Blood in the water

‘The greatest pleasure? When you break his ego.’ So said Bobby Fischer on the Dick Cavett Show in 1971. He was right, of course – experienced players can sense that moment of mental despair in the opponent, which may arrive well before the outstretched hand of resignation. In fact, getting an accurate read on the opponent’s mood can be valuable at any stage of the game. Body language clues are the most obvious, but there’s plenty to be gleaned from the moves alone. Perhaps the game reaches an obvious junction, where the opponent can choose between a safe, solid option, and something more adventurous. The choice itself speaks volumes, and the time spent on the decision can be no less significant. I once ventured a sacrifice against a strong opponent, which wasn’t exactly a bluff, but I knew that the best response was to grab the piece and weather the storm. To my surprise, the sacrifice was declined outright, and I could feel that the psychological battle was already decided in my favour.