Point of contact between logic and patterns

 System 2 is mainly babbling from memory. "Capablanca said this, so I must try to do that" It is logic in the parroting style without true understanding. On the other side, there are the well-known patterns.

We must guide our attention towards their point of contact, where the logic and the patterns meet, in order to glue the logic to the patterns, creating new patterns that can be absorbed along the way. What does that look like?

White to move

rq3rk1/b1p2pp1/p1n4p/5N2/2b1PpP1/5Q1P/PBB2P2/3RK2R w K - 0 1

The first pattern is a double attack with 1. Qc3 to the mating square g7 and the loose piece Bc4.

How can black prevent the mate? There are two main ways black can try.

• 1. ...f6 blocks the long diagonal. But now it enables white to take the bishop 2.Qxc4+ with check.
• 1. ... Qb4 pins the white queen to the king.

Where are the patterns? It are just the well known tactical patterns double attack, mate in one, pin, providing a tempo.

Where is the logic? In the narrative. 

The narrative glues the logical steps and the patterns to a string. The string in itself is unique. It is just one of the infinite possible combinations. Yet, from one step to another, there is finite logic and a finite amount of patterns involved. These glued logical steps and their patterns form new patterns, or chunks that need to be absorbed.

There is a limited amount of scenarios. Al logical questions need an immediate answer. What if

• 1. ... Bd4 the bishop can be taken
• 1. ... Nd4 the bishop can be taken
• 1. ... Bxf2+ 2.Kxf2 with no serious follow up
• 1. ... Ne5 gives a piece away
• 1. ... Qxb3 gives the Queen away
• 1. ... xxx mate in one

You don't have to worry about long strings (at least yet). But you must be able to generate the logical questions and their answers fast. Whenever you are slow, it is an indication that there is work to do. There is a pattern-step combination that need absorption. These are the mini-skills that Robert mentioned.

Finish the story and color the pictures.