Thought i'd start this thread for any discussions relating to practice matches, as there are quite a few going on right now.

I'm finding that it's quite handy to have a few practice games first because until recently i hadn't played chess for a long time, and I think that's the case with quite a few of the other particpants aswell.

Well, so far i've had three games, two are ongoing (i'm getting slaughtered by Thistle!) and i lost hopelessly against Talon.

It's been years since i played!

Yeah practise games are a great idea.
As BurnSide can vouch for!

haha

Burnsy, I've played thistle 9 times and she beat me in 8 of them. Watch yourself.

That's good to hear.

I've played Thistle 4 times this week and the best I managed to achieve was a stalemate.

She's very good

C'mon the Scots!!

OK....now watch me lose every tourney game

Incidently T, is this game we are in a practice or for real?

Ermmmm I thought it was real but we can make it practice if you want

Hey now T, now you're just toying with me.

We shall make it real then, might aswell start the tourny off.

(I think we've had ennough practice as it is).

Awww Saru i didn't see that coming. Blast!

You love it really

Talon's gonna be tricky to beat tho.......gonna have to watch him lol

Sorry - there goes your knight

I'm playing a match game against Thistle just now but I can't see myself winning, i'm already one rook down.

Still, early days yet

Just finished a game with Saru.....5 move checkmate. 1 up to gollum.

(Sorry boss, no hard feelings).

Ah damn, didn't see that at all - had absolutely no idea you were anywhere near it.

Good job

I think more practice is in order

Well, i figured there was no way i was saving the rook, so at least i could get my castle out while you were occupied, and take the the Rook.

Hrmmm... probably shouldn't have moved there...

ok well I just got well and truly beaten to a pulp by Talon

Well played Tal.....I'll beat you in the tourney game (maybe)

Ah ha Thistle, i'm making a comeback!

So you are oh wait a minute........oopsie

sorry Burnsy

WHAT!? ARRGHHH BLAST!! I didn't even see it coming!!
hahahahahah congratulations.

Sorry for the resign Saru.
I felt my play was getting a little embarrasing.

So, that's three out of three practice games sucessfully lost, i think i'm ready for the real thing now.

@ Burnside, Go get 'em !


Lottie, Byuu and Barman? I started practice games with you too

Grrrrr @ the 6 game limit lol

To be fair you were slaughtering me last night, if we hadn't called a break for the night you would have killed me right there and then. You were really strong.

I've played chess against Thistle twice before, my pride is still hurting .


Go gettem hun.

Not at all, it was a good game.

Thistle, if I'm not mistaken, I believe I've just taken your queen for a horsey thing.... oh yeh a knight.

Challenge accepted from SaRuMaN & Thistle, although I must warn you I only access a computer at work so it may occasionally be a while between moves, I'll do my best though

Edit: Is it just me or does anyone else get really nervous when playing SaRuMaN?

Dammit, shouldn't give away my fear

No you're quite right Gollum, and unless I'm mistaken I now have your Queen pinned in a very very tight poky wee corner lol







I'll let you into a secret Barman.....if you tickle him, he giggles like a wee pixie and loses all concentration.

You're playing two really good players barman, Saruman and Thistle!

Gee thanks Burnsie, as if I wasn't nervous enough already

Dam, my weakness has been revealed

Aaaaaaagghhhhh! Thistle leave me alone!!


Can't.....get.....pieces......out.....

lol sorry barman, but you can blame Gollum.....he's beating me so you're getting my temper tantrum

2 rooks and a queen down T, that has got to be hurting! ~lol~

(By the way, my queen is now relatively safe) tee, hee.

Well, I'm playing Saruman and I'm nervous! AND I've been challenged by Talon and THAT makes me nervous. I'm gonna need therapy by the time this tournament's over!



(Psst! Thistle! Where's Saru ticklishest?)

Well, my game against Talon here seems to be going pretty well i must say!

Well, I'm going to scurry off to bed before Saruman wakes up or Talon comes back. That's what I call a "strategy"!

(The Snooze Gambit)

Do I suck at chess or are Thistle and SaRuMaN really good?

I haven't played for years and now I'm playing both of them simultaneously and I keep forgetting which tactics I'm playing in each game, very confusing

You probably don't suck, there just very good.

I've got 18-20 games on the go at the moment, try getting your head round that!

I'm playing a guy (he's not UM) called Skywalker Red. The games going on 3 nights now and we've both eliminated all but 1 officer (not including kinds) and 5 pawns each. Best I can hope to do is drive my pawns to then end and get a queen, otherwise its a draw.

He's really good though if someone wants to use him for practicing their games.

Ack, you guys are all WAY better than me! The thing is, I know what each of the pieces do, but I don't have the first clue about strategy. I'm playing Talon and Saruman and basically my strategy with both of them is to panic and get paranoid every time they make a move. I'm like, okay, why did they do that? They're trying to trick me into doing something. They want me to move this piece! No, THAT piece! No, THIS piece!

EEEEKKKKKk!

Nah, that’s the tactic I'm using against Burnside right now




Don't say that, all it requires is to make sure you don't place a peace in a place where it isn't protected or under attack from a piece with less value for at least enough turns that you don't get bogged down.
Don't let an opponent trap two of your pieces so that you have choose one and let them have the other.
NEVER let your opponent get their pawns over the half way mark on the board (I let Thistle do that and hammered me for much of the game).
Don't let time be an issue, take as long as you want to make the next move. Pressure and hast is our own worst enemy. And since most of us are using the turn-based rather than live, you don't have to worry about finishing a game in one go. If your really stuck, Sleep On It. The board looks completely different after you come back to after a few hours.

In the end, its the person who guesses (or better yet, manipulates) what their opponent does next who wins. Anyone can do it, you just need more practice, and to have confidence that you'll win in the end

... I don't know if thats any help, their fairly obvious, I just hope that I didn't come off as condescending there

I knew there was a reason you so easily gave up that Rook.

Bishop

Actually I'm going to delete that line about the Bishops... thats how I win matches, I don't everyone knowing it.

Bishop, sorry.
I'll have to be more careful from now on i think. Soonb as the site comes back up that is.

Yeah, I'm getting withdrawl symptoms I've even stopped playing Civilisation 3