If someone offered you a crystal ball that could show you your chess future, would you be willing to peer into it? You may not like what you see ...

This article is my version of a crystal ball for your chess future. It's a collection of "signs" that tell whether you're destined to become a stronger player. Don't get depressed if you aspire to be a strong player and you don't like what the crystal ball shows you. Your chess fate is in your own hands but you may have to make some changes to achieve your goals.

Player: "I don't study classic chess games. They're too old to be relevant."

Crystal Ball: That's analogous to a writer not being interested in reading, enjoying, and learning from good literature. This player is missing out on improvement, not to mention much of the fun in chess.

Player: "I don't have time to study chess because of job/school/family responsibilities."

Crystal Ball: This is a completely valid comment. However, most strong players have similar responsibilities and find time to study anyway.

Player: "I don't want to look at my game. It's too painful."

Crystal Ball: It can't be *that* painful, because if you don't try to learn from your mistakes you're choosing to go through that same pain game after game.

Player: "I don't need to look at my game. I know what I did wrong."

Crystal Ball: (Sarcastically) Impressive. Strong players have to study their own games very carefully to figure out what they did wrong. You accomplish the same thing without even a second glance.

Player: Regularly turns down post-mortems because he's too tired, hungry, or annoyed to spend time going over the game.

Crystal Ball: Player has several handy excuses why he should skip the best opportunity to learn what he did wrong during the game.

Player: Expresses satisfaction in how long he lasted against a strong player.

Crystal Ball: I see many happy, friendly games in your future. You are happy to lose long games. Your opponents are happy to win them.

Player: Plays in lowest possible section to maximize chances at prize money.

Crystal Ball: There's more money to be had working at a fast food restaurant but this player is putting money ahead of challenges, competition, and improvement.

Player: Makes reference to "protecting my rating."

Crystal Ball: Player has applied the brakes. He may not slide too much downhill but he's definitely not going to be moving uphill.

Player: "My opponent was lucky."

Crystal Ball: Maybe, but improving players never believe it. They look for reasons for a loss and for things they can do better next time.

Player: Emphasizes easy to play openings or offbeat gambits to get easy wins.

Crystal Ball: I see a player who doesn't want to think too hard. That makes it more difficult to learn and to improve.

Player: "Maybe I don't have what it takes to be a stronger chess player."

Crystal Ball: This sign is fuzzy, because even strong players have doubts about their abilities sometimes. However, strong and improving players recover quickly and keep studying. That's a constructive path that minimizes the setbacks that can cause self doubt. A player with chronic self doubt often has the talent to become a much stronger player but not the determination to keep returning to the constructive path.

The common theme to all these signs is attitude. The player who will continue to improve is curious, determined, confident, willing to work, and takes a long term view. He knows that how far he goes in chess is up to him.

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This article appeared in the September 2004 issue of Northwest Chess.

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