BLUNDERS MAY KILL
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr. from his column LINKS
The Featinean publication
September 1995, page 11, continued on page 31
I'm back again but this time, I'll tackle something about the sport I love to play most as I relate it to real life. It is the woodpusher's game. The game of sports legends GMs Capablanca, Alekhine, Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fisher, Gary Kasparov, Eugene Torre and eleven year old Filipino genius Mar Paragua. Anyway, I'll not discuss chess here as a sport but the error most woodpushers commit; a chess jargon call the "blunder".
Blunder is more than a word used in chess and it is not applied to chess alone. As most woodpushers know, chess is an abstract expression of the complexity and conflict of life in general. It is useful for studying complex and conflicting situations and help us in developing decision-making skills, abilities and patience. A chessplayer's strength lies in his clear rational thinking, right approach, logic, knowledge and the ability not to make a mistake. Psychologists have found that chessplayers possess higher spatial ability than others of comparable intelligence levels. They also possess greater physical endurance together with the capacity to endure pain and frustrations. In every move, analysis of the position is applied, as well as self-control, creativeness, determination, vision and the execution of the plan. But what is a "blunder"?
Blunder means committing mistakes resulting from miscalculations, oversight, violation of principle, or opening of your defenses that may lead you to disaster. If you commit blunder, sometimes it’s hard to win the game or gain a good position, unless your opponent will also commit one.
Take a look at this popular mate from Philidor defense: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Bg4 4. Nc3 h6 5. Nxe5! Bxd1 6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Nd5 mate. Black's fifth move is a blunder. He probably thought he could win the game by capturing the enemy's most powerful piece, the queen. But for white, he sacrificed his queen to win the game. He foresaw and calculated precisely his win in just three moves. A queen pseudo-sacrifice, indeed.
Maybe you're asking, what does the game of chess have to do with my life? According to a legend, Ravana's consort, Mandodari, invented this royal game of war as an exciting alternative from bloody wars. Maybe we can say that life is like a chess game. Sometimes you win in one area of your life, sometimes you lose. Some accept the draw or stalemate just to escape losing and survive. Sometimes there are defaults. Those are the ones who are probably caught unprepared or escape the problem or maybe have other things to worry about. Each game is a process. Each player keeps on analyzing each logical move in order to win. Likewise, we keep on planning our work or career in order to be successful in our endeavors.
Sometimes we play the game seriously as if it is the last game of your life. Let's accept the fact that sometimes we lose but there's always a next game and maybe this time we'll win. Sometimes we encounter many problems that almost kill us or break our hearts.
Let's accept our failures. There's always a new life as there's always a new game.
There's a limitation when you compare life and chess. Chess is pure reason, while life has emotions combined with reason. Let's take a look at the world of politics. Many world leaders commit blunders on their way to power. Take Marcos, for instance. In his pursuit of power, wealth and glory, many people lost their lives. He had billions but he went down in history as the world's greatest thief. Read the Guinness Book of World Records for facts.
Take a look at the shortest game possible. It's called the "fool's mate": 1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4 mate. In this example, most of us play white and play aggressively but do not analyze the moves. This is why one loses immediately. Likewise, during the Marcos era, many didn't think that there are other forms of struggle other than armed struggle alone. That’s why maybe many lost their lives.
One of humanity's greatest blunders is Stalinism. When the Russian dictator Stalin distorted and destroyed the real essence and beauty of Marxism-Leninism, it was the start of socialism's greatest mistake. It is the greatest blunder, a thousand times greater than typhoon Rosing. The emergence of Stalinism brought the death of millions of workers and peasants in many parts of the globe, most especially those countries who inherited the Stalinist cult. Such an example is the Maoist cult in China and the Philippines.
Stalinism is second only to the world's greatest manmade disaster: capitalism. Capitalism is not a blunder per se as it evolved from scientific development of society. Under capitalism, as the cost of living goes up, the cost of life goes down. Remember EVAT, GATT and now the rice crisis. Let's take a look at the first example (Philidor defense). Black didn't think thrice why white captured the pawn in e5, which exposes the white's queen. Because of black's greed for power and profit (by capturing the white's queen), he loses the game easily.
