Question about playing the computer

Hi everyone, I just joined the site a few days ago, I used to dabble playing Chess but nothing seriously,  so far I have mainly been playing the computer, usually can beat level 3 85% of the time but level 4 really beats me bad, I was curious as to what each level of the computer would be comparable to a players rating that way I can kinda get a feel of what level I'm playing at

It's hard to estimate because the computer is good, but the lower levels simulate bad play by e.g. forcing it to blunder.

So it's sort of not comparable to humans.

Also AFAIK it runs on your machine/device. So whether you're playing on a phone or desktop computer can make a big difference. Your level 3 may be better or worse than my level 3.

The first tournament Nakamura went to he lost all his games. He's currently a top 10 player (and has been consistently for many years).

There's no shame in losing, everyone was a beginner once.

So play humans!

That way you'll get a rating too

 Oh, also unrated games vs humans are possible. There should be some kind of unrated option in the settings when you go to live chess and set up parameters for a game.

I haven't played in probalaly 15 years so I have been trying to brush up, I played 2 games against humans but ran out of time both matches, I guess 10min isn't enough for me to think it through

Atm I'm playing white only and trying to develop a game with a English opening and learning how to develop my pieces depending on what defense is played, the one thing I know for sure?, I suck defending against Knights 

Well, from personal experience, my rating is ~950, and I can beat level 6. Still trying to get the level 7 though. Hope that helps.

That's pretty impressive I'm not sure how good a 950 rating is, or did you mean 1950?

The levels are approximately: 1-400 2-600 3-800 4-1000 5-1200 6-1400 7-1600 8-1800 9-2000 10-2600

Oh, ok, good luck

Is it helpful for a beginner to play ten minute live games? 

Yes, all playing is useful but I suggest that you play as long a time control as you are able so you have as much time as possible to really think about what you're doing.

Thanks for your answer, very helpful!

Instead of selecting the computer option from the menu, go to play->live chess. Then do a custom challenge. Set up your time control (I suggest 45/45 to start). Click vs and then type in Computer1, Computer2, Computer3, up to Computer20.

That plays against Komodo at different skill levels. In the custom challenge you can do it as rated or unrated.

Computer1 through Computer20 DO have ratings that you can compare against. For example Computer3 played that way is rated at 980.

This probably is NOT the same as level 3 of the computer the way you were playing it.

@madratter7  Thanks I'll take a look at that, I have only been a member of the site for a few days and have yet to learn all of the types of games you can play, the one thing that worries me is that I have read people cheat sometimes in live games, I don't want to be demoralized losing to people that i'm unsure if they are cheating 

That's interesting. How do they cheat? And how can one tell that they're cheating? 

hey there

Cheating is pretty rare.

It's even rare among those who complain about it. Usually the people complaining are weak players frustrated their opponent knew how to play a knight fork. They have no idea what actual cheating looks like.

If you're concerned about cheating, you could always just play the computer. Unless it cheats too. My computer has a 'cheat mode' that I have not yet tried to use. :-)

The most common way is you have an engine play the moves for you. That's the easiest for chess.com to catch though, and they ban those people pretty quickly.

There are various ways to tell if someone is cheating, but chess.com does't like people talking about it, because it helps dishonest people cheat better. If you suspect someone just report them.

For me I'm just trying to learn and get better, I'll probably start playing humans after I feel more confident, as for cheating I don't understand why people would wanna cheat, it's like cheating in golf, you may win but you know in your own mind that you lost and what are you gaining? it's not like your winning a prize or something