Chessplaying 'Stance'
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:55 pm
You know when you wander around the room while playing a game and notice alot of players using distinct poses whilst thinking about their moves. I thought it would be interesting to try and collect a list of them all and see whether or not there is any correlation between this and their chess rating:
a. 'The headache'. This is a popular one during times of great difficulty (and a personal favourite of mine) whereby the player rests his head on both hands so as not to add any additional strain to the neck muscles and allow full concentration. It is sometimes accompanied by fingers in the ears.
b. The 'one hand' rest. A semi relaxed chess stance, whereby a mere one hand is used to support the great intellect of the chin or temple resting upon it. Often seen in less stressful positions, or when a player seems to be winning.
c. 'The military drill'. No arms on the table at all - the player sits bolt upright with them firmly folded accross his chest. This one tends to be used in moments of extreme confidence where the player is either winning or at least believes himself to be.
d. The 'no hand trick'. The player hides his arms under the table, often leaning into the board for a bit of extreme close up analysis. I have never attempted this one personally but I imagine it does help to cut out unecessary pieces getting in your line of sight when trying to calculate a sharp tactic.
e. 'The lean'. A less aggressive folded elbows stance, with them placed on the table and the player angled slightly towards the board - a common favourite.
f. 'The horse blinkers'. Hands clasped to the side of the eyes, allowing a tunnel vision of the board and cutting out any distractions which might cause the chessplayer to lose control and rear up.
Does anybody have any others to add to this list? What is your favourite? We will find out soon enough whether there is any evidence to support the claim that better players sit in certain positions.
a. 'The headache'. This is a popular one during times of great difficulty (and a personal favourite of mine) whereby the player rests his head on both hands so as not to add any additional strain to the neck muscles and allow full concentration. It is sometimes accompanied by fingers in the ears.
b. The 'one hand' rest. A semi relaxed chess stance, whereby a mere one hand is used to support the great intellect of the chin or temple resting upon it. Often seen in less stressful positions, or when a player seems to be winning.
c. 'The military drill'. No arms on the table at all - the player sits bolt upright with them firmly folded accross his chest. This one tends to be used in moments of extreme confidence where the player is either winning or at least believes himself to be.
d. The 'no hand trick'. The player hides his arms under the table, often leaning into the board for a bit of extreme close up analysis. I have never attempted this one personally but I imagine it does help to cut out unecessary pieces getting in your line of sight when trying to calculate a sharp tactic.
e. 'The lean'. A less aggressive folded elbows stance, with them placed on the table and the player angled slightly towards the board - a common favourite.
f. 'The horse blinkers'. Hands clasped to the side of the eyes, allowing a tunnel vision of the board and cutting out any distractions which might cause the chessplayer to lose control and rear up.
Does anybody have any others to add to this list? What is your favourite? We will find out soon enough whether there is any evidence to support the claim that better players sit in certain positions.
) and then looking disgusted as if I'm totally lost. 
