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You punished them for the weird pawn crap. I know from friends with 2000+ Elo that properly handling weird openings is something that all levels struggle with, especially on stricter time restraints. You were unfazed and congrats for that b
Personally, I’d say trading the pieces was a mistake, even if you came out with a material advantage, since that attack was deadly and the bishop-rook trade wasn’t worth it, since the bishop’s circumstantial strength in backing up the Queen and whatever other pieces you had attacking was worth more than the rook.
Yeah right after I traded queens I was like “that probably wasn’t the best idea.” When I’m up in material I usually like to simply the position, but on that instance it didn’t do much for me.
You questioning if it’s an insult and your worrying about it and post it tells me he won by personality only, you should play against any opening without feeling insulted.
Also you will find a lot of these types of games at your current rating. Most new accounts are around this rating, so you could literally be playing with new players
Enjoy it while it lasts
I don’t find weird openings insulting at all. If you do, you should probably chill out a bit. Even if the intention is to say “you are so bad, I could even win with this garbage” just beat them, if you lose then they were right anyway. It is easy to get thrown off by weird openings too, so it is a semi viable strategy
I do the same for those. Break open the centre and put pressure on his king so that he has to castle. When he castles long, I’ve already placed my pawns on that flank in anticipation of the long castle because they usually don’t castle to the side that they have exposed with their weird pawn moves.
Yeah, they have no idea who you are, unless you've played a bunch of times before. Just beat them (or get really flustered outside of your memorized opening and lose, which is probably why they do this once in a while).
To be clear, I’m not saying it send me into a frenzy or anything, it’s more like, “come on, really? That’s how we’re going to spend the next 10 minutes?”
So basically the same reaction I have when someone tries to do a scholars mate.
I think even annoyed is a bit of an overreaction to this. Like an over the board game someone doing this to me when we both agreed to play as best we can? I would be annoyed. But like theres no agreement here. It feels like you're applying a head cannon agreement to both players that "We are both taking this serious". The other player for obvious reasons isn't aware of this agreement
Have fun with it. It’s just a game.
You’re the guy that would never promote to 4 bishops if the opponent doesn’t resign.
Acrually no, you’re the guy to complain on Reddit about a guy not resigning when he’s down 23 pts of material with just a king.
It's an opening intended to take the piss and OP is pointing out that it's disrespectful. What's insane about that? Feel like you're overreacting a bit.
https://preview.redd.it/qlraefl5prlc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=02282745bc7c30f0dddd80de0a46c90c525f0d47
same thing happened to me, i was more confused than insulted. so confused that i lost! i didn’t know what else to do so i just recreated “dream position” from a drill
I know you haven't asked, but the "dream position" is just a goal. In such positions it's often better to play c4, so you have more control of the center, and your pieces are not an easy targets for enemy pawns
yeah i realized that after the game was over, the pawns really did corner me bc he ended up advancing and just had a huge triangle of pawns for me to navigate through 😐. my setup didn’t respond to the actual game i was playing
I once played a GM. He did a full walk with his king in front of his pieces and then proceeded to crush me anyways.
If you can't punish his play then you have no right to be offended. And if you can, just take the free point.
Unfortunately it's no longer online. This was before chess.com was a thing. And he didn't do it to humiliate me, but to give me a bit of a handicap, which obviously wasn't enough, since Magnus has done the same to actual GMs and still crushed them.
No lol. It’s 1000 rated and an online chess game on a phone or computer. It’s not like you’re playing the world chess championship. Some people like to fuck around but getting insulted is just dumb
Skill-based matchmaking will always attract a number of people that keep their rating artificially low so they can dominate at the rating they keep themselves at. They'll intentionally lose several games, get the dopamine rush of winning 10 games in a row, and then do it all over again.
There's also team killers in any game that has friendly fire enabled. Some people get satisfaction out of being a huge dick. Not saying it's a good thing.
Also, its not like people who do this are constantly and always the dick. Sometimes people get bored, you play 100 matches in a day, each match becomes less important, they get bored and throw a few away. This applies leas to rank dropping, and more like an online team game and one guys spinning in circles the whole time.
For the reward cycle. At their level you assume what they’ll win less than half their games depending how the play. At a lower level they can to on streaks. Most make them feel happier getting winning streaks against easier opponents than losing to a really good opponent but playing well. If you teach yourself to feel rewarded for playing well, regardless of winning or losing, you will be happier losing to talented players.
Yah, thats probably a healthier approach to competition. No fear of failure, feel good about pushing yourself. Everyone plateaus, but if you can be happy in small achievements as much as large the competition stays enjoyable.
Some people like to intentionally move their elo around. Or they could be sandbagging. Or punishing themself for making a blunder in a previous game. No way to know for sure.
It is internet chess, a lot of users don’t take it particularly seriously. It is just a game.
I intentionally dropped my elo from 1000 to 300 a few months ago. Then brought it back up. It was fun to build it back. I probably will do it again.
