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Suggestions for Online Chess Techniques

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cdowis75

I play Online chess, primarily 3 day time per move.  I am looking for suggestions from experienced players, e.g.

1. When the opponent makes a move, what do you do then?  Do you look at the game several times during the three days, or do you pretty much decide on the first day how to move.  I use the notes section to write down candidate moves, and look at the game several times -- looking for new candidate moves and evaluating the position.  I normally make my move after about 2 days.

2. What chess database do you find the most helpful.  Or is the Explorer in chess.com sufficient for you needs?

3. Do you carefully follow the moves suggested in the database, or do you quickly start out on your own.  I definitely re-evaluate the variation when the game count goes below 5 games.

4. How much does the win/loss ratio affect your decision to take that variation?

5. Do you check out the prior games by your opponent?  If so, what are you looking for.

Thaks for your ideas

ScaccoLento

1) I move when i think that is a good move. I can move in 1 minute or 1 day.

2) the only database i use, is only my mind. i dont use external database.

3) i dont use database

definitly i use Daily chess like a normal chess game, but with a day to move.

If you use database or external help...you not improve.

my rating is about 1575.....without external help.

Zendaddy0

1. I look at my candidate moves like I normally would and take time to decide on what to play. depending on the complexity of the game this from takes 1 minutes to the full time limit. I like to use the notes to explain my current train of thought in case my opponent takes a while to play. 2. I don't use explorers 3. I like to follow my own path because it shows just how good I really am at the game and gives me the ability to look back at my games for errors and where I should improve. 4. I feel like I'm making steady progress 5. yes, I generally try to point out my opponents strong points so I can counter them early on (for example, a good friend of mine is extremely good at finding tactics so I like to simplify the board before going through with my own plans with multiple trades).

Zendaddy0

also my message looks so much cleaner on my phone, sorry about that.

toiyabe

1)Depends on how strong my opponent is, how good my position is, and whether I'm sober or not.  

2)I use my own database which came with some chessking software I bought a couple years ago(I really need to update it).  

3 and 4)I have my preferred variations that I like to play.  I definitely take win % into consideration, but it certainly isn't the only factor.  I have to personally agree with the idea of the move as well as enjoy the resulting positions.  As long as the moves you choose aren't outright refutable, winning % or objective computer evals don't mean that much if you are comfortable in the position and know the ideas better than your opponent.  

5)Before I start a game against someone I'll often check to see what their main replies as black are as well as what lines they play as white, but it generally doesn't affect my choices.  Some people are scared to play against certain openings but I'm comfortable playing against anything, you just need to have the variation or structure that you prefer to use to tackle opening or defense ________.  

ScaccoLento

i dont understand why some people use external database....

I know....correspondence chess allow that.....but for me is not funny.

is a "legal cheat".

my rating is about 1550~1600

i prefer to have 1600 with my mind, then ...2000 using external explorer.

toiyabe
ScaccoLento wrote:

i dont understand why some people use external database....

I know....correspondence chess allow that.....but for me is not funny.

is a "legal cheat".

my rating is about 1550~1600

i prefer to have 1600 with my mind, then 2000 using external explorer.

Just because you don't utilize something doesn't mean its cheating.  If databases weren't allowed, you technically wouldn't be able to engage in any chess study while playing correspondence games (both online at chess.com or rated correspondence through FIDE/USCF/etc).  This has been allowed for decades.  Get over it.  

Using databases to learn variations doesn't stunt growth either.  In fact, it helps you to learn the lines you prefer to play and is a great training tool for improving at OTB chess.  

ScaccoLento

i use daily chess like standard games.

i cant use the pc for minutes and minutes..this is the reason why i use daily chess.

I dont use external database, for me is better, more funny, and the Elo is real because is made by my OWN skills.

toiyabe
ScaccoLento wrote:

i use daily chess like standard games.

i cant use the pc for minutes and minutes..this is the reason why i use daily chess.

I dont use external database, for me is better, more funny, and the Elo is real because is made by my OWN skills.

That's fine that you prefer to do that.  Just know that all serious FIDE correspondence players use books and databases.  That is THE point of correspondence.  Otherwise you might as well just play live chess on the internet or do OTB tournaments.  

0110001101101000

Just a note, my rating here is not established yet.

