For most of us, the only chance to feel what it’s like to face a much stronger opponent is to enroll in a simultaneous exhibition. Playing against a world champion or a top GM is usually a memorable experience that we cherish for the rest of our lives, especially if we do well. 

My first experience of playing in a simul was in Canada in 1999. John Hush, the head of our chess club, kindly took on a few volunteers from the H.B. Beal Chess Club. Our game lasted quite long and, being the last one, was adjourned. I recall analyzing the endgame at home and even sharing some thoughts about the position with my Dad. I believe I won eventually.

Years later, I discovered John's YouTube channel and realized he is reasonably well-known for his entertaining videos related to Math. This was no surprise to me at all since he is a fantastic teacher. 

A bit, I used to briefly attend a chess club and tried my hand at giving simuls to kids rated about 1400-1600. My takeaway from the process was that this activity requires good physical shape. You get tired of running in circles, and the positions in front of you start to blur. Admittedly, this can probably be overcome with a lot of practice, but I didn't have that many opportunities. In other words, giving a simul is much tougher than it seems!

In the blitz club that I frequented in the early 2000s, some of the players were old-school veterans who had a chance to face chess legends in simuls. One of the regulars of our club defeated Mikhail Tal back in the day, drew Anatoly Karpov, and had some other remarkable results against World Chess Champions. I saw the games in his book and was quite impressed. Also, apparently, he was very proud of those achievements, and his friends would sometimes compliment him after a game, saying things such as, "What else did you expect from a guy who beat Tal?". 

Nevertheless, being an ambitious person, I was more interested in confronting strong players one-on-one and resorted to simuls only due to a lack of opportunities to play them live. At that time, the go-to place for simuls was ICC, where I collected a certain number of titled players' scalps. I never considered those victories "legit", but they were still a good preparation for eventually facing the same guys over the board one vs. one. 

When I came to Taganrog in 2014 to compete in the Dvorkovich Memorial, Alexander Morozevich was the first person I saw in the restaurant. He sat at the table alone, wearing his trademark rucksack. and staring into the distance We both played in the rapid portion of the event. Alas for me, our performances were significantly different. He scored 8/11, while I got only 5 points. Anyway, I was excited about the opportunity of playing against Moro in a simul since, at some point, he used to be my favorite chess player. Being well-known in small circles helped me book a sit without any problems. 

One does not simply beat Garry Kasparov in a simul!

Unlike Kasparov or some other legends who prefer to keep the level of the participants in check in order to secure flawless victories, Morozevich said he was OK with opponents of any strength challenging him. One of my chess pals, an IM, confessed he had a hard time restraining himself not to sign up! Anyway, Moro took on quite a strong field. Most of his opponents, myself included, were participants of the Russian Cup in Taganrog. The former world #2 played unbelievably fast. When the position got complicated, I remember not being able to ponder it for long enough before he came to my board, piercing me with his fiery gaze and waiting for a reply. I recall being disappointed about not performing as well as I could have. The GM's unusual opening choice took me by surprise, and even though his play was not perfect either, it was good enough to finish me off. The fact that he destroyed everyone else in the simul was of little consolation to me. You can check out the infamous game here. 

I am the guy wearing the white shirt. There were a few other tables around the hall. 

Over the course of my life, I have received questions from many people on how to do their best in a chess simul. Also, there are threads about it on the Internet, which is an indication that giving some advice publicly might be useful.  

First of all, play to win. Amateur players often feel intimidated by the identity of the simul giver and mentally resign before the game even begins. Also, some of them have an irritating trait of hoping to “last longer” than anyone else, even if it requires suffering in a totally lost technical endgame. What matters is how enjoyable and interesting the game is, as well as the outcome. There is no accomplishment in going for an inferior position right away and hoping to earn a draw. Instead, be brave and play to win! 

Secondly, stick with the openings you like best and know relatively well. This advice is identical to the one related to facing stronger opposition one-on-one. Even if you lose, it is better to receive a lesson in one of your pet lines than to succumb in 15 moves because you didn’t know how to handle a sharp gambit line that you don't normally play. This is one of the most popular misconceptions about simuls. People walk around asking, "How do I trick the GM by using some offbeat line?" Given the difference in opening knowledge and playing strength in general, you are more likely to trick yourself this way! 

Thirdly, keep in mind that in simuls masters have a limited time per move and a high workload. They get tired and oversee things. Hence, the more complicated and tactical the game is, the more unpleasant it is for them. If your position is suspicious, try to reach murky waters. Also, if you are MUCH weaker than the simul giver, one of your best chances is to play stubbornly and set up little traps along the way, hoping that the opponent will become careless and blunder due to fatigue or irritation.

