Leo's Blog Discussion Mega-Thread

[Ash55]

Am looking forward for the chess awakening video now







if this is somehow offensive i really just mean it as a joke, i like playing chess but its a time sink for me id rather put my mind somewhere else atm
Fischer Random seem it will change strategies totally, early queen may hunt undefended pieces more easily it seem less balanced than the classic one 

I think leo like mind twisting chess not only mind twisted self deceptive realities

[Davino]

@Leo Gura So cool the interactive chess board. Movement 41 was good. It was interesting to see your style, you started quite aggresively and then measured your movements strategically with calculated attacks and finally suffocated the king.

 

I once played Chess with a friend both on LSD while listening to classical music and I had an epic insight into the nature of Reality through each piece. Being the King the "I" or atma, the pure trascendental unchanging God-particle and the Queen being the perpetual feminine motion of Reality, the shapeshifting fabric of existence, and so on with the other hierarchies. I also found of immense beauty that the pawn (the most limited piece) can become the Queen (most powerful piece) going full circle when arriving at the end of the board (fulfilling its life purpose)

Edited December 12, 2024 by Davino

[Leo Gura]

On 12/10/2024 at 11:11 PM, Ash55 said:

LOL what was her reaction ?

Same as yours.

[Ash55]

I think we need to pin this Mega-Thread to the "Pinned topics"
its frequent and hard to access

If its pinned somewhere i didn't see i hope to know

[Vibes]

@Leo Gura Could you please allow the option to ignore mods? Maybe only for old members or/and those who ask.

Edited December 12, 2024 by Vibes

[WonderSeeker]

@Leo Gura On the Corruption of Success post...

First of all, that was one hell of a read. Pure brilliance.

But as I read it, questions shot up.

Does that mean that to find success, it's necessary to fail a ton?

I failed massively at business in my first year, but now I'm starting to reach the early stages of success. 

I'm already wondering how I might fall into this trap myself and how to avoid it.

Do you recommend staying highly connected to those who are a few steps behind you to remember what the average person deals with, so as not to enter too rigid of a bubble?

I imagine being picky with friends helps too.

Cheers man-

Edited December 13, 2024 by WonderSeeker

[Leo Gura]

6 hours ago, Vibes said:

@Leo Gura Could you please allow the option to ignore mods? Maybe only for old members or/and those who ask.

This is like asking for an option to ignore the police.

[Leo Gura]

2 hours ago, WonderSeeker said:

Does that mean that to find success, it's necessary to fail a ton?

It's not strictly necessary but struggling through failure is usually a big part of developing anything. Much of learning is just trial and error.

2 hours ago, WonderSeeker said:

I'm already wondering how I might fall into this trap myself and how to avoid it.

Do you recommend staying highly connected to those who are a few steps behind you to remember what the average person deals with, so as not to enter too rigid of a bubble?

It's hard to say how exactly to avoid it since corruption takes many subtle forms. Mostly by paying attention to fundamentals like consciousness work, epistemology, contemplation, truth.

Being very diligent about truth is the foundation for seeing corruption.

[Vibes]

9 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

This is like asking for an option to ignore the police.

That's why I said for old members, even narrow it down to those proven to not be 'criminals' (no warning points).

I have only one specific mod in mind to ignore.

Edited December 13, 2024 by Vibes

[Dazgwny]

On 05/12/2024 at 4:33 PM, Ninja_pig said:

 

I have blood caked on my walls,

I have shit stains on my carpets,

I have holes in my ceiling,

I have shattered windows,

I have scars and permanent damage to my body from my Awakenings.

 

I feel this has been ghosted over too easily. Unless there’s more about it elsewhere on the forum I’ve missed, which I very well could have as not been on as frequently of late. I just think it requires a more substantial in depth explanation. I mean like, what the hell were you actually getting upto in these awakenings to cause these effects Leo? Shattering windows and blood on walls? 

[PenguinPablo]

@Leo Gura How strong are you in regular chess elo wise?

[Exystem]

@Leo Gura
It's cool to see you playing chess, especially fischers960! I like it more than classical chess, too.
I have some qestions if you like

What are your most holistic insights around chess as a metaphora for life?
What's your goal behind it? Just having fun or developing more depth in thinkinh etc?
What were the greatest chess-insights that enhanced your playing which could be transfered to other areas of life?