When it's a difficult game:

1. I analyze it from the screen first, without moving anything. Then I check those variations with the analysis board. Compare the end positions for which I like best, then write a few moves with the conclusion in the notes. Then I do this again the next day to be sure I like it and didn't miss anything critical.

2. I have chessbase, so I use chessbase. I'm not familiar with chess.com's database.

3. If I'm not familiar with the choices, I open a few games and quickly go over them to see the types of middlegames I'm choosing between. If I like the type of middlegame ideas (andn it doesn't have a terrible %), then I go for that variation.

4. I definitely notice it, but of course it's not everything. Some score very highly until refuted then no one plays it anymore. Some score below average until revived later. With chessbase you can check for recent games and strong players. If e.g. Anand or Kramnik played it last year then I'm usually not worried ;)

5. Never done this actually. I guess I'd look for types of middlegames I like, or at least ones I don't like to be sure I avoid them.

aloofandpoofed

To think of database use in correspondence chess as cheating (or even "like" cheating) is kind of nonsensical at this point.

It's part of how the game is played.

Databases don't recommend moves for you to play. They just show games people have played historically.

ScaccoLento

have a good Elo without the using of external database, but playing with many players that use it.....im proud of this :)

toiyabe
ScaccoLento wrote:

have a good Elo without the using of external database, but playing with many players that use it.....im proud of this :)

Yay for purposely handicapping yourself? Whatever trips your trigger mate Tongue Out

ScaccoLento

😛

SJFG
cdowis75 wrote:

I play Online chess, primarily 3 day time per move.  I am looking for suggestions from experienced players, e.g.

1. When the opponent makes a move, what do you do then?  Do you look at the game several times during the three days, or do you pretty much decide on the first day how to move.  I use the notes section to write down candidate moves, and look at the game several times -- looking for new candidate moves and evaluating the position.  I normally make my move after about 2 days.

Usually I decide on the first day, but if I'm playing a tough opponent I will probably look at the game several times before making a move. Your approach sounds very good!

2. What chess database do you find the most helpful.  Or is the Explorer in chess.com sufficient for you needs?

I use 365chess.com, which is free but seems better than chess.com's database.

3. Do you carefully follow the moves suggested in the database, or do you quickly start out on your own.  I definitely re-evaluate the variation when the game count goes below 5 games.

Yes and no. I usually look at the database, but don't always follow it (and often don't play the most common move). I look at several of the top moves and see what the basic idea seems to be by looking several moves ahead (or looking at several master games). I also see if my own candidate moves have been played. Based on which idea I like best and what seems to work best I make my move. BTW, I think that once there are less than 200 games in the database you should be careful about following it. Just because a moves has been played a lot doesn't mean there isn't a better move.

4. How much does the win/loss ratio affect your decision to take that variation?

It used to effect it a lot more, but it's the position on the board that really counts. Also, the stats are often somewhat deceptive. So it does affect my decision making, but I try to not let it influence me too much.

5. Do you check out the prior games by your opponent?  If so, what are you looking for.

Not so much, but I suppose it might be helpful if I did. I would look at what openings they usually play, what their style seems to be, and if they have any weaknesses.

Thaks for your ideas

cdowis75

What is the major difference between Live and Online games?  Beside the obvious difference in time control, I see the difference is in the role of the opening in the game.  

The OTB player needs to have a good memory of the various lines in the opening to survive until the middle game starts.  I have a terrible memory, so that puts me at a disadvantage.  Online games basically gives us the first 5-10 moves of the game and then we have to show our skills in the middle and endgame play.  

Using a database is not "cheating" because it is available to everyone, but one also needs to select the variation with great care, so it still requires skill and experience.  The GM uses his memory to select the lines, and, lacking that important quality, I use the database.  The middle and endgame is where I play the "real" chess and show my skills.  It relieves me of the burden of memorizing opening lines.

Once I feel I have excelled in the latter part of the game, I will spend time on learning the openings and play more classical chess.

lucky52

cdowis...i normaly have around 200 on line games going. i am presently rated around 2000 and am third on the leaderpoints list. here is my biggest piece of advice. opening transitioning middlegame sequence. and of course endgame theory. both of these need repitition of play to learn and familiarize. which openings you choose are less important than being familiar and comfortable with that style of play. the opening being sound of course. hundreds of games are needed. there are no short cuts. put in the work and be patient. same with endgames. good luck sir.Wink