Chess.com

All I know is you need Platinum to host multi-tiered tournaments which is I why I went to that level (all for you CFC :love: ).
 
I'm currently at gold level. No need yet to host tournaments and it seems to let me join more than one. It gives much better access to the game explorer opening database.

Diamond gives chess mentor access, right?
Yes, free access. Other plans have to pay. ;)
 
All I know is you need Platinum to host multi-tiered tournaments which is I why I went to that level (all for you CFC :love: ).
Platinum does give you more options than gold, but less than Diamond. Plus unlimited tournaments sure does not hurt. :D
 
I've got a premium membership, and I'd say it's worth it. I look at it like netflix, or a magazine subscription: I spend much more time on chess.com than I do with those other things, and they cost quite a bit more.

the kicker, for me, is the unlimited tactics trainer. That alone makes what I pay for membership worth it. It's the best way for me to hone skills for livechess. Other than playing OTB, of course ;)
 
Yeah, tactics trainer is da' bomb. I think the thing I'm most proud of on chess.com is my peak tactics trainer score (which I notice came about right after my daughter was born & has since dropped off due to stress & lack of focus while training). I was really in the zone @ that time, I could probably get it that high again (or even higher would be great) when I get my real life obligations & priorities a bit more sorted out.

tacticstrainer-1.jpg


In the beginning Pete it's possible to make very, very rapid progress. In college when I first started played (at 19) I went from missing basic knight forks (usually on the c2 & c7 squares) to fairly sophisticated (for an amateur) combination play in the course of two years). Alot of that was due to going over tactics books & checkmate problems (this was pre-tactics computer programs, at least ones I knew about).

Tactics trainer does have a few problems though, IMO. See my post (#6) on this thread, ignoromg my discussion of moderation actions BTW, just note my comments on how TT could be improved (and if you like them you could always PM erik & ask him about them, he did say he liked the idea & he's very open to feedback & generally quick to get back to PM's, even before I went premium :)).

Edit : Just broke 2000 again! :dance:
 
Interesting thread, Narz.

Actually, there is one thing I'd love to see changed about Chess.com: put an Analysis Board button right on the main playing screen, rather than hidden away under the Moves tab. But on the other hand, I try and use the Analysis Board as little as possible, so that I force my brain to do the work on its own ;)
 
I get frustrated sometimes with the tactics trainer when I play a line that wins - just not the line that wins fastest. After all, if I see a forced winning line in a game, i dont look for a faster win.Whats the point. The object is to win, not win fastest.
 
Chess.com blows.

I just lost a damn game because the stupid thing glitched on me and I could no longer move my pieces where I actually wanted them to go. I dont see a "save" game option and I apparently can't chat with the person during a game (unless there is some dumb setting I am missing) and can only chat ever 30 seconds on normal chat unless I pay. What are you paying for?

FICS is a billion times better. I'll use chess.com for civ tourns...but not everyday play.
 
Live Chess definitely needs improvement. Eric says they're working on it & rebuilding it from the ground up & says it will be ready to go within 90 days.

You definitely can chat with your opponent though (see the dialog box below the game). I've had issues with disappearing pieces & timeouts & other problems so I'm probably gonna wait to play too much live chess until they fix it (though I do feel an obligation to get my blitz rating back above 1600 again!).
 
Yeah, live chess is considered beta right now.

I haven't even tried it but that's because I don't like short time controls. Three days per move is just the right speed. :)
 
I don't play much Live Chess, but the game I did play worked pretty flawless.
 
Yeah, live chess is considered beta right now.

I haven't even tried it but that's because I don't like short time controls. Three days per move is just the right speed. :)

Never tried the three day thing.

Though I just lost because I only had a minute left so I couldnht think out a checkmate, and there were no time increments...and I was ahead in material.
 
Good luck to all who joined my tournament. Looks like I will have some tough games ahead to play.
 
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