Gizmodeus wrote:
I used to think that overcoming these bad habits was a matter of learning something, but have come to realize that it's more about the learning sinking in. As an analogy, you can learn all the music to play a song on the piano, but you still have to practice over and over before you can play it right. Knowledge, in other words, is not enough. Chess seems to work the same way, except the training is not in your fingers, it's in your thinking. You already know the tactics, and how not to hang pieces. You just have to train it into your mind with conscientious practice.
Thanks for the advice Gizmodeus. :-) And yes, I think you are right. Training, training with a bit more training is what it's going to take to minimize the problem.
I’m posting on an age-old topic, hoping to get some fresh ideas from stronger players.
How does one prevent yourself from “hanging” your pieces? Even though I don’t do it that often anymore, there are still times where I fail to see an obvious tactic, and after 1 or 2 moves, I end up hanging a piece. Most of the time the, calculations behind the moves are not that hard to spot, but somehow, I keep missing them.
And 90% of the time, I spot the problem 1 second after making the blunder, and I have to hold back the urge to grab the nearest (preferably) heavy object and smash my hand with it.
For the stronger players: when did the problem with you disappear? And how did you manage it it?
Personally, I think my biggest problem is patience. I practice mostly against the computer, and I feel pressured to make a move, because the computer takes 1 second to think about his move. I am unable to process a million calculations per second, but I think subconsciouslyI still try to. Should I get an hourglass and force myself to think for at least one (or more) minute(s) before making any move?
A couple more ideas I have come across are:
1) Play with your opponent’s pieces first, and then your own. In other words, as soon as your opponent makes his move, ask yourself what is your opponent trying to do? What would your plan be if you were playing yourself?
2) Play tons of games, using each and every one as a training exercise to root out the problem.
3) Sit on your hands to forcefully stop yourself from making an obvious blunder.