Chess Player Psychology: Know Your Opponent, and Know Yourself!
Hi!
When you play OTB (Over The Board) chess, it's crucial to gather as much information as possible about your opponent: their rating level, playing style, preferred openings, strengths and weaknesses, tournament situation, and any other data available. If you havee already played against them, you should analyze those games again.
Equally important is self-knowledge. You should know all that - and even more - about yourself too! For this, it's important to analyze your own gameplay. However, self-analysis is subjective and could be somewhat unrealistic -for instance, you could have a very high opinion about yourself after a win, or a very bad one because a sudden loss. It's beneficial to allow others to analyze your gameplay and provide feedback. The opinion of a coach would be particularly valuable in this respect.
A Note on Playing Styles
Players are often classified as tactical or positional. Tactical players base their decisions on calculating variations, while positional players prefer conceptual moves and strategic maneuvers.
Some classify players as attacking or defensive. An attacking player will aim at their opponent’s king, even at the risk of their own king’s safety. A defensive player will strive to ensure they cannot be checkmated, even if they have an advantageous position.
These classifications can overlap. For instance, a tactical player will likely be an attacking one, while a positional player will likely be more defensive.
Do Your Homework and Reap the Benefits
Why do you need all this information about your opponent - and yourself? Because in OTB chess, psychological factors and preparation are far more important than in online chess. This knowledge can assist you in your decision-making process during the game.
For instance, if you know the openings your opponent prefers, you could prepare against them and perhaps study a specific variation. Or if you know they have a positional style, you might anticipate that they would prefer a solid maneuver over a complicated piece sacrifice in a certain position. And what if they are much higher rated than you? Then your preparation before the game might be critical for a win or draw.
Good luck!
