The Psychology of Chess

I am interested in what goes on in the minds of chess players when they play over the board. I KNOW I play much differently in person than I do online. Online, I can hide behind a screen and never see my opponent. I can stay focused and just run through the moves of my opening based on the patterns my opponent plays.
Over the board play is a whole different ball game for me. I remember when I first attended a chess club in a park. I was so confident that I knew something about chess because I was the best among friends (who weren't really that interested in the game). I entered the clubhouse and was immediately intimidated. It was loaded with confident men slamming pieces and smacking their clocks just for emphasis on the moves they were making. I don't think I won a single game that day except with the friend who had come with me. Since that humbling experience about 3 years ago, I have learned A LOT about chess, but still not enough to be a top player in the parks I visit. I am pretty average among the guys I play... but I notice that if I manage to stay calm and APPEAR confident, I can sometimes snag an unexpected win. Sometimes it happens because he blunders or sometimes it happens because he might start to believe I am weaker than I am and play beneath his level, opening up the door to a few surprises. Another thing that happens in real life games is that I might start to believe that I can never win against a player. I remember one man in particular who I must have played and lost to at least 30 times in the course of a few months. The day I FINALLY beat him was the day I stopped believing he was invincible. Now I can win about 1 in 5 games with him. The most annoying thing that happens is over-confidence. Sometimes a player has almost won the game and gets careless and loses the advantage in the end game. That can be frustrating and almost certainly impacts his next game too.
I would like to read more about the psychology of chess because "reading your opponent" is a really fun component of the game for me. Do you have any fun otb stories to share?

Besides calculation, I suppose what goes on in the minds of chess players varies from person to person. And there's that supposedly general emotional response people have whenever they throw away winning positions, so to speak.

Some get nervous. Some don't.
Some players habitually focus on the entire bored (which is good) and otherwise.
And some players can get notably upset upon losing, as opposed to those who honorably accept it or maintain neutrality.

> Do you have any fun otb stories to share?

I rarely play over the board. Though I can recall a moment which kind of stands out to me. One day I happened to come across a hardcore chess fan on a flight to Massachusetts and we where sat right next to each other in the aircraft. He had brought a cheap little non-magnetic chess set which we used.
I happened to get the upper hand during this one match until there was a turbulence which knocked over all the pieces.. Following the disruptive occurrence he held out his hand for a handshake.

I thought this would be about the Krogius book.

@Raptor-5 said in #2:
> Besides calculation, I suppose what goes on in the minds of chess players varies from person to person. And there's that supposedly general emotional response people have whenever they throw away winning positions, so to speak.
>
> Some get nervous. Some don't.
> Some players habitually focus on the entire bored (which is good) and otherwise.
> And some players can get notably upset upon losing, as opposed to those who honorably accept it or maintain neutrality.
>
>
>
> I rarely play over the board. Though I can recall a moment which kind of stands out to me. One day I happened to come across a hardcore chess fan on a flight to Massachusetts and we where sat right next to each other in the aircraft. He had brought a cheap little non-magnetic chess set which we used.
> I happened to get the upper hand during this one match until there was a turbulence which knocked over all the pieces.. Following the disruptive occurrence he held out his hand for a handshake.

That story was worth the wait! Thanks for sharing! I love playing with strangers because I have no idea their level or what they will play, The mystery is so fun. ;-)

@MrPushwood said in #3:
> I thought this would be about the Krogius book.

Sorry to disappoint you. Should I admit I haven't read that book? But now I am curious. Thanks!

