As a rule of thumb, the more complex the concepts you grapple with are, the better the player you are. By this I mean when you move away from the material to the abstract, it means the more you are absorbing, very generally speaking. If you never consider control over colour complexes, it’s fair to say you are most likely playing for pleasure than playing to push yourself towards becoming a professional player. Those at the very top are able to win by means of controlling colour complexes and here’s a fine example by the first accredited Soviet Grand Master Verlinsky. Yes of course in retrospect we see Botvinnik as being the first but that wasn’t so. And so here is our old Soviet friend, who played without hearing, doing what he does best, showing why he was indeed world class.

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