I'm about 1600 player whose rating has taken a battering through playing at work and (quickly) at home using a rip-off dial-up.
Basically I rarely take more than 5 seconds over a move, don't use books or databases, etc.
Since I'm getting broadband later this month and am beginning to irritate myself by throwing games away, I was considering (a) subscribing, (b) taking more time over my moves, and (c) using MCO (which I have but never open) and maybe a database to improve my play.
I would expect this to lead to an increase in rating; not huge, but significant.
Frankly, the current atmosphere regarding engine users is making me think twice.
The other issue is that the only database I currently have access to is in Chessmaster 9000. I looked at this last night and it seemed reasonably useful. But despite the reassurances about spyware, I am reluctant to have a chess program open while accessing RHP.
So (a) Do I take the plunge and commit to better play? and (b) What do I do about the database issue?
Originally posted by StarrmanAgreed.
Subscription should be a necessary act of community and seperate to the playing of chess. Subscribe, then figure out what to do about your game play.
With broadband. you won't have to worry over losing your games due to connection failure. Then set up games you wish to play with longer timeout/timebanks, to help you with work related time away.
As for improving your game play, as long as is isn't use of a chess engine for a game, but rather afterwards for study purposes, or any other source you wish to employ. go for it.
Originally posted by dottewellWith dial up, your best bet is to download chesspad from http://www.wmlsoftware.com/chesspad.html (this should be done anyway, as its great free database/analysis software)
I'm about 1600 player whose rating has taken a battering through playing at work and (quickly) at home using a rip-off dial-up.
Basically I rarely take more than 5 seconds over a move, don't use books or databases, etc.
Since I'm getting broadband later this month and am beginning to irritate myself by throwing games away, I was considering (a) su ...[text shortened]... ) Do I take the plunge and commit to better play? and (b) What do I do about the database issue?
You can then get your pgns sent to you by mail, save them as a .pgn text file, and go offline while you think about your moves.
Its a pity that a lot of players on here seem to be afraid to improve for fear of being booted as a cheat. Its an unfortunate side effect of the utter secrecy of the cheat police, and I don't think its very healthy for a chess site.
D
Originally posted by RagnorakThanks for the comments. I did not want the arguments in favour of subscription; I am well aware of those.
With dial up, your best bet is to download chesspad from http://www.wmlsoftware.com/chesspad.html (this should be done anyway, as its great free database/analysis software)
You can then get your pgns sent to you by mail, save them as a .pgn text file, and go offline while you think about your moves.
Its a pity that a lot of players on here seem to be ...[text shortened]... he utter secrecy of the cheat police, and I don't think its very healthy for a chess site.
D