Chess master Lev Alburt teaches strategy, patience, and prognostication • Hacker News Board

Re: Chess master Lev Alburt teaches strategy, patience, and prognostication

#31

Post by jonahx » Sun, Oct 29, 2017, 6:55 PM UTC

colmvp wrote: post #30

A question I was thinking about this week: Why do some GM's drop in peak performance? It's common to see players have a golden age of performance where they are near unbeatable. But unlike physical sports, GM's don't exactly suffer from physical deterioration do they?

> But unlike physical sports, GM's don't exactly suffer from physical deterioration do they?

The mind is just as physical as anything else.

It's a deeply complex question, but generally speaking most forms of cognition -- including processing speed, working memory, and fluid intelligence -- decline with age beginning in your twenties:

https://www.quora.com/Intelligence-and-Genetics-Can-does-IQ-...

Re: Chess master Lev Alburt teaches strategy, patience, and prognostication

#32

Post by toomanytocount » Mon, Oct 30, 2017, 5:38 AM UTC

skadamou wrote: post #2

Is a chess coach like Lev Alburt worth the money to someone who does play chess at a professional level? Does a world class coach make a big difference when we're talking about amateur chess players? Obviously, there are other reasons to go to a guy like Lev for lessons (the conversation, social cache etc.), I'm just curious as an amateur chess player if seeking someone out like Lev would make a notable difference in…

Probably Lev is only useful for talented kids who someday might be professionals. Today's style of chess at the top level is so far removed from what Alburt played in his heyday that he would be crushed if he tried to compete with a top 50 grandmaster. (Generally only the best of the best players in the world earn a living from playing professionally)

Re: Chess master Lev Alburt teaches strategy, patience, and prognostication

#33

Post by gmiller123456 » Tue, Oct 31, 2017, 8:10 PM UTC

colmvp wrote: post #30

A question I was thinking about this week: Why do some GM's drop in peak performance? It's common to see players have a golden age of performance where they are near unbeatable. But unlike physical sports, GM's don't exactly suffer from physical deterioration do they?

There is a lot of study and memorization involved in playing at the top level (or even the amateur level). Once they lose the will and/or ability to keep up with others, then they'll start declining. In my experience, I see most kids peak around their senior year in high school, where college and other responsibilities start to dominate their time.