I like to use my internet games as practice rounds for OTB games. Try different lines, sacrifice material once in a while, see what works and what doesn't. Also, try to pinpoint my weaknesses in order to better prepare for the OTB games. With entry fees for OTB tournaments costing $10-$20 per game, I feel I've cheated myself if I play poorly and my chess.com games are a great practice venue.
Chess style formal vs informal
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Apr 9, 2016
0
#3
Yeah, I like to try openings I've seen but haven't played. I also like to try speculative sacrifices to make it interesting.
I don't force it to happen, the game could become a regular grind, but I'm on the lookout for opportunities.
I spoke with a friend of mine who told me he quit playing here because he thought the majority of his opponents were cheating. I don't really care if someone is using a computer program against me, it's still a learning experience for me. If they choose to artificially inflate their own rating by cheating, that's their problem, not mine. There is always another opponent out there waiting!
Apr 10, 2016
0
#5
I found myself in a possibly won position against a much higher rated player and with less time on my clock. I could have taken the chance to win and risk loosing, but what I did was simply repeating check and be sure of half a point and some gain in rating. In an informal game I might have made another decision.
Do you play differently when it counts for your rating or some tournament result, compared to when it doesn't count? I'm talking about OTB play as on internet it always counts :)