Unearthing the mini skills
Somehow the term mini skill emerged during my investigations. So far it was based on a gut feeling and not on a proper definition. Let's see whether we can find out more. Robert came up with the following position:
5r1k/2q4b/p3p2Q/1pp4p/8/1P3r2/P1P4P/1KBR2R1 w - - 3 27
Saric, I. vs. Bosiocic, M.
I see the following salient cues:
- Qxf8 mate if it wasn't voor the defender Rf3
- Qg7 mate if it wasn't for the defender Qc7
- Bb2 mate if it wasn't for the defenders Qc7-e5 and Rf8-Rf3
So I guess that finding the defender is a mini skill.
When we find a defender, the next logical step is the question "can we annihilate the defender?". With tempo would be nice.
1. Rd7 deflects the Qc7 with tempo (Qxh7#).
1. ... Qxd7 2.Bb2+ can only be defended by the self-pin of a rook, after which f8 becomes vulnerable for invasion.
So the following mini skills emerge:
- See the salient cues (the mates)
- Find the defenders
- Annihilate the defenders with tempo
The logical narrative is the guide of the attention. During the building of the narrative, a lot of questions arise ("which piece defends f8?").
The stopwatch revealed that finding Rd7 took the most time. So asking myself "how to deflect the defender with tempo?" isn't second nature yet.
I observe that your definition (choice) of salient cues is distinctly different from mine.
ReplyDeleteMy experience in a wide variety of combative domains has been that weakness is the overriding salient guide for a proper response, aiming the lightning strike along the path of least resistance directly at the weakness. The important thing to learn is how to minimize the time interval between recognition of a weakness and the response to that weakness so that the response becomes instantaneous (or as close to that as possible). The observation of salient cues should trigger System 1 to produce the corresponding response, without the delay of System 2 logical thinking (step-by-step calculation).
Stock mating patterns are a response to weaknesses. The weakness precedes and conditions the response. No weakness, no combination. No weak back rank, no back rank mating pattern. No loose piece(s), no gain of material. No immobility of the enemy king, no way to crush it inside the “box.”
Starting with the stock mating patterns as the salient cues reminds me of the “Law of the Hammer:”
"It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail."—Abraham Maslow, 1966.
No offense intended.