I was out for a meal with my family and at the end there was plenty left over to take home. So, since the days are over where a waitress would take the food into the kitchen and pack it up in take-home boxes for you, I had to scrape it into the box myself. 

I raised the plate and proceeded to do so. I carefully held the plate over the container so I wouldn't spill. I was so focused on that part of the plate/fork/container event that I missed the glob of food that spilled onto the table from a higher part of the plate. In other words, I was so focused on one thing that I missed another and now my pants have to go to the cleaners.

Remind you of anything?

Well, of course it does. What was amazing to me was how I thought about all the chess games I've lost because of that very same myopia rather than my cleaning bill.

Two things occur to me. One, I've been playing WAY too much chess. Second, I'd like to know from the experienced players if there's a SPECIFIC exercise you engage in to develop the kind of vision necessary to avoid that kind of over-focusing or whether it's simply a matter of time and practice. I'm assuming it's more of the latter but I thought I'd see what the experts have to say. Thanks.

When I 1st read the title, I laughed! That's a good point...

ADK

HEY MAN

ITS JUST A GAME

ALLOW YOUR SELF TO LOSE AND LEARN

ITS NOT WHEATHER U WIN OR LOSE BUT HOW

BRIAN

Oh, I'm happy to learn, Brian, but why not learn to avoid the same mistakes? Some folks have a knack for "seeing" things a certain way, others have to learn the knack with exercises and such. I'm one of those that has to learn to see in a wider way. I find when I lose it's because my vision wasn't wide enough and I didn't think far enough ahead or, worse, I was impatient.

I think playing chess at a higher level demands (among other things) a wide view and knowing what your best options are fairly quickly.

you cant FORCE someone to have a natural talent at this, that, etc. Everyone is different, and if you just plainly suck at looking at the whole board, thats too dam bad.

Of course, you can try improve your vision using scientific and chess reasons. Sitting further away from the board allows you to see the whole board more clearly. Chess excersizes including forks that just require you to see the whole board (need not be a superpuzzle) can also help u subconsciously.

I'm with you, CH... I think some talents are natural to some people but skill can be developed. I had a very bad habit of playing with my elbows on the table and it would hide my whole back row!! It was like playing with 7 ranks instead of 8!

What, u don't have wash & wear pants???  Oh, well, I guess dry cleaners need to make a living too.  Nice of u to help economy.  Miss you.  Marie

This is very similar to what happened to my roommate.  He has played 'online' chess for waaaaaay to long without playing a game on a real chess board.  When you play chess online, the board is way small (compared to a real one) and you can see everything at a glance.  I challenged my roomie to a game with my new tournament set, and he was completely lost.  He is rated about the same as me on this site, but i was able to beat him because he kept loosing track of his pieces and as you say, concentrated on one section to much.