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How do you know?

How do you know?

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How do you know if you are mentally perpared to play a long game of chess? Sometimes Im not 100% when I am playing. This is very frusterating becasuse usually I lose very quickly. I wish there was a mental checklist to keep me from losing my games. Any suggestions?

For your pleasure I have included a blindfold puzzle I was thinking of last night. Pretty sure Ive seen it somewhere else just cant remember. Remember no looky! Post solution here.

white:pawn a7, Nc8, Bh1, Ke3
black:pawns on b7 and e5, Ka8

1 edit
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i know i am ready when my heart is pounding with excitment, i can barely catch my breath, i feel a twinge of anticipation blended with some apprehension that he will be aggressive and try to penetrate my defenses, still i welcome the contact, and make my own advances. then, just as the first moves are made, i fall into it completely and surrender totally to caissa.

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that sounds like a night out at the strip club with chessvanity.

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Originally posted by likeforest
[remember. Remember no looky! Post solution here.

white:pawn a7, Nc8, Bh1, Ke3
black:pawns on b7 and e5, Ka8[/b]b]How do you know if you are mentally perpared to play a long game of chess? Sometimes Im not 100% when I am playing. This is very frusterating becasuse usually I lose very quickly. I wish there was a mental checklist to keep me from losing ...[text shortened]... d a blindfold puzzle I was thinking of last night. Pretty sure Ive seen it somewhere else just cant

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Originally posted by likeforest
that sounds like a night out at the strip club with chessvanity.
No it sounds like a night with Chessvanity when he thinks the Bruins might win a game for a change๐Ÿ˜€

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when you do CTS for a long time, you learn to judge your mental state better and better. I suppose the same would happen over time with playing normal games, but CTS gives you a fast and accurate quantitive evaluation of your performance. which makes it easier to learn how your performance relates to how you feel.

like now, I'm slowly getting better from a flu. I feel 'ok' otherwise, but I also know I can't perform better than 1580 at 90% success rate, no matter how I try. but in a couple of days 1600 will be easy again.

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Good idea, maybe ill just grind out some CTS to see how I feel before I start playing a game.

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For me its always about focus. I can focus whether i'm sick or healthy. Its when I am distracted that I play worse then normal. You just got to forget about everything else but that game, that moment. Once you're in a zone, you're ready.

My personal Check list
1. Clear Your mind.
2. Don't Relax
3. Focus your mind into the Zone.

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Originally posted by likeforest
How do you know if you are mentally perpared to play a long game of chess? Sometimes Im not 100% when I am playing. This is very frusterating becasuse usually I lose very quickly. I wish there was a mental checklist to keep me from losing my games. Any suggestions?

For your pleasure I have included a blindfold puzzle I was thinking of last night. ...[text shortened]... ber no looky! Post solution here.

white:pawn a7, Nc8, Bh1, Ke3
black:pawns on b7 and e5, Ka8
If the question is white to move and stalemate black, the the solution is Ke3-e4 ๐Ÿ˜

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Originally posted by MetBierOp
If the question is white to move and stalemate black, the the solution is Ke3-e4 ๐Ÿ˜
But seriously what is the question?
I cannot see a forced mate.
White to move and win has to many good answers.
Black to move and draw/or win does not seem to be possible.

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Wait! Kingwalk. The white king walks to b6. (takes 4 moves). The black pawn walks to queen (also 4 moves), Then 5.Bxb7#.

so the question was white to move and mate in 5.
nice problem especially blindfolded!

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Its actually white to play and mate in two. Sorry for not including who was to move. Speaking of moving, are you ready to resign yet?

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1.Ke4,b6(or b5) 2.Kxe5 mate