Yo I need some one to talk to so…
Ask Me Anything with GM Maurice Ashley
GM Ashley, as an aging veteran of the chess world, I'm finding it harder to concentrate, and to retain mentally the analysis I've just done OTB. I do puzzles every day, but do you have any other suggestions for how to combat this problem? Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
1. In a complex middlegame position, how do you prioritize between tactical opportunities and strategic plans?
2. When facing an opponent known for their strong opening preparation, how do you adjust your own preparation to maintain an edge?
3. Can you describe a memorable endgame position where you had to balance material considerations against positional factors?
4. How do you manage time pressure during critical moments in a game, particularly in rapid or blitz formats?
5. What role does intuition play in your decision-making process, especially when faced with unclear or dynamically balanced positions?
6. How do you assess the psychological aspects of the game, such as exploiting opponent's weaknesses or maintaining composure under pressure?
7. Can you share insights into your approach to analyzing and learning from your own games, both victories and defeats?
8. What strategies do you employ to break through seemingly solid defensive setups orchestrated by your opponents?
9. In high-stakes tournament situations, how do you balance the desire for victory with the need to maintain objectivity and avoid unnecessary risks?
10. How do you adapt your playing style when facing opponents with drastically different strengths and weaknesses compared to yours?
Thank you for your time
If Caro kann is a better version of French defense with the light squared bishop out of the pawn chain, why is it not preferred over the later in master level games?
We're often told to improve our position if there are no tactics present but what if all our pieces are already in their best possible squares?
What good baby