Fourthly, try it out to get a better idea of what it feels like to give a simul. You get a way more balanced view this way, realizing how it feels to be in the shoes of someone who faces a few opponents at a time. If you are not strong enough to take on club players, you can always experiment with your friends and relatives.

I wish you the best of luck playing in simuls and giving them! 

P.S. The best way to play in a simultaneous exhibition is to monitor strong events and check out if they have such an event on the agenda. An alternative is to check out a site such as Chess24.com, where you can play in simuls or even one-on-one banter blitz games against top GMs. Or, if you prefer a fair fight, you can always download the Play Magnus app and take on Magnus Carlsen, Judit Polgar, Wesley So, and other chess celebrities. 

Is playing in simultaneous exhibitions worth it? How do you maximize your chances of winning? 

Have You Ever Played in Simultaneous Exhibitions? 

As a kid, I was a big fan of watching intellectual games on TV and competing in such contests myself. Jeopardy!, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, What? Where? When?, The Weakest Link, Brain Ring, and so on. I am less fond of them since nowadays when you can search most things online, storing too many relatively useless facts in your head is probably not the way to go. Ironically, this topic reminds me of a conversation between Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle's "A Study in Scarlet":

"You see," he explained, "I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has difficulty laying his hands upon it. Now the skillful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones."

"But the Solar System!" [Dr. Watson] protested.

"What of the deuce is it to me?" he interrupted impatiently: "you say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work."

Nowadays, the argument made by Holmes is more alive than ever.

Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes as portrayed by Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. Image from Popsugar.co.uk

Anyway, I still enjoy trivia questions that get your brain working instead of merely recalling the information you already know. You know, the challenges for nerds HRs ask potential employees of top IT and consulting companies. 

What if I asked you to estimate the median lifespan of the classical World Chess Champions who have already passed away? How would you approach this task? Ponder this question for a bit and see if you can reach a conclusion. 

I am by no means an expert in the field of longevity, so the musings presented below should not be treated as the "solution". 

Overall, there were only 16 classical World Chess Champions. A quick count reveals that ten of them passed away, while six are still alive. 

At 63, Vasily Smyslov played a Candidates Match against Garry Kasparov. Smyslov holds the longevity record so far when it comes to World Chess Champions - 89 years. Not in Yuri Averbakh's league, but still quite respectable! 

If you continue relying on knowledge, you can come up with a reasonably accurate estimate if you know the biographies of the champions well. I wouldn't remember the exact age at which most of them died, but I can easily come up with assessments such as "should be 80+ for Botvinnik" , "Smyslov had the longest life of them, almost hitting 90", or "Tal didn't reach 60". In a matter of seconds, I would tell you that the answer is probably between 60 and 70 years.

If you don't know the biographies of the players well enough to juggle lifespan numbers, the challenge becomes much more formidable. What factors do you think are relevant here? Once again, probably neither of us is a longevity expert, so we have to invent them on the go. 

Country of origin. If you have ever looked at the list of countries sorted by life expectancy, you will realize that the place of living has a tremendous effect on life expectancy. The numbers in the table range from 84+ in Japan to 53+ in Central African Republic. The World Champions had diverse backgrounds. Half of them were from the USSR, and the rest were mostly from developed countries. Overall, this is a tough factor to assess unless you have expert knowledge, but my guess would be that the country of origin is more of a plus than a minus in their case. +

Date of birth. This is also a huge factor to consider. Most of the late World Chess Champions died in the XXth century. The only exceptions are Vasily Smyslov and Bobby Fischer. Overall, this factor is more of a minus since life expectancy has been known to increase rapidly over the last century. +

Education. Nowadays, to become a professional chess player, you typically have to give up on your university studies or even ditch high school. However, historically it was not the case. At some point, Mikhail Botvinnik passionately argued that a person without a college degree would never become a World Champion! A few World Chess Champions of the past had Ph.D. degrees, and my guess would be that they were more educated than their average contemporaries. And since the level of education has a positive correlation with life expectancy, this should give the number in question a boost. +

Gender. In some countries, the gap is more pronounced than in others. However, throughout most of the world, females tend to outlive males by a few years. Since all the World Chess Champions were men, this factor works against them. -

Income. Before Bobby Fischer, chess players usually had a day job since playing chess was not a lucrative occupation. However, there are all sorts of privileges that come with being a World Champion. In the USSR, for instance, they received extensive support from the government. Therefore, I would claim that, compared to their average contemporaries, World Chess Champions were better off and hence more likely to live longer. +

Occupation. This one is a tough cookie. Chess is an intellectual activity that is supposed to prolong your lifespan. However, this mainly refers to playing chess as a hobby. Pursuing it competitively is a different matter. Boris Spassky once pointed out that playing a WCC match takes three years off your life expectancy. Of course, this was not a serious claim, but it drives the message home. Professional chess players have to deal with extreme stress, jet lag, and a passive lifestyle, not to mention staying late at night since to be fresh for the round that usually starts at 3-4 p.m., one has to wake up late. I am torn on this one and can't announce it to be a definite plus or minus. ?

