Maybe I'll suggest that. But don't want to be rude since these better players offer tips and guidance to help me play better.

I can understand for more serious play when one takes notes. But for casual play, I didn't see the basis.

I take it that there is no rule or etiquette, just pedantic.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Maybe I'll suggest that. But don't want to be rude since these better players offer tips and guidance to help me play better.

I can understand for more serious play when one takes notes. But for casual play, I didn't see the basis.

I take it that there is no rule or etiquette, just pedantic.

It wouldn’t be rude for you to ask why they do it. I think some here are curious now; I am.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
That's what I think. But the other players rotate the board. I don't understand why other than the notation. But if you aren't taking notes, why does it matter?

Doesn't make sense to me so checking what is the norm.

Notationless boards - no rotation. Notation boards - rotation. Why if no one is taking notes?

Exactly! And if you went to a different chess club you might find that they do it the logical way. Even if you are writing the moves down you don't need to see what the notation is on the side of the board. You just play e4, etc. and write it down in your notebook.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I'm still playing in local gatherings. I'm noticing when playing with the same player in multiple games (consecutively, not shifting from player to player), there seems to be some rule or etiquette or manner that you rotate the board between games. So, I start as white, then after the game finishes, rotate the board so that I then play black (regardless of who wins/loses? I'm not sure since I usually am the loser).

This seems fair. However, it's a but cumbersome when using the flexible boards. Wood boards are easy to rotate but the flexible boards generally need the pieces removed from the board first.

I'm actually okay not rotating since I'm not taking notes (yet). But there are players that strictly want to rotate (because the boards have a legend - if there is no legend, then it wouldn't matter).

So, did you ask why they rotate the board if not to align the board notation with white?

Not yet - attendance is not prolific this month and I've had some health issues that required some attention. I've been using the time to read the chess books recommended previously. I like the Winning Chess series and the How to wing at Chess (Rozman). Conceptual, explanatory and demonstrative. I put the Morphy book on pause for now. I picked up Test Your Chess with Daniel King and Chess the Easy Way (Fine) as well. And doing puzzles here and there online (mixed bag - I can solve 35%, make stupid errors/miss things on 25%, and can't explain the solution on others. Most of my misses are related to moves that require me to sacrifice a piece (especially queen - I think I have a mentality of protect the queen or die trying).

Well, A 10-year son of friends want to play chess with me. I've been putting him off. I finally texted his mother if he wants to play chess with me and if he has the time then I'll play him. To that end, I bought a chess clock today and a nice chess set from House of Staunton as they have a 30% off Christmas sale.

I remember at 12 years old, a friend of the family would drive me to chess tournaments and gatherings. One of the legends of chess I got to meet and play several times in multi-game exhibition matches was Koltanowski. So I figure I can try to pay some of it forward.

"I remember at 12 years old, a friend of the family would drive me to chess tournaments and gatherings. One of the legends of chess I got to meet and play several times in multi-game exhibition matches was Koltanowski. So I figure I can try to pay some of it forward."


Cool!! I got to play with Mikhail Tal once. Of course I lost.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ogie,

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Not yet - attendance is not prolific this month and I've had some health issues that required some attention.

I hope your health issues have been resolved. I’m still here for the answer but also to report back on my progress and also about the board rotation.

I asked Grok to find me nearby face to face chess games. It gave me four. Last Saturday, I went to one in the public library. There were only 3 adults there but they were very decent players. They said they just casually play. But they do like timed games. 10 minute games are my pace or at least I can play comfortably. I think 15 would be ideal. They accommodated me with 10 minutes. They normally play 5 minute games and the one woman preferred bullet chess which is 1 minute. I won only 1 out of 5 games. But I didn’t mind.

Tonight, I went to a second group which plays at a pub. There was also live music. I counted 9 people. They run USCF rated tournaments at the college. Wide age range, one father brought his 9 year old son who’s learning to play, 3 college age people who were regulars, 2 adults who organized the group and run the local affiliated chess club. The father, son, another adult, and myself were all first timers. The loud music was a distraction. But having said that, I won 4 games out of 5 so it wasn’t much of a challenge for me. The 1 game I lost, it’s because I really was winning but forgot a knight fork check that I had already seen.

I also had to order a new inexpensive set as the two sets I bought are too fancy, they’re wooden heavily weighted chess pieces with wooden boards. I would have to play them only with friends and not strangers.

During a transition to a new game, the other guy and I were swapping pieces to the other side when the organizer who was looking rotated the board. As he did so, it made sense to me why he did that. Most of my pieces were still on my side and same for the other player. Rotating the board was more efficient.

You don’t even need to slide many pieces. If I’m white and capturing black pieces and setting them to the side. And then the next game I’m black, most of the black pieces will already be on my end.

If your charting moves then that’s a separate issue. Even in high school when I played on the chess team I didn’t chart my games.

quote:

Originally posted by ElToro:
You don’t even need to slide many pieces. If I’m white and capturing black pieces and setting them to the side. And then the next game I’m black, most of the black pieces will already be on my end.

If your charting moves then that’s a separate issue. Even in high school when I played on the chess team I didn’t chart my games.

In my case where the guy rotated the board as my opponent and I were moving pieces that were mine to his side, many of the pieces were still in their original spots, especially the pawns. It made sense to me then seeing that. That was the first time I’ve seen the board rotated and I played many games when I was playing. And I was playing in tournaments recording moves.

I played 4 games with the same person. Cheap, non-notated board. After first game, rotated board. After second game, exchange pieces, no rotation. After third game, no rotation, no exchanges. Opponent let me play white again.

I didn’t ask. Opponent is older (80’s?) and speaks little English. But friendly and let’s me get away with minor mistakes. I still lose every game; the games are getting more challenging though. I’m making my opponent think more.