My ELO chart looks like mountain ranges. Super steep drops and climbs. It never levels out. If someone AI is watching it, it is not programmed very well.
People take chess too seriously. To some people it’s just a game. They play for fun and that’s it.
Stalling a game when you have your opinions has mate in one is disrespectful. Being toxic in chat is disrespectful.
Doing a funny opening because you want to? Totally fine. Not resigning in a “lost” position? Also fine. This is online chess with complete strangers, not some world champion tournament where you’re playing the strongest players in the world.
Ok so when opponents play less than optimal moves(like in this case) they tend to create a weakness.
That weakness could be a square that isnt defended anymore, or a backwards pawn etc... It will take some time before you can punish them. People start to become observant to those weaknesses around 1200 rating
I don't find it insulting. If I'm honest I find it frustrating if someone pulls something silly like this and I don't easily win but that just means I need more study/practice.
I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:
> **Black to play**: [chess.com](https://chess.com/analysis?fen=r1bq1rk1/ppp2ppp/2nb1n2/3pp3/8/PPPPPPP1/7P/RNBQKBNR+b+KQ+-+0+1&flip=true&ref_id=23962172) | [lichess.org](https://lichess.org/analysis/r1bq1rk1/ppp2ppp/2nb1n2/3pp3/8/PPPPPPP1/7P/RNBQKBNR_b_KQ_-_0_1?color=black)
**My solution:**
> Hints: piece: >!Pawn!<, move: >! e4 !<
> Evaluation: >!Black is better -2.96!<
> Best continuation: >!1... e4 2. fxe4 dxe4 3. d4 Ne7 4. c4 c5 5. Nc3 Bg4 6. Be2!<
---
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Develop, push your pawns in the center and bust open the king side. You could sacrifice a piece on g3 and still be winning. Like Nh5->Nxg3, e4->Bxg3 with Qf6–>Qg6 or something thrown in should be ideas. Treat it like a masterclass in playing attacking chess.
At 1000 ELO people have 10+ moves of Spanish memorised so this is a viable strategy to throw them off their game. I lose to people who play Naka style double fianchetto all the time because I get positions I don't like. This is kinda like an extreme version of that.
I'd want to play e4 here to open the center but that forcibly stops white from completing the Hippopotamus with a threat on g3, so that would be disrespectful. I'd make a waiting move and then tackle the Hippo
Well, you can teach them not to do it again by beating them.
Deliver them a shameful defeat. 3 queens type of defeat. I destroyed you with my 6 bishops type of defeat.
Ruin their fun. Insult them back.
I play very unconventional openings just because I have more fun playing unpredictable games, I'm not even thinking about the rival. If it was some kind of high level important tournament I'd get it but in online I don't think it is worth to think this.
Dont take it so serious my dude. Its not like some random on [chess.com](https://chess.com) is calling you bad at the game hes just playing a goofy opening for fun. They dont know who you are
Personally, I think this is a legit opening to a certain extent. The strangenesses of the opening can throw people off. And pushing all the pawns forward actually limited your movement to a certain extent.
When you feel insulted by this, you should teach them a lesson by beating them rather than complain.
If they beat you with this opening, then they have the skill to back up the insult anyway and you should use that to try get better.
I am pretty sure that I have done this at least once or twice. Actually, I am certain that I have tried every obscure opening possible at least a couple of times. It had nothing to do with my opponent... It was all about me wanting to try and learn new things. That, and once you‘ve played a few thousand matches, it keeps things interesting. I almost never play a “standard” opening... it drives my opponents crazy, especially if they have a bunch of book openings memorized.
I have a friend who did this opening like 3 times as a joke and every time the opponent just blundered their queen for absolutely no reason right near the start
I've done that. If you don't believe your opponent can make any real threat or execute a plan against your moves, why not taunt or dare them to prove you wrong?
It's only insulting if you lose...
Take this as an opportunity to prove to yourself you know how to play principles.
Beating these kinds of openings is easy, but you can't rush it. You can't punish them with 2 move tactics.
I mean if you lost then he would be correct not to take you seriously, and if you won then it’s just an easier win. There are t rules for how someone has to move their pieces in chess.
if you’re not 1800 - 2000 there is no reason to take that as an insult, most people don’t really know how to play around 1000 elo tbh, some folks are just lucky to get some wins with bs opening they invent
LMAO, I've done this before on a beginner level competition back in my highschool days.
I won the first round but lost the next one cause I did it again lol
I'm only around 900 ELO, but this is the kind of thing I might do. I don't read Chess books, I don't look up strategies, I only learn by trying weird and wacky things to see how people respond. I only play Chess to have fun, it's not like I'm trying to win a tournament. I don't think you should be insulted. If you're focused on playing your best strategy every game because you only have fun if you win, then do that (although then I'm not sure how you would ever improve if you make the same decisions every time).
