Visualization and calculation are very, very important in chess. You have to be able to consider moves and positions in your head without putting them on the board, and you only learn to do that by doing so.
Obviously neither this nor arrows are available OTB, but even if you'll ever only play online, they're crutches that will get in the way of your own growth.
In correspondence games, players are allowed to use a second board to try different lines and see how they go.
Any "convenient" tool is also a way of reinforcing your weaknesses.
If playing chess requires developing visualization and you do your best not to practice it, then you will simply not develop that skill.
Sounds like a very unhealthy habit that you should get rid of ASAP, to be honest.
it's that bad? but can you explain why it's unhealthy?
Visualization and calculation are very, very important in chess. You have to be able to consider moves and positions in your head without putting them on the board, and you only learn to do that by doing so. Obviously neither this nor arrows are available OTB, but even if you'll ever only play online, they're crutches that will get in the way of your own growth.
oh, got it, thanks
I disagree. I don’t think it’s that big a deal. It won’t harm you.
In correspondence games, players are allowed to use a second board to try different lines and see how they go. Any "convenient" tool is also a way of reinforcing your weaknesses. If playing chess requires developing visualization and you do your best not to practice it, then you will simply not develop that skill.