I play around 2000 elo and some booster insights for my game and life in general were:
- Take the same amount of time to think about the opponents move as your own. It seems that only you are more in control of your own pieces but actually that's an illusion, because with every move you make you change the value of every piece on the board and therefore control its meaningful options as well as your own.
- Play the board equally often turned 180 degrees around. That's how you develop a feeling for the perspective of your oppenent.
- To learn quickly, training tactics is ernormously helpful. Actually, if I had the challenge to succeed at chess from 0 to max I would take the same route as with labyrinths, start at the end. Meaning, start with 1 move until checkmate, then 2, 3 and so on.
- Going for elo directly is stupid. I like playing strange and inefficient openings so I start with a slight disadvantage, which keeps me more focused and cautious the rest of the game. I develop a more broad skillset and don't fall into the trap to repeat what I already succeed at too often.
- Analysing your game for blunders is so crucial! It's not "practice makes perfect" but "feedback makes perfect".
- Play with time pressure as well as without. Both help to develop crucial skills, the advantage with time pressure is more efficient thinking (decision making) and by analysing blunders you get a better feeling for the disfunctional heuristics that will probably cripple your game in general. No time pressure is good for the in-depth-reasoning, but to be honest, here are the tactic tasks superior, because there is only one perfect solution so the feedback is much clearer, and you usually don't overthink but also don't underthink since you are more motivated to find the best move because you know it definitely exists.
- Though oftentimes bishops are more powerful as knights, especially when both bishops are still present, the knight is a much more complex piece which needs more training to master, so for the brain gains and in long term it may be advantagoeous to trade bishops for knights.
- Also play against real players. The problem with engines especially at low levels is, that they sometimes make extremely stupid moves. They don't play at a consistent level from a meta perspective. It sometimes seems as if they were forced to take the second best move even though the best move is completely obvious. Then they are quite strong again in artificial ways.
- Play against the chess engine at the highest level possible. Grind your teeth against it! Make it a challenge to survive as long as possible. This develops another area of your skillset. Train as many areas of skills as possible, and find creative ways for it.
- If you have found a good move, find a better one.

In your games on the blog I wondered about some moves. I think it would be very beneficial for you to analyse blunders like these, but maybe you play just for fun - sorry if I add my two cents

- Generally it's quite advanterous to (risk to) move the queen and especially rooks so early in the game, seems to be a thing you like but may cost you some moves and therefore speed and whites advantage.
- Moving the same piece twice in the opening phase is some kind of unwritten no go. Of course there are lots of cases where it is very necessary but generally the order is something around > knights bishops queen rook, with pawn movements all around and castling of course, avoiding to move the same piece twice in the beginning. Exceptions like pushing pawns and attacking pieces which either gain space, speed or positional power are logical, but the rest is rather disadvantegous
- I guess you aware of en passant but one time you overlooked the obvious. Tactic tasks can help a lot with using castling and en passant for some genius counterattacks for example.

Your play from move 29 to 40 in your latest game were really spot on, enjoyed watching it! Thanks for sharing your games and the passion around it.

 

[Exystem]

When I asked chatGPT to transfer my chess insights into real life it gave me these answers:
A little shallow but true. I'm working on more of those. I'd love to see you adding more nuggets of chess wisdom and metaphoras into your content.

1. Balance Self-Focus and Empathy

Chess Insight: Take the same amount of time to think about the opponent’s move as your own.
Life Wisdom: Pay equal attention to how others' actions influence you as to how your actions influence others. True control is an illusion—it’s all interconnected. By considering others’ perspectives and actions as deeply as your own, you’ll better understand your environment and relationships.

2. Walk in Others’ Shoes

Chess Insight: Play the board turned 180 degrees to see from your opponent’s perspective.
Life Wisdom: Regularly shift your perspective to see life through the eyes of others. This builds empathy, improves decision-making, and helps you anticipate challenges and opportunities you might miss when viewing only from your own angle.

3. Reverse Engineer Your Goals

Chess Insight: Learn checkmates from 1 move out, then 2, 3, and so on. Start at the end.
Life Wisdom: Begin with the end in mind. Imagine your ideal outcome—whether it’s in your career, relationships, or personal growth—and work backward to map the steps that will get you there. This ensures focus and efficiency in pursuing your dreams.

4. Embrace Discomfort for Growth

Chess Insight: Playing inefficient openings forces focus and develops a broad skill set.
Life Wisdom: Seek out challenges that put you at a disadvantage. These uncomfortable experiences stretch your abilities, make you more adaptable, and help you develop resilience. Avoid the trap of sticking only to what you’re already good at.

5. Seek Feedback Relentlessly

Chess Insight: Analyzing blunders is crucial; feedback makes perfect.
Life Wisdom: Success isn’t about repetition; it’s about reflection. Actively seek feedback from others and analyze your mistakes without defensiveness. Every failure is an opportunity to refine your strategy and grow.

