Playing Chess Online
May 31st, 2010 | 
Author: Online chess can be good for the beginning chess player, as well as the advanced player. For the beginning chess player, online chess offers unlimited opportunity to hone your skills on a wide variety of opponents. It may be that no one in your life wants to play another game of chess with you at this particular time. Perhaps it’s just that your chess habit tends to kick in at 2:00 a.m., and no one else is up. Or, maybe you’re traveling and want to spend a bit of downtime with a game of chess. Whatever the reason you are drawn to the online chess board, there are ample opportunities for online play.
This online chess site offers a wide variety of chess playing opportunities for free. Not only can you play chess against millions of other people worldwide, you can also socialize in the ChessCube forums. The website allows you to maintain a record of your game statistics, and even receive training for playing chess! There are chess related training courses you can watch via the website’s “Chess Cube Cinema.” You can even personalize your chess playing experience by inviting friends and setting up your own social chess network.
Another social chess site, this site offers the change to compete in tournaments, form teams, and join clubs. The site also offers some extensive articles on strategy and developing your games for all playing levels. The articles are illustrated with detailed diagrams to help beginning players follow the technical chess terms. Like ChessCube.com, Chessmania.com is free and offers an extensive library, game playing network, and videos.
Like the other websites listed, Chess.com offers free online chess playing and tutorials. However, Chess.com is also devoted to anything chess related, and offers news, blogs, articles and event listings all related to chess.
Chessclub.com bills itself as the website where Grandmasters play, which may be why they can charge for their services when there are so many free chess websites out there. You can visit and play on the site as a guest, but must pay to become an ICC member. Membership benefits include unlimited play, access to events such as tournaments and lectures, ability to watch live chess events worldwide, ability to listen to or view chess related radio and television shows, and interaction with ICC’s chess help desk. If you are unsure if you’ll get your money’s worth, Chessclub.com does offer a free trial to their new members.