It has been proposed here in many ways that the answer to how we might move forward in our pursuits lies in the application of more attention to what ever tasks we might find on our path.
Today I wish to present some practical tips about how we might begin to apply our attention, where we might start.
I hope these ideas can be useful precepts not just for chess, but also for the acquisition of skills in T’ai Chi and many other areas.
These tips are about how to start.
Each time that we are presented with a choice, when it’s our move in chess, or in other pursuits such as T’ai Chi, what can we do to generate a focus from which to begin?
How can we, without delay, immediately get started?
(How can we, as W. C. Fields once said, “Grab the bull by the tail and face the issue?”)
“When you find a good move, keep looking for a better one.”
-Emanuel Lasker (World chess champion, 1894-1921)
Anna Cramling, a Youtube chess blogger whose parents are both Grand Masters, has said that when she was young, her parents said “When it’s your turn, look for three things: All the checks, all the captures, and all the attacks you can make.”
For me, this was a real eye opener.
It gave me something to focus my attention on to immediately see what I could do next.
In more general terms this becomes, to look for opportunities to win (check), to gain advantage (capture), and to move forward (attack).
Using these tips to improve a skill such as T’ai Chi, or to more efficiently study, for instance, in many other pursuits or tasks, might be very useful, profitable, or advantageous!
When asked how many moves ahead he could see in his mind, Jose Raul Capablanca (World chess champion,1921-1927) is said to have stated “Only one, the best one.”
I am slowly, after not having played chess since the 1960s, (When I was in school), re-connecting.
I am enjoying Youtube videos, starting to play some chess robots (AIs) on the computer (to warm up and not make an enormous number of obvious blunders), and am looking forward to playing “over the board” games with local people soon.
I’m having a great time, and enjoying each part of the process!
Namaste, Daniel
