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Upcoming blog developments

This is a memorandum of the ideas that I consider developing in my training program and presenting in the mid-long term in this medium as exhortations to conscious and practical work in chess, in parallel to the writing of a treatise about independent chess training based on the first entry published in this blog, God willing. I also share them here as an introspective reference for the reader who is interested at improving his/her game, as well as for organizing and integrating the themes that I will be posting. Positional theory map. Compilation of the essential terminology to understand and interpret objectively the dialectic of chess, in order to assimilate concepts and facts of the game applicable to other fields of cognition and self-knowledge. 1. Elements of Initiative. 1.1.2. Opening Character. Obstacles to overcome and dissolve in chess training. Conceptualizations about the difficulties to overcome in this discipline and guide its learning efficiently. Complementary reading...
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Cognitive psychology: its role in learning and practicing the royal game

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Cognitive psychology studies the mental processes underlying perception, memory, language, reasoning, and decision-making. Applied to chess, it allows us to understand how players think, learn, and solve problems over the board. In this context, chess becomes an ideal laboratory for observing two fundamental types of thinking: Convergent thinking , which seeks a precise, logical, and determined solution—such as finding the best move in a tactical position. Divergent thinking , which explores multiple possibilities, ideas, or plans—such as evaluating structures or imagining long-term strategic plans. Both types of thinking coexist and alternate constantly during a game. Cognitive psychology has identified at least seven key teachings in this area: 1. Pattern Recognition Expert players do not calculate move by move from scratch; instead, they recognize familiar configurations, such as mating nets, defensive schemes, or pawn structures. This quick recognition activates convergent t...
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How to read chess books?

I found it redundant to title this entry 'Why Read Chess Books' in contrast to the arguments presented in the previous post, as even the slightest introspection into the subject might suggest to any practitioner that the fundamental and evident motivation for tackling the reading of chess literature is none other than to deepen and improve one’s independent understanding of the game. What a boast! Right? But there is always room for improvement. In any case, I don’t believe it’s an entirely dismissible topic, especially for those who enjoy reading as their primary learning method or as a complementary resource to didactic training. A couple of parallel reasons could be argued in favor of this relatively naïve thesis, particularly when considering the collateral nuances to such basic utility. I will formulate three reasons and then proceed to scrutinize the issue raised in the entry's title question. For those who already have some knowledge of chess, reading specialized boo...
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Why NOT read chess books?

In today's world, where learning methods have evolved far beyond traditional print, relying solely on chess books as the main resource for practical improvement in this game may not be the most effective or engaging approach for everyone. Why is this the case? There are several reasons. First, each individual has a unique learning style, and not everyone finds the dense, abstract nature of chess literature compatible with their way of understanding the game. Chess books often require a high level of conceptual thinking and a systemic/structured approach to study, which can be either too challenging or tasteless for those who prefer more interactive or visual forms of learning. Additionally, many chess books assume a certain level of prior knowledge and do not always provide a clear, methodical path for beginners or those unfamiliar with the nuances of chess theory. This can make the study of chess literature a daunting and potentially ineffective experience for those who lack the g...
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Training Diary 1. Thoughts on the use of modules integrated into the study and practice methodology. The threshold of limit difficulty and optimal performance.

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Contemplations on the utility of modern digital resources in chess training As I organize the publication of the content related to the previously classified preparation topics, I find it relevant to outline some key ideas highlighted in my recent training sessions. This is to complement the possible postulates that may derive from them and their respective corollaries of systematic application in the various multifunctional processes of learning and competitive performance in this discipline. The first thing to clarify is that the moderate use of chess engines to exercise the nuances of the player's independent thinking system is practically an indisputable requirement in perfecting pragmatic approaches for designing opening repertoires, creatively applying methods for calculating variations, and strengthening the natural understanding of each technical and conceptual element related to the subject. This requirement leads to realizing the importance of practical parameters that ca...
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Positional Theory. Elements of Strategy. 2.2.4. Tactical Motifs: Elements of Combination. 2.2.4.2. Defensive Play: Prophylaxis.

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Taking into consideration that the concept of 'defensive play' always implies the planning of a counterattack, prophylaxis in chess stands out as one of the most efficient defensive resources in the practical development of the game. It involves a strategic approach of taking preventive measures to avoid potential problems that an opponent might pose, while preparing tactical resources to gain certain strategic advantages that may not be immediately obvious. Prophylaxis is a crucial concept of the skill at chess because it enables the player to control the game and thwart the opponent's plans before they fully materialize. However, it also demands a nuanced understanding of the position and the potential threats that may arise, requiring precise positional analysis and the ability to balance defense with the pursuit of opportunities to implement one's own initiatives. Prophylactic thinking is also a distinctive feature of the positional nuances of strategy, by preventin...
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Positional Theory. Elements of Initiative. 1.1.2. Opening Character.

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The approach applied in developing a more offensive (or defensive) stance as the predominant strategic factor of the game assigns its distinctive "character" to the opening phase, a concept that significantly influences individual preparation and natural playing style in chess. Combinative Approach It focuses on openings aimed at achieving early tactical complications, often at the expense of material sacrifices and certain positional concessions to hinder the opponent from executing their plans or to directly neutralize them and establish the initiative. It emphasizes the sequential calculation of precise attack and defense variations. The nuances that typically distinguish this approach include: Rapid mobilization of major pieces. Dynamic clearance of lines. Pawn sacrifices. Examples: 1.e4 c5, 2.Nf3 a6, 3.d4 cxd4, 4.Nxd4 Nf6, 5.Nc3 e5, 6.Nf3 Bb4, 7.Nxe5 Qe7   1.e4 d5, 2.exd5 Nf6, 3.c4 e6, 4.dxe6 Bxe6   1.e4 e5, 2.f4 exf4, 3.Nf3 g5, 4.h4 g4, 5.Ne5 1.e4 e5, 2.d4 exd4, 3....
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Errors correction

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If through an analysis of one's own performance in chess , errors are discovered in the practical development of the game, and most likely one may find them every now and then, the first thing to consider in favor of their correction is what kind of error it is, technical or conceptual. The main causes of these inaccuracies are always due to carelessness in the systemic approach to thinking and the lack of theoretical preparation . Themes that, in order to be intuitively assimilated, must be covered consequently from the constant review of the independent theoretical preparation and the mental processes that influence the selection of moves, as each type of error also corresponds to ideological subtleties that should be pondered in order to know the specific means of working on their correction and instructional dissolution. Technical errors In this classification are the inaccuracies corresponding to the systematic approach to thinking, caused by confusions in the order of cal...
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Difficulties to overcome in chess training

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I have often thought that, both in life and in chess, progress always comes from confronting difficulties, and that it depends on each one whether to consider those difficulties as truly insurmountable paradigms, or as opportunities for self-knowledge and establishing which direction to take or not, in view of the uncertainties that may arise regarding the safe realization of any useful initiative. This attitude often implies contemplating and accepting the subjective reality, nurturing it without seeking vain, selfish, and nontranscendental gratifications that do not align with any expectation or ideal of improving and perfecting objectively a productive skill. Not an insignificant labor, in my opinion, if one considers that much of what a human being with genuine faith in the value of integral ideals may be capable of achieving depends on it.  After all, collective advances are based on individual efforts, but these individual efforts can never be considered transcendent if they ...
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