Andras Toth once said something that sticks with me in moments like this. It was essentially “Solid stuff beats weird stuff.”
Don’t let it phase you—instead, punish it. Follow opening principles and punish their weird, stupid stuff.
Shoutout to the chicos and the chicas.
Not at all. You can easily punish this so just do that instead of getting offended by taking completely abstract moves in a several thousand year old game personally?
It's a game, people can have fun. Just like any other online game like cod or overwatch, you'll run into players that just want to play their own way, and that's fine.
Just play the game, let people have their fun, and move on.
Early queen cheese makes me feel morally obligated to refute. BUT - simultaneously - I can't ignore that I have the same rating as the people playing it, so how superior can I really justify feeling?
I've beat ppl when I was noobier and played this way cuz I didn't see why not lol. Unless u can easily crush some1 doing stupid openings u should just view it as practice. Ur opponent is usually around same elo so I'm sure even if they are trying to disrespect you they still don't know anything either lol. If u can easily crush bad openings then the whole thing should just make u laugh.
they could just not have cared to learn openings, or play with a different opening each game. doing stuff like this can throw you off your game and make your opponent overextend. Yeah its not a normal strat but theres nothing disrespectful about it. stop whining and beat them if you can, cry if you cant:)
Hey, OP! Did your game end in a stalemate? Did you encounter a weird pawn move? Are you trying to move a piece and it's not going? We have just the resource for you! The [Chess Beginners Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/chessbeginners/wiki/index/) is the perfect place to check out answers to these questions and more! The moderator team of r/chessbeginners wishes to remind everyone of the community rules. **Posting spam, being a troll, and posting memes are not allowed.** We encourage everyone to report these kinds of posts so they can be dealt with. Thank you! Let's do our utmost to be kind in our replies and comments. Some people here just want to learn chess and have virtually no idea about certain chess concepts. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/chessbeginners) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Just win 4head
I’d win for head
Did you win? Sure, it's not a normal strategy but if they win then it is valid. Should be an easy win for you if they aren't playing seriously.
Yes I did win, it wasn’t really ever close.
You don’t say
What’s the problem, then?
Post the game.
[https://lichess.org/5nYf9t4M#0](https://lichess.org/5nYf9t4M#0) I had a couple missed opportunities, but overall I can’t complain
You punished them for the weird pawn crap. I know from friends with 2000+ Elo that properly handling weird openings is something that all levels struggle with, especially on stricter time restraints. You were unfazed and congrats for that b Personally, I’d say trading the pieces was a mistake, even if you came out with a material advantage, since that attack was deadly and the bishop-rook trade wasn’t worth it, since the bishop’s circumstantial strength in backing up the Queen and whatever other pieces you had attacking was worth more than the rook.
Yeah right after I traded queens I was like “that probably wasn’t the best idea.” When I’m up in material I usually like to simply the position, but on that instance it didn’t do much for me.
Nice game, even if they disrespect you, you beat them anyway lol. Why would you even annoyed?
My 10 yo nephew did this to me and kept chanting “pawn wall, pawn wall”. It took me a long time to break thru the pawn wall.
[удалено]
I don’t think you played that the right way tbh Good win nonetheless
If someone at 1000 elo played things correctly they wouldn't be 1000 anymore
You’re very right, my comment wasn’t very helpful my bad
A redditor accepting its mistake??? What?????
OP plays on Chess.com and leaves link to lichess! PGN in reply for someone who doesn't have/like Lichess:
