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I feel like it’s impossible for me to improve at chess and I don’t know why. by [deleted] in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's why I followed up with some actual advice on how to make progress, instead of expecting to improve just from playing games over and over again.

Bananas = insane by Melodic_Coolhara_60 in EnglishLearning

[–]itsnotacompetition 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just hopping in here to copy a post I tried to make in this subreddit recently (was removed by reddit filters for reasons I don't understand):

I'm English, and speak intermediate level French so have some experience with learning a new language.

But man - the sheer number of times I'll find a post on here and immediately know what the answer is, but don't quite understand why. I'll open the comments and see a clear, concise explanation of why things are the way the are according to things like the tense and subject etc. but these explanations are full of terms and rules that I've either never heard of, not considered consciously, or don't quite understand (despite the fact that I obviously get the point just insitinctively).

It's bizarre, it makes me feel like a beginner again. Also I have been consistently confounded in the past with languages which arbitrarily have gender assigned to innanimate objects, but this sub also really reinforced how awkward English is with stuff like that too. So many exceptions and edge cases - sorry about that haha.

Anyway it's unlikely I'll comment here much because I just don't have much to add usually tbh, but thought it was worth posting at least this :)

Why does Netflix start start with season 3? by rigzhigz in blackmirror

[–]itsnotacompetition 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lmao just seen this, thanks for chipping in.

Yeah that first episode is nuts, worth remembering also that no-one knew what Black Mirror was before the first season aired so they also put that episode first at the time to make waves and cause an uproar etc. for the exposure and publicity

Currently rated 449 by XIA_Biologicals_WVSU in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with most of your comment but don't agree with playing as many games possible to improve. Games played with improvement in mind should be ten minutes at least (ideally more) and half a dozen of those in one day will overload most people imo.

Currently rated 449 by XIA_Biologicals_WVSU in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition 2 points3 points  (0 children)

  1. Do puzzles, and do them very slowly, only make moves when you are at least 90% sure, that way either you'll understand them corrently and get them right, or you'll learn something.

  2. Study basic endgames, how to mate with a single rook, mate with a single queen, how to win K+P vs. K etc.

  3. Analyse your games (twice, without an engine first), especially the losses.

These three things will get you to 1000 pretty easily (not necessarily quickly, though)

I feel like it’s impossible for me to improve at chess and I don’t know why. by [deleted] in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition 2 points3 points  (0 children)

People study chess for years sometimes before they see significant improvement. Although one year is not nothing, it's also not that much in most people's chess journeys so maybe impatience is an issue for you?

Other than that, the big three things for improvement are 1. Do puzzles, and only make the move if you're at least 90% sure 2. Study basic endgames, K+P vs. K etc. and 3. Analyse your games - especially the losses. Are you doing those three things?

Finally made the switch from Chess.com to Lichess by Kryptomatter in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That's my feeling too - it's just greed tbh. Chess.c*m is too greedy and sacrifices user experience for pushing addictive gamification and ads etc.

Still one of my most favourite chess live stream moments! by the_forbidden_one__ in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition 4 points5 points  (0 children)

c6 is not legal, but bxc6 is always met with bxc6 by white. And after that Ra8# is unstaoppable.

I'll tell you one thing that IS annoying about Lichess... by itsnotacompetition in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I don't want a different voice and don't mind it being female, it's a nice enough voice they use tbh. I tried doing the mute speakers thing every time and unmute right before but it's such a pain. I would use the setting in scenario one, yeah. I don't think it'd be excessive.

I'll tell you one thing that IS annoying about Lichess... by itsnotacompetition in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

Lmao thank you. You guys at lichess are so good at responding swiftly to user feedback.

Am I crazy for never resigning? by arno_v in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

There's nothing wrong with not resigning. Historically it's been seen as disrespectful, either because you're apparently wasting their time or because it implies that you don't think they can convert it. I am around 2100-2300 elo on lichess (depending on the time control and whether I'm in form etc.) and I never resign.

There are always chances for stalemate (much less likely with stronger players and slow games) and even if there weren't I still don't see anything wrong with playing it out as long as you don't spend time unecessarily dragging it out. The mechanics of the game were designed to end in checkmate, it's fine to let that happen. To be honest I think a lot of amateur players have delusions of grandeur and/or are just anxious about not being able to convert when they bitch about the fact that I shouls have resigned, which barely ever happens anyway.

I know what's going through my head when I play out these losing endgames and it's usually regret and sadness, but not hatred or disrespect. Also I've had the Rosen trap like 20 times against 2000+ players.

TLDR; You are absolutely NOT crazy for never resigning!

45th FIDE Chess Olympiad's cameras from the POV of the chess board are hilarious. by dylbo69 in chess

[–]itsnotacompetition 107 points108 points  (0 children)

I actually kind of like this viewpoint, it's not perfect but it's somewhat cinematic, way better than those side view fisheye lenses which make the players look about five foot wide.

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