing. I didn't appreciate it. thanks. Turned our game into a tactical puzzle. While we were playing.
If you are not a tactical player, just play positional.
They are just showing off. You know if they don't play they can see it from their angles. When you play, you have to think.
1. So either post #2.
2. Or you can let them talk. If you can't take it anymore, just walk away. They are looking for troubles.
3. If you let them talk. Stay calm. And just listen and digest what you can. Don't worry abt the things you don't understand. Or take some notes.
When they finally leave, just play the game again and look at your notes.
4. Forget it and concentrate on the next game. When you play in a 1 day or 2 days tournament, it's better to forget the games you've played and work on the next game.
thank you bean fischer and waffllemaster.
I have the same problem when watching chess broadcasts. I'm trying an experiment to see if I can fix it. I've recorded a chess game mp3 and I listen to it with my eyes closed and try to picture all the moves and where the pieces are at. I think if I can get used to picturing the moves in my head, understanding peoples variations will become easier and I'll be able to do it faster. It's too early to know if the experiment will help though.
Good luck.
I have the same problem when watching chess broadcasts. I'm trying an experiment to see if I can fix it. I've recorded a chess game mp3 and I listen to it with my eyes closed and try to picture all the moves and where the pieces are at. I think if I can get used to picturing the moves in my head, understanding peoples variations will become easier and I'll be able to do it faster. It's too early to know if the experiment will help though.
Good luck.
hehe, keep me posted. For me, its a little easier with the chess broadcasts, because I don't have the emotional response of 'I'm too slow' and I can focus on the board and concentrate. But at the chess club when they're talking its very distracting, I can't concentrate, and my distracting emotional response is dominant.
Its good to know that other people have experienced this, and esp, like wafflemaster, have experienced improvement at this 'skill'.
It was funny at the club this past week. I overheard two guys talking about their game, after their game. They were playing it over, and one of the guys was pointing out to the other all of his 'mistakes'. The other guy, the one 'who made all the mistakes' at one point said 'so I made all these mistakes, and you didn't make any?' and the first guy said 'that's right. I'm not aware of any mistakes I made, until that last one'. It turns out the guy pointing out all the mistakes of the other guy lost the game. the know it all who knew all the mistakes the other guy made was the one who lost!!
So it seems to me that there's two games going on. The game of chess, and the game of talking about it. I guess that's called kibitzing?
I joined my local chess club 10 weeks ago, and I'm playing every Monday night. After the games, and sometimes during the game, someone will come over and start talking about the gm,e the move my opponent should make or should have made. they talk very fast, and I can't follow. Also, I hear people talking to each other after their games, and they talk very fast...I couldn't possibly follow that fast talk. Does this skill improve, or are you either a fast processor or a slow processor, and that's that. Do any people on here have experience where they once couldn't keep up with the fast talk, and now they can?