Monday, February 8, 2010

Essencials for chess masters

I am really grateful to those who join me on this blog and encouraged by invaluable comments! I want to proceed one more step.
What is essential for a great chess player:
A. Once former world chess Champion Wilhelm Steinitz (1886-94)Made a statement that chess is a game not for timid.
B. Another world chess Champion Emmanuel Lasker (1894 to1921) made a statement that if he teach chess to a ordinary player for one hundred hours he will attain "A" category title.
After long contribution of great masters and years of development in chess A great player of chess and three times world chess champion Mikhail M. Botvinnik (1948-57, 58-60 & 61-63) made a statement that a chess players strength could be assessed by three essential factors viz;
A. Good health (Mentally and Physically) B. Character
C. Chess Talent. Apart from these three. Training and preparation will work to become great master. Before going in detail we recall a incident from the life of Swami Vivekanand. When a young boy came to swamiji to learn Bhagwat Geeta. After looking at him swamiji told him ‘ first you play foot ball two hrs daily for next six months and than come to learn about Geeta. Boy asked : what is relation with playing football and learning Geeta ? Swamiji replied “ Geeta was given by a “Senani” to “ Maharathi” when he was at battle field of “Mahabharata”. This requires developed mental frequencies with steel nerve system and stamina. If you attain this fitness you will be able learn Geeta in batter way. This is what told by Botvinnik for a chess player's strength.
** Now we talk about health and fitness in chess. Although chess is an intellectual exercise, it novolves nervous strain and a player is called on to bear heavy work load. Now a days two rounds in a day with small break brings total play of 8 to ten hours a day with competitive strain. In old time once Botvinnik quoted his own experience when his game in world chess Championship in 1961 was adjourned with Mikhail Tal after five hours tough fight over the board. Position was slight week for Botvinnik hence a sleepless night followed to analyze the game and he was hardly managed to sleep for two hrs. Again game resumed and his opponent also missing the chances but Botvinnik realized that he was mixing the lines due to mental tiredness. Game was again adjourned and one more sleepless night followed and it was not possible for Botvinnik to even lie down. Finally he got a draw and saved his game. This shows how much strength you require to reach at top level.
** Character : not only competitive character or wich to win, tenacity in efense, resourcefulness and penetration into the psychology of the opponent. It also matters that how a player behaves when he is not at the chess board, when he is not taking part in chess event. Indeed the daily routine of chess master has little in common with his competitive character. Whether a player sleeps at night or leads to hi fi life and only gets up in time for lunch, whether he takes part in sports or other hobby, whether he take care of his nervous system or careless for health, all these depends on the human side of his character, on his upbringing and self-education.
I think before we proceed on academic part of chess we should learn about key of success in chess and also in life.

2 comments:

  1. Thank You Sir,
    Really A Great Article for Chess Player. We are waiting for Next.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good health , character and talent r essential to get Success in any walk of life.
    please remove word verification

    ReplyDelete