It is time for the weekly training check-in. I hope you all had time for some focused training last week.
What went well / What did not go well / What will I do this week
Last week, I focused all my training time on tactics training. I used chesspuzzle.net to solve puzzles for 6h10m. I chose puzzles that were slightly below my rating level, which helped me maintain a good flow and avoid frustration.
However, I noticed that sometimes I would guess or rely on intuition instead of calculating carefully. This resulted in some mistakes that could have been avoided. So, one of my goals for this week is to be more disciplined when solving puzzles.
I also read David Goggin’s new book Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within. The drive Goggins has burns through the pages, and it is almost impossible not to get inspired by his work ethic. You will also stop several times and ask if it really is a healthy approach to life he has, but still, it is hard not to get moved by his attitude. Take a look at these two quotes:
“Every minute you spend feeling sorry for yourself is another minute not getting better, another morning you miss at the gym, another evening wasted without studying. Another day burned when you didn’t make any progress toward your dreams, ambitions, and deepest desires. The ones you’ve had in your head and heart your entire life.”
― David Goggins, Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within
or
“Cultivating a willingness to succeed despite any and all circumstances is the most important variable of the reengagement equation. Your willingness to succeed builds self-esteem. It broadens your concept of your own capability, yet it is the first thing we lose touch with when things go bad. After that, giving up often feels like the sanest option, and maybe it is, but know that quitting chips away at your self-worth and always requires some level of mental rehab. Even if what forces you to quit is an injury or something else beyond your control, you will still have to bounce back from the experience mentally. A successful mission seldom requires any emotional maintenance.
In order to execute on your willingness to succeed, you will need to be able to perform without purpose. You’ve heard of purpose, that magical missing ingredient crucial to landing a fulfilling career and building a happy life. What if I told you the importance of finding your purpose was overblown? What if there never was any such thing as your good friend purpose? What if it doesn’t matter what the fuck you do with your time here? What if it’s all arbitrary and life doesn’t give a flying fuck if you want to be happy? What then?
All I know is this: I am David Fucking Goggins. I exist; therefore, I complete what I start. I take pride in my effort and in my performance in all phases of life. Just because I am here! If I’m lost, I will find myself. As long as I’m on planet Earth, I will not half-ass it. Anywhere I lack, I will improve because I exist and I am willing.”
― David Goggins, Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within
Reading about all the crazy ultra runs David Goggin has completed got me to buy a new pair of running shoes and I completed my first run in half a year. I have no illusions about becoming an ultrarunner, but I know running has many positive benefits (also for chess) and I want to start running 5K runs again.
Now it is time to put some mileage on them
This week I will continue solving tactics, and focus extra hard on not allowing myself to guess. Hopefully, I will also have time for a longer game during the week.
Mar 6, 2023·edited Mar 6, 2023Liked by Martin B. Justesen
Thanks Martin. That message was powerful. Need such boosts from time to time.
1) What went well?
Clocked 1.03 hrs previous week.
All of them in Tactics Ladder.
It's sticking pretty well. Even at the end of day, when few minutes left, it feels good to solve those interesting tactics. It keeps the board vision ON and ensure it doesn't slip too much.
2) What did not go well?
Still have hard time playing online Rapid games.
OTB tournament is distant. But a rated OTB tournament announced next month nearby [state level Amateur's championship below 2000] but not sure how things set to be able to play.
I spent almost 15 hours on serious chess work. I solved a lot of tactics (Justesen, Checkmate Patterns) and Chessmood Tactics Ninja. I also continued to read Move First, Think Later.
2) What did not go well?
I did not play enough.
3) What will I do this week?
Continue with Checkmate Patterns and Tactics Ninja. Maybe play a little more, but no blitz.
I recovered from a slump by endeavoring to get more sleep. My rapid rating reached a new all time high. That was great. Also, I drew my last club team championship game, and it felt good to get that event over with. Also, I took a break from studying a bit this week, and that also felt like the right choice. Chess is always there when I'm ready. Two days later I felt refreshed and ready to do it again.
2) What did not go well?
In said team championship I have a total score of 1.5/5, including two losses vs guys who went 5/5 in the whole tournament. I lost 40 or so rating points from this tournament. This is mostly annoying, not discouraging. But it still sucks! Things that were also rough: Tilting in blitz (dropped like 60 points) and tilting in puzzles, of all things (it's the worst feeling to think about a position for so long and then mess it up by missing something relatively simple). I have to work on that.
3) What will I do this week
Get more sleep! Play more Rapid! There's an OTB quad tournament beginning next Tuesday. I'll probably enter that and try to redeem myself lol. I'll be solving tactics and Capablanca until then.
I reached my goals this week more tactics and I'm half-way through Evaluate like a grandmaster. This lead to one of my most accurately played games of all time. https://www.chess.com/game/live/71536345009
It's only 19 moves but if you want to know why people play the London it's for this exact type of attack.
What went poorly?