@Letpchess said in #1:
> I am interested in what goes on in the minds of chess players when they play over the board. I KNOW I play much differently in person than I do online. Online, I can hide behind a screen and never see my opponent. I can stay focused and just run through the moves of my opening based on the patterns my opponent plays.
> Over the board play is a whole different ball game for me. I remember when I first attended a chess club in a park. I was so confident that I knew something about chess because I was the best among friends (who weren't really that interested in the game). I entered the clubhouse and was immediately intimidated. It was loaded with confident men slamming pieces and smacking their clocks just for emphasis on the moves they were making. I don't think I won a single game that day except with the friend who had come with me. Since that humbling experience about 3 years ago, I have learned A LOT about chess, but still not enough to be a top player in the parks I visit. I am pretty average among the guys I play... but I notice that if I manage to stay calm and APPEAR confident, I can sometimes snag an unexpected win. Sometimes it happens because he blunders or sometimes it happens because he might start to believe I am weaker than I am and play beneath his level, opening up the door to a few surprises. Another thing that happens in real life games is that I might start to believe that I can never win against a player. I remember one man in particular who I must have played and lost to at least 30 times in the course of a few months. The day I FINALLY beat him was the day I stopped believing he was invincible. Now I can win about 1 in 5 games with him. The most annoying thing that happens is over-confidence. Sometimes a player has almost won the game and gets careless and loses the advantage in the end game. That can be frustrating and almost certainly impacts his next game too.
> I would like to read more about the psychology of chess because "reading your opponent" is a really fun component of the game for me. Do you have any fun otb stories to share?

I prefer to engage in the ancient art of chess over the board rather than through some cold, lifeless machine. There is no greater thrill than sitting across from your opponent, smelling the fear wafting off of them, as they tremble at the sight of my barbaric visage. The physical proximity heightens the tension between us, like two wild beasts circling each other before the ferocious battle ensues. The click of the pieces as they are moved echoes through the air, like the clanging of blades in battle. It is a raw and primal stimulation that touches something deep within my soul and ignites an unquenchable fire. There is no other way to truly experience the ancient game of chess than with the enemy sitting right before you, vulnerable and exposed.

@chessfan124 said in #6:
> I prefer to engage in the ancient art of chess over the board rather than through some cold, lifeless machine. There is no greater thrill than sitting across from your opponent, smelling the fear wafting off of them, as they tremble at the sight of my barbaric visage. The physical proximity heightens the tension between us, like two wild beasts circling each other before the ferocious battle ensues. The click of the pieces as they are moved echoes through the air, like the clanging of blades in battle. It is a raw and primal stimulation that touches something deep within my soul and ignites an unquenchable fire. There is no other way to truly experience the ancient game of chess than with the enemy sitting right before you, vulnerable and exposed.

Now THIS I love! Well written and descriptive! I have a frequent opponent I play otb and we are almost equally rated. Our battles feel like this and a win feels glorious! ;-)

The classic Krogius.

Self-reflection of my OTB games: I talk too much during the casual games. But in tournaments that I paid, I focus more and consider it work time, not play time. So my strength increases and my weaknesses decrease. I set my goals to play only good moves. I look at the positive and negative of each move, which changes my style of play. I really don't do that on line, because I don't have the time or need to do it.

When working hard, what drives me up the wall the most, is a person eating food in front of me. What turns me off the most, is distracting odors that cuts the wind out of me. When that happens, I'd rather forfeit the game, than play faster. Ignorant behaviors often distract others. I consider both odors and body facial languages a form of distraction. I can accept many things, cause I know my limits. :)

@Toscani said in #9:
> Self-reflection of my OTB games: I talk too much during the casual games. But in tournaments that I paid, I focus more and consider it work time, not play time. So my strength increases and my weaknesses decrease. I set my goals to play only good moves. I look at the positive and negative of each move, which changes my style of play. I really don't do that on line, because I don't have the time or need to do it.
>
> When working hard, what drives me up the wall the most, is a person eating food in front of me. What turns me off the most, is distracting odors that cuts the wind out of me. When that happens, I'd rather forfeit the game, than play faster. Ignorant behaviors often distract others. I consider both odors and body facial languages a form of distraction. I can accept many things, cause I know my limits. :)

Good thoughts. When I play at my favorite club in the park, I do get hungry after awhile, but I always make a point to take a break, step outside the "hut shelter" and get a snack off to the side of the action. I don't like when players eat while playing me either mainly because I use my game pieces and I don't want food on the figures even though my set is plastic and washable... It's just annoying. I haven't had to deal with any odors that I can remember, but perhaps that is because the shelter over the tables is only enclosed on 3 sides and so we play in the open air. It's very comfortable. Some days I enjoy talking while playing casual games and some days, I prefer to keep quite and focused just to see if I can win against a stronger opponent.