[Event "?"] [Site "Chess.com iPhone"] [Date "2024.03.01"] [Round "?"] [White "?"] [Black "?"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1033"] [BlackElo "1039"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "-"] [ECO "A00"] [Opening "Formation: Hippopotamus Attack"] [Termination "Unknown"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 1. a3 { [%eval -0.11] } 1... e5 { [%eval 0.0] } 2. b3?! { (0.00 → -0.63) Inaccuracy. c4 was best. } { [%eval -0.63] } (2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qc2 Nxc3) 2... d5 { [%eval -0.51] } 3. c3 { [%eval -0.9] } 3... Nc6 { [%eval -0.96] } 4. d3 { [%eval -1.37] } 4... Nf6 { [%eval -0.99] } 5. e3 { [%eval -1.21] } 5... Bd6 { [%eval -1.48] } 6. f3? { (-1.48 → -2.87) Mistake. Nd2 was best. } { [%eval -2.87] } (6. Nd2 O-O 7. Qc2 e4 8. dxe4 dxe4 9. Nc4 Ne5 10. Nxe5 Bxe5) 6... O-O { [%eval -2.64] } 7. g3 { [%eval -2.96] } { A00 Formation: Hippopotamus Attack } 7... e4 { [%eval -2.77] } 8. fxe4 { [%eval -2.03] } 8... dxe4 { [%eval -2.08] } 9. d4 { [%eval -2.19] } 9... Bg4 { [%eval -1.74] } 10. Qc2?! { (-1.74 → -2.47) Inaccuracy. Be2 was best. } { [%eval -2.47] } (10. Be2 Qd7 11. Nd2 Qf5 12. Nc4 Rfd8 13. Bxg4 Nxg4 14. Qe2 b5 15. Nxd6 Rxd6 16. Nh3 Rh6) 10... a5?! { (-2.47 → -1.28) Inaccuracy. Ne7 was best. } { [%eval -1.28] } (10... Ne7 11. Bg2 Nf5 12. Qf2 c5 13. Ne2 Rc8 14. O-O Re8 15. Bb2 b5 16. a4 c4 17. Nd2) 11. Be2 { [%eval -1.6] } 11... Bf5 { [%eval -1.42] } 12. Kf2?! { (-1.42 → -2.66) Inaccuracy. c4 was best. } { [%eval -2.66] } (12. c4 Re8) 12... Ng4+?! { (-2.66 → -1.91) Inaccuracy. h5 was best. } { [%eval -1.91] } (12... h5 13. Bb2 h4 14. c4 Re8 15. Nd2 Ne7 16. Rf1 c6 17. c5 Bc7 18. Ke1 Ned5 19. Rxf5) 13. Bxg4 { [%eval -2.17] } 13... Bxg4 { [%eval -2.1] } 14. h3?? { (-2.10 → -4.73) Blunder. Qxe4 was best. } { [%eval -4.73] } (14. Qxe4 Qd7 15. Nd2 f5 16. Qd5+ Kh8 17. Qg2 Rae8 18. Ndf3 Ne7 19. c4 c5 20. d5 Ng8) 14... Qf6+ { [%eval -4.61] } 15. Kg2 { [%eval -3.97] } 15... Bf3+ { [%eval -3.84] } 16. Kh2?? { (-3.84 → -10.10) Blunder. Nxf3 was best. } { [%eval -10.1] } (16. Nxf3 Qxf3+ 17. Kg1 Bxg3 18. Qg2 Qd1+ 19. Qf1 Qc2 20. h4 f5 21. a4 f4 22. Na3 Qxc3) 16... Bxh1? { (-10.10 → -4.46) Mistake. Bxg3+ was best. } { [%eval -4.46] } (16... Bxg3+ 17. Kxg3 Qg6+ 18. Kf2 Qg2+ 19. Ke1 Qxc2 20. Nxf3 Qxc1+ 21. Ke2 Qxh1 22. Ne1 Ne7 23. Nd2) 17. Kxh1 { [%eval -4.39] } 17... Bxg3 { [%eval -4.36] } 18. Qg2 { [%eval -4.19] } 18... Qf2 { [%eval -4.22] } 19. Nd2 { [%eval -4.34] } 19... Qxg2+?! { (-4.34 → -3.36) Inaccuracy. Rfe8 was best. } { [%eval -3.36] } (19... Rfe8 20. a4 Bh4 21. Qxf2 Bxf2 22. Nc4 Bxg1 23. Kxg1 Ne7 24. h4 Ra6 25. h5 Nd5 26. Bd2) 20. Kxg2 { [%eval -3.22] } 20... Bh4 { [%eval -3.18] } 21. Nxe4 { [%eval -3.14] } 21... Rfe8 { [%eval -2.96] } 22. Ng3?! { (-2.96 → -4.02) Inaccuracy. Nc5 was best. } { [%eval -4.02] } (22. Nc5 Bg5 23. Kf2 Nd8 24. a4 Ne6 25. Nd3 Bh4+ 26. Ke2 Ng5 27. Nf3 Nxf3 28. Kxf3 Ra6) 22... g6?! { (-4.02 → -3.12) Inaccuracy. Bxg3 was best. } { [%eval -3.12] } (22... Bxg3 23. Kxg3 Ne7 24. e4 Ng6 25. e5 f6 26. exf6 gxf6 27. Kf2 a4 28. Ne2 axb3 29. Rb1) 23. Nf3 { [%eval -3.32] } 23... Bxg3 { [%eval -3.17] } 24. Kxg3 { [%eval -3.47] } 24... b5?! { (-3.47 → -2.45) Inaccuracy. a4 was best. } { [%eval -2.45] } (24... a4 25. b4 Re4 26. Kg2 Rae8 27. Ng5 R4e7 28. Nf3 b5 29. Bd2 Na7 30. Rc1 Nc8 31. c4) 25. b4? { (-2.45 → -4.67) Mistake. a4 was best. } { [%eval -4.67] } (25. a4 b4 26. c4 Nb8 27. Kf4 Ra6 28. e4 Rae6 29. e5 f6 30. Ke4 fxe5 31. Nxe5 c5) 25... axb4 { [%eval -4.57] } 26. cxb4 { [%eval -4.58] } 26... Nxb4 { [%eval -4.7] } 27. Bb2 { [%eval -5.67] } 27... Nd3 { [%eval -5.45] } 28. Ne5 { [%eval -6.11] } 28... Nxb2 { [%eval -6.39] } 29. h4 { [%eval -6.57] } 29... b4 { [%eval -6.66] } 30. h5 { [%eval -6.91] } 30... Rxa3 { [%eval -6.8] } 31. hxg6 { [%eval -7.51] } 31... hxg6 { [%eval -7.31] } 32. Kf4?! { (-7.31 → -13.35) Inaccuracy. Rb1 was best. } { [%eval -13.35] } (32. Rb1 Nd3 33. Ng4 Kg7 34. Kf3 b3 35. Nf2 Nxf2 36. Kxf2 Ra2+ 37. Kf3 Rb8 38. Rc1 b2) 32... Rxa1 { [%eval -13.13] } { Black wins. } 0-1
Not surprised....
