I don't know which one is better, but I like the feeling of holding a chess piece in my hand, particularly if it is wood.
OTB vs Electronic
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There isn't even a chess club around here, so the only OTB games I get are with a few friends of mine. Two of them put up a good challenge, but the other beat me once out of the hundreds we've played. I've thought about putting an ad up somewhere trying to get a game or two started at the library.
I always play 30 minute games here, but I feel like I often times rush things because I know there is a time limit and don't want to lose due to that. On chesstempo.com I'll take as long as I need to, and often times I spend 5 minutes or more looking for the answer. That won't work in a 30 minute game. If it gives me a huge material advantage or a checkmate, it'd be worth it, but winning a knight at the cost of the game doesn't seem very smart.
When you have a chess club or somewhere else to play that's full of good energy and fun it gives you the motivation to work hard on your chess and improve your game show up and play on a regular basis to compete.
I find OTB is a 100% better than playing online.
I remember a time, before the internet when you could only play face-to-face (of course, you could play by sending someone a post card half way around the world, too).
That was chess. Blood, sweat and tears. Nothing "virtual". Everything visceral.
That's still my preferred way to play chess. Really get's the blood pumping. And, you can see the facial expressions, the body language. Either they are squirming or you are squirming. And, when someone gives you a sneering look while you are playing, you feel like hauling off and punching them in the face but, of course, you don't...too much "paper work".
But...now I can play 25 games all in the same day, with people from all over the world.
And the old chess book studying was fine...but is tedious. Now, I can do computerized tactical training, play against a computer 24 hours a day and many, many other goodies.
I still prefer playing OTB. But these other niceities...sure balance things out. And, for the better.
Reminds me...my brother, an 800 player is coming over in an hour for cigars, coffee and chess on my front porch. Oh, goody-goody!
ClavierCavalier wrote:
So I've heard some people say that one can improve more when playing OTB. Why is this? Is this something that studies have been done on, or is it just speculation? Could it be because the time controls, or even the computer setting, forces one to speed more than they should?
Pretty much. As others have said, In people's experience it's a more serious setting and a longer time control. You're giving up your weekend / money to play 4 or 5 hour games, from morning to night... and if it's a longer tournament then you get up and do it again the next day.
Is the least serious tournament player more serious than the most serious online player? Are tournaments strictly necessary to improve? Of course not. Just like it's not necessary to have a coach or trainer to motivate you... but more often than not for people, this extra motivation/focus creates faster improvement.
e4nf3 wrote:
I remember a time, before the internet when you could only play face-to-face (of course, you could play by sending someone a post card half way around the world, too).
That was chess. Blood, sweat and tears. Nothing "virtual". Everything visceral.
That's still my preferred way to play chess. Really get's the blood pumping. And, you can see the facial expressions, the body language. Either they are squirming or you are squirming. And, when someone gives you a sneering look while you are playing, you feel like hauling off and punching them in the face but, of course, you don't...too much "paper work".
But...now I can play 25 games all in the same day, with people from all over the world.
And the old chess book studying was fine...but is tedious. Now, I can do computerized tactical training, play against a computer 24 hours a day and many, many other goodies.
I still prefer playing OTB. But these other niceities...sure balance things out. And, for the better.
Reminds me...my brother, an 800 player is coming over in an hour for cigars, coffee and chess on my front porch. Oh, goody-goody!
37... FistxFace1 :-p
I like playing OTB myself, but the only games I tend to get in OTB are with my brother-in-law. I wouldn't mind having a few other people around here who play chess in order to have a wider variety of playing styles. That's why I mainly play online.
One of the best reasons to play over the board are the free chess lessons! If you politely ask the expert/master (that just gave you a good thumping) to go over the game you just played, 90% of the time he/she will oblige and you will get a free chess lesson. IMHO much better training than going over you game with an engine (which I also do).
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So I've heard some people say that one can improve more when playing OTB. Why is this? Is this something that studies have been done on, or is it just speculation? Could it be because the time controls, or even the computer setting, forces one to speed more than they should?