Well hello all.  I'm not new to JAVA Dev.   But I'm new to game programming.  I've done allot of toolset work with the current commerical games.  Hopefully I'll catch on quick.

I've read Practical Java Game programming and I'm waiting for Advanced Java Game Programming in the mail.  I've been lucky enough to chat with a few of you off line as well.  So hello and I hope to contribute some usefull info in the future.

I'll be starting with a turn based board game.  So it looks like chess will be my starting project.  I want to shoot for a 2D board game with 3D pieces.  Am I starting off to quick? (Running before I can walk)
Assuming no AI and using a UDP connection to play online.  Would this project be a bad place to start learning?  I've read the Asteroids 101 and key listeners and all that I use all the time in App programming.

Just want to make sure I dont shoot myself in the foot jumping into 3D right away.  Since I have no 3D experience. Anyways hope to chat more as I learn a little more.

Turnbased... well, tcp is the better choice in that case (you cannot afford to lose a single packet - ever).

>Would this project be a bad place to start learning?

For a someone who just started java programming, yes. In your case it should be ok, if you keep the scope small enough.