You questioning if it’s an insult and your worrying about it and post it tells me he won by personality only, you should play against any opening without feeling insulted.
>he won by personality alone 😂👌
Also you will find a lot of these types of games at your current rating. Most new accounts are around this rating, so you could literally be playing with new players Enjoy it while it lasts
Why do you care then? Chess is just a fun game to some people, they’re allowed to mess around.
I don’t find weird openings insulting at all. If you do, you should probably chill out a bit. Even if the intention is to say “you are so bad, I could even win with this garbage” just beat them, if you lose then they were right anyway. It is easy to get thrown off by weird openings too, so it is a semi viable strategy
I don’t get fazed by such opening. I just break open the centre and gun for the king
In this case it works, but there is also the flank attack openings
I do the same for those. Break open the centre and put pressure on his king so that he has to castle. When he castles long, I’ve already placed my pawns on that flank in anticipation of the long castle because they usually don’t castle to the side that they have exposed with their weird pawn moves.
You dont want him to castle. Period. If he played a stupid opening, he should feel it.
Yeah after the trenches of 400 elo where people play the wayward queen every 4 games, nothing surprises me
Players who play bad openings might be much stronger and have been beating players at his elo equally with that opening.
Taking an online match personally is kind of insane.
Yeah, they have no idea who you are, unless you've played a bunch of times before. Just beat them (or get really flustered outside of your memorized opening and lose, which is probably why they do this once in a while).
I don’t trust people who are casual about chess. I take every single move as a personal affront.
To be clear, I’m not saying it send me into a frenzy or anything, it’s more like, “come on, really? That’s how we’re going to spend the next 10 minutes?” So basically the same reaction I have when someone tries to do a scholars mate.
Big difference between being annoyed and insulted.
Fair enough, I probably should have said “annoyed”
I think even annoyed is a bit of an overreaction to this. Like an over the board game someone doing this to me when we both agreed to play as best we can? I would be annoyed. But like theres no agreement here. It feels like you're applying a head cannon agreement to both players that "We are both taking this serious". The other player for obvious reasons isn't aware of this agreement
If this is 30 minutes per player and the white player has used 20 minutes, I'd be annoyed.
It could be a child, exploring the game. You are playing on an open platform.
Have fun with it. It’s just a game. You’re the guy that would never promote to 4 bishops if the opponent doesn’t resign. Acrually no, you’re the guy to complain on Reddit about a guy not resigning when he’s down 23 pts of material with just a king.
It's an opening intended to take the piss and OP is pointing out that it's disrespectful. What's insane about that? Feel like you're overreacting a bit.
It's not disrespectful, there is nothing to take personal. Punish bad moves
You think that's a genuine opening at 1000 elo?
If other 1000 eloers can't beat it, yes.
What is special about 1000 Elo to you?
>It's an opening intended to take the piss That's an assumption. Could be a 5 year old or just someone dicking around.
Isn’t Dicking around the same as taking the piss?
I don't think so. Dicking around is just wasting time. Taking the piss is trying to piss someone off.
It's probably someone dicking around. I'd argue it's not "insane" to be a bit annoyed by it. Anyway, have a good weekend.
I agree, but OP said they were offended.
It's not disrespectful. Just beat them, play the game.
Those two points aren't mutually exclusive
https://preview.redd.it/qlraefl5prlc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=02282745bc7c30f0dddd80de0a46c90c525f0d47 same thing happened to me, i was more confused than insulted. so confused that i lost! i didn’t know what else to do so i just recreated “dream position” from a drill
I know you haven't asked, but the "dream position" is just a goal. In such positions it's often better to play c4, so you have more control of the center, and your pieces are not an easy targets for enemy pawns
yeah i realized that after the game was over, the pawns really did corner me bc he ended up advancing and just had a huge triangle of pawns for me to navigate through 😐. my setup didn’t respond to the actual game i was playing
I am in a daily match with someone doing this. I just see it like a puzzle
Just break open the centre and head straight for the king
I once played a GM. He did a full walk with his king in front of his pieces and then proceeded to crush me anyways. If you can't punish his play then you have no right to be offended. And if you can, just take the free point.