You must first develop your opening moves so that you can reach the middlegame and the endgame. Honestly, many chess games end quickly in the opening phase without reaching the two other phases, the middle and the endgame. Likewise, many individuals make mistakes in their younger years which results in drug dependency and suicide.
So let's be careful in making our plans in life. We cannot bring back the time lost as well as the life that will be lost. Anyway, take some chess advices: (1) Be certain about all pawn moves. You can't take them back. (2) If you commit blunder, you'd better play perfectly thereafter. There's no more room for mistakes. (3) Don't start attacking if you can't follow through with muscle. Build first your game by rapid development. (4) Try to evaluate the consequences of your opponent's reasonable moves. They could force you to change your plans completely. And lastly, (5) It is prudent to think hard. Take an advice from Bruce Willis: "Think fast! Look alive! Die hard!"
Let us solve this simple problem: W: Kd3, Re2; B:Kd1. White to play and mate in three. It has five solutions. If you can't solve it, just drop by our office and we'll tell you. Promise.
DEDICATIONS
To my comrades: Every move is critical in every phase of the game. We must not waste a single tempo and must play a food gambit. Our enemies are practicing in high-tech computer chess, so be careful in playing against them. Beware of double-check, fork, pin, blunders, etc. Try to use perpetual check, if ever, or play for a draw if we're in a losing position. To my one and only: Pain hurts, yes, but that's nothing if you know you can sacrifice everything for the one you love. My heart may bleed, but I'll always respect you. I may commit blunders many times, but I continue to develop my talent and skills to win. I hope I'll not be checkmated. Always remember, you're the queen of my heart. To all of you out there: Even if you lose a game, always remember that there's always a next game. Don't be a pawn. Be the key player in your life. You may use Nimzo-Indian or Sicilian defense or maybe the Birds or Pirc attack, but be very careful in every move, or you'll commit blunders. Always remember this popular saying: "Every move maybe your last!" Hope you'll always remember the moral lesson from Philidor defense and the "fool's mate". It can help you in making decisions and be successful in all your endeavors. Enjoy playing your game. Always smile and be cool in all your undertakings. Take good care of your family always, most especially your health. If you have problems or stress, try to play chess and relax. See you next issue. I shall return.
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr. from his column LINKS
The Featinean publication
September 1995, page 11, continued on page 31
I'm back again but this time, I'll tackle something about the sport I love to play most as I relate it to real life. It is the woodpusher's game. The game of sports legends GMs Capablanca, Alekhine, Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fisher, Gary Kasparov, Eugene Torre and eleven year old Filipino genius Mar Paragua. Anyway, I'll not discuss chess here as a sport but the error most woodpushers commit; a chess jargon call the "blunder".
Blunder is more than a word used in chess and it is not applied to chess alone. As most woodpushers know, chess is an abstract expression of the complexity and conflict of life in general. It is useful for studying complex and conflicting situations and help us in developing decision-making skills, abilities and patience. A chessplayer's strength lies in his clear rational thinking, right approach, logic, knowledge and the ability not to make a mistake. Psychologists have found that chessplayers possess higher spatial ability than others of comparable intelligence levels. They also possess greater physical endurance together with the capacity to endure pain and frustrations. In every move, analysis of the position is applied, as well as self-control, creativeness, determination, vision and the execution of the plan. But what is a "blunder"?
Blunder means committing mistakes resulting from miscalculations, oversight, violation of principle, or opening of your defenses that may lead you to disaster. If you commit blunder, sometimes it’s hard to win the game or gain a good position, unless your opponent will also commit one.
Take a look at this popular mate from Philidor defense: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Bg4 4. Nc3 h6 5. Nxe5! Bxd1 6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Nd5 mate. Black's fifth move is a blunder. He probably thought he could win the game by capturing the enemy's most powerful piece, the queen. But for white, he sacrificed his queen to win the game. He foresaw and calculated precisely his win in just three moves. A queen pseudo-sacrifice, indeed.
Maybe you're asking, what does the game of chess have to do with my life? According to a legend, Ravana's consort, Mandodari, invented this royal game of war as an exciting alternative from bloody wars. Maybe we can say that life is like a chess game. Sometimes you win in one area of your life, sometimes you lose. Some accept the draw or stalemate just to escape losing and survive. Sometimes there are defaults. Those are the ones who are probably caught unprepared or escape the problem or maybe have other things to worry about. Each game is a process. Each player keeps on analyzing each logical move in order to win. Likewise, we keep on planning our work or career in order to be successful in our endeavors.