6. Adapt to Different Speeds of Life

Chess Insight: Play with and without time pressure to develop different skills.
Life Wisdom: Practice decision-making both in high-pressure situations and in periods of calm. Quick decisions teach efficiency and adaptability, while slower deliberation hones depth and thoroughness. Both are essential for a balanced and capable mind.

7. Invest in Long-Term Complexity

Chess Insight: Knights require more mastery than bishops but yield greater brain gains over time.
Life Wisdom: Don’t always choose the easiest path or the quickest payoff. Pursue complex challenges that require patience and deep effort—they offer richer rewards in terms of personal growth and mastery.

8. Surround Yourself with Real People

Chess Insight: Engines at low levels are inconsistent and teach bad habits.
Life Wisdom: Engage with real, complex human beings instead of relying too much on artificial or simplified feedback systems (e.g., algorithms, curated content). Authentic human interactions provide the unpredictability and richness that foster true learning and growth.

9. Challenge the Best, Even If You Lose

Chess Insight: Grind your teeth against the chess engine at its highest level.
Life Wisdom: Challenge yourself against the toughest opponents or situations, even when failure seems likely. Surviving and striving under intense pressure builds fortitude, creativity, and skills you wouldn’t otherwise develop.

10. Never Settle for “Good Enough”

Chess Insight: If you’ve found a good move, find a better one.
Life Wisdom: Resist complacency. Even when you achieve a goal or solve a problem, ask yourself, “What’s the next level?” Continuous improvement is the key to long-term success and fulfillment.

[Exystem]

Sorry for spamming, this is my last post here in a row
I asked chatGPT for more nuggets of chess wisdom like mine and potential life applications. I'm quite impressed to be honest.
Didn't want to withhold it from the community

1. Develop Your Pieces Early

Chess Wisdom: Prioritize developing all your pieces in the opening phase to control the board and prepare for the midgame. Avoid moving the same piece repeatedly or over-relying on your queen too early.
Life Application: Don’t put all your energy into one area (like work or one specific skill) at the expense of others. Build a balanced foundation—health, relationships, career, and personal growth—so you’re ready for the complexities of life later.

2. Control the Center

Chess Wisdom: Controlling the center of the board gives your pieces maximum mobility and strategic options.
Life Application: Identify the "center" in your life—your core priorities or values. Focus on controlling these, as they influence everything else. For example, maintaining your physical and mental health can act as a "center" for achieving success in all other areas.

3. Castle Early

Chess Wisdom: Protect your king early in the game by castling to avoid vulnerabilities.
Life Application: Prioritize safeguarding your most vital assets (your health, financial stability, or loved ones) early on. This creates a solid foundation and protects you from unnecessary risks as life progresses.

4. Don’t Waste Tempo

Chess Wisdom: Avoid unnecessary or redundant moves that waste time and give your opponent an advantage.
Life Application: Be efficient in your actions. Don’t procrastinate or overcomplicate decisions. Time is a resource—use it wisely to move closer to your goals without getting sidetracked.

5. Always Think a Few Moves Ahead

Chess Wisdom: Don’t just focus on the current move. Anticipate your opponent’s response and plan multiple moves in advance.
Life Application: Think strategically in life. Consider how today’s actions (saving money, learning skills, building relationships) will affect your future. Anticipate challenges and prepare for them.

6. Sacrifice for Greater Gains

Chess Wisdom: Sometimes you need to sacrifice a piece to gain a better position or set up a winning attack.
Life Application: Be willing to let go of short-term comforts or lower-priority goals for long-term success. For instance, investing time in learning a difficult skill now might mean sacrificing leisure, but it will pay dividends later.

7. Recognize the Power of Pawns

Chess Wisdom: Pawns may seem weak but can become queens when they reach the end of the board. Use them strategically, especially in the endgame.
Life Application: Small, consistent efforts (like daily habits or minor skills) may seem insignificant now but can lead to massive rewards over time. Never underestimate the potential of "small moves."

8. Avoid Overextending

Chess Wisdom: Pushing too many pawns or overcommitting pieces can leave you vulnerable to counterattacks.
Life Application: Avoid overloading your schedule or resources. Stretching yourself too thin can lead to burnout or expose you to risks. Maintain balance and know when to pull back.

9. Learn the Principle of Opposition

Chess Wisdom: In the endgame, controlling key squares and placing your king in opposition to the opponent’s king can secure victory.
Life Application: Position yourself strategically in life to gain leverage. For example, in negotiations or competitions, understanding the dynamics of your counterpart’s position can give you an edge.

