Blind Spots

July 16, 2010
Tags: Learning Chess Articles

Written by guest author Greg Delaney for Wholesale Chess.

A basic concept in psychology is often illustrated by a graphic called the “Johari Window.” Simply put, the four “panes” of the “window” represent various states of self-awareness of who we are and what parts of ourselves we share with the world. The “subconscious” is that part of us about which neither we nor other people know. The “open” pane is the part of us we know and allow to be known by others. The “secret” pane is the part of us we know about but do not share with the world. The fourth and final pane is the “blind” area – the parts of ourselves that we cannot see but others can. I believe that these “panes” exist in our chess playing as well. We prepare openings and plans in secret, we show ourselves and our opponents our tendencies during play (open), and psychologists have long consider those who play chess to be acting out subconscious conflicts when they play. Do we have “blind spots” in chess? Are there things about our play that others can see but we cannot? Could knowing these things help us improve? The answer to all of these is a resounding “Yes!”

Too Much Time at the Chess Board?

Of course, if we are “blind” to these things, we need in some way to find out about them in order to benefit. My bias is that in chess we need feedback from stronger players just as in life we might need feedback from a counselor – we just can’t see it! While working with my chess coach, a number of very important “blind spots” about my play have been revealed to me. For example, she pointed out to me after looking at some of my games that I very often retreat chess pieces rather than move them forward. This tendency shows how passive my play has been – something needing badly to change. She has also pointed out to me (more than once, I am afraid) that I lack confidence in myself and this leads to indecisiveness and self doubt during play. Practically speaking, I use up too much time on fairly evident moves, wondering what I am missing in my calculations or positional assessments.

Many players cannot, of course, afford the relative luxury of having a chess coach, but most players do know a stronger player who might be willing to look over some games and provide some feedback that will prove useful towards chess improvement. It might be a friend or a local club champion. Sometimes, a brief, inexpensive consultation with a titled player is enough to bring to light problems that, after correction, will help us to play a stronger, better game of chess. By whatever means, changing those chess “blind spots” to known problems will help us focus our improvement efforts.

Greg Delaney is Life Member of USCF who returned to chess in 2005 after a three decade hiatus from the game he loves. He is an educator, club player, and student of IM Yelena Dembo. For fun, he blogs about chess and his work to improve as a player.