Training for chess by yourself is not what it used to be. You do not have to rely on books or play the game at a club anymore. Now, when you start learning chess, you can begin with an intelligence-powered computerized chessboard. These AI-powered chessboards (also known as chess computers) are different from the basic version of the game: you can play chess online on your phone or PC.
The ability to alter the figures on a chessboard aids in spatial understanding of piece positioning. It also promotes a thought process that reflects a perspective similar to a tournament setting. Therefore, a board that has an in-built artificial intelligence provides a sense of a tournament setting while you continue practicing on your own. If you are looking for chess sets for sale, this type of set can be a good alternative to a basic professional chess set. However, even with such a powerful training tool in your hands, you need to know how to benefit from its pros and avoid its cons.
Why Training Against AI Builds Discipline
Playing against AI builds good habits that you do not always get when you play casual games of chess online. The artificial intelligence can correct you if you make a mistake. If you do not think carefully about your moves or leave one of your pieces unprotected, it will take advantage of that. Over time, this helps you make accurate moves and think more clearly, and learn from your mistakes even without another player to play with.
Your ability to manage your time during a game can also improve with a chess computer. Many chessboards let you play with a clock, which helps you get used to playing with a time limit. This makes you more confident and comfortable playing with a clock without the stress of playing against a person online.
Being able to repeat games and try again is also very helpful. If you handle a situation poorly, you can try it again. This kind of practice is hard to do on chess websites. Thus, if you buy chess set for yourself, you can train anytime and anywhere. Repetition and constant improvement are key to success.
You can also practice your opening moves effectively. By simply trying new moves, you can try out different ideas and see how the artificial intelligence responds. If your idea is not good, the artificial intelligence will show you that, and if your idea is good, it will hold up. This is a good way to understand the theory behind the moves rather than just learning them.
All of these things, i.e., being accurate, practicing repeatedly, controlling your time, and trying out moves, help you build discipline. They make your techniques stronger. But remember that knowing techniques is not all it takes to be a good player.
Where AI Training Falls Short
Even though training with AI has many benefits, it is not perfect. Artificial intelligence looks at the game objectively. Does not get emotional or make mistakes. Real people do. Here’s what can make a chess computer a less useful training instrument:
- When you are playing against another person on the internet, you need to make quick and timely decisions. You may misjudge a situation, change your strategy, or take a risk. These things do not happen with artificial intelligence.
- It may also happen that you get bored playing against intelligence. There may be a sense of repetition. You may get accustomed to playing against this kind of opponent, and then you may find it difficult to play against another opponent, especially if he or she is more unpredictable.
- Another thing that artificial intelligence lacks is that it cannot adapt. Some people may play aggressively, while others may play to control the center of the board or may play carefully. However, artificial intelligence may often play in one particular fashion, according to how it evaluates the board rather than trying to understand the opponent’s psychology.
That’s why practising with artificial intelligence might be easy, fast, and even beneficial, but it is not enough. The best thing to avoid falling into the AI trap of repetitive matches is to combine it with offline chess matches or online chess games with real players. It’s recommended to have a tournament chess board on hand to get used to FIDE standards (many chess shops offer professional chess sets that already meet all recommended parameters), and to mix traditional chess matches with online and AI training.
Moving from AI Board to Online Chess Arena
When you move from training with intelligence to playing against real people online, it is a big step. Your first game might feel very different. Your opponent’s moves might be less predictable. You might feel more pressure to make good decisions quickly.
However, if you have practiced seriously with AI, you will adapt more quickly. Your ability to think critically and make good moves will be stronger. You will be better at managing your time. You will recognize patterns more easily because you have practiced them so many times.
With a modern online chess game, you can put your hard-earned skills to the test in no time. After you have honed your skills by playing by yourself, you would want to test your skills against others. This is because, while the rating system will ensure that you don’t claim to be better than you are, the human element of uncertainty is just not there in the case of computers.
All in all, with chess computers becoming more and more available, more training opportunities appear. AI helps solo players to improve their skills when there’s no opponent in sight, but it’s only a tool that should be used alongside traditional training methods for the best results.
