Players that habitually drop pieces

The good news is I'm not selling anything, it's free. No not all of your problems will go away, but the dropping of pieces problem will! You say you're lazy. Well that explains why you keep trying to undermine my advice (something you're not lazy at by the way.) This advice is not suited for the weak of will. You get out of chess what you're willing to put into it.

@ ivandh

I think he means hanging pieces to one movers for no compensation... and yeah that has to be in every one's control.

@ gbidari

Sometimes it slips the mind that the levels of seriousness with which players take the game are as varied as the levels of skill.  Some players (apparently) don't mind dropping pieces, while others spend several hours a day for many months refining a pet opening variation or with a subset of a subset of endgame technique.  The enjoyment of the game has little to do with raw skill for all of us.

I think the right thing to do in this situation would be to post some tripe, obnoxious quote about how arrogance begets nothing but frustration.

Not everyone can simply 'will' themselves to be better chess players, Gbidari. Were I you, I'd consider myself lucky to be blessed with the ability to play as well as you do. As much as chess is a game of development of skill, it is equally as much a game of talent. Some people are physically gifted, some mentally. Maybe you're just a savant when it comes to chess.

My point is that YOUR life experience when it comes to dropping pieces isn't everyone else's. People from all walks of life and various mental capacities play this game, and for some of them the decision to just 'stop dropping pieces' isn't that simple.

It's unfortunate that the Master title doesn't come with a healthy dose of humility.

RoseQueen is making a strong bid for most disliked!  Go RoseQueen go!

If I may make one small critique though... your posts are too long.  While it may not seem like it, posts of this length will burn you out in the long run, and to be widely hated you need longevity.  So if I may suggest instead of "screeching screed" start thinking along the lines of "concise c*nt".  You're halfway there.

You're missing the point.

Even a 4-year old who just learned the rules is capable of making sure he nevers hangs a piece, if he has the right discipline. It takes absolutely no tactical or calculation skill whatsoever. CM gibidari isn't saying everyone should be a tactical genius, he's saying that if you're not willing to make sure that you're not hanging a piece with each move you make, then you're lying to yourself and everyone else if you claim to take the game remotely seriously.

 This thread addresses a certain pet peeve of mine.  Is it a problem if there are people playing who aren't very good, or, heaven forbid, don't take the game all that seriously?

As it turns out, if IQ tests taken during the Carter era are any indication, I am gifted, talented, and a genius.  However, my USCF chess rating is in the 750 range, despite the fact that I have studied this game far more than I think it makes sense to study any game.   Does anyone have a problem with that?

I tell a story to my son sometimes when I see him putting people down.  I describe to him that I was 30 years old before I realized I was smart.  Up until then, I thought everyone else was stupid.  That shift in perspective made me a much happier person.

If you are good at Chess, whether through study, natural ability, or dedication, enjoy your success.  There's no need to look down on someone who, for whatever reason, can't match your performance.

But I like leaving my piece hanging out

Is that the same as hanging pieces?

I'm not missing the point, you're all acting like arrogant blowhards. It's a very simple concept.

Wow, and someone can't play a game without taking it seriously? Are you serious, Rose? Are you THAT disconnected from reality?

Of course. I'm being incredibly arrogant to assume that your brain is capable of looking to see if your opponent's last moved attacked any of your pieces, or if the move you're about to make is leaving something hanging. I should have realized that that's far too complicated for you.

Damn I didn't realize I jumped right in the middle of a hardcore chess fight

Right, I forgot Sens, you're playing on such a high level now, ESPECIALLY compared to me. Thats why you just lost to a 1400 just recently, yes? Oh, and 'completely' hung your rook on the move that led to your resignation, yes?

People make mistakes, man - some more than others, granted. Do some people play lazy chess? Yes. Are some people simply NOT CAPABLE of playing chess on the same level as others? Absolutely. 

My point is, what exactly are you accomplishing by going around saying 'If you drop pieces, you're a lazy tard'? Do you think anyone here is suddenly either going to jump 150 IQ points from your little tidbit of wisdom, or suddenly start playing smarter chess?

Yes. Keep your pieces safe and the wins will be coming in without you having to do anything else for it

Ah. You're misunderstanding me. I'm not talking about not dropping pieces to tactical shots. If I didn't do that, I'd be a Master. I'm talking about never hanging a piece, that is never playing a move that leads to a piece of mine being captured immediately for no compensation. Everyone is capable of that.

You've played seven games, Rose. You not losing a game yet isn't really that impressive, unfortunately.

Performing rudimentary math and hanging pieces in a chess game aren't the same. If you feel that it is, well, that's your opinion. My point is that you're not accomplishing anything by pointing out the vast amount of players on this site that frequently drop pieces and telling them 'you're stupid and lazy, stop it'. People have been dropping pieces for far longer than you or I have been alive, and they'll continue to do so even after both of us are dead and gone. Do you feel somehow superior to talk down to people this way, or do you ACTUALLY think this accomplishes something?

Seriously. Why do you think it's so hard to look at a maximum of 16 pieces before any move to make sure that any pieces that are attacked are also defended? Don't even worry about counting for the time being, just check that there is at least 1 defender no matter how many attackers there are.

I mean, we can run this argument into the ground all day, fellas - you're calling people stupid, and it's unnecessary - bottom line. Your 'greatest' win on this site thus far is someone rated under 1700, so I'm not exactly quivering in your awesome display of technical prowess thus far, forgive me. 

Do I move pieces into obvious threats and lose them still? Not usually, no.

And Sens, to ME, that play you made was obvious as all get out, and you completely missed it. Does that make you stupid? I wouldn't say so, I'd say that we're both in different stages of learning the game, and that was a learning experience for you.

Some people just don't pick up the game as well as others do. I know people who are mentally handicapped who play chess - not very well, perhaps - but they do still play. My point is that to criticize someone else for their level of play being beneath yours doesn't come across as constructive or helpful, it comes across as crass, rude, and ultimately demeaning.

And Sens, quit repeating your argument over and over and answer my question. What do you hope to accomplish by this line of reasoning, other than making yourself appear superior to someone else?