Don't you dare
laugh when you look at the ratings of the players in our game this week.
They might not be Kramnik and Kasparov, but just like any player they
make good moves as well as bad ones. This game illustrates some of the
common psychological errors that plague most casual players, apart from
the inevitable tactical difficulties.
Why psychological instead of intellectual? Because
many of these moves are not the product of any calculation or lack of
experience. They are reflex moves that a psychologist would explain better
than any Grandmaster. Can you recognize these types of moves in your own
games? Don't fall victim to your own fears! If your opponent beats you
let it be on the board, not in your head.
1) Panic attack! When someone attacks your piece
don't just run away. Your opponent is just as capable of blundering as
you are no matter what his rating is. Don't forget about your own plans
and DO THE MATH. Can you capture the attacking piece? Do you have
an even more powerful threat yourself? Can you just let the piece be captured
to your advantage? Too often players focus all their attention on their
attacked piece and ignore the rest of the board.
2) Mutual blindness. Just because the other guys
doesn't see something doesn't mean you have to ignore it too. This is
related to perpetual blindness. Look at the entire board each move, you
might find something new. Otherwise you will miss the same opportunity
move after move. In today's game both players are ignorant of the fact
that White can win a bishop and they keep ignoring this for the entire
game!
3) Pawnophobia. Aggressive pawn pushes against
your king look very dangerous, and sometimes they are. On the other hand
sometimes they are just massive weaknesses you can exploit. Look for chances
to grab the initiative with your own pawn push or to lock the enemy pawns
in place to use as targets later on. Don't let your opponent bluff you
into thinking his attack is inevitable.
chesssepp (1213) - Spass13[IWBLM] (1272)
Playchess.com
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 So far,
so good! Both sides have used every tempo to develop something. White's
last is a little conservative, but it gets the bishop out of the way so
he can castle. 5.c4, attacking the black center and preparing to recapture
with the bishop (5..dxc4 6.Bxc4) was good.
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