OTB and Live Chess. Which one do you prefer?

Which one do you prefer playing, over the board or live? Is it easier to calculate otb? Does the computer screen distract your concentration while playing live? I am curious to know as I have not played otb since 5 years.

OTB is the real thing !

For some reason I seem to play better online than otb. I guess its because I can see the board better when its on a flat screen. Seems less confusing that way.

depends on whether i'm at work or at home, at work it's a bit conspicuous to set up the chess board :-P

but OTB is better given a choice.

Is Online Chess not an option?

I also see the board better in 2D, but OTB is far more challenging and enjoyable than "live chess" for me.  Online turnbased is very different, I'm a lot better at that but you never get the fear factor/adrenaline rush buzz. (I play better chess but less buzz)

Nothing like OTB.

i HATE O T B chess. i don't like to be competitive; to have no idea of why i might be doing what i am doing; to be ostensibly playing a game - and a mindful one at that - while i'm actually just 'pushing wood'.

[I will play with my grandchildren, though. They have the satisfaction of usually beating me when they are serious. I can still teach them not to blunder. And maybe they'll get better than me !]

Nothing beats OTB. I thought that was a given?

OTB is the best - how the game is meant to be played.

OTB - all others is not real chess.

OTB

Never the less, Chess.com is very good and I use it to extend and try new openings. It amazes me how many people are obsessed with their rating on turn based chess and I think their rating obsession is stopping them getting the most of their online experience.

The 2D representation is easier to discern patterns IMO because with normal 3D chess the brain has to work harder

I did expect that the preference would be outright OTB, but it is a surprise that some find it easier to calculate in 2D(Live chess) than 3D(OTB).

I play online because my OTB friends have jobs and cannot play chess 24/7.

When I started playing chess, I used a Amiga 500 and chessmaster 2000 or something, then I felt the same, 2d was easyer than OTB.

Yep.

I've noticed how many OTB players try and get right over the board when playing, thus effectively reducing the interfering 3d perspective to 2d. Something that I've become very aware of since the realisation about 2d.

As a challenge try playing through a game at an elevation where you are looking through the pieces ! :-) How difficult is that ! :-)

I like OTB loads better even though it's hard to get a game. The computer does distract b/c I usually have multiple tabs open. Also, I concentrate harder otb because I want to beat the dude sitting across me. It is less personal when they are cyberspace away.

OTB is the only way to play chess.

I prefer OTB

When I first began though no one local to play with and played only online for 3 years -- took awhile to get used to calculating in 3d :) but now I find the 3d board easier.

Even at mid class player level pieces blocking eachother in 3d shouldn't really matter, you can calculate simple tactics blindfolded -- looking at the board just helps remind you where things are as you go.  I've never tried to get "right over the board" for a top down view.

I think OTB is better because for people like me who have trouble staying connected in live chess, OTB would be more accurate.  I don't even try live chess anymore, because I will start an 18 min. game, make a few moves, and then wait for my oponnent to move for 10 minutes, only to find that "I" was disconnected. It wastes my time. 

When I first started here at chess.com, live chess was all I ever played.  I had a computer then that didn't boot me off.  Now I play online chess, because I'm insured to always get my move in and not lose from disconnection.

Live-long, I assume, would give you an accurate assessment on an OTB rating.  I am currently 1803 online, and when I played live-long, I was toggling between 1350 to 1400.  That is what I would expect if I were to be rated by USCF.