Many chess enthusiasts find themselves in a rut because they're asking the wrong questions. A prime example is the fixation on openings. Instead of pondering, "How can I build the ultimate opening repertoire?"—which is both unimportant and endless—consider a simpler, more effective question: "What's the minimum opening knowledge required to secure a solid position at my skill level?" The answer varies based on your rating but is typically far less than you might assume. You can explore my Free Beginner Repertoire for insights. Choose Your Queries Wisely Time and energy are finite resources, so it's crucial to focus on a select few, answerable, high-quality questions at a time if you wish to progress in chess. To avoid wasting effort on irrelevant questions, ask yourself:
What questions am I currently trying to answer?
Can I obtain a solution to these questions, and will it lead to significant progress?
Regularly reassessing our focus areas helps fine-tune our autopilot for optimal performance, not just in chess but in all aspects of life.
Here are some common questions people ask in their chess improvement journey that may benefit from reconsideration. If any of these strike a chord with you, take a moment to substitute them with a suggested alternative:
"How can I avoid losing or making mistakes?" -> "How can I extract the most valuable lessons from my mistakes?" or "How can I prevent recurring mistakes?"
"How can I progress quickly without exerting real effort?" -> "How can I maximize the benefits from the limited time I can dedicate to chess?"
"Will this activity enhance my chess skills?" -> "What's the most effective approach to improvement?"
"What's the most enjoyable option right now?" -> "What accomplishment will fill me with pride once achieved?" This question often guides me towards tackling challenging tasks that yield substantial long-term benefits.
Note that your optimal set of questions may differ from mine, and that's perfectly acceptable. The goal of this newsletter is to help you identify your questions and refine them as necessary. There's nothing more disheartening than investing time in solving a lifelong question, only to realize it was the wrong question from the start. And there's one question that applies universally: "How can I maximize the value of my limited time on Earth?" Discovering the right answer to this question ensures you won't regret your choices later on.
