I need your help winning a bet

play some games here...then review them to see what other choices you had for each move....chess is choosing the best outcomes...

show us some of your games....

are you going to use a clock?

do you know how to mate quickly with a K and Q vs K?

how about how to convert a K + P vs K?  

what are the requirements to win those endings...very common...

if you have an iphone, then chessimo would be perfect. I thnik with chessimo, you might actually do the puzzles, whenever you have a few minutes (which is why the mobile version is so good). using a chess book properly is a skill in itself. 

           I mean no disrepect really. I wish you well. I just thought it was odd that, in 3 yrs, there's no games on your profile, and your not a well known poster. What have you been doing for 3 yrs ?  If you were here for 6 months, and didn't play, OK, maybe you were training. If you were here for 9 months, and yo didn't post, OK, it can be a little rough in there. Excuse me, I need another coffee.  I hope you win the bet.

What works best for me (at the patzer level) is to play slightly aggressively. Not recklessly, because you'll be hoisted by your own petard. Being timid doesn't work either. Just try to find good moves, every move. (Make sure you do the things Heisman recommends regarding real chess.)

Neither. Make the best move available to you each time it is your turn to play.

Don't put any pieces where they can be taken for free!

Before you move a pieces make sure it is a safe move.

If you check make sure the piece won't be taken.

Do not put Knights on the edges of the board. 

If you play white try simple mates.

If it's going to be long and queens are still there make sure your castle. You will last longer.

It's fine. Let me clear this up. A while ago I wanted to get into chess, signed up on here, read a few things and forgot all about it.

When we made the bet the other day, after a bit of google searching, I came across this website. I tried to sign up and got the whole "you already have an account under this email" stuff. After a few guesses I rememebered my password and here I am now.

I've been playing chess via a game on my computer called "Chess Titans". I've just noticed I can play a few games on here, would this be beneficial so you guys can see my level?

yeah, you have to play, and post your games here

Are there any chess apps for Android you'd recommend?

I wouldn't know, I suppose there would be. I'd suggest playing against human opponents, though.

There isn't anything that will make you a QUICK chess player. You actually made the bet and you should play him the way you are now.

Why resort to cheating by asking for our help to beat your opponent.

Play, fess up,  Win or lose.

To be fair, tell him about this site and let him come to us for help! Now that would be fair, don't you think? We could make it five games of vote chess.

That would be fun, then I could moderate it. Many of us could help you and some of us could help him?

I was actually wondering if his friend might be on another chess server/forum asking similar questions.

How is it cheating? I have the internet, he has the internet. If we wanted to play "the way we are now" then we'd have just played 5 games of chess right then and there. The whole point is about who can get better and apply themselves inside a month. I'm not asking anyone to play for me. I'm just asking for direction to make myself as good a player as possible inside a month.

Now if you don't want to help me out that's fine. But I'd kindly ask you to mind your own business and only comment on the threads that don't propose you a moral quandry.

All the threads are archived so you can use that "search forums" box in the upper right to ask questions and you get lots and lots of threads-some of which might even be useful!

http://www.chess.com/forum/search?keyword=best+android+app

           Denver is refering to players who use chess engines to cheat. I don't think your at that level yet. I know I'M not at THAT level.

I'm clearly not at that level. I've never heard of a chess engine and, until yesterday, I didn't know there was a move called "en passant" and I was unsure on the finer points of castling.

           Yo never heard of en passing??  hahaha  OK,  I got $50 on your opponent.

I can guarantee you there's no way he's heard of it either haha!

Like I said, our knowledge of chess doesn't extend past "average guy on the street" level. We don't play chess.

At the moment i'm playing 5 games a day online against a computer (at gradually higher difficulties) and practicing checkmates on here. 

I have to say also, the "FREE Chess Mentor Course" page is immeasurably helpful :)

Playing against a computer will get your feet wet but eventually you'll need to practice against humans if you're going to beat your buddy.  Computers play differently than humans.

OK, is this something that can be done online or will I have to research chess clubs in my area and go down?