think memory is perhaps the most overrated skill that most amateur players dwell on, or more accurately, they try to make memory do too much work. I fell victim to this. I once memorized a particular gambit line all the way to the late 20s, as well as many sidelines. Only about 12 of these moves were in the book: it simple said, “White has a strong attack,” but I would think, ‘But I’m down a piece!’ I needed more than an attack; I wanted to know that my attack would work, so I used the computer to show the most likely replies and memorized the recommended continuation.
Long story short, this didn’t work: it took an incredible amount of time, I frequently forgot move orders, and most annoying of all, I never got a chance to play it in a game. Not once did I get to move 12, let alone move 20-something, of my preparation.
The better I have gotten, the less I remember. And by that, I mean I don’t rely on remembering my moves, but rather I use my chess skills to find the best moves. I’m not perfect, but this approach is easier, uses less energy and gives far better results when the opponent goes out of book.
Ultimately, all chess training should be about this: how to find good moves (or the best move) in any position. Memory, in terms of rote mechanical memorization of opening lines, plays very little part, though it undeniable has a practical benefit in certain openings.
I have been casually playing Chess for a few years now, I'm now in my 40's and the more I play and even read chess games annotation i realized that having a good memory is a must in Chess. The different variations available and the move orders they are in, one has to be precise. Share your thoughts please.