« "Now I see," said the blind man.... | Main | Play Chess Not War »

October 21, 2005

Chess and Literature vs. Checkers and Cosmopolitan

The complete works of Shakespeare or the encyclopaedia of chess openings, is all the same — works of art. Anyway....

The great German chess champion Emmanuel Lasker warns us "when you think of a move, wait! Think of a better one."

To understand this simple quip (philosophy?) we can then begin to improve our chess game. And what a relief that is when we find the solution, the answer, THE winning move in the most difficult position. It's a strange, strange feeling - that feeling of "wow, I can't believe I found the right AND winning move!"

When we find the move, we grope.

And finding the correct move is as much a matter of timing as of tehnical and positional aptitude, though both of those qualities help. The sensation that defines the search is the sweet, painful feeling that you get when you can't think of a word that feels as if it's right on the tip of your tongue. In this case, at your fingertips! For seasoned chess players the relief they experience upon finding it is almost physical. They don't sink back in their chairs and try not to stumble upon any more difficult positions.

I know of dozens of chess players that can't seem to understand this concept at all. Thus, they never grow as chess players. As if they're in a constant and perpetual state of making wrong moves, and sinking back into their chair even further.

To become a good chess player, heed the advice of the great chess players, like Bobby Fischer or J. R. Capablanca, and study their games. Miraculously, you'll notice immediate results!

Otherwise, there's always checkers and cosmopolitan if you want to sink in a comfortable chair.

Posted by rene on October 21, 2005 4:03 PM

Comments

Post a comment