Combative moves from chess

This is a nice enough piece on World Chess Champion, Magnus Carlson who hails from Scotland.

It notes the he is a particularly nettlesome foe, and I thought that the idea of being a nettlesome foe seemed like a pretty good idea to me.  Given the dueling nature of chess, it is not surprising that some of the moves sound rather militaristic in tone.

The nettlesome World Champion
Jonathan Rowson, The Herald (Scotland), 29 December 2013 (hat tip: MR)

1. Avoid errors yourself
2. Play relatively quickly
3. See complexity where others assume simplicity.
4. Develop exquisite timing for when to change the nature of the position.
5. Navigate towards positions where there are no obvious moves.
6. Believe in your opponent's greater and ultimate fallibility.
7. Keep going relentlessly.
8. Be ever ready to pounce.
9. Kill them without mercy.
10. Smile for the cameras.

Hmmm... Oh, well.  Not exactly an easy set of advise to follow: for chess or life in general.   The general concept of being relentless and seizing on moments of opportunity are probably reasonable.  Being remorseless in combat is usually not too hard; most people are too scared to do otherwise once they get going.

 

But, all and all, not a universally transferable list.