David's Chess Journey - Installment 62

Training Reflections

I have to say that I really enjoyed being able to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted this week. I lost a lot of games, which is never as fun as winning, but it was great just enjoying the game and not worrying about breaking rules (because there were no rules!).

I did have some nice games, made good progress on the 7Q course from ChessMood (also started the BlunderProof course, which I'm liking as well) and did the Chess Steps work on the board most days this week. But, mostly I just played lots of games. I didn't formally analyze all of them (or even most of them), so it would be good to do a bit more of that, but, I'm being very lax right now and just enjoying the game without worrying too much about process.

There are a couple of insights from the ChessMood content that I thought were helpful this week:

• GM Avetik Grigoryan mentioned this during his great interview on Perpetual Chess (Episode 410), but it struck me again this week as I was reading some of his content - chess improvement is as simple as study - practice - fix - repeat. In thinking about when you should play or study, he had a nice analogy to eating. When thinking about whether you should play ask "Do I have anything to digest?" If the answer is yes, then play. If the answer is no, time to eat/study. For someone at my level, he says that most of my time should be spent playing. Very different than the path I've been on for the last couple of months, but also very freeing. In the BlunderProof course he quoted a saying in Go: "Lose 100 games as quickly as possible." The point is that the more you play, the more patterns you will recognize, so a beginner should play a lot. He took the Go saying further and said play 1,000 games and in your 1,000th games you will blunder less because of the patterns you will have assimilated. He talked about the example of "Brave Chess" - a game he created where the pieces can't move backward - and showed all of the blunders that he and his grandmaster friends made when playing this new game because they were beginners at that version of the game and there was not enough pattern recognition to prevent blunders. That is a good picture of where folks like me are in the game and why blunders are so understandable.
• The 7Q method is seven questions that you ask in any position. To be honest, the questions assume a ton of chess understanding and instincts that make the method much more powerful in the hands of a stronger player, but it does offer a framework that I can grow into as a player. Here are the questions:

1. What problems does my opponent have?
2. What problems do I have?
3. On which side of the board am I stronger?
4. Which of my pieces can be happier (could be placed better)?
5. Which pieces (or pawns) do I want to trade?
6. What's the opponent's next move/plan?
7. How can I advance?

I have layered these into my Chess Operating System 4.0 (I'm already on the fourth version!):

Opening: Set the Foundation

• Follow Opening Principles: Control the center, develop your pieces efficiently, and prioritize king safety.
• Play with Purpose: Each move should contribute to a harmonious and active position.

Middle Game: Seek Clarity and Activity

1. Tactical Opportunities:
   • Can I deliver a meaningful check?
   • Can I capture a vulnerable piece?
   • Can I create a strong threat?
2. If None of the Above - work through the 7Q Method:
   • What problems does my opponent have?
   • What problems do I have?
   • What side of the board am I stronger? (pawn majority, piece majority?)
   • Which of my pieces can be happier?
   • Which pieces (or pawns) do I want to trade? (trade my worst, their best)
   • What is my opponent’s next move/plan?
   • Rare that first six don’t point me in the right direction. But if not, this is the 7th question: How can I advance? (most of the time push pawn).

Always: Be Vigilant

• Pause: Pause before you make the move and ask - "Is there a move from my opponent that causes my move not to work?"
• Be Concrete: Think in moves. Calculate lines one by one. Use your logical brain and get emotions out of it.

Pre-Game Affirmations: Strengthen Your Mindset

• I intend to play as a 1900 Lichess rated player. That intention includes:
  • Playing solid openings as a 1900 Lichess rated player.
  • Playing with the tactical ability of a 1900 Lichess rapid player.
  • Showing positional understanding of a 1900 Liches rated player.
  • Converting winning positions like a 1900 Lichess rated player.
  • Saving seemingly lost positions like a 1900 Lichess rated player.
  • Being fearless, bold, and joyful at the chessboard.
  • Remaining calm, focused, and solid in time pressure.
• I thought his definition of blunder was really helpful. He made the point that the computer often designates something as a blunder that isn't really a blunder from a human perspective. Here is his definition: "A blunder is an obvious mistake, one that you wouldn't make under normal circumstances." So, if you can't understand the computer rationale for designating something as a blunder, changes are that it isn't really a blunder after all. We are humans, not computers!
• He had a nice article on time controls: https://chessmood.com/blog/what-chess-time-control-to-choose.

Until the next installment!