"How good are you at chess?" Topic

On a scale of 1-10.
Let 1 = "You moved 2 pieces at once! Cheat! Castling? What's that?"

Let 2 = "I know the rules but haven't played in ages. Plan three moves in advance? Are you kidding me?"

Let 5 = "I know all the lines of the King's Indian Defense, but I prefer the Sicilian."

Let 10 = "Magnus Carlsen fears me."

I hesitate to grade myself as high as 3.
I follow Agadmotor's YouTube channel, so I have heard of Magnus Carlsen.
When the commentator asks what I would do as a winning move, I occasionally choose correctly, but still haven't played in years.

As much as it saddens me, I'd probably only rate a level 2, and that's on a good day. Must say I like the idea of it: its history and subtlety, and a guilty pleasure is sometimes playing through, on a board, the games of the great masters, but beyond that I'm hopeless.

Supposedly Napoleon was pretty lousy at the game also, so at least I have some company!

PS At times I think I like the playing pieces more than the game itself. Must be the wargamer in me. A finely crafted board with, say, the Isle of Lewis pieces gracing its surface, is a thing of real beauty.

PPS There is also the fact that people playing chess always look so miserable. I get that it's not that sort of game, and sense the attractions of fine mental exercises and all that, but, well…I'd rather play in one of Howard Whitehouse's games, with their laughter, posturing, hurled missiles…with the chance to blame any defeats on bad dice rolling!

2

2

3.5

I can finally beat the chess program on my iPad at novice level.
On the other hand, I also play three-dimensional chess: link

So, that gives me the ".5"

2 too.

2, Starting at age 5 does NOT help.

2. Definitely a wood-pusher.

I'll go for 3. I am a credible challenge for other non-serious chess players.

My 16-year-old son is quite good, probably a 5. He beats all the family members. I could beat him about one time in five, then we stopped playing.

I need a user guide to remember which pieces can which way.

I do remember how the queen can move.

Solid 2

2.
They did only one season, but it was a awesome show about a chess master as mystery solver. Endgame.
YouTube link

2

2

2 – I am the guy who will teach someone how to play and lose to them as I teach them…. Guess that makes me a good teacher ;)

Interesting. I would have thought wargamers would also be chess players. When I quit tournament chess I was rated an "expert" so would beat 99% of casual players. I have done simultaneous exhibitions playing up to 24 opponents at once and have won assorted state and city championships. But sometime in the late '90s it lost the appeal. So although I always created a chess club in whatever school I was working with, but my tournament "career" is over.

Well. From the responses so far, this is not The Chess Page.

2 to 3 Haven't played in ages.

2

I can name the pieces

Chess needs more random events, like one of your bishops becomes a heretic and refuses to move. Enemy bribe castle defenders it changes sides.

Don't get me going about supply lines.

Per Shredder my ELO is about 1800-1900 so call me a 5.

Solid 2. Let me know when Too Fat Lardies comes out with their version of chess where you can simultaneously activate a rook and a bishop while bringing in reinforcements from off board

Was better long ago than now, IMO you need to play a lot if not inclined to be a chess master outright.
2 -3

7

2-3

3+ I can and do play occasionally. I plan .9 moves ahead. That is 3 moves, but only ~30% of the options. Also shogi, chaturanga, and shatranj. Basically, I am competent enough to lose in a way that is interesting for a chess player.

The last time I played vs computer, it rated me around 900 (out of maybe 2000). So probably a 4-5. Usually I get lucky.

Favorite variation: white moves 1 piece, black moves 2 pieces, white moves 3 pieces, black moves 4, etc. If you put the other person in check, you forfeit the rest of your moves this turn (so do that last).

Second favorite variation: white places pawns then places back row in whatever order they want, black mirrors pieces, begin. Can lead to 2 bishops on white squares, 2 rooks

2.

I played a lot of chess up to about age 11, and have not since then. Wargames, whether hex-and-counter, miniatures-based, or other types (e.g. Memoir '44 and The Plot to Assassinate Hitler)) are just much more fun to me. So are complex "German" boardgames (e.g., Ticket to Ride).

2

4. I recognize and used to use the fancy defenses many years ago and I can beat most mortals by thinking about 5 turns ahead and seeing the patterns in the game no one else seems to see. But really good, rated players stomp me fast.

Winston, what number would be "Suck like a Hoover?"

Long ago, I was 3+ish. But then became president of the high school chess club and spent the budget on a subscription to Strategy & Tactics. We didn't play much chess after that!

2

2. And I always lose when playing solo games… :-(

2-3 I used to love to play. Haven't in years.

5 – play every now and again versus No 4 son – need to teach the grandkids

5 – 6

1.5, maybe a 2 on a very good day.

It's been so long since I played Chess …

Same here.

3 – 4

Used to play a lot, some guys in my dorm at college were nationally ranked and one guy used to do those exhibitions where one person plays 5 or 6 games at the same time and wins. Used to play a lot of interactive online chess too, I guess I might be a 3 or 4.

Now on the Plus Boards: The (unofficial) TMP All-Comers Chess Match: TMP link

(We got off to a rough start due to my error, but read down the thread a bit and it all gets corrected.)

It's basically TMP vs. TMP. You can go in and make the next move (using chess notation). Naturally, you are restricted to moving for either White or Black (not both). See the OP on the thread for the rules.

This is based on something I do at the library where I work, only in that case it's me alone vs. the teens.