I use them whenever there's a forced sequence of moves. When an opponent plays on in a silly position, you can sometimes string together quite a few.
PerfectGent> well i dont like conditional moves
But why? If it really bothers you, I would rather not play you (and upset you).
PerfectGent> and always ignore them
Excellent. This wouldn't bother me. The point is, I won't even have to look at our game until you make a move that actually requires me to think. :)
I would submit that conditional moves aren't saying anything - except that the person using them has already planned one or more responses to what they see as a predictable run of moves. I use them now and again, mostly for forcing combinations or obvious exchanges, because it is convenient to do so. Period.
If you're using them in a game with me to tell me something, trust me: I'm not getting the message.
Likewise, if you're refusing to be 'rushed' and you just move on to your next ready game, then that's more than fine by me. One of the things I like about the feature is that it keeps me off the clock that much longer.
Ditto.
I don't see anything wrong with conditional moves. I use them quite often, in order to speed up the game but certainly not to show off my supposed superiority to anyone. Therefore I avoid entering what I suppose might be the last move of the game by conditional move, be it either because of mate or a gain which is likely to induce resignation. In these cases I try to make sure that I'm present online when a decisive move is played, but I guess that's just a personal preference.
I like to compare it to a situation in otb chess where you usually wouldn't bash out a winning move and then run off to leave your opponent to just stop the clock and slink off. Usually you would consider it to be sporting to be present to shake hands when your opponent decides to resign.
In some cases I use them not only in forced variations but when I think a certain line is likely to be played. In these cases it's sheer luck if the line is hit or not and so doesn't have to do with my calculation abilities at all.
One group I'm member of agrees to play their games according to the rules of otb chess, that certainly includes using an analysis board, too. As you have to open a similar device to enter conditional moves, this feature is obviously not an option in those games, but apart from that I find it a very good option.
How about if you could switch off notification that your opponent was using Conditional Moves. Everybody would be happy - or not?
Agreed. I understand though for people that woul disagree because it is embarrasing to an opponent when their moves are predicted or forced. Almost like your controlling your opponent and your letting them know.
I love playing against people who are offended by them, because I think it actually gives me a psychological advantage.
How about if you could switch off notification that your opponent was using Conditional Moves. Everybody would be happy - or not?
Personally, they are a tool for me to commit myself to a course of action so that I don't have to pay attention to it anymore. Whether or not my opponent gets any "message" from that is totally irrelevant.
Sometimes the unspoken conversation goes like this:
"you take too long so I'm gonna put some conditionals here to speed you up"
"oh yeah well I see your conditional and I will pretend it wasn't a conditional and will still wait 3 days"
I actually prefer playing with people who do use them. It makes games go much faster. I am pretty bad at predicting moves so I use it rarely.
Sometimes the unspoken conversation goes like this:
"you take too long so I'm gonna put some conditionals here to speed you up"
"oh yeah well I see your conditional and I will pretend it wasn't a conditional and will still wait 3 days"
Well, maybe... but it's worthwhile staying open to the possibility that sometimes the unspoken conversation is actually an imaginary dialogue in the head of just one out of two conversationalists.
For me, the same sentiment applies to much of the affrontery we've seen hereabouts in relation to - dare I say it - the etiquette of resignation.
DeepGreene> it's worthwhile staying open to the possibility that sometimes the unspoken conversation is actually an imaginary dialogue in the head of just one out of two...
I'm wondering now what conversations my opponents imagined they had with me. If I had something to say, I always used the chat box, notes, or board. ;)
They also help when you've figured out a series of moves and don't want to have to come up with them again. I once played someone who unfortunately got his King into the middle of the board. There were still lots of pieces and options left, but I had a sure mate in anywhere from 2 to 5 moves depending on what he did. So I programmed in all conditional lines (17 in total) and then I didn't have to worry about the game and could focus on my others.
it's quicker to write the analysis lines in the notes section.
I use them occasionally for various reasons and am never offended when my opponent uses them no matter how many moves deep.
I use conditional moves all the time, frequently out to six moves. I am often wrong about my opponents next move, so they don't even know I'm employing the feature. But when two or three moves are forced, I invariably use it (unless we are both on line and moving rapidly). Playing in different time zones around the world with everybody's schedule being what they are, it is fun to come back to a game that has progressed past the known and into the unknown. I am never offended by them, in fact I gain even greater respect for my opponent for his foresight.
:) I would use conditional moves...if non-premium users can get more than one line. For some reason, it becomes too tedius to only have one line, and more often than not, my opponent only makes one or two of the moves on that line. So I got into the habit of not making conditional moves, instead going on afterschool once a day to make all my moves...:)
I think they're great -- by all means lay them down against me. It saves me waiting for you to come back to make a move you've already thought through.
i find it anoying when some one dos it to ne because it means remaining with it for longer but some times i trigger one and bullseye it is the worst move opoment can play
well i dont like conditional moves and always ignore them, moving on to my next game. which means that as a conditional does not create an alert their game languishes on the bottom of my game queue and is dealt with last of all.
This wouldn't bother me if I was playing you. It is not like I am sitting around waiting for you to play your next move, I have plenty of other games to play. Of course it is your time you are using up and affecting yout time per move (can stop you from entering some tournies) so basically you are cutting off your own nose to spite your face! 
I am sure you opponents are just devestated to be at the bottom of your queue.
or even devastated
Ah yes....pointing out a spelling mishap...the lowest form of implied argument.
The bottom line is that it appears that you think people view their games from your point of view. Personally, I do not care how long my opponent takes to move (including the use of vacation time), as the laws of time require that the game move forward. As such, I do not care (or know) that I have been banished to the bottom of your almighty queue.
I hope my spelling was adequate but feel free to correct errors as you see fit.
Cheers!!
Isaac
I would submit that conditional moves aren't saying anything - except that the person using them has already planned one or more responses to what they see as a predictable run of moves. I use them now and again, mostly for forcing combinations or obvious exchanges, because it is convenient to do so. Period.
If you're using them in a game with me to tell me something, trust me: I'm not getting the message.
Likewise, if you're refusing to be 'rushed' and you just move on to your next ready game, then that's more than fine by me. One of the things I like about the feature is that it keeps me off the clock that much longer.