Cultivating The Killer Instinct

Former World Champion Boris Spassky is a very cordial and classy fellow, so on some level it was a bit surprising when he said the most important thing for a chess player to bring to a tournament is the desire to want to kill everyone. He was talking about that term we often hear in sports called "the killer instinct." I once read that a doctor suggested to Nigel Short that he get testosterone injections for his match with Kasparov because he thought Short was too nice and that a little aggression enhancer would help him. Short declined, and later got crushed in his match with Kasparov. Maybe he should have taken the shots. Since a killer instinct is so important to chess success shouldn't our first priority be to try and bring it out? Or is the killer instinct just something you either have or you don't?

That's an interesting question, gbidari. I remember reading somewhere that Kasparov said chess was the most violent sport there is (sorry, can't cite). I wouldn't think that steroids would do any good in a chess match as they inprove physical performance. And yes, they do make one more aggressive. The question then, do they improve mental performance? I don't know of any studies that confirm the idea, but that's not to say they don't.

What's "killer instinct"? The automatic response when perceiving weakness to pounce and destroy? I would think that is essential to master chess.

I also play poker (NL Texas Hold 'em). Aggression is a big factor there as is with almost all competition. So, to answer you question, I don't know. But you've given me something to really think about and do some research on. Thanks!

Perhaps putting oneself in such a mindset is the best thing you can do. Get primal; get savage; take out that opponent like he's just threatened your young. Adrenalin, in my opinion, is a key factory in any form of competition. We become better versions of ourselves once that switch is flipped and the chemical pours into the system. The testosterone shots for Short might not have been a bad idea, and I'd even suggest other forms of "stimulants" to really make a player wanna hurt somebody. ;)

Which makes me wonder; Does the USCF/FIDE prohibit the use of "focus" and/or "energy" drugs?

I remember in End Game, the book about the Short-Kasparov match, that when the two were going over a game they got to a point where they said, "TFK." What was that the author asked (I hadn't heard about it before then). Trap-F*ck-Kill.

Such psychic violence!

Fischer said he enjoyed crushing the other guy's ego. Same thing I imagine.

Still, the ability to analyze calmly must be paramount. Kasparov said so in his autobiography. It's the recipe for success: Keeping one's head while others all about you are losing theirs.

So I don't think adrenaline or anything like it has a place in chess except as something to control--at least at the high levels. The unremitting will to dominate and kill, on the other hand....

I have heard of some events by FIDE being drug tested. Here is a link for more on the subject http://jeremysilman.com/chess_raves/102802_js_rave.html

True a computer doesn't need a killer instinct, just cold calculation. When dealing with humans of somewhat similar strength, I believe a stronger will to win trumps the better calculator.