News Psychology

Chess players rely on familiar moves even when the game changes

People use past experiences to guide decision-making, even when the present is unprecedented

A black and white photograph from a low angle of a chess board with pieces set up for play. White chess pieces are on the left side of the board, while black pieces are on the right. In the center, a white pawn faces a black pawn.

Well-executed starting moves in chess can tip a game’s outcome, and players often rely on tried-and-true openers. Those openers may not work well in Chess960, a chess variant that scrambles the pieces, but players tend to use them anyway.

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By Sujata Gupta

Last year, my son joined the middle school chess club and began using me, a total novice, as his sparring partner.