Friday, March 20, 2009

My memory ain't what it used to be....

In my quest for the Ultimate chess truth a'la De La Maza I've come to a conclusion that repetitions are not for me. I just learn the solution and on second time round recall, "Oh, it's this and that sack" and miss all the little funny things in position, which are really the key why the position "works". The problem is probably related to the fact that I really really really feel disgusted when repeating those problems...
Another memory failure I noticed is what I would call an autodrive-mode. I can go through games or play a game or two and afterwards I have only vague reflections, like "there were some interesting bishop move" or "the opening move was e4" etc etc.
Gives me a feeling that if I can't recall anything concrete on what I've just trained then how am I supposed to improve at all...
Curiously a blindfold check after doing something chess related seems to cure this autodrive syndrome.
On a more positive note, I've been reading books by Iain M Banks and even if my chess is stalling, reading is still very enjoyable...

3 comments:

  1. Good to hear from your chess progress again. Are you going to play in chess tournaments soon? I know there's one opportunity this weekend...;-)

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  2. I think I'll pass this tournament, my vulnerable little ego can't handle it, if for some reason I don't win my section... "Sometimes I wake up and I don't know where I am. And I don't talk to anybody. Sometimes a day. Sometimes a week. Can't put it out of my mind." what movie? ;-)

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  3. Totally agree- the problem is you just remember the first move and don't calculate at all.

    I hate it, de la maza blows and there are thousands of tactics books out there to vary with:)

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