#26 You are correct of course. But there is something which offends me a bit about jumping straight for the 'good for your brain' aspect. I suppose because it encourages us to think in these moneygrabbing, good-for-your-cv terms, instead of proudly proclaiming the beauty of chess-for-the-sake-of-chess (or anything for the sake of anything - this is a general point).

bignose I've just made myself an account called 'gyratingtrampoline' on chess.com. Send me a challenge if you want to!

Nice, will set up an account tomorrow.

I found the standard on chess.com to be very good, I used to be a good player as a schoolkid, but was getting beaten the last few times I played on that site, which was a bit disheartening! Think there is a world of difference between those who know the rules and the moves and those who know good openings. I won a lot of games as a kid playing the French defence, which looks weak to your opponent until you unleash your attack! Great game chess, last played against a bloke who had learnt in prison, he wasn't bad but one wrong move and I would be in for the kill so it was just a case of waiting for that.

Chess teaches a wide range of skills

As in "Russians play chess, Americans play poker". That hasn't been decided yet, whatever Americans might think.

also, most computers come ready loaded with a chess game program that is good enough to defeat most people who are not at master level, so there's no real need to go online to do this stuff.

I've never studied openings or read any books about it, but I've got to the stage where most players on my level have, and so I know from raw experience what is likely to happen in any given situation during the first few moves. I've found that doing something a bit leftfield near the start throws people off if they're used to typical games. But actually most unusual things are unusual precisely because there's something wrong with them, so a more advanced player will have seen it before and know a way to use it against me.

And on that subject, if you want to play a wider spectrum of games, it's better to be black, because during the first few moves the white player is the initiator, so you will tend to have a more diverse experience if you play as black.

pent, it's much more enjoyable to play against a human. I bet I could tell the difference too, if there was some kind of chess turing test - even though I know I wouldn't beat the computer.

My son taught me and I do enjoy a game, the problem I have is I can not talk or have to much noise, or I completely lose my train of thought I hate even looking away from the board,so I'm not much fun to play with.

One of the key skills in chess is planning 3 to 5 moves ahead, in practice 3 is about the most you can expect to achieve at an 'average' level but being able to mentally compute what range of moves your opponent has for even 2 moves ahead can be quite challenging!

I think on chess.com you can set up computer vs computer? Certainly could on other programs/sites. Interesting but ultimately 'by the book' games.

I used to play 'live' at lots of different venues, big conferences in London etc. the 1980's were the heyday for school chess. We even had Karpov visit our comprehensive for a simultaneous match against 12 of the best players in the county, he didn't lose one.

The best and most enjoyable games for me are when I start to play experimentally, a sacrifice, or something to throw an opponent, but a lot of times it doesn't work out! Playing seriously I was a lot tighter.

I've just downloaded the chess.com android app for my tablet and won the first game I played! I'm on there as Loosebanana if anyone fancies a game sometime...

I'll tell you what was a waste of intellectual energy far, far worse than chess or advertising agencies - bloody J R R Tolkien devising not just one, but four wholly pointless 'new' languages! I ask you - was there ever anyone more short of something to do than that?

I used to play a bit, but haven't for years.

My son is pretty good these days, and he turned me on to this guy and his very satisfying vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/MatoJelic

Thanks for that link - he's great. I'll definitely check out more of Mato.

Yes,many thanks for that link Carlos

I like this chess video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgeYScYe8wI

banana I've just sent you a challenge!

Ah, hah! just received and made a move, ah and you have too! 3 moves a day, interesting..

bloody J R R Tolkien devising not just one, but four wholly pointless 'new' languages! I ask you - was there ever anyone more short of something to do than that?

On chess.com I'm bignosebignose if anyone thinks they're hard enough.

challenge sent!