If your goal is to improve your correspondence chess, it will definitely help you. It won't make you have deeper ideas or increase your playing strength by hundreds of points, unlike some people seem to suggest. But it will certainly help you with long forced sequences, and could be an useful tool to avoid tactical mistakes.
If your goal is to improve your OTB play and use RHP just as a training tool, however, I would recommend against it. Using the analysis board too much might make you develop bad thinking habits. To be a good OTB player, you ned to be able to view the board in your head and calculate future moves without any visual aid.
I've decided to use the analysis board here, since I hardly play OTB anymore. It definitely helped me avoid basic tactical mistakes, but I'm not sure if it will make my performance worse when I return to a chess club.
Originally posted by Dewi JonesI use it although I prefer my old analysis boards I used for postal games. I think whether or not it will improve your game depends on what you want to improve. If you want to get stronger OTB then set up the position on a real board and stare at it, do the analysis in your head. That should eventually help with board vision. If you wish to improve in correspondence chess then the analysis board is a must, as are all other permitted resources. Not using those resources is much like entering a pole vault competition and refusing to use a pole.
Does anybody use it? Do you think that if I started using it, my game and rating might improve?
Using the analysis board will undoubtedly lead to a better rating because you will spot the blunders for both sides with greater ease. Whether or not an improved RHP rating equates to improved play only you can say. As I said above, it depends on what you want to improve.
Originally posted by Dewi JonesYes, I use it. I think it helps prevent making some stupid moves. I guess you will not know, if it will help you, until you use it. My rating has went from around 1600 to around 2200 on RHP, since I started using it.
Does anybody use it? Do you think that if I started using it, my game and rating might improve?
The analyze board helps me visualize where the pieces could be a few moves later. My memory and visualization is not near as good as when I was young and it helps me from getting too tired of thinking. Instead of trying to force my old brain to visualize the new positions that will result from my planned moves, it allows me to see it in real time. By clicking "flip board" I also can see the new positons that will result from my planned moves from my opponents point of view. I think it helps me from getting mixed up as to where I think the pieces are and what change in defense and attack might occur because of the moves I am considering.
I don't see it helping your OTB play however, because it is like using a crutch for your feeble mind. No crutches are allowed in OTB play and you have a much shorter time limit to make your moves. But if you wish, you can get a little pocket set and use it on the side and see what happens. However, I doubt if things will end in your favor. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Originally posted by WilfriedvaThe ability to store variations is a good idea for an upgrade to the analyze board. 😏
In my experience it destroys your board vision and calculating ability.
And it's plain crap because it doesn't store variations.
Analyse board is evil!
P.S. A good way to make chess easier for us patzers.