Psychology in Chess
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I remember once reading about a quote by Bobby Fischer: "I believe in chess, not psychology." I think this quote is defineately wrong. In fact, I think that psycology affects our game alot. For example: an adult may be too reckless or fast when playing a very talented child. Or someone who's opponent is very seriously dressed may assume that he is a positional player, only to figure out that they may as well be tal reincarnated. I bring this up because I recently gained 20 points an adults tournament, and then gained 80 points the following weekend at a kid's tournament. At the kid
At the kids tournament I felt more confident and played the most challenging that I could find. So what do you guys think about psycology in chess? Do you think actually matters that much?
May 21, 2017
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#3
It definitely has a huge effect in chess, just like any other competitive activity. Interestingly, I've read one of Fischer's opponents (Larsen, possibly) say that playing against him was psychologically very difficult, more so than many other top players. So whether he believed in it or not, Fischer does seem to have put psychology into practice.
MuensterChess wrote:
Bobby Fischer: "I believe in chess, not psychology."
The longer I play, I found this quote to be completely wrong, maybe Fischer said that only to confuse their opponents. Of course it affects your play. For example, when your opponent is playing really fast since the beginning, then you also want to move fast. The rating/title of opponent you see? Sure. The behavior/dress? Absolutely. I remember J. Polgar once said, when she played Kasparov for the first time, she basically lost the game before it even started. Well, just imagine sitting opposite to Fischer or Kasparov - who wouldn't be affected by psychology?
Another good example is the pressure of the game. For example: when Magnus started to get his grip and calm himself in his first world championship match he started crushing Anand.
May 21, 2017
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#6
Fischer gave that answer in an interview where they asked something like what's more important, psychology or playing well. Basically the interviewer was one of these beginners who wondered if in chess some things were out of control of the player. Fischer was saying it's all skill.
May 21, 2017
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#7
MuensterChess wrote:
Or someone who's opponent is very seriously dressed may assume that he is a positional player
That sounds silly / inexperienced.
vikingchucky wrote:
For example, when your opponent is playing really fast since the beginning, then you also want to move fast.
That sounds very inexperienced. I've had 2 different tournament games where my opponent played almost instantly every move. I felt zero pressure to speed up. I totally ignored them and used nearly all my time in both games.
vikingchucky wrote:
I remember J. Polgar once said, when she played Kasparov for the first time, she basically lost the game before it even started. Well, just imagine sitting opposite to Fischer or Kasparov - who wouldn't be affected by psychology?
Sure, I think rating, titles, or prize money routinely upset people's best play. Not just in chess, in everything.
I remember Kasparov commenting on the Anand - Carlsen match that playing in a world championship match puts the players under a unique kind of pressure that only people who have been there can understand.
May 21, 2017
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#8
MuensterChess wrote:
At the kids tournament I felt more confident and played the most challenging that I could find. So what do you guys think about psycology in chess? Do you think actually matters that much?
This is probably pretty common for kids. Playing adults may be intimidating at first.
But "they're just as scared of you as you are of them" heh
Kids have a reputation for playing above their current rating (because they improve quickly) and for making up for their inexperience by being dangerous tactically (they calculate well, and a lot).
If it were a boxing match, of course the adult would look down on you 
but in a chess match adults are usually giving the kid opponent's more respect than they would someone else, and they're playing more cautiously, that sort of thing.