Shock factor, the psychological attack

Nigel Short says that the sacrifce need not be sound. It's role is to confuse and to dazzle the opponent. How does it work?

Before we look deeper into that, lets look at the learning mind. The healthy learning mind is able to first evaluate without bias. Without taking out parts that he doesnt like to see or adding past irrelevant and unproven conclusions ie without fear or favour.

Then in a moving picture like the game of chess, the mind is able to process new information without resistance. When the evidence points in a certain direction, the mind is able to process the relevant information and form new strategies and direction. That is a process of change.

But to process information without resistance, this mind must also be used to a high degree of uncertainty. Of suspending preconclusions and be able to continually assess. Uncertainty and change is difficult and comes with feelings of ill ease if you are unused to it.

Now this forms the basis of resistance in the mind. The psychological attack relies on these factors to succeed. Increase the pace of change and the untrained mind cannot keep up and goes into shock.

Note: The psychological attack is on the person outside the board. That is so that it works on confusing the picture on the board. This is important. Technical knowledge is now suspended. The player is in shock and all knowledge irretrievable to the mind.

Now go back and look at the other games from the English match. I will write a little more on our draw with Lithuania in a bit.