Dostoevsky and Chess: Talking with the Devil

There are deep human experiences of duality, choice, and the confrontation with one's own nature thru inner dialogue with the double, devil, or alter-ego, whether on the chessboard or within the psyche of Dostoevsky's literary characters (think 'The Double').

Let's draw a parallel between the inner dialogues and contradictions of Dostoevsky's characters and the inner conversation of a chess player while contemplating different game scenarios and making decisions in play style (e.g., aggressive vs. defensive, risky vs. safe), mirroring the moral choices that face Dostoevsky's literary characters,

Dostoevsky's Characters: Characters like Raskolnikov in "Crime and Punishment" or Ivan Karamazov in "The Brothers Karamazov" engage in internal dialogues with their alter-egos, reflecting their moral, psychological, or existential conflicts. These conversations often reveal the characters' contradictions, doubts, and the battle between their higher and baser selves.

Chess: Chess involves a constant mental battle where the player anticipates, plans, and reacts to the opponent's moves. Each plan on the board can be seen as an aspect of one's personality or strategy, where the player must navigate through their own ideas and counter the opponent's, much like navigating one's own psyche.

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Share your thoughts and experiences...

Used to have the good author as my pfp.

Korchnoi always struck me as being the chessplayer's avatar for a Dvoretsky novel if he'd written one about chess masters. It was just an impression that struck me, though I don't know why.

My alter-ego's pfp is a roaring tiger cub-like pawn.

Now I'm in constant inner struggle between always being ready to roar into action, using unconventional thinking, challenging stereotypes, and having ambition for personal growth and promotion,

and, alas, being under-promoted now and zooming in straightforward fashion most of time

Great pfp. I hadn't looked closely enough. Mine is obviously about my chess demons tormenting me, which fits into the theme of your post.

Kevin, yours fits perfectly for the subject!

I remember reading Dostoevsky in a University class. It was dark....and I wondered, "why are we reading this?....He would go and explore the psyche of a murderer.......

Dostoevsky's work, while dark, is also illuminating, offering insights into human nature. His characters are complex, with moral, existential, and psychological dilemmas, and motivations that are deeply human, even if those motivations lead them sometimes down dark paths.

 :tup

Excellent contribution! In unicist homeopathic treatment, the double personality that most patients present is also evaluated...we also see it in chess, why not? Thanks!

Our debilitating chess diseases can't be treated by minute doses of homeopathy. We need pretty stronger dosage to heal the symptoms of "both patients"

Thanks for dropping by! Take care

My dear friend, 40 years of experience support my words...it is better to treat the causes and not the consequences! The pills are pure power and energy of change, just the right balance...

Best Regards

True, instead of prevention (prophylaxis, as Nimzo would call it), we just do firefighting

Need to learn a thing or two about homeopathy

Saludos

Roger, thank you for visiting. And thank you very much, indeed, for your feedback, a very thorough and thoughtful commentary on the D's mental struggles and a possible chess player's way of contemplating their strategy and tactical opportunities.

Really appreciated,

Cheers, Momir

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."