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Why you overthink in chess (and how to stop)

@Toadofsky said ^

Alternate title: Know what you are playing for, or get better at calculating.

Honestly, playing to not be embarrassed is a thing to play for. Winning is a thing to play for. Playing an interesting game is a thing to play for.

Or perhaps most likely: playing to avoid more meaningful work :P

Not me of course. Never me.

@Toadofsky said [^](/forum/redirect/post/uPV7mBT0) > Alternate title: Know what you are playing for, or get better at calculating. > > Honestly, playing to not be embarrassed is a thing to play for. Winning is a thing to play for. Playing an interesting game is a thing to play for. Or perhaps most likely: playing to avoid more meaningful work :P Not me of course. Never me.

I think that after reading this blog I am gonna probably improve a lot. @datajunkie thank you for this wonderful blog.

I think that after reading this blog I am gonna probably improve a lot. @datajunkie thank you for this wonderful blog.

Insightful, especially for older adult improvers such as myself that constantly worry about making the wrong move. And love the (apt) Baldwin quote.

Insightful, especially for older adult improvers such as myself that constantly worry about making the wrong move. And love the (apt) Baldwin quote.

@romemusic said ^

Insightful, especially for older adult improvers such as myself that constantly worry about making the wrong move. And love the (apt) Baldwin quote.

Although I agree with you, I think it can help everyone. I mean, nearly everyone thinks about it "what if" of doing something wrong instead of thinking the result of doing it right. I shared this because I am only 9 years old, and I find this blog really helpful. :)

@romemusic said [^](/forum/redirect/post/vfrCxOkV) > Insightful, especially for older adult improvers such as myself that constantly worry about making the wrong move. And love the (apt) Baldwin quote. Although I agree with you, I think it can help everyone. I mean, nearly everyone thinks about it "what if" of doing something wrong instead of thinking the result of doing it right. I shared this because I am only 9 years old, and I find this blog really helpful. :)

The part about losing on time feeling safer for your ego ("I blundered because I was low on time") is a crutch I have been using without realizing for a long time now. Thank you for that! I guess I'll start trying to set time objectives for myself to avoid getting so low on time. Using Lichess tutor, speed is one area where I'm completely behind my peers.

The part about losing on time feeling safer for your ego ("I blundered because I was low on time") is a crutch I have been using without realizing for a long time now. Thank you for that! I guess I'll start trying to set time objectives for myself to avoid getting so low on time. Using Lichess tutor, speed is one area where I'm completely behind my peers.

Jeder hatte die Situation, zu überlegen, welche Zug-Richtung die bessere ist, aber man darf nicht zu lange nachdenken, das bringt nur Zeitverlust und das ist auch wie ein schwacher Zug. Max. 20 Minuten nicht mehr - vielleicht vorher mal 2 Minuten das Brett verlassen, um dann einen neuen Einblick zu bekommen.

Jeder hatte die Situation, zu überlegen, welche Zug-Richtung die bessere ist, aber man darf nicht zu lange nachdenken, das bringt nur Zeitverlust und das ist auch wie ein schwacher Zug. Max. 20 Minuten nicht mehr - vielleicht vorher mal 2 Minuten das Brett verlassen, um dann einen neuen Einblick zu bekommen.

This post is amazing, you are really concise and clear. Thank you for this post.

This post is amazing, you are really concise and clear. Thank you for this post.

@Toadofsky said ^

Alternate title: Know what you are playing for, or get better at calculating.

Honestly, playing to not be embarrassed is a thing to play for. Winning is a thing to play for. Playing an interesting game is a thing to play for.

AND get better at calculating ;)
But yes, it's good to reflect on what your north star is when playing from time to time, including the directions you mentioned.

@Toadofsky said [^](/forum/redirect/post/uPV7mBT0) > Alternate title: Know what you are playing for, or get better at calculating. > > Honestly, playing to not be embarrassed is a thing to play for. Winning is a thing to play for. Playing an interesting game is a thing to play for. AND get better at calculating ;) But yes, it's good to reflect on what your north star is when playing from time to time, including the directions you mentioned.

@peaches3 said ^

This is super insightful! This will positively affect my OTB chess. I find I struggle with not making the right move because it may make me look stupid, or taking draws against higher-rated opponents when I know it will help nothing in the long run. Your points were spot-on. Thanks for sharing!

Glad it helped! Taking draws against higher-rated opponents in better positions is definitely a big one, after 25+ years of chess the couple of occasions I've done that are the only games I really regret. (was #1 in my post here too https://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/25-lessons-from-25-years-of-chess/5xL1Q4lj)

@peaches3 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/yyJ59HMc) > This is super insightful! This will positively affect my OTB chess. I find I struggle with not making the right move because it may make me look stupid, or taking draws against higher-rated opponents when I know it will help nothing in the long run. Your points were spot-on. Thanks for sharing! Glad it helped! Taking draws against higher-rated opponents in better positions is definitely a big one, after 25+ years of chess the couple of occasions I've done that are the only games I really regret. (was #1 in my post here too https://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/25-lessons-from-25-years-of-chess/5xL1Q4lj)