Who has never played OTB?

 I never read other threads, I am loyal to this one.

Talking about that chess club in Richardson made me think about something I had never given a second thought to until now. I used to live in Richardson several years ago, and often went to drink coffee at the local Dunkin' Donuts while I studied some electronics books I have. There was another guy who went there just about every day, and would sit there for a couple hours at least, with a chess set setting up different positions, and studying different moves, I suppose. I never talked to him about that or anything else. He was kind of an oddball. This went on for well over a year until finally some other guys started taking an interest. One asked him if he was good, and he replied that he could probably beat most non pro players. I hadn't ever heard of the Dallas Chess Club, but apparently that's where they took him to test his ability, because a few days later when he wasn't at the restaurant they were all shaking their heads, and saying, man that poor guy sucked! A day or two later he was back at Dunkin again, but the chess set had vanished, and he was piddling around with a Dungeons, and Dragons game rolling dice, and what not. Sad ending, I guess.

I'm interested in what made you start playing woodshover, if no-one ever taught you the rules or introduced the game to you?

Also, I have never played serious/rated OTB games. Just played a few casual games with my dad and some friends - no real competition there any more, although I still enjoy the games .

I took it up kind of on a whim. Somebody on Yahoo Answers said they learned it to help their concentration, so I took it up cause mine's bad too.

 Did you learn on here?

How about you. Musikamole?

I've played many OTB games on a full tournament size board with and without a chess clock, at both my local chess club and at the schools where I teach.

I also play OTB with my youngest daughter and son. I've taught my daughter a few things, so I can't beat her with Scholar's Mate like I can against some of my band students.

I am a USCF member, but due to a few stubborn health issues this year, I have yet to enter a rated tournament at my local chess club. I fully plan to do so as soon as I can.

Last, I use a real chess set for part of my study time. There's something about seeing things in 3D that triggers a different set of ideas.

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One more thing about my local chess club. Most of the guys are much better than me, with years of experience under their belts. I played a casual game against a USCF Expert rated player (2000+). I did o.k. in the opening with the White pieces, but the Expert punished my first mistake and I had a completely hopeless position on the next move.

The really strong players are like that. They don't miss the first mistake by a weaker player. The same thing happens when I play against the Class A players. I have absolutley no chance of beating a Class A or Expert player, and I have never played against a Master strength player. I can't imagine what that would be like. Ouch!

I last longer against the Class C players (1400-1599), but not much longer until I get clobbered.

My Live Chess Standard rating is around 1000, which would place me in Class E (1000-1199), but I am told that the internet ratings are inflated by about 200 points. So, until I play in rated tournaments, I would guess that my USCF rating would be Class F (800-999), and that feels about right.

I have thought about following some of the games on here with my chess set, but so far I've been too lazy. 

I see things better with a board, or atleast differently.

I would love to see a survey, with the ages of people answering. I would bet money there is a strong correlation of age/preference for boards.

Dont get me wrong, as a computer programmer/geek, I have spent my share of time staring at computer screens. However, there is a certain class of error involving long bishop moves that I am prone to onscreen that just would not happen with a real 3D board in front of me.

to woodshover, here is the biggest problem with you so far.... " but so far I've been too lazy." 

 I used to have the same problem. I just bought a smaller chess set so the pieces wouldn't be so heavy 

Look what happened to the poor slob I told about in post #65. He haden't been lazy.

but that slob isn't you.

I assume OTB is an abbreviation of three words.  So far I have not figured out what the abbreviation means.  Will someone please enlighten me?

Over The Board

Wouldn't it be sort of difficult to learn chess if you didn't play over the board?

 Over the board. I know you knew that.

On The Ball