Step 1 what would Lenny Bongcloud do?
Thought Processes
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Without knowing who you are talking about, I believe it is safe enough to say "what would THIS or THAT person play here." If the player is exceptional tactician or positional player then perhaps your mind might lean toward those responses. On the other hand, if the individual is a poor player, then you might want to double check your thought process (smile).
Yes, i am aware there is someone on here by the name of Lenny Bongcloud with a 800-900 rating.
-KD
I think it's important to realize that you aren't working with a blank slate. We all have a default thought process, often rather scrambled, but it's what we rely on "naturally," especially under stress... trying to improve by using an ideal thought process is like trying to lose weight by using an ideal diet -- oh sure, it sounds good in theory... but if it were that easy I wouldn't be a fat patzer, now would I? When things get tough we tend to fall back on our old ways and dive right into the fridge for the Chocolate Swiss Swirl Fudge Supreme while pushing the h-pawn just cuz it feels right.
I think it makes sense to improve one's thought process, to work with it, and to recognize what parts of it are flawed and need correction. An ideal thought process can be developed perhaps, but I don't think it can be imposed.
For me, there are three kinds of position... Positions where there's a move or two screaming at me that they have to be made, positions where there's a clear problem/plan on the board and finding the right move is puzzle-like -- (what is the most accurate continuation)... and postions where I have no freaking clue what to do there's a lot of possibilities and I don't have a clear plan...
Each of these cases is quite different for me, mentally, and each creates different 'typical' errors in me. I do best in puzzle like positions where the board is telling me to be accurate. I think I do worst in complex positions where there are many unclear possibilities. I've trained myself (and am now much better) at not jumping on the "obvious" move. In almost every position, my thought process begins with a "dialogue" with board where I just try out moves and see where they lead. This is IMO the best and most natural way to learn what problems and possibilities a position contains, but it easily leads to the error of falling in love with the first move you investigate *(since you always investigate the most appealing move first) ... so I make it a point to go wide (look at many moves) before I go deep (look at a specific variation several ply down.)
Almost always, my main error involves, in some way, failing to think deeply and clearly enough about my opponent's moves and plans. I tend to fall in love with my own plans and pieces while underestimating my opponent's ability to figure out what I'm up to and take countermeasures.
The falsification-mentality mentioned by an earlier poster is absolutely crucial. It's a simple concept but it just doesn't come naturally... It is psychologically unnatural to think of a good move and then to think with equal ferocity of how to defeat one's own move. But this must be incorporated into one's decision process. The only method guaranteed to train you to attack your own moves more visciously than your opponent does is to lose 10 million games from failing to do so... I hope it only takes 10 million, cuz I'm up to 9 million and I still forget way too often!
Thank you Jg27pyth, very nice post.
-KD
Thank you all for such a lively discussion.
Perhaps you can answer this for me, how is your thought process different in blitz chess?
-KD
Some of these are borrowed from the book - Blitz Theory =>
- If all else fails, play a move that doesn't lose instantly.
- Adhere to your time-budget at all costs. 5 seconds / move for 5-0. No exceptions ... even if you have a triple-piece sac that might give you a mating net => if you can see it clearly within 5, play it ... or else play something safer.
- Knights are infinitely more dangerous than bishops in blitz. Knight-vision is rather poor when one is in a time-crunch.
- Horizontal queen moves (Qa5 -> anywhere on the 5th rank etc.) are hard to see in the opening/middle game. Be wary of them.
- Bishops that sit in fianchetto-squares or that are pulled back the corner become Klingon warships => they cloak/turn invisible. Watch for them as well!
- When you are winning but may not have time to mate, wipe out his material with gusto. The draw is less embarrassing than a loss.
- Gambits and high-risk openings tend to be more successful in blitz. Play them and understand what initiative vs. material really means in chess!
- Always play the move that gives him more to think about. Having him burning the clock for a minute is almost worth a full piece.
- Never make the board simple / de-cluttered unless you have a clear win in sight.
- When playing a stronger player, do not let him take you to an endgame with unclear positions. That is precisely what he wants because his technique will annihilate you. Conversely => When you are winning, drag his sorry behind to the endgame as quickly as possible and let your technique do the rest.
- When under 10 seconds, Make distracting moves that serve no purpose if you cannot find a purposeful move within your 5 second allowance (assuming 5-0)
Good advice Shivsky.
I've never really "got" Silman’s Thinking Technique. It seems to suggest that you should make long-term plans before even checking out the tactical situation on the board.
So, if I'm not mistaken, anyone following this method would be looking for knight outposts before checking whether their opponent is threatening mate!
Shivsky wrote:
Some of these are borrowed from the book - Blitz Theory =>
- Adhere to your time-budget at all costs. 5 seconds / move for 5-0. No exceptions ... even if you have a triple-piece sac that might give you a mating net => if you can see it clearly within 5, play it ... or else play something safer.
Pretty good blitz advice I'd say all in all, except this one. Just as in any normal game, there are 'critical positions' where you should definitely be spending more time in, and this counts just the same in blitz. It's worth spending 30 seconds in a critical position to secure your advantage than stupidly playing a move in a few seconds in the most important position of the game because you're sticking to 5s/move at all costs. Ditto if you're coming under a fierce attack - playing a move in 5s might mean a loss in short order, it's worth spending some time to make sure you actually survive the position.
"3) Don’t Calculate! Instead, dream up various fantasy positions, I.e., the positions you would most like to achieve.
4) Once you find a fantasy position that makes you happy, you must figure out if you can reach it. If you find that your choice was not possible to implement, you must create another dream position that is easier to achieve."
I think these 2 by Silman are utter garbage.
You could pick out Silman's underlining idea.
I will call it the 'dream' method. Find your weakest piece and picture it on its dream locations... you now calculate how to get there.
-KD
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Perhaps calculate the line till it arrives at a point without forcing moves, (threats, captures or checks).
bump
I thought several differing thinking techniques would be enjoyable for some. If i may pose a question, What thinking technique do YOU have in blitz games?
-KD