Chess and Psychology
Chess is a strategy game that includes various skills for good performance. Some people learn from childhood to “practice this sport” as it is more considered as such, while some users become professionals and dedicate a large part of their lives to carrying out rigorous training in this discipline.
Given the complexity that the good game of chess brings with it, it is easy to think that it has certain links with psychology. And so it is, relationships can be found between cognitive ability and being skilled as a chess player.
To achieve the objectives it is necessary to concentrate as much as possible so that one can notice the other's strategy and generate containment movements when required. It requires a certain mettle, planning ability and self-control to successfully emerge from each game. All of this, without a doubt, closely linked to the psychology of the player.
The relationship between chess and psychology
The union between chess and psychology exists from different points of view. Based on proven facts, it is worth mentioning research carried out by Michigan State University (MSU) in which it is concluded that intelligence has a great influence when it comes to playing chess well.
The relationship between chess and psychology A person with high cognitive abilities will have an easier time learning to play chess and evolve more quickly in their ability as an opponent. Working memory also comes into this, a part of intelligence that helps interpret what we have before us at a glance.
Furthermore, we can talk about “psychological style” when playing professional chess. This technique would consist of the emotional exhaustion of the opponent as a resource to optimize the game. In this way, the other participant is brought into the circumstances in which they feel most uncomfortable in order to take advantage of their vulnerability.
In fact, this was a well-known technique of the German professional player Emmanuel Lasker (1868-1941) who could afford this type of mental strategy thanks to the versatility of his skills, since he was qualified to move in different environments without breaking his psychological functionality by acting with a great coldness. It is considered one of the best references of the link between chess and psychology.
