One Rule To Remove Fear On The Board!

Greetings Everyone.

In this blog i would like to talk about a fear I have seen across all levels of chess, from beginners to experienced tournament players,

The fear of facing a stronger opponent

1)It can be a younger player we believe will overwhelm us with their tactical vision,
2)It can be a junior with higher rating ( how can he have such a rating it is impossible!)
3)Any kind of titled player / Grandmaster
4) Even the strongest chessplayer in our local club.
5) The very person that taught us chess

The thoughts are usually the same,
'' Oh no ....not a kid, I am going to lose''
'I don't really have a chance here'
''Why did i even enter this tournament?
'' I will just play this fast so i have more time for something else' ( Yes it happens)

At some point on my own chess journey i had the exact same thoughts as well,
The icing on the cake was when i was paired to play against a chess titled player in a rapid game, my first ever titled on the board.
One of my friends at the time, seeing me stressed and probably saying one of those sentences i mentioned, came to me and said,

Don't play his rating play the board,

Play your game, by punishing the mistakes he does, do not play the game by thinking who is in front of you!

At the time he said that, i didn't really realise what he meant,

However when i sat on the board i realised something had shifted, i was looking at my opponent in the eyes as an equal, that can make mistakes.
I did not see a title ,a rating or reputation.
He was just another player,like myself capable of making mistakes, just like me.

The fear i usually carried when playing someone i believed was better was suddenly gone.
I remember a sense of calm.
I remember indifference.
I remember thinking ''' so what if i lose? I will try my best!

Strangely enough, when i did not lose that game, something else happened.
I stopped believing that was impossible.
And once something stops feeling impossible, it loses its power over you, the fear is less than before.

In that game i started thinking about the basic knowledge i had in chess such as:

1. What are the weaknesses here?
2. Which of my pieces are misplaced or inactive?
3. Who controls the key weak squares?
   4)What is my opponent's plan?
4. What should i play to get a better position

But the main reason i did not lose that game was because i wasn't scared,
Ever since that game i wasnt scared of my opponents, no matter their rating,
All of my games with them, were games i enjoyed and not games i was just thinking i will lose.

But how do we overcome this fear of opponent in practice?

1. Make every move a question to the position
   'Before thinking what will my opponent do?
   Ask yourself , What does the position require right now?
2. Trust the process not the outcome.
   You don't need to beat a stronger opponent
   You only need to play one good move at a time
3. Welcome mistakes, from both sides,
   Strong players make mistakes often because they completely underestimate you
   Weaker players make mistakes.
   If you are alert on the chessboard, not the opponent, you will recognise them!
4. Judge your game not the result.
   A loss played with dignity and courage is worth more than a win achieved through fear.

Once i truly understood all these myself, something shifted.
I stopped being intimidated and started being indifferent to the person in front of me.
And indifference is far more dangerous to them than fear.

Once again Thank You for reading until here!
I wish You all good results in your chess journey!

Now go out there!

Play the board
Let the position speak and let the fear subside!
See you next time! (maybe on the board :) )