This is how I’d like to learn history

That’s what I love about chess. The barrier for entry is so low that anyone can play it pretty much anywhere.

You’ll find it in wealthy areas, poor areas, schools, prisons. Kids play it, their parents play it, their grandparents play it, etc.

I’ve been meaning to do the same, but time keeps getting away from me.

I want to get past the adjustment period because I feel like I’m playing half-blind.

Terrifying…

Just brutal

I’ve been making one-move blunders in daily games this week… I have no excuse.

Those are just their custom vote buttons on the chess subreddit

Yeah, too many rules stifle engagement.

Google 1984

This is current problem in society that we don’t tolerate different opinion.

Exactly this. When online platforms become too homogeneous, any deviation from the typical opinions that are shared seems like a terrible, inexcusable offense that someone must do something about - thus, reinforcing the bubble.

We need to be able to disagree with each other and still get along.

Since most people are talking about the sign-up barriers, I’ll mention culture and reputation.

I love Lemmy and Mastodon, but whenever I’ve seen the fediverse brought up elsewhere, someone inevitably shuts down any curiosity by suggesting that it’s a political echo-chamber. I don’t think that’s accurate for all of it, but if that reputation is out there, we probably need to make an effort to show that there’s a broader appeal. If the average person is expecting the fediverse to be the left-wing equivalent of something like “Truth Social”, I could understand the reluctance to adopt it.

I don’t know if it can transpose into the London very easily, but I might be wrong.

Hikaru, obviously

I can’t believe you’re undefeated against Magnus!

Assuming you’re talking about a Souls game, I only just learned in Elden Ring that the dodge happens on release rather than press… I’ve been playing these games for years. Lol

Oof, you weren’t kidding.

I’m happy to talk chess any time.

If you’re just starting out and looking to improve, doing a search for “chess principles” helps so much, because they teach you simple, solid play without memorization. Then, whenever you DO want to learn an opening, they make more sense, like “Oh, this one is designed to let me castle early” or “Aha, I see that every opening revolves around different ways to take control of the middle squares”

The best way to get started is just to download either the chess.com app or the (open source) Lichess app, which are the 2 main platforms, and start playing. They have matchmaking (elo), so you’ll be paired against people around your level.

Oh, and take advantage of the puzzles. I burn through those for fun, and I credit them as the #1 way I’ve been improving.

Not really for a while, I think. I’m around 1400 online and only know like 3-4 moves into a few of my favorite openings.

You really only need to focus on chess “principles” to get started, like why it’s good to control the middle, and developing all of your pieces before moving one twice, etc.

Anything that has set turns or levels with natural points to pause. The short time commitment make it easier to “one more turn” my way into playing for hours.

XCOM 2 is phenomenal for this.

You underestimate my slowness…