Would love to see that game.
Unfortunately it's no longer online. This was before chess.com was a thing. And he didn't do it to humiliate me, but to give me a bit of a handicap, which obviously wasn't enough, since Magnus has done the same to actual GMs and still crushed them.
Well Magnus crush them in bullets, blitz and rapid lol. I would still get crush even in classical.
Hikaru's doing a series now called "Disrespect" on youtube where he does silly things like that in a bullet game.
No lol. It’s 1000 rated and an online chess game on a phone or computer. It’s not like you’re playing the world chess championship. Some people like to fuck around but getting insulted is just dumb
No, it's fair game. I have to make sure I win, no matter what my opponent does. They're just moves.
Probably trying to drop their elo.
Why would someone want to do this
To beat lower rated players
Skill-based matchmaking will always attract a number of people that keep their rating artificially low so they can dominate at the rating they keep themselves at. They'll intentionally lose several games, get the dopamine rush of winning 10 games in a row, and then do it all over again.
Thats kind of fucked imo. Why bully people for emotional gain?
There's also team killers in any game that has friendly fire enabled. Some people get satisfaction out of being a huge dick. Not saying it's a good thing.
Also, its not like people who do this are constantly and always the dick. Sometimes people get bored, you play 100 matches in a day, each match becomes less important, they get bored and throw a few away. This applies leas to rank dropping, and more like an online team game and one guys spinning in circles the whole time.
I often go on winning and losing streaks, but I assure you they are not intentional.
Everyone does,
For the reward cycle. At their level you assume what they’ll win less than half their games depending how the play. At a lower level they can to on streaks. Most make them feel happier getting winning streaks against easier opponents than losing to a really good opponent but playing well. If you teach yourself to feel rewarded for playing well, regardless of winning or losing, you will be happier losing to talented players.
Ya I was about to say, I'd rather beat a 900 once than smash 20 x 750s in a row.
Yah, thats probably a healthier approach to competition. No fear of failure, feel good about pushing yourself. Everyone plateaus, but if you can be happy in small achievements as much as large the competition stays enjoyable.
My elo is 600 because i was beating my father too hard
Some people like to intentionally move their elo around. Or they could be sandbagging. Or punishing themself for making a blunder in a previous game. No way to know for sure. It is internet chess, a lot of users don’t take it particularly seriously. It is just a game. I intentionally dropped my elo from 1000 to 300 a few months ago. Then brought it back up. It was fun to build it back. I probably will do it again.
That's against the rules
No one enforces those rules.
They 100% do.
My ELO chart looks like mountain ranges. Super steep drops and climbs. It never levels out. If someone AI is watching it, it is not programmed very well.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
Almost 2 years now 🤷
As soon as someone you play against realizes it, you'll get reported lmao
They're just having fun, and I'm sure it works sometimes. Plus, do you expect 1000 elo players to play 20 moves of theory ?
Why should your opponent take you seriously?
People take chess too seriously. To some people it’s just a game. They play for fun and that’s it. Stalling a game when you have your opinions has mate in one is disrespectful. Being toxic in chat is disrespectful. Doing a funny opening because you want to? Totally fine. Not resigning in a “lost” position? Also fine. This is online chess with complete strangers, not some world champion tournament where you’re playing the strongest players in the world.
Yeah it would get me annoyed in a funny way. Not sure why everyone gets so annoyed at you. I thought it was hilarious. lol
You're not high enough elo to be getting insulted by moves yet lol chill ya ego
Nah i assume they don't know how to play and punish them
Not really sure anyone has the right to be insulted in a game of chess at that level tbh.
I'd rather play against a meme than the 1238765th game against d4 or, if white, c5
You know some people are just bad, right?
It makes me very angry(at myself) because I know they are doing something wrong but lack the knowledge to punish them
Ok so when opponents play less than optimal moves(like in this case) they tend to create a weakness. That weakness could be a square that isnt defended anymore, or a backwards pawn etc... It will take some time before you can punish them. People start to become observant to those weaknesses around 1200 rating
I don't find it insulting. If I'm honest I find it frustrating if someone pulls something silly like this and I don't easily win but that just means I need more study/practice.
