Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Remember the goal

 Robert showed us a good problem that gives me the opportunity to show what we are after. Stage 2: the black box where system 1 works its magic, and transforms knowledge into skill. It is about skill.

No skill, no thrill. 
The position shows a perfect test. If you need system 2 to solve it, you are not there yet. If you have seen 10 Anastasia's mate, you have seen them all. If you have seen 10 smothered mates, you have seen them all. If you have seen 100 magnets, you probably know your mates.

White to move. SEE the Anastasia's mate, the smothered mate and the magnet.

4r1k1/1p3pp1/p1b3q1/5N2/1Q2P3/2P5/PP6/1K5R w - - 0 1

You are ready if you you SEE the Anastasia's mate, the smothered mate and the magnet.
No lists needed, whatsoever!! Lists are system 2 stuff. 

Black to move. SEE the magnet.

White to move. SEE the Anastasia's mate

SEE the smothered mate

Lists are for if you don't know what to do. It doesn't make sense to use them when you want to acquire skill. Because skill is knowing already what to do.

You might need a list or two when you are chewing on a position in order to get bitesized chunks. But acquiring skills is about swallowing and digesting chunks. Lists stands only in the way in that process.

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