Brilliant post. I think many chess players suffer from being stuck in tunnel vision or the flow of the game. Then just follow a path their mind aimlessly leads them. We need systems to break us free from that and look at each new position on the board just as it is not how we got there or where it's going. I started reading a book called The Seven Deadly Chess Sins by Rowson. I think you might be deeply interested in such a book that covers exactly what you have laid out above. A suggest I cannot claim as my own but one from another writer in our community Evan Seghers at The Ocean of Chess Newsletter.
Thanks! It was fun applying the whole "time out" idea to chess. I will look into that newsletter. It's been such a frustration that I'll get Rowson's book and read it.
Wonderful article Nick with so much good advice in it. As a returning 60 year old FM ( who has been away from chess a long long time …) I have way too much Gestalt at the board ( “something like this usually works...” etc and the blunder follows). The sense checks you suggest are good, with the challenge being how to change routine behaviours. Lots of great quotes , including ‘Turns out in chess there’s two players and all the pieces are on the board in front of us’ 👍.
Brilliant post. I think many chess players suffer from being stuck in tunnel vision or the flow of the game. Then just follow a path their mind aimlessly leads them. We need systems to break us free from that and look at each new position on the board just as it is not how we got there or where it's going. I started reading a book called The Seven Deadly Chess Sins by Rowson. I think you might be deeply interested in such a book that covers exactly what you have laid out above. A suggest I cannot claim as my own but one from another writer in our community Evan Seghers at The Ocean of Chess Newsletter.
Thanks! It was fun applying the whole "time out" idea to chess. I will look into that newsletter. It's been such a frustration that I'll get Rowson's book and read it.
Very insightful article and a start to a great series. What will my opponent do is an excellent idea to take the timeout needed. Thank you
Wonderful article Nick with so much good advice in it. As a returning 60 year old FM ( who has been away from chess a long long time …) I have way too much Gestalt at the board ( “something like this usually works...” etc and the blunder follows). The sense checks you suggest are good, with the challenge being how to change routine behaviours. Lots of great quotes , including ‘Turns out in chess there’s two players and all the pieces are on the board in front of us’ 👍.
Thank you. It's been such a frustration dealing with blunders, so maybe some of my frustration leaked in those quotes. ;)
Best behaviour before blundering or Bx4
Also see Crafty Raf course to prevent falling for a tactic .
Very interesting article
Hadn't heard of the Bx4. Will check out that course!
Thoroughly enjoyed this article. Solid concrete advice concerning a very serious issue that affects everyone who plays competitive chess.
Thanks! I am going to work hard on creating this habit and hopefully it will show up in my chess. I appreciate the comment
Superb article Nick
Thank you. Have been appreciating your Mindfulness course