Plowin' the Field

Me old teacher– Joe– is a wise man. He told us to save money (wonga/dinero/potatoes). Know the law. Keep to our principles, in spite of the resistance we'd inevitably encounter. But... he also told us that we needed to "plow the field"– ya know, work hard to reap the benefits.

Chess is like that. You gotta devote yourself to the game– Stephen Curry probably couldn't make a three-pointer when he started, and now... he's a two-time MVP, and four-time champion. Could LeBron James dunk at ten? Maybe?? Prolly not, though... he had to work for it.

It ain't enough to fool about with chess bots. They're sort of predictable. They follow a pattern, I think– and if you pay attention, you may gain an unfair advantage. People are random. They hang a knight and then swoop in for your queen; they weave a net for your poor pawns to fall into. Yeah, yeah... chess engines be awesome at chess... but nothing beats playing a REAL person, plowing the field with puzzles and analysis, and WILLING yourself to get better. There's no easy road to Grand-mastery... I think. I've never gotten halfway there, sooooo...

If you want to harvest 200 bushels of corn, you have to plow. And tend the soil. And protect the new crops. Protect the new lessons you learn. Practice them– commit them to memory– don't let ideas... simmer half-baked in your mind, for then they will either spoil or burn. Seize the day, my friends, and PLOW THE FIELD.

– 30 minutes of puzzles

– 2-5 games per day (don't overdo it, or you may become stale)

– Analyze

– Dream

– Scream: I WILL WIN! before each game.

Blast. I don't have enough time to follow me own advice. Well– to use the classic parents' cliche– DO AS I SAY... NOT... AS I DO...

I be a hypocrite.