Teach me how to play chess.

[Zero]

Ok I know theres alotta chess players in poly... (we had a poly chess championship we must have some! )

I notice that I have this scrub experience where I know how l33t players play and at the same time know how scrubs play. When I try to apply how l33ts often play agst scrubs it dont work because i dont truly understand whats going on.

Having played fighting games for long time, I get the same complaints from my scrub friends in fighting game same l33t strategies dont work, cause scrubs dont fall for it.... well i know better than that.

Basically I start out with an opening move and they might reply back with some classic/very well known 2-3 starting moves, but after that they just play however they want. So doesnt that mean they have done a move that wasnt the best in that situation? I dont have all opening moves memorized in my head, but im pretty sure they aint doing some rarely done opening/defense moves, cause theyre scrubs too.

anyways i cant seem to know what to really do agst completely unorthodox/scrub gameplay

[Jac de Molay]

I posted a similar thread about this a while ago, and some beginning players showed interest in starting a beginners Poly league. Im up for it as well, but as a beginner I'm lousy with notation.

I've been playing at http://www.redhotpawn.com, which is a nice PBEM site where you can play several games at once. I'm playing as "beermaestro" there, and feel free to challenge me to a game. It's a good site for playing against different style player

anyways i cant seem to know what to really do agst completely unorthodox/scrub gamepl

Play, lose, play again, lose again....repeat with vigor

Tons of good software and books out there to improve your game. I've really noticed an improvement with a little effort to understand the game as a whole.

edit: feel "free" not feel me

[DrSpike]

Pick up a decent introductory book.........one of Jeremy Silman's efforts should do to start.

[Urban Ranger]

After you fall prey to the Fool's Mate for the first time, you'll learn fast

[Zero]

i already know what fool's mate is. Ive used it couple of times on my friends.