Many people generally consider chess to be the ultimate game of strategy, logic and even intelligence, especially in matches between person and machine. This is similar to the common misconception that the attorney who won the case is smarter than her adversary. However, in chess, as in law, there is far more to the “game” than initially meets the eye.
As in law, all chess players bring their “personal style” into the game, which is an expression of an individual’s character. For example, a cautious, pessimistic or anxious person will be less likely to indulge in aggressive, risky maneuvers, simply because they are prone to find faults, flaws and weaknesses in their position. An optimistic, “happy-go-lucky” person usually will make riskier moves without proper evaluation and tend to overestimate their position.
Although there are many variations, there are four basic types of chess players: 1) those who seek positional strength; 2) others who are defense-oriented; 3) those who are aggressive and frequently attack; and 4) those who opt for complicated positions. Therefore, if you are able to get a sense of your opponent’s personality, you not only can predict your opponent’s strategy, but even how your opponent will react to certain moves.
If you are a very good chess player, you can even cajole your opponent into adopting a game plan and strategy they are unfamiliar with, especially if they believe they have “figured” you out and are overconfident. One way I would do this would be to initially stare at my pieces before my move to make sure my opponent thought he/she knew what pieces/part of the board I was focused on, until it was too late … for them. Then I would attack with a piece they never anticipated me using, simply because I was not looking at that part of the board.
Another strategy is to just nod your head down when your opponent makes an aggressive move that actually is to your advantage. Perhaps even a little tap of the hand and a grimace or rubbing your forehead. In some cases, if the opponent is making some good moves, yawn or roll your eyes. The possibilities are endless, since most human communication is non-verbal. So, if you can communicate with your opponent on a non-verbal level, you can motivate your opponent to continue to do exactly what you want.
Does this always work? Not always, especially if you are playing an opponent more than once, which requires you to constantly change your strategy. Ultimately, it is like the pitcher who throws an inside fastball or the offensive lineman who stands straight-up on a draw play. It is just part of the game, but at some point the pitcher still needs to throw it over 90 mph to get the batter to back off the plate and the lineman still needs to be able to block a 300-pound defensive lineman. In short, if you are going to be a good chess player, these simple strategies should enhance your game, but cannot substitute for good fundamental skills and a good understanding of chess.
Next time you play a match, try some of these simple strategies and see if they are effective. Perhaps they will give you more confidence. I utilized these strategies when I was a member of the 1989 Nassau County High School Championship Chess Team and Captain of the 1991 NY-PA Bi-Regional Collegiate Chess Championship Team. I really found that it added another dimension to my game play and definitely made it more enjoyable.
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Frank D. Prestia is the co-founder and designated broker of Prestia Group, a real estate brokerage. He can be reached at 206-624-9366 or Frank@prestiagroup.com or you can visit his Web site at www.prestiagroup.com.
