How To Shift An Unsupportive Chess Mindset

Advice for a Chess Player with an Unsupportive Mindset

Introduction

I'm Grandmaster Max Illingworth - a chess coach who frequently adopts (10-0) players rated 2700-3000 in Lichess Bullet.

Having a supportive mindset is crucial for progress in chess.

But what does this mean exactly?

If you find yourself battling negative thoughts or self-doubt, it can be a significant barrier to improvement.

We have seen how players like Ding Liren and Firouzja, after reaching almost the very top in chess (World Champion and youngest ever to break 2800 FIDE, respectively), had 'mental game' challenges that prevented them from consistently showing a world-class level in their chess games.

If some of the greatest chess players can still significantly improve their chess mindset, it's fair to say you can as well...right?

Here’s some advice to help you cultivate a more positive and supportive mindset.

1. Recognize and Challenge Negative Thoughts

What thoughts enter your mind when you think about playing chess? About improving at chess?

Draw awareness of your negative thoughts. Write them down and ask yourself - how do I know this is true?

For example, if you think, "I’ll never be good at chess," ask yourself why you believe that and counter it with evidence of your progress and past successes.

Remember, your thoughts are not facts but merely perceptions. You'll see more progress once you stop placing so much weight on your thoughts and focus on doing.

2. Focus on Growth, Not Perfection

Here's the thing...Is perfection really what wins chess games?

One of my favourite quotes is:

Winning chess games isn't about avoiding mistakes but making smaller mistakes than opponents while punishing their most significant mistakes. - GM Max Illingworth

Shift your mindset from seeking perfection to embracing growth.

Every game, whether a win or a loss, is an opportunity to learn and improve.

Ask, 'What can I learn from this?'

Celebrate small victories and progress, no matter how minor they seem. If you share them in a supportive community of like-minded chess improvers, such as 'Adult Chess Improvers',you'll enjoy the encouragement of others to get you through the tough times.

This will help you stay motivated and face the fear of failure head-on.

Understand that every leader or expert in a field has failed many times. This is just part of the journey to becoming great at something.

3. Set Realistic and Achievable Goals

Everyone thinks they want to be the World Champion or the first billionaire in their family...but are you willing to do the work it takes to get there?

If you're like most people, just the thought of such a thing will likely feel overwhelming or, at least, out of reach.

Break your long-term goals into smaller, manageable steps. As James Clear shares in 'Atomic Habits, improving by 1% daily will lead to a 37.78x overall improvement in one year due to the power of compounding.

After all, you don't need to work five steps ahead - just on the next step.

Setting achievable short-term goals will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you.

For instance, you should aim to improve a specific aspect of your game, such as endgames or opening repertoire, within a set timeframe.

Our goals tend to stretch to the length of our deadlines.

Remember that there are no unreasonable goals—only unreasonable timelines. So, give yourself the time to master your craft and trust in the process.

4. Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities

Who here has been very frustrated after losing a chess game?

That's a normal response, but the champions recover faster from setbacks than the rest.

Instead of being discouraged by mistakes, view them as valuable learning opportunities.

'What can I learn from this?'

Analyse your games to understand where you went wrong and how you can improve.

A simple 3-step process for this is:

1. Identify the mistakes and improvements for both sides (the automatic computer analysis on Lichess will do this for you);

2. Figure out what moves you needed to see (or what you had to appreciate in the position) to play the best move;

3. Reverse-engineer what thinking technique or skills would allow you to make similar decisions better in the future. Then, adapt your Training Plan accordingly.

This approach will help you develop resilience and a growth mindset.

5. Practice Mindfulness and Stress Management

For many, chess feels like a stressful experience, like taking an exam.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Mindfulness can help you stay present and focused during games, reducing anxiety and negative thinking.

Much work has been done about getting in the 'zone'. If you want to systemise this flow process, I recommend Jared Tendler's 'The Mental Game Of Poker 2'. (I've also covered it in past posts on Facebook and will likely address it again in the future.)

Practice mindfulness techniques like deep breathing or meditation to manage stress and maintain a calm, clear mind.

When practising breathing, I recommend consistent breathing patterns (such as box breathing: 4 seconds, 4 seconds, 4 seconds, 4 seconds) to regulate your body effectively. (For it is our feelings that determine our actions.)

As for meditation, I suggest the mantra-based meditation (Vedic/Transcendental), as the mantra will help you focus your attention on the present.

With enough practice, you can consistently be in a 'meditative' state—being aware and intentional rather than ignorant and reactive.

6. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. - Jim Rohn

Getting results in any field (including chess) begins with taking responsibility for everything.

If the people in your circle hold you to higher standards or, even better, already have the results you're looking to achieve - it only makes sense that you will rise to a higher level through better habits.

Seek out supportive and positive people who encourage your growth. Draw inspiration from James Altucher's '+1/=/-1' concept, where we learn from those ahead of us, share with those in a similar situation (moving in a similar direction), and teach others earlier in the journey than we are. (This is one of the primary methods I attribute to my significant improvement in 2024—more on that in a separate post.)

Join chess communities, online forums, or local clubs where you can share your experiences and learn from others. I continually strive to make my 'Adult Chess Improvers' community on Facebook better than most chess resources you pay for. Could you join today and determine for yourself whether I've succeeded?

Positive interactions can boost your confidence and provide a sense of belonging. And having someone to kick you up the behind and make you accountable can be the difference between stagnation and rapid improvement.

7. Celebrate Your Progress

You need to recognise your effort and celebrate your progress to avoid burning out.

What's something small you can be grateful for today?

Celebrate your achievements and see your progress, no matter how small.

Keeping a journal of your improvements can help you see how far you’ve come and maintain a positive outlook.

I used to be quite disappointed when I looked back on my past results and realized how much better I could have done if I had known then what I know now. Now, I've worked through the trauma and realised that these setbacks and lessons are the price everyone must pay to reach the 'promised land' of being one of the best in the world at something.

8. Seek Professional Help if Needed

When my parents weren't on board with the direction I wanted to take my life (focusing on group coaching rather than private coaching), I needed to learn how to handle it.

While I was quick to intellectually understand that we should not care what others think of us (for it is just their perception, not the reality), it took me many years to absorb this into my being.

It was not something I did on my own—I had many sessions with a psychologist to talk through my experiences and draw the proper lessons from them (rather than buy into the story of why I could not be so successful).

A lot of us have 'trauma' that is holding us back, and I'm not the guy to solve that for you, but rather, to bring your awareness to it, so that you can get the professional help you need to break the chains holding you back.

If negative thoughts and self-doubt are significantly impacting your chess and overall well-being, consider seeking help from a mental health professional. The best ones will listen to you and be able to inject logic and ask you questions that help you find the correct answers for yourself.

They can provide strategies and support to help you develop a healthier mindset. And these will be personalised for you - if you can take ownership of the right approach and ultimately make it part of your identity (who you are), it will be much easier to realise your true potential.

Conclusion

Cultivating a supportive mindset is essential for your growth as a chess player.

If our chess training is our vehicle's engine, then our mindset is the oil and other components that keep the car running effectively.

By:

1. Challenging negative thoughts;
2. Focusing on development;
3. Setting achievable goals;
4. Embracing mistakes;
5. Practising mindfulness;
6. Surrounding yourself with positive influences;
7. Celebrating progress;
8. Seeking professional help (as needed)...

...you can overcome an unsupportive mindset and unlock your full potential.

Remember, a positive attitude makes the most of your current chess ability, and enriches your life overall.

Let us know your favourite part of this post in the comments thread :)

For more posts like this, check out'Adult Chess Improvers', my free Facebook community.