David's Chess Journey - Installment 63

Training Reflections

This week was all about intentionally playing through the lens of my chess operating system. In each game, I try to work through the system and have been more intentional about appropriately using time. For quite some time I have moved too quickly and have not used enough time, so I'm trying to use a minimum amount of time per move depending on the time control to force myself to actually work through the questions in my chess operating system.

Here is the current version (I'm on version 5.0 at this point):

Chess Operating System 5.0

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.
• Use Your Time Wisely:
  • In a 30+30 game, use 45 seconds per move
  • In a 15+10 game, use 20 seconds per move.

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 Lichess rated player.
  • Being fearless, bold, and joyful at the chessboard.
  • Remaining calm, focused, and solid in time pressure.

The "Always: Be Vigilant" section is where I am spending most of my time this week. The question "Is there a move from my opponent that causes my move not to work?" is a really helpful one for me. I tend to try to justify a move I want to make instead of applying objective scrutiny to the move I want to make in order to test whether it works.

I've wandered back to 15+10 games because I was on quite a losing streak in the 30+30 time control and those games were getting very long. I'll get back to that control as I think it strikes the best balance for me and allows me to more intentionally apply my chess operating system, but the 15+10 gives a nice change while I catch my breath.

I thinned out the affirmations a bit and plan on working on consolidating my thoughts from Beyond Positive Thinking. That will take some time, but I think it is worth the effort. I hope to be able to share that in the coming weeks and see more positive impact as I continue to work on the mental side of the journey.

I've also been working through the BlunderProof course from ChessMood. When I finish the course, I'm going to go back through a good number of my games and spend some time identifying the causes for my blunders and work on reducing the number of blunders in my games based upon the helpful insights of the course. More to come on that front, as well.

Until the next installment!