Opinions on Computer Use

Something ppl seem to forget, the title of the thread is:

OPINIONS on computer use. If you want to play G.W Bush, and not see any opinions, then get the f*** out of the thread! (sorry about the language) You are always free to not click on the thread if you do not wish to see any such opinions. But clearly, the thread title contains the word opinions, so you have no beswack geting upset over others offering controversial opinions.

... You're free to say there's a lot of high rated players cheating; I'm free to say that you're being a jerk for saying so when you don't have a shred of factual evidence to support such an inflammatory accusation.

Using a computer in a chess game without telling your opponent before the game begins is blatantly cheating.

If we're talking about computer use to help play games on this site: thoroughly against it. If I want to play a computer, I can save some money long-term by doing it on a computer without an internet connection turned on.

Using a computer as an opponent to learn from, in you own time, away from this site: fine. My understanding is that some programs come with some kind of 'commentary' which explains what it is doing/why moves are good or bad. Never used one myself, but I think that it's as good a way as any to learn a bit more. But definitely NOT for individual games here.

I remember reading somewhere that our chess-playing ability (rating, elo, etc) will be at least 100 points less if we play using a computer monitor than if we play OTB.

I also suspect that analysing or playing too much from the White side (as online boards, puzzles, etc. are usually set up) will affect our play with the Black pieces.

What do you think?

Originally posted by paultopia
That's insane. I've never played here drunk. Very few people, I think, get drunk and then go home and play chess. That's possibly the most extreme loser thing I can imagine, actually -- go out, party hard, and come home, dead drunk, to blunder away chess games.