Family status. All the late World Champions were married. The record-holder in this respect used to be Mikhail Tal, who was quite a ladies' man and ended up being married thrice. This made him untrustworthy in the eyes of the Soviet authorities and played a key role in limiting his trips abroad. Later, Garry Kasparov matched Tal's record, also marrying three times. Since, on average, married men tend to live longer than single, this is a plus. +

Mikhail Tal generally had fragile health. His bohemian lifestyle didn't quite help with longevity. Petrosian and Tal both died at 55. 

Here is the trickiest part. How do we factor in everything we have just assessed? Based on the country of origin and date of birth, I would guess something like 60 years. Considering gender, education, income, family status, and occupation, I would probably throw in another 10 years or so. Hence my bet would be around 70. 

Are you interested in Magnus Carlsen's take on his greatest predecessors? Check out the Magnus Trainer app. Among other lessons, you will find biographical articles about the best chess players of all time, presenting intriguing facts and the masterpieces they have created over the board. 

Now it's time to see how accurate your (and mine!) estimates were. Here are the nitty-gritty statistics:

Wilhelm Steinitz (Prague, May 17, 1836 – August 12, 1900) – 64

Emanuel Lasker (December 24, 1868 – January 11, 1941) – 72

José Raúl Capablanca (19 November 1888 – 8 March 1942) – 53

Alexander Alekhine (October 31, 1892 – March 24, 1946) – 53

Max Euwe (May 20, 1901 – November 26, 1981) – 80

Mikhail Botvinnik (August 17, 1911 – May 5, 1995) – 83

Vasily Smyslov (24 March 1921 – 27 March 2010) – 89

Mikhail Tal (November 9, 1936 – June 28, 1992) – 55

Tigran Petrosian (June 17, 1929 – August 13, 1984) – 55

Robert James "Bobby" Fischer (March 9, 1943 – January 17, 2008) – 64


Now let's take a look at the numbers: 89, 83, 80, 72, 64, 64, 55, 55, 53, 53.
The median life duration for a World Chess Champion is 64 – the number of chess squares on the board! Coincidence? I don't think so. 

Despite the difference in methodology, approaches #1 and #2 have provided relatively close and reasonably accurate estimates. 

Out of six World Champions who are still alive, two have already passed this threshold. Boris Spassky, the oldest living WC, is 85. Anatoly Karpov is 71. Garry Kasparov is expected to turn 60 next year. Viswanathan Anand, who has just returned to the top-10 in the world, is 52. Vladimir Kramnik, who is competing in the Chess Stars event today, is 47. Magnus Carlsen, playing in the European Chess Club Cup, is 31. 

Let's wish the legendary World Champions to exceed the current median age of 64 by far! Records are meant to be broken. 

If you were asked to guess the average lifespan of a World Chess Champion, what would you say? 

If you are following the Oslo Esports Cup (don’t tell me you aren’t!), you have surely noticed that Magnus Carlsen has been struggling with some health issues throughout the event. He looks weary and is sometimes on the verge of falling asleep over the board, has a nasty cough and walks around shakily, trying to speak to the reporters as little as possible. 

Unfortunately, sicknesses are an unavoidable part of a tournament player’s routine. Let’s say you find out before or during an event that you are ill. How do you handle this dire situation? 

In a perfect world, you should seek medical help and then decide whether to continue or not. However, quite often the symptoms are not that scary, and you have no possibility to consult the right doctor in due time, so you have to take risks and make decisions on the spot.

We have had a long discussion on this topic in the 2000s with Natalia Pogonina. I was arguing in favor of withdrawing when you are sick. My points were that when you are ill, you might worsen your condition by playing on. Also, you tend to perform poorly, hurting your rating and not winning any prize. Overall, the whole process feels more like a torture than entertainment. Moreover, even when you are not ill, some players, for instance, participants of open events in the US, routinely drop out of the tournament if they start poorly. The reason for this is that the prize fund there typically has a pyramid shape, and only finishing in the top spots allows you to reap tangible rewards. Therefore, if you start with, let’s say, 2/4, you are out of contention and may as well save yourself some time by withdrawing from the event. 

Natalia, however, disagreed and pointed out that one should have a fighter’s spirit and be ready to play on even if things are not going your way. What she said was essentially “Winners never quit, quitters never win”, even though she doesn’t like such simplistic motivational quotes. As far as I remember, regardless of the issues she has been having, she only withdrew from one tournament in her life. And that was in the Russian Women’s Superfinal in 2009, when the doctors stated that playing on was an absolute no-no. 

