The most prestigious law school admissions discussion board in the world.
|
 |
 
|
chessbros, come itt and give me advice on how to start not sucking
Poast new message in this thread
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:09 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate I've known how to play chess my whole life but have only ever played random games with other people who basically just know the rules, I'm thinking it would be fun to get a little better, but not much, I'm not reading some fucking 200 page book on real theory or any of that shit, is there a good lazy way to get a little better without too much nerding out? I assume the most important thing I need to learn are some openings and I know youtube has lots of videos but you can spend an hour watching a video to extract like two tips, any recs? |
 |
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:11 PM Author: haunting hall practice 2000 level lichess puzzlers and only puzzles https://lichess.org/training (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987305) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:13 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate but I don't even know enough to know why something is a puzzle at this point tbh (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987310) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:22 PM Author: haunting hall U will after u try (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987326) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:23 PM Author: beady-eyed blood rage university Incredible poast (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987328) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:36 PM Author: Milky fighting french chef (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987368) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 10:06 PM Author: coiffed fat ankles space 180000000 (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987440) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 7:45 PM Author: coiffed fat ankles space (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49989402) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 8:52 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate having done a few now I can see the benefit, but I really do wish they'd explain why certain moves are the best, most of the time I see it but occassionally I'm still just like wtf and they don't continue to let me see why it worked (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49989566) |
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:23 PM Author: beady-eyed blood rage university Why would you want to get good at something as boring as chess if you don't naturally like it already? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987329) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:31 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate its an easy game to play online and waste some time with pretty good skill based matchmaking and I do enjoy it, I'm just not going to devote my fucking life to it (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987343) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:32 PM Author: beady-eyed blood rage university You'll never get better with that attitude (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987348) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:33 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate this is why people hate hobbyists, they can't understand enjoying something in small doses (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987359) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 10:04 PM Author: beady-eyed blood rage university Yeah some of us can't imagine not wanting to be the Tom Brady of something. Whatever you do be the best at it. No wants to see some old guy playing sports for example. It's unimpressive and low T to have a hobby you're not good at. I would never play chess but if I did I'd be ten times better than Magnus at it. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987436) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 10:08 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate you should take up golf and get humbled (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987447) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 10:10 PM Author: beady-eyed blood rage university I wouldn't dream of golfing if I couldn't work on it full time with a world class trainer. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987452) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 10:21 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate you would still suck ass if you did that (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987465) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 11:13 PM Author: beady-eyed blood rage university If I was passionate about it I'd be amazing. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987553) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:33 PM Author: nudist library personal credit line tbh it's not a game where you get better with cheap little tricks. it's mostly reading 200 page books and playing for hours and hours and pure rigor. and ok yeah a rare guy is a genius and gets extra mileage out of it (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987357) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:35 PM Author: Milky fighting french chef if you have commute or other down time you can solve tactics puzzles on lichess or elsewhere
it's actually pretty fun in itself, even separate from being good practice to get better at the game of chess. like doing little brain teasers or something |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:36 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate I just did one and it decided I needed to give up my queen in a situation where I truly don't understand why it would want me to do that, no followup moves just on to the next, seems useless (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987372) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:39 PM Author: Milky fighting french chef gotta start with really really easy ones and slowly move up from there
it's probably a good idea to start with learning some basic fundamentals about the game but you seem like you wouldn't have the patience for that and i don't really blame you. more fun to just do puzzles in your down time imo |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:40 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate as I said in the OP I'm interested in learning some openings, I think once it gets mid game I'm smart enough to learn by experience how and when I've fucked myself, but I have no ability to plot out even a basic strategy (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987382) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:44 PM Author: Milky fighting french chef https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57lKok8sSoc (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987386) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 9:47 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate ty (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987400) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 10:14 PM Author: At-the-ready Ape It’s amazing how much I’ve played chess and still suck so profoundly (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987457) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 10:22 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate I'm pretty sure I've never once made a good decision in getting a rook out on the board in my life (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987468) |
|
Date: July 8th, 2026 11:34 PM Author: duck-like titillating shrine lol at the guy recommending the sicilian when u dont know how the pieces move
as black ur playing caro kann vs e4. this guy has a million videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snbtVWOP7ws
just wing it against d5 for now. can watch a video on the slav if u keep getting lost.
as white u should play london. i think that same guy has another london speedrun series
caro kann u can use your whole life |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 9:03 AM Author: nudist library personal credit line this is genuinely good advice but again it doesn't really sound like OP is interested in the time and devotion needed, even with these tips - chess isn't a "one weird trick" game (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49987959) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 9:40 AM Author: Iridescent menage selfie Yeah, this is basically what I would recommend, the easiest quick gain is to go on youtube and learn a few openings that you like, London on white, caro kann on black, is also exactly what I settled on,
fwiw my elo tends to fluxuate between 1200 and 1000 depending on how dialed in vs distracted I am, (I tend to play distracted quite a bit, playing while sports is on TV and what not, which is not a good recipe for actually playing well) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 7:22 PM Author: nudist library personal credit line what's the elo on, chess.com or lichess blitz or rapid (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49989319) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 8:54 PM Author: pea-brained gaped candlestick maker doctorate I know how they move bro, read the OP, but I've just learned of the london and that does seem like exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for, just something to get started and not fuck myself randomly from the second move (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49989569) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 9:43 AM Author: carmine shaky incel hank can't even figure out how a autoloader pistol works, so I doubt he'd ever get above 1000 rating (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49988015) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 10:05 AM Author: Jet corner Threaten to murder your opponent if/when they put you in check. If they don't resign, brandish a firearm, rack it to show it's loaded, and hiss "check, motherucker!" at them (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49988035) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 10:08 AM Author: laughsome liquid oxygen locus is there any good advice available? I also would not like to be stupid and cannot find info between legit retard rules and asamov conversations.
also am too old to watch youtube videos of people talking for endless hours wihtout knowing at what moment a point might be made. that shit reminds me of barbri courses |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 10:12 AM Author: Jet corner If you don't want to watch videos, fucking READ, motherfucker
Good players memorize a fucking shitload of old games and various moves and gambits. If you're ok with just being a hobbyist, memorize a bunch of openings and mid games and end games
NOTE: I know the rules of, but do not play, chess, nor am I friends with anyone who plays chess |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 10:37 AM Author: carmine shaky incel learning basic tactics (pins, forks, skewers, etc.) and sound positional concepts goes a long way. As the saying goes, good tactics flow from good positions, but you need to learn the tactics because once you know them, you'll understand what positions to avoid and which ones to seek out in order to create favorable tactics. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49988103) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 10:57 AM Author: laughsome liquid oxygen locus thank you. i agree with this but seriously do not know where to find this level of strategy - just tactics. call is "chess for hobbyists" or something like that. There is just too much shit out there on chess and for some odd reason its rambling or overly detailed. odd case. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49988156) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 4:10 PM Author: carmine shaky incel The "Winning Chess" series of books by Yasser Seirawan are pretty accessible and easy to digest. Plus any lecture by Yasser Seirawan on YouTube is easy to listen to. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49988745) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 4:32 PM Author: laughsome liquid oxygen locus ty (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49988799) |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 2:48 PM Author: elite bisexual circlehead Read "Play winning chess"
develop your material
occupy the middle
Don't bring your queen out too early
Do tactics drills a lot |
|
Date: July 9th, 2026 6:15 PM Author: doobsian ticket booth go for moves that make you feel the most 'friction' or gives you the greatest discomfort/seems counterintuitive and kills as many birds as possible with a single stone or move, plans within plans, etc. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5880916&forum_id=2)#49989139) |