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Smart Questions to Ask, or:
Another Angle of the Grandmaster’s Mind
by FM Amatzia Avni
|
A recent review in
The Scientific American (August 2006) by Philip E. Ross,
described various research results, probing how people become experts in
their field.
The article listed
several variables: talent, memory, perception, motivation, storage of
knowledge and the value of practice. All very interesting for the
general public; but one feels that for the audience of club players,
some practical tools would be most welcomed.
When
The
Grandmaster's Mind
(Gambit, 2004) - which I consider to be my best book to date - was
published, a reader asked me if I had discovered something really new in
the course of the interviews I had conducted with the likes of Gelfand,
Smirin and Psakhis. Indeed, I had, and the most illuminating
phenomenon I observed concerns the first question the strongest players
asked themselves while encountering a fresh position. |
 Amatzia
Avni is an Israeli psychologist. He is a
FIDE
Master in both
game and composition, a former editor of the Israeli magazine
Schahmat and a regular contributor to Chess Monthly.
His forthcoming book "Devious Chess" will be released by
Batsford in April. Read
Chessville reviews of two of his earlier works:
Practical Chess
Psychology: Understanding the Human Factor (2001);
and The
Grandmaster's Mind (2004). |
|
|
As a rule, whenever I screened a position I used to concentrate
on my own options. Sure, I knew about prophylaxis and I did
try to fathom my opponent’s plans. But the grandmasters examine
their rival’s moves as their cornerstone, the very first thing they
look at.
One interviewee explained to me simply that since
in chess both Black’s and White’s plans interweave, it makes no sense to
devise a move, let alone a comprehensive plan, without first exploring
what the other side intends to do.
Quite convincing, but how many of us act accordingly? I looked
at Purdy’s teaching; he preaches that the first step of thinking consist
of asking “what are all the moves I have to consider” and only then, to
ask “how has his (my opponent’s) last move changed the position and what
are his threats and objectives?”
Grandmasters reverse the order of questions. This is not
a minor difference, as you can verify by looking at the following
example:
|
20.Qe2 g6 21.Bh3 f5 22.f4 Nf6 23.Re1 f:e4
24.B:c8 Q:c8 25.N:e4 N:e4 26.Q:e4 Bg7 27.Rd3 Rb4 28.Qf3 c4
With advantage to Black (0:1, 39).
So, the very first thing Grandmasters
examine when they look at a position is their opponents’ options.
Does their approach to other issues differ from that of common players?
I think it does.
Have a look at the next diagram:
In the game
White played 29.Nc4 and lost after 29...R:c4 30.B:c4 Nf3 31.Qb6
Rd8 32.Rg3 Nh3 33.Bf1 h4 34.R:h3? g:h3 35.B:h3 Qf4 36.Qc7+ Ke8 37.Kg2 Ng5
38.R:d6 Qf3+ 39.Kf1 Q:h3+ 40.Ke1 R:d6 0:1.
* * *
Here is another intriguing train of thought: Can my opponent’s move
assist me?
The opening of files on the king-side has
served White, not Black.
22...Bd7 23.Rh3 Qe4+ 24.f3 Q:e3 25.Q:e3 R:e3 26.R:g3
Loss of material is imminent.
26...Kf8 27.R:g7 R:a3 28.Kh2 1:0
Another useful
question that ordinary players seldom ask is: “what are the launching
pads for future action?”
27.a3 b5 28.Qd2! Rc4 29.Qa5 Qc8 30.Nf6+ B:f6 31.g:f6 Rec7 32.h:g6
f:g6 33.Qe1 Qf8 34.Qe6+ Kh8 35.Rh6 b4 36.a:b4 R:b4 37.R:g6 Rb8 38.f7 R:f7
39.Q:d6 Re7 40.Rf6 Re1+ 41.Ka2 Qe8 42.R:f4 1:0
* * *
Another attribute that distinguishes chess Grandmasters from their lesser
brethren is not really a clever question a player poses himself
during play, but rather a useful approach, an enduring state of
mind.
Constant improving:
“I was amazed during the game. Each time Petrosian achieved a good
position, he managed to maneuver into a better one.” (R.
Fischer, annotating his game vs. T. Petrosian, Portoroz 1958).
There lies one of the big secrets of top players: they are rarely satisfied
with what they have but aspire for more.
Inside
Avni's Mind
© Amatzia Avni
and Chessville
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