I can see where she is coming from. Once you start nurturing your inner weaknesses, you will eventually fall apart psychologically and be giving up on tournaments not only when you are seriously ill, but when you feel tired, distracted, burned out, demotivated and so on. This is a slippery path that can lead to quitting competitive chess in general. 

Also, she has this attitude of a player who regularly competes at the most prestigious individual and team women’s tournaments and/or gets appearance fees. The responsibility in such events is on a different level compared to someone who plays local open events just to have fun. Of course, one does not simply bow out of a World Championship or Chess Olympiad after catching a cold. 

Overall, I believe there is some truth to both her and my arguments. A lot depends on whether you are an amateur, semi-pro or pro player. For most of us, our wellbeing should arguably be of a much higher priority than tournament standings or FIDE ratings. For pros who live by the “chess is my life” motto, the conclusion could be different. 

In 1961, Mikhail Tal was scheduled to play a rematch against Mikhail Botvinnik. The conventional narrative is that in the 1960 match Botvinnik didn’t take his opponent seriously enough and lost the title, 8.5-12.5. Then the Patriarch of Soviet Chess did his homework, revamped his openings, and came back in style, convincingly defeating the Magician from Riga, 13-8. This story has another plot as well. Mikhail Tal generally had fragile health and therefore died young. Before the rematch, he was having serious issues with his kidneys and asked for a postponement. Mikhail Botvinnik, a formalist and someone who argued that one should never do your opponents any favors, demanded that Tal undergo an extensive examination in Moscow. Indirectly, he was hinting that the illness was a cover-up. Tal was insulted and, according to his coach, Alexander Koblentc, blurted out, “Even if I am half-alive, I will still beat the old fart!” As a result, aged 24, Misha Tal became the youngest Ex-World Chess Champion and never got another shot at the title. 

Bobby Fischer visiting Mikhail Tal in a hospital in 1962

I have known some selfish chess players who made such decisions based only on their personal wellbeing and even joked about "evening the odds" by infecting the opponents. However, if you believe the illness you have may be contagious, there is an important aspect of caring about other participants. 

At the FIDE World Cup 2021, Levon Aronian, who was the #3 seed, forfeited both games in the second round of the event for health-related reasons. As far as I know, his decision was based not only on his personal problems, but also on the unwillingness to put other participants of the tournament at risk. 

Let’s say you have weighed all the pros and cons and made a responsible decision to keep playing on. 

Interviews with Vladimir Kramnik have been eye-opening for me when it comes to dealing with illnesses as a chess player. His tips are especially useful for people like me, perfectionists and control freaks, who try too hard to perform well.

According to Kramnik, in general, no matter how well you prepare for an important event, there are no guarantees that everything will go smoothly. There is always some magic involved. Sometimes you do everything “right”, and the result is terrible. In other cases, you are facing one obstacle after another, but the outcome is favorable. 

Kramnik has been known for playing tournaments with an extreme fever, sleep-deprived, experiencing pains in his body and so on. According to him, especially as you become older, you are getting used to the new norm of not feeling totally OK on pretty much any day. If you embrace it and treat it as an exciting challenge that is part of every person’s life, it is much easier to deal with the issues. Moreover, it is a good way to shake off the stress and tension that haunts some people who are obsessed with their tournament performances. In other words, if you let go of the burden of performing at your best and focus on (literally) surviving the day, sometimes your results even improve! In fact, Kramnik has won some tournaments feeling extremely poorly, and his opponents were not even aware of this! 

Some friendly trolling from the 14th World Chess Champion

If you are experiencing health issues, think how to make life easier for yourself.

In 1985 in Tilburg, Tony Miles was going through severe back pains. To soothe them somehow, he took painkillers and played while lying flat on a massage table. One of his opponents, Roman Dzindzhichashvili, said that in return he will stand throughout the entire game! He also smoked over the board, which was not forbidden back then. It is hard to say whether Miles’ decision was justified or not. As far as I know, his doctor lamented that lying on his belly with such a condition was the worst thing he could have done. Still, from a chess perspective, it was a lifehack that allowed him to play on in the tournament. Notably, Miles shared the first place there with Robert Huebner and Viktor Korchnoi, scoring 8.5 points out of 14. 

When you are feeling sick, it makes sense to fall back upon your solid, bulletproof opening repertoire that you know from a to z. That is, if you have it, of course! In contrast, experimenting with openings and trying out new sharp lines that you haven’t mastered yet can lead to a disaster. When you are sick, you need to minimize the amount of calculation required, because blunders are much more likely to come as compared to when you are your normal self. 

