![[us]](/mwf/v12/flags/us.png "United States")
Please consider the top ten chess players in the world! What do these chess players have that most chess players do not have? Does being a genius have anything to do with it?
Probably a ton of hard work.
10,000 hours of practice, and a very strong visual memeory, for sure.
Greg
10,000 hours of practice, and a very strong visual memeory, for sure.
Greg
![[mx]](/mwf/v12/flags/mx.png "Mexico")
It is mostly hard work, but talent also goes into the mix. That is, if you don't have the talent, 10000 hours of work may not make you the best, not even allow you to be close to it. But if you have the talent and you don't work hard, the talent goes to waste and you may do worse than the guy that worked hard.
Certainly genius helps: A larger and more clear mental scratchpad with which to calculate moves, a better memory to store them with, a stronger logical foundation with which to base decisions, and a better ability to correct one's perspective to fit the problem at hand.
Playing from a young age when our brains have more plasticity helps as they can be better trained to do what chess requires.
Being healthy helps as the mind works better when the body is in good shape. Certainly any ailments will be a hindrance to concentration, and someone who is physically fit will have more energy to concentrate at the board at a greater intensity for a longer period of time.
Last but not least being able to practice/work for long hours and derive benefit from these hours helps considerably. Someone who is improving their game bit by bit many hours a day for years on end is bound to be a formidable opponent at some point.
Some notes:
Carlsen has stated that he has a photographic memory. Probably that has definitely played a role.
Kramnik said a few interesting things:
"To play according to textbooks is fine, up to a certain level. Perhaps up to master level, but not to grandmasters. At this level you have to feel the game. It comes to you."
"I work at chess even when you do not see it. Don’t think I’m crazy, but I can give an interview and at the same time be thinking about a very complicated position. Sometimes when I go to bed in the evening I can still work."
Playing from a young age when our brains have more plasticity helps as they can be better trained to do what chess requires.
Being healthy helps as the mind works better when the body is in good shape. Certainly any ailments will be a hindrance to concentration, and someone who is physically fit will have more energy to concentrate at the board at a greater intensity for a longer period of time.
Last but not least being able to practice/work for long hours and derive benefit from these hours helps considerably. Someone who is improving their game bit by bit many hours a day for years on end is bound to be a formidable opponent at some point.
Some notes:
Carlsen has stated that he has a photographic memory. Probably that has definitely played a role.
Kramnik said a few interesting things:
"To play according to textbooks is fine, up to a certain level. Perhaps up to master level, but not to grandmasters. At this level you have to feel the game. It comes to you."
"I work at chess even when you do not see it. Don’t think I’m crazy, but I can give an interview and at the same time be thinking about a very complicated position. Sometimes when I go to bed in the evening I can still work."
I find that pretending I am already down a piece at the beginning of the game keeps me more focused on the board for threats and shots.
Some , very few people actually like chess and play it for its beauty and limitless combinations, others just use it as a device to beat people up to bolster their fragile egos. Ive seen that most often at chess servers where 1900+ and rarely 2200+ will start to talk smack taking on all-comers unrated 1 0. Most rated higher than this have studied so much chess that they know how good they are and don't need to have it acknowledged by checkmating some beginners. LOL \
I guess I was ranting... nvrmnd
I guess I was ranting... nvrmnd
My personal relationship with chess these days is an odd one. Maybe I'm just in one of those off periods where I am in interested in other things. I haven't played a game in a long time, and I haven't even followed chess news that much. I'm more of an "appreciator". I just think chess is a wonderful thing.
My experience has been the same, I play sporadically. I noticed that if I played daily I would continuously improve and much faster, but I also noticed it seemed futile, the players 200 rating points stronger than me would always defeat me, and once I was as strong as them, there would be other players 200 rating points stronger than me that would always defeat me. So it felt like being a hamster in a tread mill, with improvements being pointless.
And then I got hooked into Corr Chess, which I would separate it from chess just like we separate feet and car racing.
And then I got hooked into Corr Chess, which I would separate it from chess just like we separate feet and car racing.
I believe in hard work much more than talent.
Like anything you have to study to get good at something. Most of us studied chess at some point but reached an acceptable level in chess and just quit caring about taking it any further. Some actually enjoy chess...the more power to them.
GM Daniel King and Kingscrusher doing dual commentary on youtube. I truly enjoyed watching the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIAtBqJB_p4
Thanks for the link. I enjoyed it also.
My pleasure.
Powered by mwForum 2.27.4 © 1999-2012 Markus Wichitill