Deriving a Chess Style from your Learning Style

When learning something, do you prefer to first understand the concepts, or first memorise the methods necessary to complete the task?
(U – Understanding or M – Methodical)

Do you tend to enjoy fields that have rules and definitive answers that are right or wrong, or ones that are subjective with creative & interpretative answers?
(D – Definitive or C – Creative).

When deciding, do you usually trust your intuition, or spend a long time deliberating?
(I – Intuitive or C – Calculating).

Would you rather have a very strong attack but a weak defence, or a very strong defence but a weak attack?
(A – Attacking or D – Defensive)

You should now have a 4-letter code (MDCA) Below, you should find your relevant code which has attached the ‘personality’ (which is in the form of an occupation), a short description of your style, and a repertoire recommendation...

UDCA (The Programmer): Programmers need to understand the language that they write in deeply because as any programmer will tell you, fixing errors from a methodical approach is half the job. A coding task either works, or it doesn’t - deep calculation and a lot of effort is required to work out complex solutions. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy solid positions which require deep understanding of the strategic ideas. One wrong step from their opponent and they could be aggressively, and deeply out-prepped.
White: Catalan, Black: e4: Sicilian (2...e6 variations), d4: Nimzo-Indian.

UDCD (The Lawyer): A lawyer’s job is to defend their client. They must maintain a solid case with no weaknesses, and find the tiniest contradictions in their oppositions position. When they find this contradiction, it’s all downhill for their opponent – they will not let go. Either this contradiction (weakness) will compound with others to cause an eventual downfall, or it could even be enough on the spot. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy solid positions which are hard to break down, and over time, their positional superiority, coupled with their calculation skill, will give them a completely won endgame.
White: London System, Black: e4: French, d4: Benoni

UDIA (The Businessperson): People working in business have a wide array of skills. They are able to deal with people in a variety of differing circumstances, they have to make definitive decisions under pressure, and often have to follow their gut based on their experience of financial/success patterns. But, business also works on structure and to a degree, it's quite formulaic at the top level. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy a consistent opening where they can use their wide knowledge of both positional and tactical motifs to create a decisive advantage.
White: Réti, Black: e4: Scandinavian, d4: Queen's Gambit Accepted.

UDID (The Historian): Historians have fantastic foundational knowledge in their field, as history generally sets up the framework for the modern approach. Because of this, a historians deep understanding of whatever interests them allows them to prognosticate accurately, avoiding the errors that were made before them. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy openings that require comprehensive theoretical understanding, leading to concrete positions with rich opportunity for advanced theoretical ideas in the middlegame. Even slightly unsound attacks against a historian are bound to fail.
White: English, Black: e4: Philidor, d4: Queen’s Gambit Declined.

UCIA (The Author): Authors are first and foremost; creative. Their original and intuitive ideas are brought to life through their incredible use of language. Writing is for most authors, a very personal task, one which only involves criticism from within – which can often be the most brutalising. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy openings that are quite open, allowing for attacking possibilities where their ideas will flourish, as well as coming up with wild defensive recourses. Authors enjoy a wide variety of different positions to express themselves in, and will not shy away from understanding the complexities of each one.
White:e4 e5: Classical Italian, e4 c5: Open Sicilian, Black: e4: Sicilian; Najdorf, d4: King's Indian Defence.

UCID (The Psychologist): Psychology is grounded in science; however, psychologists often turn to creative interpretation of motifs and symbolism to treat patients, allowing them to grasp a wider understanding of their own psyche – the mind after all, is still a very unexplorable area. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy open positions that allow them to explore multiple styles of play in their calculations of variations. They will constantly be aware of both attacking & defensive patterns, and are more concerned with prophylaxis rather than head hunting, until they have a decisive advantage.
White: e4 e5: Ponziani, e4 c5: Alapin, Black: e4: Sicilian (Accelerated Dragon), d4: Nimzo-Indian

UCCA (The Detective): Detectives constantly need to think outside the box – criminals, for example, go to great lengths to cover their tracks, and creative cover-ups requires creative analysis. A deep understanding of forensics is also required. Calculation, concentration, and analysis of a scene is second nature to a detective when hunting down the truth. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy any complicated position that requires deep analysis to determine what approach is needed to uncover the truth.
White: e4 e5: Scotch Gambit, e4 c5: Smith-Morra Gambit Black: e4: Sicilian; Najdorf, d4: King's Indian Defence.

UCCD (The Philosopher): Philosophers enjoy the seemingly unsolvable problems of life, analysing questions as deeply as possible, perfectly content with no ‘definitive answer’ at the end of the tunnel. They’re very good at questioning, analysing, and thinking from a different approach – “But what if...”. Therefore, this personality type will favour highly theoretical openings where their understanding of the relevant positions through deep analysis will give them practical chances through positional superiority.
White: e4 e5: Ruy Lopez, e4 c5: Open Sicilian, Black: e4: Caro-Kann, d4: Nimzo-Indian.

MDCA (The Surgeon): Surgeons are no stranger to hard work and keeping cool under pressure. They need to be extremely clinical and efficient every day often with people’s lives on the line. When it comes to chess, computers in the 2000’s, showed that brute force coupled with deep calculation was more than enough to dismantle humans. The most practical approach was, and arguably still is at many levels, just that. I believe that this is the only personality type that can, and would want to play so sharply, and come out of the danger unscathed and victorious. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy openings which are razor sharp and require deep preparation. Their memorization, calculation, and aggression will make them the scariest type of player to face. However, this style does not come without it’s risks, if surgeons take a wrong turn, the consequences could be fatal.
White: e4 e5: Kings gambit, e4 c5: Open Sicilian, Black: e4: Sicilian; Najdorf; Poisoned Pawn, d4: Grunfeld/King's Indian Defence.