You would normally not expect Magnus Carlsen to make such blunders. However, when you are sick, everything is possible! 

If you are one of those people who spend hours rehearsing their opening lines before the round, it may be a way of shooting yourself in the foot when you are ill. If your head is dizzy, you are unlikely to memorize the lines well, and getting yourself tired before the match even starts can become your undoing. However, if you play your trusted openings (see the previous item), you are less likely to need a lot of time for rehearsing. 

This tip is particularly useful when you are struggling with a short-term issue that lasts only a couple of days, such as a cold. When you face a friend or someone lower-rated than yourself, there is an option of trying to make/offer a quick draw to save some precious energy and buy yourself some time for recovery. Of course, you had better not show weakness by desperately begging for a draw after the first few moves. Otherwise, the opponent might figure out that something spooky is going on and turn down your offer.

Back in the XXth century, so-called “Grandmaster draws” were quite popular. In long round robins, players would make early draws with opponents whom they knew well and respected and focus on beating the underdogs. Bobby Fischer was particularly mad about this practice since the Soviet GMs would regularly draw each other, saving energy, and target the rest of the field. 

I recall sitting next to a guy who had the habit of showing up at tournaments drunk. This time, he was so under the weather that he could barely move the pieces. He started out with 1.d4, made a couple more moves and, shaking his head and scratching his long beard, squinted through his glasses and muttered: “The position is so CLOSED. I guess it is a draw!” The opponent knew him quite well, had a lower rating and was Black, so he agreed. The arbiter, who was observing this spectacle all along, finally intervened and lectured the first guy, warning that he will be excluded from the tournament if this happens again. As a result, I have added another catchphrase to my arsenal about the position being “closed” and hence drawn. Of course, you should use it for comic relief when the situation on the board is as far from this description as can be. 

That being said, I wish you to stay healthy and be able to play your best chess!

Let’s return to the Oslo Esports Cup. So far, Magnus 10 has proved out to be a formidable opponent for some of the best chess players in the world. Can you do better than them? Download the Play Magnus app and give the challenge a try! 

Let’s say you start feeling ill during a chess event. Do you play on or withdraw from the tournament?

Since chess players typically spend a lot of time at the chessboard playing tournaments, let me share some tips on how to do it more efficiently:

1.     Take care of the lighting. Sometimes it is not sufficient. In such cases, it makes sense to consult the arbiter in advance and to fix the problem somehow.

Mikhail Botvinnik was known for having a stern character and standing up for his rights. When he played in Wijk aan Zee in 1969, he already had poor eyesight and requested an additional lamp stationed on his table. As a result, the 57-year old former World Champion shared first place there with Efim Geller. 

2.     Grab a nice chair. For the World Chess Championship match against Boris Spassky in 1972, Bobby Fischer famously flew to Iceland a chair that he used earlier during his match in Buenos Aires against Tigran Petrosian. Generally speaking, the players meticulously check the chairs before important matches, ensuring they are comfortable enough. I am not suggesting you carry a chair with you wherever you go. Also, unless you are a top player, the organizers are unlikely to do you special favors. Still, if, for instance, you, as a big guy, find yourself seated on a tiny chair suited for kids, you may as well call the arbiter and see if this can be fixed. Don’t suffer unless there is no alternative! 

3.     Keep an upright, confident, yet relaxed posture. It is good for your back, neck, and general well-being. If you are accustomed to “half-asleep” or “hook back” postures, fix it by developing your back muscles via appropriate physical training, massage, and improving your bedroom. Sometimes finding the right pillow or mattress can work magic for your body. 

On the header image of the post, Magnus Carlsen demonstrates an example of how you should sit at the chessboard. 

You may want to experiment. On the image, you can see Judit Polgar at the Chess Olympiad in 1988. According to her, putting legs like that helped her concentration. You can challenge Judit Polgar at that age (12) in the Play Magnus app! 

4.     Breathe deeply and try to find a way to gain access to fresh air whenever possible and needed.

Even though you need a medical permit to play chess events in some countries, the regulation is often neglected. After all, most people don’t treat chess as “a real sport” and don’t perceive it as bearing any risks for your health. An old (and rather silly) joke goes that chess is a dangerous game since you can fall asleep during a match and land with your eye on one of the bishops! In reality, players experience severe increases in the heart rate and blood pressure during intense matches, especially in time trouble. Some Grandmasters have died over the board or shortly after the round – Vladimir Bagirov, Vladimir Simagin, Vitaly Tseshkovsky, to name a few. 