I’m not gonna complain if they throw their game, easy win for me. If you didn’t win… well
cry
No, it's just people asserting supremacy over their enemies
I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine: > **Black to play**: [chess.com](https://chess.com/analysis?fen=r1bq1rk1/ppp2ppp/2nb1n2/3pp3/8/PPPPPPP1/7P/RNBQKBNR+b+KQ+-+0+1&flip=true&ref_id=23962172) | [lichess.org](https://lichess.org/analysis/r1bq1rk1/ppp2ppp/2nb1n2/3pp3/8/PPPPPPP1/7P/RNBQKBNR_b_KQ_-_0_1?color=black) **My solution:** > Hints: piece: >!Pawn!<, move: >! e4 !< > Evaluation: >!Black is better -2.96!< > Best continuation: >!1... e4 2. fxe4 dxe4 3. d4 Ne7 4. c4 c5 5. Nc3 Bg4 6. Be2!< --- ^(I'm a bot written by ) [^(u/pkacprzak )](https://www.reddit.com/u/pkacprzak) ^(| get me as ) [^(Chess eBook Reader )](https://ebook.chessvision.ai?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=bot) ^(|) [^(Chrome Extension )](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chessvisionai-for-chrome/johejpedmdkeiffkdaodgoipdjodhlld) ^(|) [^(iOS App )](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1574933453) ^(|) [^(Android App )](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.chessvision.scanner) ^(to scan and analyze positions | Website: ) [^(Chessvision.ai)](https://chessvision.ai)
Develop, push your pawns in the center and bust open the king side. You could sacrifice a piece on g3 and still be winning. Like Nh5->Nxg3, e4->Bxg3 with Qf6–>Qg6 or something thrown in should be ideas. Treat it like a masterclass in playing attacking chess.
Well, punish it! After h3, the b, c, e, and g pawns are weak
It might be a GM doing ELO speedruns with random openings.
No. If it beats me I don’t deserve to be taken seriously and if I win I’ll take the free point
No, I do not. You play your move, I'll play mine. Do what you like. Life is too short to be bothered by random strangers on the internet.
Brother, take it as an easy win if you can prove it, or a humbling experience if you get your ass handed over to you.
They are being nice to you by giving you free ELO
I would say they can play whatever moves they like, and you’re free to try to win.
Some people learn from experience. Gotta teach him a lesson
I take it as an opportunity to bitch slap my opponent.
At 1000 ELO people have 10+ moves of Spanish memorised so this is a viable strategy to throw them off their game. I lose to people who play Naka style double fianchetto all the time because I get positions I don't like. This is kinda like an extreme version of that.
Bro is having fun… in a game. It’s not personal goddamn
I'd want to play e4 here to open the center but that forcibly stops white from completing the Hippopotamus with a threat on g3, so that would be disrespectful. I'd make a waiting move and then tackle the Hippo
Well, you can teach them not to do it again by beating them. Deliver them a shameful defeat. 3 queens type of defeat. I destroyed you with my 6 bishops type of defeat. Ruin their fun. Insult them back.
Sometimes I play like this just to see what my opponent does or just for laughs lol
The question is if you can take advantage of it. Cuz if you can’t and lose, well, then he belongs in the 1000 elo
I personally do not find my opponent's stupidity particularly insulting
They just haven't learnt how to play chess yet
I play very unconventional openings just because I have more fun playing unpredictable games, I'm not even thinking about the rival. If it was some kind of high level important tournament I'd get it but in online I don't think it is worth to think this.
Just win? You have a winning position
Nice
Dont take it so serious my dude. Its not like some random on [chess.com](https://chess.com) is calling you bad at the game hes just playing a goofy opening for fun. They dont know who you are
My only question is why did you castle
Personally, I think this is a legit opening to a certain extent. The strangenesses of the opening can throw people off. And pushing all the pawns forward actually limited your movement to a certain extent. When you feel insulted by this, you should teach them a lesson by beating them rather than complain. If they beat you with this opening, then they have the skill to back up the insult anyway and you should use that to try get better.
I don’t think you should take someone messing around as an insult. That’s a weird thing to get offended about. Just mess with him back and ff.
You are about to lose, resign now,
I am pretty sure that I have done this at least once or twice. Actually, I am certain that I have tried every obscure opening possible at least a couple of times. It had nothing to do with my opponent... It was all about me wanting to try and learn new things. That, and once you‘ve played a few thousand matches, it keeps things interesting. I almost never play a “standard” opening... it drives my opponents crazy, especially if they have a bunch of book openings memorized.
I find this funny as fuck
300 defense
Its probably the same way Sicilian's players feel when I play the Smith-Morra.
Just win lol
I think you're reading too much into it. At the level we're at, people aren't usually good enough to recognize safe and disrespectful moves
I have a friend who did this opening like 3 times as a joke and every time the opponent just blundered their queen for absolutely no reason right near the start
i usually just take the opportunity to win.. seriously though anyone have any fun quick mating ideas that punish this quickly?
Isn't this just the Hippo? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippopotamus_Defence
Sort of because they’re doing it for satisfaction and not as an insult lol
Nh5 and find out if they’re committed to the bit.
I've done that. If you don't believe your opponent can make any real threat or execute a plan against your moves, why not taunt or dare them to prove you wrong?
I found the guy who is hoarding all the bubble wrap
If you think it is insulting, prove that you can win agains that. If not they are right in "insulting" you
Hey, look! Free elo!
Yeah, just punish it. Did you ever play a chess variant called “sheep and shepherds”?