I'm having trouble concentrating when I work on tactics. I'm solving slower. I've been sleeping poorly and I think the two are related. It's a strange thing to work on will power by trying to will yourself better. My blitz this week has also suffered.
I had a few games where I've had the better position but my opponent has timed me and I come away infuriated. First cause I worked hard to get that good position, and second I'm mad at myself because I believe in using all your advantages to win a game and I'm letting perfectly valid strategies get me riled up.
The plan for this week:
First off I'm going to work on my sleep game. No alcohol before bed this week and I'm going to go for 8 hours of sleep. After work I often let my interests control me and I stay up too late so this week it's going to be a week of getting my mind the care it needs.
Second Chess. 50 tactics problems and 20 evaluations. I think that 10 a day might be the sweet spot for allowing me to progress without feeling overwhelmed. More feels too much to do and less feels that l'm not working properly towards my chess goals.
That's all for this week I hope your games go well.
1. What went well -- some good solid time working on tactics (from Polgar, "5334", and Justesen, Tactics Ladder. I actually felt myself getting a bit better after some quality time with the latter.
2. What didn't go well -- losing games because tactics
3. What will I do this week? See #1. (Not totally true, I'm playing in a tournament this weekend, and I will also review some basic opening tabiyas)
Thanks Martin. That message was powerful. Need such boosts from time to time.
1) What went well?
Clocked 1.03 hrs previous week.
All of them in Tactics Ladder.
It's sticking pretty well. Even at the end of day, when few minutes left, it feels good to solve those interesting tactics. It keeps the board vision ON and ensure it doesn't slip too much.
2) What did not go well?
Still have hard time playing online Rapid games.
OTB tournament is distant. But a rated OTB tournament announced next month nearby [state level Amateur's championship below 2000] but not sure how things set to be able to play.
3) What will I do this week
Continue solving Tactics Ladder. Keep board vision activated.
Keep looking for opportunities to practice one more layer [eg Opening, Practice against computer option on certain positions etc]
Added above book to wishlist. Will buy - study this year.
1) What went well?
I spent almost 15 hours on serious chess work. I solved a lot of tactics (Justesen, Checkmate Patterns) and Chessmood Tactics Ninja. I also continued to read Move First, Think Later.
2) What did not go well?
I did not play enough.
3) What will I do this week?
Continue with Checkmate Patterns and Tactics Ninja. Maybe play a little more, but no blitz.
It's a new week, Martin!
1) What went well?
I recovered from a slump by endeavoring to get more sleep. My rapid rating reached a new all time high. That was great. Also, I drew my last club team championship game, and it felt good to get that event over with. Also, I took a break from studying a bit this week, and that also felt like the right choice. Chess is always there when I'm ready. Two days later I felt refreshed and ready to do it again.
2) What did not go well?
In said team championship I have a total score of 1.5/5, including two losses vs guys who went 5/5 in the whole tournament. I lost 40 or so rating points from this tournament. This is mostly annoying, not discouraging. But it still sucks! Things that were also rough: Tilting in blitz (dropped like 60 points) and tilting in puzzles, of all things (it's the worst feeling to think about a position for so long and then mess it up by missing something relatively simple). I have to work on that.
3) What will I do this week
Get more sleep! Play more Rapid! There's an OTB quad tournament beginning next Tuesday. I'll probably enter that and try to redeem myself lol. I'll be solving tactics and Capablanca until then.
What went well?
I reached my goals this week more tactics and I'm half-way through Evaluate like a grandmaster. This lead to one of my most accurately played games of all time. https://www.chess.com/game/live/71536345009
It's only 19 moves but if you want to know why people play the London it's for this exact type of attack.
What went poorly?
I'm having trouble concentrating when I work on tactics. I'm solving slower. I've been sleeping poorly and I think the two are related. It's a strange thing to work on will power by trying to will yourself better. My blitz this week has also suffered.
I had a few games where I've had the better position but my opponent has timed me and I come away infuriated. First cause I worked hard to get that good position, and second I'm mad at myself because I believe in using all your advantages to win a game and I'm letting perfectly valid strategies get me riled up.
The plan for this week:
First off I'm going to work on my sleep game. No alcohol before bed this week and I'm going to go for 8 hours of sleep. After work I often let my interests control me and I stay up too late so this week it's going to be a week of getting my mind the care it needs.
Second Chess. 50 tactics problems and 20 evaluations. I think that 10 a day might be the sweet spot for allowing me to progress without feeling overwhelmed. More feels too much to do and less feels that l'm not working properly towards my chess goals.
That's all for this week I hope your games go well.
In a bit of a self spinning cycle -- to wit:
1. What went well -- some good solid time working on tactics (from Polgar, "5334", and Justesen, Tactics Ladder. I actually felt myself getting a bit better after some quality time with the latter.
2. What didn't go well -- losing games because tactics
3. What will I do this week? See #1. (Not totally true, I'm playing in a tournament this weekend, and I will also review some basic opening tabiyas)