Sometimes we play the game seriously as if it is the last game of your life. Let's accept the fact that sometimes we lose but there's always a next game and maybe this time we'll win. Sometimes we encounter many problems that almost kill us or break our hearts.
Let's accept our failures. There's always a new life as there's always a new game.
There's a limitation when you compare life and chess. Chess is pure reason, while life has emotions combined with reason. Let's take a look at the world of politics. Many world leaders commit blunders on their way to power. Take Marcos, for instance. In his pursuit of power, wealth and glory, many people lost their lives. He had billions but he went down in history as the world's greatest thief. Read the Guinness Book of World Records for facts.
Take a look at the shortest game possible. It's called the "fool's mate": 1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4 mate. In this example, most of us play white and play aggressively but do not analyze the moves. This is why one loses immediately. Likewise, during the Marcos era, many didn't think that there are other forms of struggle other than armed struggle alone. That’s why maybe many lost their lives.
One of humanity's greatest blunders is Stalinism. When the Russian dictator Stalin distorted and destroyed the real essence and beauty of Marxism-Leninism, it was the start of socialism's greatest mistake. It is the greatest blunder, a thousand times greater than typhoon Rosing. The emergence of Stalinism brought the death of millions of workers and peasants in many parts of the globe, most especially those countries who inherited the Stalinist cult. Such an example is the Maoist cult in China and the Philippines.
Stalinism is second only to the world's greatest manmade disaster: capitalism. Capitalism is not a blunder per se as it evolved from scientific development of society. Under capitalism, as the cost of living goes up, the cost of life goes down. Remember EVAT, GATT and now the rice crisis. Let's take a look at the first example (Philidor defense). Black didn't think thrice why white captured the pawn in e5, which exposes the white's queen. Because of black's greed for power and profit (by capturing the white's queen), he loses the game easily.
You must first develop your opening moves so that you can reach the middlegame and the endgame. Honestly, many chess games end quickly in the opening phase without reaching the two other phases, the middle and the endgame. Likewise, many individuals make mistakes in their younger years which results in drug dependency and suicide.
So let's be careful in making our plans in life. We cannot bring back the time lost as well as the life that will be lost. Anyway, take some chess advices: (1) Be certain about all pawn moves. You can't take them back. (2) If you commit blunder, you'd better play perfectly thereafter. There's no more room for mistakes. (3) Don't start attacking if you can't follow through with muscle. Build first your game by rapid development. (4) Try to evaluate the consequences of your opponent's reasonable moves. They could force you to change your plans completely. And lastly, (5) It is prudent to think hard. Take an advice from Bruce Willis: "Think fast! Look alive! Die hard!"
Let us solve this simple problem: W: Kd3, Re2; B:Kd1. White to play and mate in three. It has five solutions. If you can't solve it, just drop by our office and we'll tell you. Promise.
DEDICATIONS
To my comrades: Every move is critical in every phase of the game. We must not waste a single tempo and must play a food gambit. Our enemies are practicing in high-tech computer chess, so be careful in playing against them. Beware of double-check, fork, pin, blunders, etc. Try to use perpetual check, if ever, or play for a draw if we're in a losing position. To my one and only: Pain hurts, yes, but that's nothing if you know you can sacrifice everything for the one you love. My heart may bleed, but I'll always respect you. I may commit blunders many times, but I continue to develop my talent and skills to win. I hope I'll not be checkmated. Always remember, you're the queen of my heart. To all of you out there: Even if you lose a game, always remember that there's always a next game. Don't be a pawn. Be the key player in your life. You may use Nimzo-Indian or Sicilian defense or maybe the Birds or Pirc attack, but be very careful in every move, or you'll commit blunders. Always remember this popular saying: "Every move maybe your last!" Hope you'll always remember the moral lesson from Philidor defense and the "fool's mate". It can help you in making decisions and be successful in all your endeavors. Enjoy playing your game. Always smile and be cool in all your undertakings. Take good care of your family always, most especially your health. If you have problems or stress, try to play chess and relax. See you next issue. I shall return.
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