A drink or two a week isn't going to ruin a liver.
Chess under the influence
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Jul 6, 2024
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#3
It could be, that when you drink you tend to think less about possibilities(opponent’s counter play, tactics, etc.) do you see a clear difference to your play under the influence of alcohol (better or worse…)?
Quite a clear difference, in fact. Personally, consuming alcohol seems too incite a shift in playing style from my mainly positional mindset to tactical. I find critical lines in sharp positions with substantially less time and strain while inebriated. I'm wondering if others experience this effect and if it is consistent enough to have had research done into it.
Jul 6, 2024
0
#5
This is actually a real thing I’ve heard of, drinking before playing speed chess makes you better. I don’t know why though
it's pretty odd, right? My best guess is that alcohol consumption weakens the cognitive load capacity of the brain which disincentivizes brute-force calculation in favor of instinctive and short-calculation play. This might confer some advantage in blitz, where most games are decided based on the identification of two or three move tactics. But I also notice it in rapid where calculation is more critical.
i'd be interested to read any colloquial or scholarly studies done on it if anyone can find them.
Upon reflection, I've realized that I've been playing chess as a supplemental activity to social drinking these last few months. it seems more wild and fun with a drink or two under my belt.
My drunk game suffers quite alot when I sit down and play 30 minute to 60 minute controls at my local coffee shop. This is of course understandable since attention and cognition are impaired under the influence, but I've noticed an upward trend in performance in speed chess a shot in or so. What could the relationship be?
Have there been any studies into the interplay of alcohol and speed performance in chess or any other cognitively loaded activities?