3 ms·

After a lifetime of chess, I've more recently become a fan of Fischer random chess (aka Chess960)[1], where the back rows of pieces are shuffled before the game

After a lifetime of chess, I've more recently become a fan of Fischer random chess (aka Chess960)[1], where the back rows of pieces are shuffled before the game begins. It puts puts people on a more equal footing in terms of their actual chess playing skills instead of their opening memorization abilities. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fischer_random_chess https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fischer_random_chess

jedberg 6y ago
I was coming here to say the same thing. I'm in no way a good chess player by any means, but the equalization of Fischer chess appeals to me. I'm not going to lose because I didn't memorize as many openings, I'm going to lose because I suck.
- Judgmentality 6y ago
  > I'm going to lose because I suck. I find this strangely motivational. I guess I'm a sucker for fairness.
dwheeler 6y ago
I'm the article of the referenced article on chess openings. I'm also one of the authors of the Wikipedia article on Chess960 (Fischer Random Chess); you can see the information I wrote about it here: https://dwheeler.com/essays/Fischer_Random_Chess.html https://dwheeler.com/essays/Fischer_Random_Chess.html I think Chess960 is fun! But many people want to play "traditional chess", not Chess960. Also, knowing a little about traditional chess openings also helps when you're playing Chess960. Memorizing a long list of opening moves isn't helpful, but seeing examples of good openings is helpful even when the starting position is different.
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jacobsenscott 6y ago
I prefer chess 960 for the same reason. I love playing chess, but really I hate studying openings. All the opening principles (control the center, activate your pieces, etc) apply in chess 960, but you need to think about applying them rather than doing them by rote. This has actually done a lot to improve my traditional chess play. I've gone from terrible to mediocre.

jedberg 6y ago

I was coming here to say the same thing. I'm in no way a good chess player by any means, but the equalization of Fischer chess appeals to me. I'm not going to lose because I didn't memorize as many openings, I'm going to lose because I suck.

Judgmentality 6y ago
> I'm going to lose because I suck. I find this strangely motivational. I guess I'm a sucker for fairness.

dwheeler 6y ago

I'm the article of the referenced article on chess openings. I'm also one of the authors of the Wikipedia article on Chess960 (Fischer Random Chess); you can see the information I wrote about it here: https://dwheeler.com/essays/Fischer_Random_Chess.html https://dwheeler.com/essays/Fischer_Random_Chess.html I think Chess960 is fun! But many people want to play "traditional chess", not Chess960. Also, knowing a little about traditional chess openings also helps when you're playing Chess960. Memorizing a long list of opening moves isn't helpful, but seeing examples of good openings is helpful even when the starting position is different.

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jacobsenscott 6y ago

I prefer chess 960 for the same reason. I love playing chess, but really I hate studying openings. All the opening principles (control the center, activate your pieces, etc) apply in chess 960, but you need to think about applying them rather than doing them by rote. This has actually done a lot to improve my traditional chess play. I've gone from terrible to mediocre.