Unrealistic Expectations

I am back playing.  I just got burnt out.  But looking at the situation, I feel it was more about unrealistic expectations than being burnt out.  If I am honest, I must admit that I expect too much.  I keep thinking that I have some clever move that will make that game fall into my hands permanently.  In reality, that move is checkmate and nothing else qualifies.  A friend of mine has said it best.  “The last one to blunder, loses.“  As much as I hate to admit it, it is true.  Now the challenge is this, how do I rid myself of these nasty assumptions?  The only way I can think now is to re-train my thinking.  I can only do that by constantly repeating to myself about being patient and keep playing.  Exactly how, I am not sure, but this is my next challenge.  Not to be too enamored with my own chess ideas.  Be Humble in my approach.  Confident, but humble.

On the subject of openings, I seem to be on the verge of really embracing a very fundamental thought on that subject.  It is this, “play my opening moves as a response to the moves of my opponent.” I realize most of you readers, will say, “No Kidding!” in response to that one.  Well, I have been struggling with my openings for a very long time.  It was my failure to some friends in school that started me to study openings.  My one weakness has been to end up being behind in either development or material after the opening.  I finally realized it is an unrealistic expectation for me to believe that someone is actually going to play the opening set I want.  I must react with the best move for that situation instead.  Lately, I have played someone who opens on the wing.  Yes, in my head I think, “Inferior, so I am going to win.”  In reality, if I don’t play to beat him, I won’t.  There is no opening that guarantees me a win or precludes one from winning.  An opening might make the game lean to my favor, but I must play to keep that advantage.  It is the only way.  I must earn each victory.

There are some opening basics.  Hold the center, don’t move any piece more than once, develop my pieces, and don’t move the Queen too early.  For someone that opens on the wings.  I will make sure I get a pawn to e5 and also make sure it is supported well.  I will meet the threat on the wing and cramp their game in the middle.