I recall playing the Chigorin Memorial in St. Petersburg. One of the players stood up from the board to take a routine walk around, made a few steps…and collapsed on the floor, losing conscience! The doctors had a hard time convincing him to take care of his health; the gray-haired veteran was eager to return to the board and play on at all costs! This is just a friendly reminder that regardless of how much you love chess and care about the result of the game, prizes, and rating points, your well-being is of more importance.

5.     Don’t get frozen over the board unless you are in extreme time trouble. Relax a bit by taking a walk while your opponent is thinking. This is good both for your nervous system and your body. 

This tip is easy to get across nowadays since this is what pretty much all the top players are doing. However, in the past, there were examples of a different kind. For instance, Bobby Fischer was famous for enduring the tension for hours, sitting over the board as if he was glued to it. However, this is detrimental to your health, and most players don’t have the physical and mental stamina to keep concentrating for so long. Even though on the surface it may look appealing to spend every minute of your time wisely, not getting up from the board at all, this is a poor idea. 

6.     Do some basic stretching exercises when away from the board. There are books that offer quite sophisticated lists tailored specifically at chess players, e.g., “64 Recipes of Success” (in Russian) by Simkin, Bodnarchuk, and Shtatnov. However, there is no need to memorize special techniques. Common sense is good enough. Don’t be shy; just find an uncrowded spot in the playing hall and get started!

I was a bit surprised when the commentators began mocking Vidit for his “dance moves” while he was following the basic guidelines. He got up from his chair on his opponent’s turn and made some simple moves that are good for your body!

7.     Make sure to bring a drink and some snacks with you. In this blog post, we won’t be discussing the important subject of optimal nutrition for chess players. Moreover, it is not possible to give universal advice. For instance, some of us have low blood pressure and could benefit from increasing it during the round. Others, in contrast, have high blood pressure and need to run like the plague from anything that can pump it up even higher. Since our focus is behavior over the board, it is worth noting that you can drink freely during the round (unless it is a prohibited beverage, such as alcohol or some sort of forbidden doping). With food, the situation is more complicated. Common sense and experience tell us that you can’t probably open a lunch box and start munching it in front of your opponent. That being said, at some tournaments, especially local ones, the arbiters will close their eyes on you doing something relatively innocent, such as eating a banana or some chocolate. However, according to official FIDE rules, you are not allowed to eat over the board since it could be potentially distracting for your opponent. What I have been advised to do in such cases was, for instance, to take the banana from your plastic bag and leave the board, walk freely around the playing hall, and enjoy your snack. 

8.     Quit smoking. The pseudo-romantic times when Mikhail Tal could smoke a few packs of cigarettes during a long game, shortening both his and his opponent’s expected lifespans, are long gone. If you consider the modern chess elite, Alexander Grischuk seems to be the only top GM left who has to bother wasting time leaving the playing hall for a smoke break. Smoking is hazardous for your health and a distraction during the game, making you essentially offer a time handicap to your partner.  

When you are not playing tournaments, how about taking advantage of a training program designed by Magnus Carlsen and his team of world-class experts? Check it out now! 

When it comes to sitting at the chessboard, every small detail counts!

In the first episode of the series, we touched upon some of the most typical fears that chess players face before and during the game. Also, we discussed how to boost one’s fighting spirit and gain confidence using the guardian method.

Let’s continue delving deeper into the topic and explore other tips that could help you become a fearless chess gladiator!

When I was much younger, I used to check out men’s magazines and websites occasionally. One of the popular subjects there that were brought over and over again was something like “the top-10 best ideas for a first date”. The womanizer columnist would typically recommend going for something creative to impress the potential girlfriend — horse-riding, attending a dance class together, swimming, and so on. In my opinion, the cons of this lifehack may easily outweigh the pros.

For example, let’s consider shy people who have low self-esteem and regard themselves to be “boring” and “not attractive enough.” They may shoot themselves in the foot by adopting the role of macho and trying to act like someone else. They may end up finding horse-riding tedious, a dance class – embarrassing, and if they swim like a rock and are not happy about the way their bodies look, the process could also turn into torture for them. I don’t mind stepping out of one’s comfort zone now and then, but the first date is probably not the right place to do it unless you are specifically banking on this comic effect by making yourself look vulnerable. 

What would my recommendation be then? Remain yourself and act naturally. This tip is especially efficient if you are interested in a long-term relationship because it would be tough for you to keep pretending and playing a role for a long time. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! That is, it is usually easier to find someone who appreciates your true self than to try to reinvent yourself each time whenever you have a crush on someone. 

When choosing a place for a date, a good idea could be to head to your “domain of power.” That is, a place where you feel like a king; where you perform better than others. Where your eyes shine, and you are genuinely happy and relaxed. When people do what they love and enjoy, they usually look attractive to others. That is, if the former are not self-obsessed and arrogant, of course. 

