Help. I suck at chess

[LSLGuy]

@Chronos

…
It’s just that there are other ways to be good at chess than the way in which Kasparov was good at chess.

I’m unqualified to speak to Kasparov specifically, but this is certainly true in the general case.

And has led to no end of No True Scotsman arguments and fallacies about computer chess, AI chess, and AI in general.

In some tellings popular back in the day, “chess” wasn’t a board, 32 pieces, and some rules. But rather it was some mystical half-magical thing that took place in mind-space. Computers, lacking mind-space, by definition couldn’t “play chess” no matter how effectively they moved the pieces on the board according to the rules to defeat human players.

Here’s a quote from the other current chess thread:

What sort of mental skills/gifts are basic to becoming a good/great chess player?

P.S. I should add that when I reached 2390 (and won a national chess title), I had an amusing conversation with Grandmaster Nunn (a world-class player and decent chap.) “Seriously, glee” he said “Nobody rated below 2400 understands chess.” I was flabbergasted - but after analysing with him (and reading some high-level chess books), I had to agree. Yes, I can crush players rated 2000. But there is so much more to learn. Thankfully I never turned professional!

Simplifying a bunch, GM Nunn’s comment that “Nobody rated below 2400 understands chess.” says he sees a divide there between uncomprehending piece-movers and understanding chess players.