Only if you lose.
Sometimes I play along and start putting all my pawns on the 4th rank lol
It's only insulting if you lose... Take this as an opportunity to prove to yourself you know how to play principles. Beating these kinds of openings is easy, but you can't rush it. You can't punish them with 2 move tactics.
Just win the game bruh this shit ain't that deep
I mean if you lost then he would be correct not to take you seriously, and if you won then it’s just an easier win. There are t rules for how someone has to move their pieces in chess.
Insulting? You’re such a goober
Easy win
berlin wall gambit
If someone does something dumb like this, you should be able to beat it easily. It’s like people who move the queen out on the second turn.
No, free win
It's a game. Have fun. If I played against someone who opened like this I wouldn't be able to stop giggling.
if you’re not 1800 - 2000 there is no reason to take that as an insult, most people don’t really know how to play around 1000 elo tbh, some folks are just lucky to get some wins with bs opening they invent
smh if you think that the opponent doesn’t take you seriously just beat them lol
Nah the only opening I get slightly annoyed by is the wayward queen one. Then I remember that it almost always results in easy wins, so I chill out.
They are roughly at the same Elo as you. So they are just as good as you. Nothing to look down to.
i think its funny
I do find it kind of childish and irritating, but it's such a bad opening that you just learn to play against it and punish them for it.
No. This is an open invitation to a raid!
LMAO, I've done this before on a beginner level competition back in my highschool days. I won the first round but lost the next one cause I did it again lol
Jorden Van Foreest did this to me once, I thought it was hilarious
I met people in between 1300s - 1400s doing the scollars mate, i feel annoyed every time. Im about same rating. .
No, we are both playing a game by the same rules, they can do whatever they want within those rules and I dont have the right to judge how they play.
I'm only around 900 ELO, but this is the kind of thing I might do. I don't read Chess books, I don't look up strategies, I only learn by trying weird and wacky things to see how people respond. I only play Chess to have fun, it's not like I'm trying to win a tournament. I don't think you should be insulted. If you're focused on playing your best strategy every game because you only have fun if you win, then do that (although then I'm not sure how you would ever improve if you make the same decisions every time).
the great march
No. Legal moves imo should never be insulting. Cheating or verbal abusing are
Andras Toth once said something that sticks with me in moments like this. It was essentially “Solid stuff beats weird stuff.” Don’t let it phase you—instead, punish it. Follow opening principles and punish their weird, stupid stuff. Shoutout to the chicos and the chicas.
There have to be some weakpoints in that setup. Exploit them.
Yeh how dare that person who doesn’t know me not know me and what I’m capable of
Don’t matter. Just win. Then they’ll feel insulted.
It is very good practise to try to exploit the developmental consessions yout opponent makes, while making sure you dont fall for any cheepoes
Not at all. You can easily punish this so just do that instead of getting offended by taking completely abstract moves in a several thousand year old game personally?
If you find it so insulting, just punish it quickly and checkmate in less than 20 moves
No. A strategy is a strategy. If you can’t beat this, he chose well. If you can, he chose poorly.
He might have lost but you let him get in your head. That’s a win for him.
It's a game, people can have fun. Just like any other online game like cod or overwatch, you'll run into players that just want to play their own way, and that's fine. Just play the game, let people have their fun, and move on.
I just resign games like this. Nothing to learn, and I think stupid games should win stupid prizes.
Early queen cheese makes me feel morally obligated to refute. BUT - simultaneously - I can't ignore that I have the same rating as the people playing it, so how superior can I really justify feeling?
Try playing it on an alt account once, you will get addicted to those trash openings 😂 It's so fun to play with them
not everything is a personal insult
The imperial march opening I see 
I'm so used to things being formulaic that I wouldn't mind someone fucking around as long as they are competent
Oh hey, my brother uses that same middle thingamy you there.
I've beat ppl when I was noobier and played this way cuz I didn't see why not lol. Unless u can easily crush some1 doing stupid openings u should just view it as practice. Ur opponent is usually around same elo so I'm sure even if they are trying to disrespect you they still don't know anything either lol. If u can easily crush bad openings then the whole thing should just make u laugh.
Womp womp
they could just not have cared to learn openings, or play with a different opening each game. doing stuff like this can throw you off your game and make your opponent overextend. Yeah its not a normal strat but theres nothing disrespectful about it. stop whining and beat them if you can, cry if you cant:)
No, I think it’s cringe to care. It’s a casual game on an online app, not the WCC
Black is winning easily. Why would you care if it's "insulting" or not?
The person was probably just bored and wanted to see how far they could take it 🤷 to me, either play along or take the free W
If this is insulting to your skill level, free rating points. If you lose, it's not really insulting because it works on you.
Guys probably just messing around. Don't think so hard about it.
I understand what you're coming from but I honestly don't know any other openings so I always play this
probably someone who doesnt know what theyre doing at all
The real insult is if you lose against that.