I dislike generalizations, but chess players, on average, are more of the nerdy/shy type. I remember discussing this subject with one of my friends. Our conversation went along the following lines:

He (smiling self-skeptically): So, you are saying I should take her to a place where I enjoy myself? Let’s say I like playing blitz in the park and trash-talking my opponents. If I take her there, she will probably shake her head and leave, thinking that I am some jerk…

I: Well, the truth is that you probably don’t need ten girlfriends. Let’s say 6 out of 10 won’t go on a date if you suggest this scenario. Three more will consider you a freak and won’t like their boyfriend to be a chess player. However, the 10th one will admire the way you play and appreciate your wicked sense of humor! She will stay with you for hours…and maybe even years! So, if you are a good blitz player, it could definitely be a trump in the sleeve. And this way, you won’t have to quit chess or pretend that this side of your life doesn’t exist!

Oh, wait. This is the Play Magnus blog; I am not writing for a men’s magazine today! So, how are all these dating nuances related to a chess game? The point is, when you lack confidence and feel down, a good idea is to recall your moments of glory when you were on top of the world. Now, if you are one of those people who downplay their achievements and say, “I’ve done nothing special so far,” then I have to point out that everything in life is relative. Maybe you didn’t win the Nobel prize or an Olympic medal, but I am sure there were situations when you got your chance to shine. It could be at school, at the university, at work – anywhere! Just learn to accept compliments and praise and add those blocks to your self-esteem, making it grow. 

Most of us are not professional chess players, so we have to look for these moments of glory elsewhere. For example, I am a world-class public speaker and award-winning debate expert. When I feel drained and weak, I imagine myself walking out on the stage in front of a crowd of people. This is where I am at the pinnacle of power. I can take on any opponent in the world in this state without having any fear. Energy flows throughout my entire body as I close my eyes and visualize this scene. Even though I am not nearly as good at chess as at debate, the inner confidence transfers over and helps me prepare mentally for tough games. If you think about it, you will come up with similar experiences that suit you best. If you were able to achieve all those feats in the past, you might as well perform well in your upcoming chess match! That being said, confidence alone won’t guarantee victory; you still have to play chess well to succeed! 

Speaking of the domain where you feel like a king, I believe one of Magnus Carlsen’s key strengths is that he knows that he is the best chess player in the world. Basically, he doesn’t need to imagine anything. He sits at the board, and that’s where he is most dominant! A similar thing could be said about Kasparov until he caught that mystical, psychological virus about Kramnik being 12 years younger (the age difference between Karpov and Kasparov) and his potential successor. Generally speaking, quite often, legendary champions are first defeated in their own minds, and only then in reality. The “moment of glory” technique is useful for preventing that mental breakdown from happening. 

Later in my career, I started having more success in pivotal games. Maybe this is due to realizing a simple thing: fear was besetting not only me but my opponents as well.

If you have never heard the abovementioned quote, you will probably be surprised since Mikhail Tal has the image of a reckless and fearless berserk who used to go all out at the opponents in every game, taking huge risks. While he was young, he did play that way indeed, but you can see that at a later stage of his life, he had the courage to admit that even back then, he was still haunted by fear when the stakes were high. Therefore, you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself if you lose confidence at the board now and then. 

Remember that famous line from “The Predator” (1987)? “If it bleeds, we can kill it.” The truth is, your opponents are also going through all sorts of troubles and fears. Maybe they are even more exhausted, sick, demotivated, anxious, and afraid than you are! Instead of making a mental list of why you are not in your best shape (basically, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of why exactly you are going to fail), make a similar list for your opponent. Maybe he had a cough? Did he look weary? Did he lose a terrible game, showing that he is in bad form? Did his last game continue for 60+ moves, making him spend a lot of energy and not allowing you to prepare for your match? Maybe he feels uncomfortable in this city due to not being accustomed to such temperature and food? Is he worried about missing out on a GM norm? Perhaps he has helicopter parents who keep pushing him for more, destroying his will to play. The list could go on forever. Obviously, I am not suggesting you spend the whole evening gloating over someone else’s problems. No. Just make a brief check and realize that your opponent probably has at least as many hurdles in front of him as you do. If you are not sure, you can imagine what you need! There are always more things going on behind the scenes than you ever know. 

Are you interested in becoming as confident and fearless over the board as Magnus Carlsen? Let his magic rub off on you by downloading the Magnus Trainer and learning from the reigning World Chess Champion himself! 

What is the connection between planning a perfect first date and preparing for a crucial chess game? You are about to find out soon! 

How To Overcome Your Chess Fears – Part II

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

Even though few people admit it openly, most chess players are haunted by all sorts of fears before and during the game. 

