How to Play Chess Like a TOP GUN Pilot

Greetings, welcome back to the Hornet Editorial!

As many of you know, I am a Tom Cruise fanatic. You also may have observed that my name is "Artur Cruise". SPOILER ALERT: It's not my real name, sorry .

Like Tom Cruise, I like to do everything to 100% best of my ability, even if it means taking big risks. 

Chess is our own battle; it is our fight. Sometimes we have to chuck the book and play unconventionally. 

Today I am going to show you 3 ways to be a "Maverick" and to push beyond the standard conventional way of playing we have become accustomed to. Let's see what you're made of.

Forget the Book

Are you sticking to same boring and traditional openings? Switch things up! Let's look at 3 unusual but unique openings.

1. The Sokolsky

For example, let's try a little opening called The Sokolsky. AKA The Polish Opening, The Sokolsky is a very uncommon chess opening. 

The opening is played with white and begins with 1. b4. The most notable game that features The Sokolsky, was in 1923. Alekhine vs Dewitt

Ft. Alekhine's own annotations

The general idea of playing the Sokolsky is to gain a spatial advantage on the queenside. The most popular variation (the exchange variation) consists of the following moves.

The Sokolsky is a rather complex option to choose to play, but it is also rather an interesting one, and definitely worth a try. 

 2. Center Game

The Center Game is a very old chess opening. Most chess masters abandoned the opening before the dawn of the 20th Century because no advantage for the individual playing white could be found. 

Typically, the queen would then capture the black pawn in the center. But this only leads to Nc6 and a tempo gain for black in turn. This is the precise reason why it was discarded and is no longer played on a professional level. 

Regardless of that, it looks like a pretty cool opening, though a tad venturesome. 

So, what's the last opening? That's classified, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. Juuust kidding, here's the next one...

 3. The Latvian Gambit

Even older than the Center Game is the Latvian Gambit (AKA The Greco Countergambit). First analyzed in the 17th Century by Gioachino Greco, the opening has a similar resemblance to the King's Gambit except with reversed colors. 

Many masters and non-masters alike have called it the "worst opening in chess". Despite the bad reviews, even grandmasters Bobby Fischer and José Raúl Capablanca have lost to it. 

I personally would not avidly play this because anything similar to the King's Gambit is cringe. But, if you're an avid risk-taker or if you are Latvian, do try this opening!

Trust your Instincts

Have you ever played a game where you lost just because you didn't go with the move your gut was telling you to play? I have and it's frustrating.

I find if I trust my gut and make moves no matter how risky they may be, I play better chess and have a cooler experience.

Take the following position:

What do you do? You see a possible Greek Gift sacrifice, but don't want to take the risk. Castling would be pretty safe at this point.

But if you stopped thinking with your mind and thought with your gut, you could easily play this sacrifice. Not saying you shouldn't think, just don't worry so much (unless you're in a tourney, definitely listen to your mind more than your gut lol). Let's practice.

You see a possible opening with the bishop sacrifice, but do you do it...? Trust your instinct and intuition folks. This is one of the most important elements of playing chess like a Top Gun Pilot. It is only surpassed by our final element.  

What do other chess players have to say?

@Fayez58 says... I also play mostly on instinct (In classical game, I use instinct to find the candidate moves and then I calculate the line.)

Good method I think. Calculating many moves ahead is something I could never master lol.

@Rodgy says... Using instincts in classical chess is suicidal unless your intuition is very strong

Tal.

@OnyxOrca says... Sometimes I'll just make a move that's dubious just to see how it'll pan out. Most of the time it's the best move that I'd have found if I had just calculated a couple moves deeper. Other times it's at worst an inaccuracy. You don't generally intuit a blunder. Most of those instinctive moves are cause I like the line but my calculations say there might be a problem. But since I can't immediately find the problem I just fling my piece into the unknown and see how it fairs. Also sometimes I do it cause it's pretty (I have the mind of a 4 yr old most of the time.)

Bro same, except the four-year-old part

ChatGPT says... Trusting your instincts in chess can be a valuable tool, but it should be used in combination with careful analysis and strategic planning.

Instincts are often developed through experience and pattern recognition. After playing countless games of chess, you may find yourself recognizing certain positions or patterns and having an intuitive sense of what moves to make. This can be a useful guide, but it's important to confirm your instincts with careful analysis.

If you rely solely on your instincts, you may miss important details or overlook potential threats. It's important to analyze the position, calculate variations, and consider alternative moves before making a final decision.

Trusting your instincts can also be influenced by factors such as emotions or biases. You may be tempted to make a move that feels right, but is actually based on wishful thinking rather than sound strategy. By analyzing the position objectively, you can avoid making these types of mistakes.

In summary, while trusting your instincts can be a useful tool in chess, it should be used in conjunction with careful analysis and strategic planning. By combining intuition with analysis, you can make more informed and effective decisions on the board.

Thank you ChatGPT, your insights are always appreciated

Play on the Edge of Your Seat

How do you play on the edge of your seat? Be unpredictable. How do you be unpredictable?

Well then, let's talk about real life examples. When sudden unpredictable anomalies like a natural disaster or pandemic happen, people are shaken, and are left in fear for the next disaster. You can have the same effect when playing your opponent! Being Unpredictable can also create a whole lot of confusion and fog.

During the Civil War, General Stonewall Jackson confused the much larger Union forces that were marching on Richmond, Virginia by continuously moving his forces north and then back south again.

In response, Union General George McClellan slowed down his forces, while trying to figure out what the heck was going on, which in turn gave the South time to reinforce Richmond, Virginia. This turned inevitable defeat transformed into a draw. General Jackson knew how to be unpredictable, and it worked to his advantage. 

For this example, GM Salo Flohr plays against GM Efim Geller. 

Black's move to hang the rook was some unpredictable genius. The position appears to be a draw, however Black found the best move, the only move that wins, and shocked everyone. Black moves the King to g7.

Conclusion

Playing like a TOP GUN pilot won't pan out for all. I would say most chess players are deep thinkers, but there are those oddballs (like myself) who just let the cards fall where they may.

In conclusion, playing chess like a TOP GUN pilot requires a combination of unique and appliable skills, including strategic thinking discipline, and attention to detail. By practicing and eventually mastering these powerful skills, you can become a more effective and successful chess player and take your game and intellect to new heights.

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Thanks again,

- @HornetCruise