https://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blogNDpatzer's Blog2026-04-18T01:03:41.294Zhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-knowing-when-to-think-and-when-to-just-move/KZ98ZqD72026-04-18T01:03:41.294Z2026-04-18T01:03:41.294ZScience of Chess: Knowing when to think (and when to just move)<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=CAGM1o_5devD.webp&w=880&sig=4c09a9ae23ab0e84f05eb288d62d8c7aa4030bfa" /><br />Some positions deserve a lot of thought and some don't - but do players know which is which?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-seeing-moves-with-momentum-over-the-board/Dxw72cRP2026-03-02T01:57:36.134Z2026-03-02T01:57:36.134ZScience of Chess: Seeing moves with momentum over the board<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="White chess pieces sitting on a small plastic staircase made to look like a white arrow.A hand is holding the king on the top step." src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=K_42CCJhkTST.webp&w=880&sig=0c4bb07d797cc8afc444571a2e73b04eaa00ed61" /><br />Prediction is fundamental to how we see, and for strong players it's also part of what they see OTB.NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-networks-for-expertise-in-the-chess-players-brain/gtsMaTod2026-01-29T16:29:06.055Z2026-01-29T16:29:06.055ZScience of Chess: Networks for expertise in the chess player's brain<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A series of red dots and grey dots in a configuration of a human brain viewed from the side." src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=rfQpzBt-AL4C.webp&w=880&sig=7cf96a4cc09324b6d28669fef1898f9e8043aadc" /><br />Chess can be an important way of investigating how learning and expertise are manifest in the nervous systemNDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-thanks-for-a-great-2025/OeTmgyPs2026-01-01T00:07:05.496Z2026-01-01T00:07:05.496ZScience of Chess: Thanks for a great 2025!<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="An old-timey postcard that reads "Happy New Year"" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ocPwuAU4rzkE.webp&w=880&sig=3c34dbcd30e1727b7e602b8b1dc9d6adf8f135a5" /><br />Just a brief post to say thanks to my readers and send best wishes for what 2026 may bring.NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-seeing-the-board-holistically/TAv2M6gd2025-11-26T22:01:38.246Z2025-11-26T22:01:38.246ZScience of Chess: Seeing the board "holistically."<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Two women holding cards depicting someone else eye's in front of their face." src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=Xc4ID2IcM8pn.webp&w=880&sig=7ab3ba25cd3988c30f550717125758dffb3b6407" /><br />Better players may read a chessboard in the same ways we recognize faces.NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-what-does-it-mean-to-have-a-chess-personality/we5p4kq72025-09-11T21:48:12.075Z2025-09-11T21:48:12.075ZScience of Chess: What does it mean to have a "chess personality?"<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:we5p4kq7:LpYsbIPm.webp&w=880&sig=10b3fc50ad0f43ee59e5c14a071578b5451079bb" /><br />What kind of player are you? How do we tell?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-proving-yourself-wrong/KQsy4tKA2025-07-27T04:56:39.964Z2025-07-27T04:56:39.964ZScience of Chess: Proving yourself wrong<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A close-up view of a red street sign that reads "Wrong Way"" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:KQsy4tKA:MXPYcTvT.webp&w=880&sig=9d0996d23500b9881b74bebb6d3fd53b2b5e8569" /><br />The best players know it's not enough to be right, it's also working hard to find out when you're wrong.NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-winning-streaks-losing-streaks-and-skill/K4NmnE6b2025-07-01T02:56:22.045Z2025-07-01T02:56:22.045ZScience of Chess: Winning Streaks, Losing Streaks, and Skill<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A red stamp saying "Win-Win"" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:K4NmnE6b:mFIE8jfk.webp&w=880&sig=e356e73f053acdd7735f50d48b24c19a6695e523" /><br />Being a patzer is hard, and it can be even worse when loss follows loss!NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-playing-blindfold-and-seeing-chess-in-your-dreams/tR9tWPv02025-05-11T14:29:40.155Z2025-05-11T14:29:40.155ZScience of Chess: Playing blindfold and seeing chess in your dreams<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A 14th century painting of a mildly annoyed man in bed who is not falling asleep" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:tR9tWPv0:Y2yew7or.webp&w=880&sig=c31dac03a691332f55ae5c6f196a2d27876cdbb7" /><br />Blindfold simuls can leave players struggling with insomnia in a way that connects to the science of sleep, learning, and memory.NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-what-makes-a-move-seem-brilliant/wtFdMXzO2025-03-23T01:19:31.776Z2025-03-23T01:19:31.776ZScience of Chess: What makes a move seem "Brilliant?"<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:wtFdMXzO:eAuR6I7C.webp&w=880&sig=b808c5bff5190961ab81922ccfb5a3a31f4fa3e2" /><br />Sometimes a chess move warrants not just one, but two exclamation points - but what makes us call a move brilliant?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-can-you-tell-an-easy-puzzle-from-a-tough-one/Yc5V0Qta2025-02-20T02:19:38.358Z2025-02-20T02:19:38.358ZScience of Chess: Can you tell an easy puzzle from a tough one?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A collection of mechanical puzzles." src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:Yc5V0Qta:83CJ4JFG.webp&w=880&sig=62c17b196958aff348fb7e6d7344a84396c84c18" /><br />What makes some chess puzzles more difficult than others? Can strong players tell how hard a puzzle will be?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/chess-engines-centaur-chess-and-an-idea-for-a-new-kind-of-tournament/5EeoqaZD2025-01-01T16:35:30.489Z2025-01-01T16:35:30.489ZChess Engines, Centaur Chess and an idea for a new kind of tournament<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A statue of a centaur against a blue sky." src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:5EeoqaZD:Vv0jcDbH.webp&w=880&sig=4bba8f99e5d65a1a146621c92c35eac4ff4ec6c8" /><br />Engines have had an enormous impact on chess - can we find ways to incorporate them into OTB play fairly?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-can-you-tell-a-human-opponent-from-a-machine/D2OGQ3JT2024-12-22T21:06:28.214Z2024-12-22T21:06:28.214ZScience of Chess: Can you tell a human opponent from a machine?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A bearded man sitting at a chessboard, looking at the viewer. Across from him, a robot arm is placed at the board as his playing opponent." src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:D2OGQ3JT:BbLdoev8.webp&w=880&sig=680909702fdc9a1311a927efc16175b598f7df40" /><br />Do chess engines pass the Turing Test?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-subliminal-chess-in-the-expert-mind/f8DZkLWE2024-11-25T16:07:56.667Z2024-11-25T16:07:56.667ZScience of Chess: Subliminal Chess in the Expert Mind?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A painting of two women playing a game of chess with word balloons added. The first woman asks if the second is paying attention, to which the second responds "No, but it's Mate in 3"" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:f8DZkLWE:ZknL9SQP.webp&w=880&sig=4323d17e90695dd65930a95169b3a56b93f09a9d" /><br />Visual priming reveals how experts assess positions without awarenessNDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-how-does-chess-calculation-depend-on-words-vs-pictures/gBpG2olI2024-11-09T18:41:48.657Z2024-11-09T18:41:48.657ZScience of Chess: How does chess calculation depend on words vs. pictures?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:gBpG2olI:ZOJVPh0C.webp&w=880&sig=fb4e7f48f6cbeb0efc922d6761f4d7b3fcd0d77f" /><br />Thinking ahead over the board requires maintaining some description of the position in your mind, but what is the nature of that description?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-what-happens-in-the-brain-when-we-see-the-best-move/bUh7lAVj2024-10-02T15:41:10.42Z2024-10-02T15:41:10.42ZScience of Chess: What happens in the brain when we see the best move?