This position came up, in a recent match. I play 14d/move games, explicitly. Rather than be mindful of this game (at that point), I set up the conditional moves to mate, upon pawn promotion.
By then, I had already moved my focus onward to another match. Without the Conditional Move feature, I would have endured the time lapses due to claim the win (with all the usual liabilities and attention necessary).
35. ... Kh8
36. b5 Kg8
37. b6 Kh8
38. b7 Kg8
39. b8=Q#
I've once been mated by a line of three conditional moves... I've got to say it was pretty impressing
Regarding the human element, of this feature, I did give thought to whether my opponent may feel slighted by an automated resolution. In my final judgment, I felt as though I shouldn't chance forfeiting a win (in the event my life would pull me away from Chess.com and afford a timeout).
Big picture, the way I used the feature and intend to use it in the future, it isn't a spectacle of my foresight. Rather, it is a layer of protection which I utilize, having afforded myself a decisive "path" to resolution.
It doesn't sit well with me that I didn't offer a prompt salutation, but I definitely feel it would have been a tad rude to say, "Good game." with so many moves to go.
I really like the conditional move feature, and whenever I play a long game I use it.
A note about your experience with predicting your opponents' moves: You said you're terrible at it. Don't be discouraged by that.Your opponent might just be playing inferior moves. If you can't guess his moves, it doesn't mean you're not picking the right ones--maybe he's the one picking bad moves.
Is anyone else using the ‘conditional move’ feature on chess.com to try to improve one’s skills? I have been trying to use the feature to force myself to look beyond the next move and develop and carry out a plan instead. I find I am simply terrible at predicting my opponent’s next moves. But I am been assuming the discipline of looking 4-5 moves out along various likely responses will improve my chess.
Yet on the flip side, when it works, the game lurches along in 3-4 move segments. So, in effect, I’m only looking deeply (by my standards) into the position once every 3-4 moves.
Anyway, if anyone else is giving this a go, I would appreciate your views on how best to use this feature. Or if you think this is a horrible idea, those views are welcome as well. Thanks.