10. Don’t Ignore Threats

Chess Wisdom: Always consider your opponent’s potential moves and threats, even if your position seems strong.
Life Application: Stay aware of risks and challenges in life, even when things are going well. A proactive mindset helps you anticipate and mitigate potential setbacks.

11. Aim for Harmony

Chess Wisdom: Coordinate your pieces so they support each other and work toward a common goal. Disconnected pieces are weak and vulnerable.
Life Application: Cultivate harmony in your life by aligning your actions with your goals and values. Build strong relationships where mutual support fosters collective success.

12. Be Flexible

Chess Wisdom: Adapt your strategy to the situation on the board. A rigid plan can fail if conditions change.
Life Application: Flexibility is key to thriving in an unpredictable world. Be willing to pivot your goals or methods when circumstances shift, without losing sight of your overall vision.

13. Know When to Simplify

Chess Wisdom: In a winning position, trading pieces to simplify the board can make it easier to secure victory.
Life Application: Simplify your life when overwhelmed—declutter your commitments, focus on essentials, and remove distractions. Complexity can often obscure clear paths to success.

14. Study Patterns

Chess Wisdom: Studying openings, endgames, and common tactical motifs sharpens your intuition and speeds up your decision-making.
Life Application: Learn from patterns in your own life and others’. Recognizing recurring challenges or opportunities helps you act decisively and avoid repeating mistakes.

15. Use Discovered Attacks

Chess Wisdom: A discovered attack unleashes hidden potential by moving one piece to reveal another’s threat.
Life Application: Recognize your hidden strengths or resources, and find ways to bring them into play. Sometimes removing one obstacle can reveal unexpected opportunities.

16. Watch for Forks and Pins

Chess Wisdom: A fork attacks two or more pieces at once; a pin immobilizes a piece by threatening something more valuable behind it.
Life Application: Look for opportunities to achieve multiple goals with one effort (fork). Avoid being “pinned” in situations where one bad choice locks you into greater problems.

17. Practice Endgames

Chess Wisdom: Many games are won or lost in the endgame. Mastering this phase gives you a huge advantage.
Life Application: Focus on long-term planning and preparation for life’s “endgames,” like retirement, legacy, or major life transitions. This ensures that you’re well-positioned when the time comes.

18. Stay Calm Under Pressure

Chess Wisdom: In intense situations, keeping a clear head allows you to find the best moves.
Life Application: Stressful moments in life demand composure. Practice mindfulness or stress management techniques to maintain clarity when it matters most.

19. Understand Your Opponent

Chess Wisdom: Knowing your opponent’s style and typical strategies can help you counter them effectively.
Life Application: Learn to read people’s motivations, behaviors, and preferences. Understanding others deeply can improve relationships, negotiations, and teamwork.

20. Keep Learning

Chess Wisdom: The more you study and practice, the better you become. Chess has infinite depth to explore.
Life Application: Life is an endless learning journey. Stay curious and open to new knowledge, skills, and experiences, no matter how much you think you know.

[Leo Gura]

3 hours ago, PenguinPablo said:

@Leo Gura How strong are you in regular chess elo wise?

I'm not sure. Haven't played it much. I dislike memorizing opening theory. To me that's not real chess.

[Girzo]

@Leo Gura Your elo is not around 1600 if you play against 1600-rated bots. Real people are much more demanding and it's harder to get that rating in real games. I am around 700 elo and can win consistently against these 1000-2000 bots on Chess.com.

[Leo Gura]

27 minutes ago, Girzo said:

@Leo Gura Your elo is not around 1600 if you play against 1600-rated bots. Real people are much more demanding and it's harder to get that rating in real games. I am around 700 elo and can win consistently against these 1000-2000 bots on Chess.com.

Fair point.

I should play real people more. I am training up on bots first so that I don't make embarassing blunders.

Edited December 14, 2024 by Leo Gura

[koops]

20 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

Fair point.

I should play real people more. I am training up on bots first so that I don't make embarassing blunders.

Make those blunders a few times against real people.

Embarrassment make you learn FAST.

 

[Raskara]

I would like to play a few games with you once you reach a 2000+ Elo rating. I mostly prefer to play on lichess.org. My username on Chess.com is theghost2300. But right now I am way stronger than you.

[Leo Gura]

13 minutes ago, Raskara said:

I would like to play a few games with you once you reach a 2000+ Elo rating. I mostly prefer to play on lichess.org. My username on Chess.com is theghost2300. But right now I am way stronger than you.

How well does your ELO carry over into Fischer Random?