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:bUh7lAVj:E7XKPsBr.jpg&w=880&sig=f52c4aab8c29d27e014092549a561d31c863fa4d" /><br />EEG is good for measuring the timing of neural events, but can it reveal what happens when insight hits?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-a-case-study-of-reflex-epilepsy-induced-by-playing-chess/k08StYb42024-09-13T18:36:09.996Z2024-09-13T18:36:09.996ZScience of Chess: A Case Study of Reflex Epilepsy Induced by Playing Chess<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:k08StYb4:tYySNkFA.png&w=880&sig=51f083b3a69e90a562d1e7c864ec8233553daa7f" /><br />An electrical storm in the brain reveals links between chess and (some) other forms of complex thought.NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-gestalt-processing-in-experts-brains/AIVrn2Vh2024-09-04T03:21:02.778Z2024-09-04T03:21:02.778ZScience of Chess: Gestalt Processing in Experts' Brains<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:AIVrn2Vh:xedotl88.jpg&w=880&sig=3c9838d679d180bffd92072ec76ff330839bc675" /><br />Playing chess requires a network of distinct brain areas across the cortex, but what do these areas contribute to our playing ability?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-finding-chess-expertise-in-the-brain-a-case-study/kYZy0JHP2024-08-13T16:06:34.647Z2024-08-13T16:06:34.647ZScience of Chess - Finding chess expertise in the brain: A case study<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:kYZy0JHP:2xXymSKW.png&w=880&sig=e61953335723bb7342387d1fecb1965760682fb2" /><br />What do we learn by looking for neural networks that support chess expertise in the human brain? What do we find when we do?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-a-g-factor-for-chess-a-psychometric-scale-for-playing-ability/tTXWy9oV2024-05-10T12:50:26.733Z2024-05-10T12:50:26.733ZScience of Chess: A g-factor for chess? A psychometric scale for playing ability<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:tTXWy9oV:HaHsGz38.jpg&w=880&sig=bb0e9358545fb083918e481077dfeae8f8750fa5" /><br />How do you measure chess skill? It depends on what you want to know.NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-kinda-viih_sous-2-ra3-and-a-modest-research-proposal/3DgK4rPl2024-05-07T01:57:31.974Z2024-05-07T01:57:31.974ZScience of Chess (kinda?): Viih_Sou's 2. Ra3 and a modest research proposal<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:3DgK4rPl:l5K7zPpK.jpg&w=880&sig=9f9231126fcfa446d4d42f201be626482c2c96c0" /><br />Take the 2. Ra3 Challenge! For Science!NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-achtung-einstellung/CuxWuZYP2024-04-27T20:33:45.963Z2024-04-27T20:33:45.963ZScience of Chess - Achtung! Einstellung!<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:CuxWuZYP:g7N8vSWE.jpg&w=880&sig=a79c5916ace0cd048e26199b5413ebb7b75439c8" /><br />Pattern recognition is great, but the Einstellung effect can turn a master into a patzer (sort of).NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-eyetracking-board-vision-and-expertise-part-2-of-2/FIs9uCl32024-04-01T03:17:51.303Z2024-04-01T03:17:51.303ZScience of Chess - Eyetracking, board vision, and expertise (Part 2 of 2)<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A chessboard reflected in a human eye" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:FIs9uCl3:jwCBU150.jpg&w=880&sig=fb11ba531594940f422d1bd5098beac72cdc6082" /><br />Better players move their eyes differently than weaker players - what does that tell us about their board vision?NDpatzerhttps://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-eyetracking-board-vision-and-expertise-part-1-of-2/xNM9VBQO2024-03-25T02:01:52.227Z2024-03-25T02:01:52.227ZScience of Chess - Eyetracking, board vision, and expertise (Part 1 of 2)<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ndpatzer:ublog:xNM9VBQO:8vgdv3zy.jpg&w=880&sig=1a08ce0b628bb44bb7bd7b9edc31b539355fbf0a" /><br />Looking for the best move involves, well...looking. How do players move their eyes during a game and what do they get out of it?NDpatzer