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Questions tagged [psychology]

Questions related to cognitive, motivational and other psychological aspects of chess, both during and before/after games.

Questions relating to psychology relate to how players think about the game.

152 questions
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Why aren't there any women super Grandmasters (GMs)?

In chess you don't need to be physically strong. Well, you need some kind of endurance, but is it the real reason why there aren't any super strong women GMs? Yes, I know about Hou Yifan and Judit Polgar, but they aren't even close to being world…
Markoff Chainz
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26
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6 answers

Is chess a good game for recovering addicts?

In this interview to FIDE Master and psychologist Maria Rodrigo the interviewer asked her about chess and addictions: XL. There are those who are not able to prioritize and get hooked. M.R. Yes, because the dopamine rush during a game can be…
user27142
24
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18 answers

Psychological tricks in chess?

Are there any psychological tricks that can be used in chess to throw off an opponent regardless of rating? It also does not matter if it is the opening, middle, or end game. By psychological, I really don't mean rude/annoying gestures to upset the…
xaisoft
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How to relax when playing chess?

I always tend to be tense when playing. I guess you could say I find chess somewhat stressful? I see it as a fight to win as opposed to some ordinary board game like Monopoly. I really can't relate to well with people who just play chess because…
user10265
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6 answers

Getting rid of a chess addiction

How do I get rid of achess addiction? Both winning and losing just make me play more, and in the end, after many hours of play, I feel miserable.
Srinivasan
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11
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6 answers

Why do high level players memorize specific games?

Inspite of having such a large number of possible positions and games why do high level players bother about some specific game from some million years ago ? It may be helpful in understanding techniques and tactics but memorizing them seems very…
shashank shekhar singh
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9
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1 answer

Best chess player with Down Syndrome

Who is the best chess player with Down Syndrome? Wiki says that the mental ability of a person with Down Syndrome equals to this of a healthy person 8 or 9 years old. So, are there some players with this syndrome, as there are many admirable healthy…
nwo
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Is chess a good game to fight against gambling addiction?

I read a couple of poker books and I thought I could win, which was not the case. Fortunately for me I have a decent chess level, 1930 in rapid, and I simply changed poker books for chess books and returned to the club. I have not lost a lot, but I…
user18196
8
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5 answers

What do top players' get from coaches?

I read an article about how Wesley So hired a coach. Well, Wesley is rated 2800 and is far stronger than his coach ever was. I'm just wondering what a coach would have to offer to a player as strong as Wesley, and if it's really worth the money. In…
Saikat
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Using chess for therapy?

Have there been any studies on using chess for therapy? If so, what conditions or illnesses have benefited most from using chess as a therapy? Are there certain conditions or illnesses were it has actually been more stressful?
xaisoft
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Is playing slow necessarily bad?

I play online chess on under 5+0 and 10+0(predominantly) time controls. I end up in time problems way too often (especially in 5 minutes TC). I contemplated a lot on certain positions, and somehow lose track of time due to it. I have played 10+0…
Vasu Deo.S
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1 answer

Do you feel intimidated by higher rated players?

I beat this 1570 rated player (me being 1170), but the thing is that i had his rating covered by a youtube pop-up window so I didn't know he's higher rated until i finished the game. I feel like if I knew, it would have made me perform worse due to…
LIR
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Effect of chess on work

I'm a software engineer, mostly working from home so I get to schedule my time however I want. I noticed few things recently. If I play more than 3 games a day, I can't work afterwords, I'd be mentally tired. I used to think that Chess makes me more…
Lynob
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Psychology in Chess

Having a correct mindset has been a frustrating endeavor in my chess career. I have some questions regarding how to get into a "correct mindset." 1) I can never seem to play against lower rated players. I am 2350 USCF and I have a higher win rate…
Penguin
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Problems with chess anxiety?

I've been dealing with this for a while and the game can just sometimes be overwhelming. I really don't know how to calm myself and it might be effecting my play. I've been told maybe its because I don't do enough physical exercise but I'm quite fit…
Krane
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