"Rich Hutnik" wrote in message
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On Oct 6, 11:07 pm, "Ian Burton" wrote:
"Rich Hutnik" wrote in message

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On Oct 6, 3:46 pm, "Ian Burton" wrote:
"Rich Hutnik" wrote in message

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Rather than the idea of removing pieces as balancing, how about the
following levels of handicapping (greater handicap):
* First, have the weaker player choose white or black.
* Allow the weaker player a chance to score points on a draw, but
the
stronger player doesn't.
* Allow the weaker player to play white, and get two non-capture
moves
to start before their opponent gets a move.
* Three non-capture moves at start of game.
* Four non-capture moves at start of game.

And so on. Can go up to maybe 6 or 7. The moves can't have the
player capturing any pieces of an opponent. You could also restrict
the moves a player's own half of the board. In other words, for
handicapping, borrow from progressive chess.

Comments?

This strikes me as a great idea to keep weak players weak.

How does it keep weak players weak, when the weak player gets to make
multiple moves before the stronger opponent gets to make moves?

The weak player never learns to play chess from the initial position,
never
is forced to study opening play, does not learn the normal patterns of
the
game,and, as a result, never strengthens his game. He is always treated
as
a cripple.

So, is having the stronger player give up pieces (the norm for
handicapping) a better idea? In this way, if tweaked right, a player
would need to learn the right openings and so on. Is your argument
that handicapping should NEVER be used?

The only odds I'd ever give (or take) are time odds. Time odds maintain the
game's integrity.

--
Ian Burton
(Please reply to the Newsgroup)

- Rich