I was inspired by a recent post to write something about the psychology of competition.
Chess might on the surface seem like a civilized intellectual struggle, but as we all know, it's not always the player with the ability to make the best moves who wins the game. I've come across some strange psychological tactics over the years, especially in over the board chess.
Some examples are:
- removing dust or a strand of hair from the board while your opponent is thinking. (Strictly speaking not allowed.)
- writing down your move before you make it. (Strictly speaking not allowed.)
- adjusting your opponents pieces, for no apparent reason.
- moving the board or the clock uncomfortably close to your opponent.
- arriving late to the game or wasting time on things like making coffee, talking to others or reading a newspaper.
- switching chairs.
- underpromoting when it doesn't matter if you put a queen or some other piece on the board.
- pressing the clock in some distracting fashion, or forgetting to press the clock.
- saying "check" whenever your opponent's king is in check.
- looking disinterested or borderline suicidal when trying to swindle or setting a trap.
- looking surprised as if there was something you've missed, trying to incite your opponent into playing a risky combination.
Tactics you'll also see on the internet:
- offering draws repeatedly (strictly speaking not allowed) or in hopeless positions.
- making comments like "oh, you're sneaky"
- letting the time run down in a worse position and then start blitzing like crazy.
Fully accepted and even encouraged psychological tactics include:
- playing dead and doing nothing for 10-20 moves in closed/quiescent positions.
- repeating the position once as if you're going for a draw and then 'change your mind'.
Not all of these are always conscious attempts at manipulation, but sometimes they are, and they constitute a large part of what's going on under the surface in a game of chess.
I also want to add that many chess players are truly eccentric and can't help but be distracting by just being themselves.
Some other examples?
Chess might on the surface seem like a civilized intellectual struggle, but as we all know, it's not always the player with the ability to make the best moves who wins the game. I've come across some strange psychological tactics over the years, especially in over the board chess.
Some examples are:
- removing dust or a strand of hair from the board while your opponent is thinking. (Strictly speaking not allowed.)
- writing down your move before you make it. (Strictly speaking not allowed.)
- adjusting your opponents pieces, for no apparent reason.
- moving the board or the clock uncomfortably close to your opponent.
- arriving late to the game or wasting time on things like making coffee, talking to others or reading a newspaper.
- switching chairs.
- underpromoting when it doesn't matter if you put a queen or some other piece on the board.
- pressing the clock in some distracting fashion, or forgetting to press the clock.
- saying "check" whenever your opponent's king is in check.
- looking disinterested or borderline suicidal when trying to swindle or setting a trap.
- looking surprised as if there was something you've missed, trying to incite your opponent into playing a risky combination.
Tactics you'll also see on the internet:
- offering draws repeatedly (strictly speaking not allowed) or in hopeless positions.
- making comments like "oh, you're sneaky"
- letting the time run down in a worse position and then start blitzing like crazy.
Fully accepted and even encouraged psychological tactics include:
- playing dead and doing nothing for 10-20 moves in closed/quiescent positions.
- repeating the position once as if you're going for a draw and then 'change your mind'.
Not all of these are always conscious attempts at manipulation, but sometimes they are, and they constitute a large part of what's going on under the surface in a game of chess.
I also want to add that many chess players are truly eccentric and can't help but be distracting by just being themselves.
Some other examples?
