Main Source: My Novice Nook Article: Using the Computer to Improve
Mig Greengard's great Chess Cafe column on Fritz overnight use
Playing Chess Against a
Software Program
The first thing to note about playing a normal chess game against computer programs is that doing so does not prepare you as well for playing humans as playing humans. This only makes sense since computers and humans not only play a little differently, but also computers have a lower standard deviation: they play very consistently while an human has times – even in the same game – where he has flashes of brilliance combined with uncharacteristic oversight. Also one should not overlook the social aspects of the game; while chess is not as social as games that encourage or require conversation, it is supposed to be a “gentleman’s game” and chess at a club or a tournament is also a chance to meet and interact with others. In fact, players who frequent a club on a regular basis often do so at least in part for its social aspects.
Setting Your Computer to Play a Competitive Game
Get a good program, like CM, Fritz, Junior, or Shredder,
instead of a “fun” program like Battle Chess (BC). While CM is much better than
BC, it has many settings (that BC does not have) which also allows it to play
worse than BC.
Learn how to change the settings on the computer to play different strengths. Be aware that setting a computer on a lower “level” sometimes means it just plays faster - but it is still playing the best it can, just not thinking as long. A good program like ChessMaster (“CM”; any version from 4000 higher), even its very fastest mode, will beat a student 100% of the time. Here are some various ways to make CM play worse than its best (note: these controls differ for each version to the program, and I don’t have the latest version of the program):
· Set its level to Newcomer or Novice (Under Menu “Play” the first item)
· Set it
to a weak “personality”, like Novice or Woodpusher (under Menu “Play” item “Set
up game details”
· Change its thinking depth to one or two ply (half-moves) or only a few seconds (Menu “Play” “Set up Game Details” use “Different Time Controls” and set them to a low value)
· Don’t
let the computer think on your move (Under “Play” item “Set up a Personality”
click off “Deep Thinking”)
· Play with the value of its parameters (Under “Play” item “Set up a Personality” change parameters). For example, you can make CM think a Queen is worse less than a pawn!
Set any chess software to win about 75% of the games
(about 200 USCF points above its opponent).This is close to optimum, as any
stronger and the games will not be competitive and one learns less; any weaker
and the computer will not be taking advantage of your mistakes and pushing one
harder to play above your normal strength.
Buy
a program like Maurice Ashley Teaches Chess for instruction aimed at
students – Sierra has a wonderful package called Sierra’s Complete Chess
for about $40, which includes Maurice Ashley Teaches Chess as well as a beginning
and an advanced chess program. Another program is Chess Mentor, which has further
instructional add-ons.
A)
My chess web
site, with lots of useful information about local chess, is here: Main
Chess Page
B)
The
US Chess Federation is at http://www.uschess.org/
– you can find your over-the-board rating there, order books (or call 1-800-388-KING) or
equipment, or find out about where the upcoming tournaments will be.
C)
There
are many web sites with instructional material. You can search for them from http://www.yahoo.com/ or other search engines.
D)
You
can play chess on the Internet against other players. There are many servers,
free and paid (you often get what you pay for!) I am a member of the
Internet Chess Club (ICC; my “handle” is PhillyTutor).You can join (it
is about $50/yr for adults, $25 for students) to get a rating or just play
as a guest for free. If you join, give my handle "Phillytutor" as a reference and I get a
free month extension – thanks!
E) You can find the latest chess news at This Week in Chess or ChessBase
F) Many other very useful web links via my LINK page
G)
Listen to my web radio show Thursday nights at 9-10 PM Eastern at www.chess.fm
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