MDCD (The Engineer): Engineers are terrific calculators, ensuring deep consideration in their planning. Their tasks are large, and the consequence for incorrect calculation is monumental. So they’re no stranger to deep and proper concentration and calculation when creating, a solid, long lasting structure. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy openings that have deep theory so that they can use their memorization to get into a complex middlegames which requires deep positional and tactical calculation.
White: 1.d4 2.c4 Mainlines, Black: e4: e5, d4: Queen’s Gambit Declined; Vienna Variation.

MDIA (The Boxer): Boxers are a little more wild than other professions because of their bravery and confidence. However, boxing like any art is deeply complex and technical. Boxing is a martial art which runs on instinct after practicing techniques over and over. The slightest bit of poor technique from their opponent will be more than enough for them to win from an early knock out. To beat a boxer, you will need to know all the techniques they do to take them out of their realm, which is no easy task. Boxers may require the most care, and because they do so well under time pressure, you will need to prepare before the game itself. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy sharp openings full of gambits to always leave them in the driver’s seat, applying pressure through their aggressive intuition.
White: e4 e5: Vienna Game/Vienna Gambit, e4 c5: Smith-Morra Gambit, Black: e4: e5; Marshall, d4: Dutch.

MDID (The Architect): Architects are very similar to engineers, except instead of applying deep calculations constantly, they prefer to use their intuition to apply the patterns and motifs accumulated over their many years of experience. Architects ultimately want harmony in a position, and they want to be in charge of their fate. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy defensive positions that keep control of the initiative using tempo to slowly use their harmonious self-fulfilling positions to achieve an endgame they know all too well.
White: London System, Black: e4: Petrov, d4: Queen's Gambit Declined

MCIA (The Musician): Musicians and artists are very similar because they both use intuitive creative interpretation to create beautiful form. Both long for this unexplainable beauty. A musician however, doesn't necessaraly need to be concerned about any point to prove – a song can be beautiful without any meaning to the writer, as long as it has beauty to the listener. For example, Schubert’s ‘Unfinished Symphony’ (No. 8) was ‘completed’ by AI. True – the meaning laced in Schubert’s style was still prevalent in the AI movements, but I think the point stands. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy openings that offer ‘beautiful’ combinations, whether that be in defence, or attack – positional, or tactical. They want sound sacrifices above all else, and their creative intuition means that they don’t need theory to get there. However, a musician might try and force beauty into a dry position which doesn’t call for it – or they might bring it to life.
White: e4 e5: Ruy Lopez, e4 c5: Open Sicilian, Black: e4: Sicilian; Dragon, d4: King's Indian Defence.

MCID (The Artist): Artists and musicians (MCIA) are very similar because they both use intuitive creative interpretation to create beautiful form. Both long for this unexplainable beauty. An artist however, usually gives great meaning to their art, and this story is often what impacts the audience most of all. However, artists can also create beautiful art with no meaning. Usually though, artists are really trying to convey a message which they are in a way, defending, sometimes philisophically. Whereas musicians usually don’t have as much care when writing. It could be argued for that reason, artists are more considerate in their inherent creative and intuitive approach. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy openings that allow a slow and beautiful transition from the opening all the way to the endgame. They will rely on the beauty of strategic and positional play but will not pass up an attractive sacrifice if it looks promising enough.
White: Queens Gambit, Black: e4: e5, d4: Slav/Semi-slav.

MCCA (The Politician): Although most people hate politicians, there’s no denying that their rise to power is well calculated. They are undoubtably skilful in the art of manipulation at many societal levels. Politics also requires deep understanding of world issues – and what their society wants. They will get exactly what they want, at any cost and any means necessary, even if that means unorthodox approaches. Politicians want to win, and they will highlight the most minute (even if it is unrelated) detail if it means convincing an audience. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy openings that allow them to create inevitable weaknesses early on which they will cling on to and use for the rest of the game. These weaknesses will be accentuated/exacerbated until the very end of the game and although they might appear small at first, they could be the thing that wins the politician the game.
White: Trompowsky/Torre Attack, Black: e4: French, d4: Nimzo-Indian/Bogo-Indian.

MCCD (The Chef): Chefs have a recipe which is used methodically, however, the major differences between a Michelin star chef and an amateur like me include; technique, creativity, and experience. These are all used in conjunction to create truly beautiful experiences which are levels above their competition. Chefs use their intuition constantly in their cooking; however, I have listed them under being more ‘considerate and calculating’ because there is so much more to being a great chef than cooking intuitively. If you consider their role in managing their staff and preparing for diners, they need to be incredibly well prepared in so many different areas. However, great chef’s also have the confidence to quickly use their intuition when they’re under time pressure. Therefore, this personality type would enjoy positions that get them where they feel comfortable, then, using a combination of preparation, calculation, and creativity with spontaneous bursts of intuition, they can create a wide variety of advantages. This personality type is very well rounded and can surprise you after a seemingly boring opening choice.
White: e4 e5: Scotch, e4 c5: Closed Sicilian, Black: e4: e5, d4: Queen's Gambit Declined.