Let's go through a list of the most common issues together. Are any of them familiar to you?

·       Fear of the opponent. "He is much higher-rated than me." "He is much stronger than his rating suggests." "He is a titled player, while I am not." "He is much more experienced." "He is way better prepared and has a great coach." "He has always crushed me before and will probably do it again." 

·       Fear that something will go wrong during the game. "What if I blunder a piece for no apparent reason like I did in the previous round?". "What am I going to do if I forget my preparation?". "What if I run right into his opening trap?". "I've had these heart attacks lately. What if they strike again?". "What if I get into time trouble and self-destruct?"

·       Fear of not achieving the desired result. "What if I miss out on my GM norm?". "My rating is going to suffer if I lose." "If I don't win, I might not earn a prize." "This game could cost me a place on the podium." 

Such gloomy expectations often become self-fulfilling prophecies. I recall an old man telling me after the game: "I am such a blunderer! Today in the morning, I was afraid of blundering at some moment of the game, and there it goes..." Needless to be said, he did blunder rather terribly at some point. Of course, one might claim that he was not a particularly strong player, so mistakes were the norm for him rather than something exceptional. Still, such negative self-programming should definitely be avoided since it increases the chances of failure. 

If you have never encountered such problems in your life, then you may as well shake your head, forget all this gibberish, and move on. However, for most of us, it makes sense to employ specific techniques that could help us let go of our fears before and during the game. 

Having a strong fighting spirit is quite helpful when it comes to competitive chess. For example, my friend and former colleague GM Arkadij Naiditsch is a true fighter – a berserk who goes all out regardless of who he is facing. I believe that one of the factors behind his mindset was his experience in karate. He has the 5th kyū (blue belt) in it. 

To give you a sense of how calm and confident he is, I recall discussing complicated business matters with him. Then at some point, he casually remarks: "Sorry, Peter, I have to leave for my game against Vladimir Kramnik. Will talk to you later in the evening". Then he beats one of the greatest chess players of all time with Black and gets back to work, even though he has an upcoming game against another legend the next day.  

In the 2015 edition of the Grenke Chess Classic, Magnus Carlsen and Arkadij Naiditsch shared first after the classical portion and had to compete in a playoff to determine the winner. This is one of the most nail-biting tie-breaks that I have ever witnessed. You are in for a treat if you have never watched it before! 

Wondering how strong Carlsen was back then? You can always challenge 24-year old Magnus in the Play Magnus app. Spoiler alert: he was rated 2862, so don't be too hard on yourself if you lose! 

Non-martial art experts can also try the "guardian" method. You can either imagine yourself as some sort of hero or pretend that a certain guardian is standing next to you during the game. 

I like picturing myself as a samurai who follows the Hagakure philosophy in the sense of considering bushido to be a "Way of Dying" and being prepared to die at any moment. When you have that sort of cold-bloodedness, fear lets go of you. Miyamoto Musashi's "The Book of Five Rings" has also contributed largely to my development as a chess warrior. 

IM Willy Hendriks recalls a funny story in his excellent book "Move first, think later". An opponent of his found a strong move and admitted after the game that it was due to asking himself what move Kasparov would play in the position. However, Willy has later checked the database and found out that Kasparov had made a different move in that exact situation! Still, this is an interesting example of someone improving his play based on envisioning himself as Garry Kasparov. 

Another famous anecdote that comes to mind is a story told by Mikhail Tal. He played against an amateur who was hypnotized to believe that he was Paul Morphy. According to Tal, the guy was quite confident and played very well for his level in "Morphy form", whereas when they played a normal game (no hypnosis), the amateur quickly fell apart. 

The second approach is also quite simple. If you don't want to turn into a different character for some time, you can instead imagine an imaginary guardian standing next to you and offering support. Just make sure not to start talking to him, or the people around you will be shocked! 

There is no need for mascots and psychoanalysts when the likes of Yoda or Gandalf can come to the rescue when you desperately need aid! It's all in your head. 

Overcoming one's chess fears is a rich subject. We will discuss it in more detail in the episodes to come. 

We featured one of the games from the tie-break mentioned above in the Magnus Trainer lesson called "Trapping a Piece 3 - Naiditsch Traps Carlsen's Knight?".  Now guess what? We have 600+ more lessons there, as well as a few entertaining minigames! Make sure to try the app out if you haven't done so before.  

To begin with, let go of the fear of admitting you have chess fears! 

How to Overcome Your Chess Fears - Part I

Have You Ever Played in Simultaneous Exhibitions?

How Long Do World Chess Champions Live?

Should You Play Chess When You are Ill?

How Should You Sit at the Chessboard?

How To Overcome Your Chess Fears – Part II

How to Overcome Your Chess Fears - Part I