Saturday, February 12, 2005
Mind Wide Open
That's the title of a book I read part of recently. It describes the mind as having a modular design and yet it produces a singular "us" identity. I think this makes a ton of sense and definitely fits my chess experience. This is how I see my brain in chess:
Slogging through circle 4 of problems 81-120.
- My defensive brain part is boring. If I fail to include that part, I start hanging material. And, if I overemphasize that, I end up with a passive position that is just begging for someone to take apart. Nonetheless, it seems accurate 85% of the time.
- My tactical brain part seems to only work if I visually break away from the position, get quiet, which is no easy task, and the let some sort of invisible gears start moving. It seems to get the right answers 90%+, and is not so depth limited, but when it comes up with the best move I almost feel like someone else got to play. I suspect those players who rise quickly to 1800 must have brains that slide in and out of that with great facility.
- My calculating brain part seems like the part I identify with most. It's kind of jumpy, shallow, and comes up with specific answers that virtually never hold up fully to computer analysis. Ok maybe like 55%. It also takes the most effort, and gets bogged down alot.
- My instinct brain part seem to come alive when there is mate or something really, really close to it. It is right alot, but lacks details, so if unchecked it leads to hasty inaccurate moves. Occasionally, it freaks out in the opening, whether or not there is a trap. I figure I will chalk it up to experience if I really am missing something, and go ahead and come up with some move based on what I do see.
- My gut feeling brain part that one move is better than another seems to be right about 75% of the time.
- My visualization brain part... well, I unfortunately do not have a visualization brain part; when I close my eyes the best facsimile of a chess board that I can come up with is maybe the outline of a few squares and pieces.
- Lastly, my memory brain part serves me well over 95% of the time. I solve those mate problems with pattern recognition much more frequently than calculation.
Looking over all of this, it becomes apparent why I and other intermediate players have shifted to a more focused tactical study approach. We need to learn use the best brain parts for the job at hand!
-=-=-=-
Slogging through circle 4 of problems 81-120.
Comments:
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For training your visualisation brain I recommend http://www.janmatthies.info/chess/cvt/cvt.htm
I did it for some time and my visualisation of the board with closed eyes grew immense. I even started to dream about chessboards in 3D and technicolor. Alas it doesn't influence your rating.
I did it for some time and my visualisation of the board with closed eyes grew immense. I even started to dream about chessboards in 3D and technicolor. Alas it doesn't influence your rating.
I like reading your long posts. They tell so much!
And don't worry that "some brain" isn't there yet. It will come over time and then you will wonder how did you ever learn that. :)
And don't worry that "some brain" isn't there yet. It will come over time and then you will wonder how did you ever learn that. :)
# posted by 
: 3:14 PM
: 3:14 PM
Tempo, your like the third person I have had recommend that site. Must be something to it.
Logis and PS, glad you like it. I have a few thoughts on chess that have been waiting for a long time to come out.
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Logis and PS, glad you like it. I have a few thoughts on chess that have been waiting for a long time to come out.
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