Succeeding by Anticipating Two Moves Forward while Implementing Half a Move Ahead.

“The amateurs have been always asking themselves whether they are one move ahead or one move behind in their game while the ultra-class professionals are always quietly focused on thinking or anticipating two moves ahead while implementing half a move behind."  - Anonymous Weiqi Player

One could achieve that practice when one is able to mindfully comprehend the strategic state of their position and how it connects to the rest of the gameboard.


Some people tells me that thinking two moves ahead is a good policy. None-theless, a good policy does not always mean that people actually implement that practice.


The Sunzi's Victory Temple Model 
“These are the ways that successful strategists are victorious. They cannot be spoken or transmitted in advance. ... Before the confrontation, they resolve in their conference room that they will be victorious, have determined that the majority of factors are in their favor. Before the confrontation they resolve in their conference room that they will not be victorious, have determined a few factors are in their favor.

If those who find that the majority of factors favor them, will be victorious while those who have found few factors favor them will be defeated, what about someone who finds no factors in their favor?

When observing from this viewpoint, victory and defeat will be apparent.”

- Art of War 1 (Paraphrased from the Sawyer's translation)

So, do you know what are the advantageous (strategic and tactical) factors that enables you to anticipate one to two moves ahead of the competition while implementing half a move forward? 


Comments From The Compass Desk
To the amateurs, being two moves ahead means too much work for them.  ... Most people do not even wanted to think two moves ahead because it will disrupt their "drug taking" session while observing their favorite sport team getting whipped by an underdog. 

Study the configuration of the Big Tangible Picture (BTP) does require time. After many mindful practices, one might be able to see the answer before the question.

Those who knows, rarely tell. 

Clue: A small segment of the answer can be found in Sunzi's essay. The other parts of this perspective are located in an assortment of Chinese strategy classics. If this esoteric skill is important to your endeavors,  you could begin your research now.   ... 

(Or, start searching through this blog for more clues.   Good luck and enjoy the feeling of the search.  ... .)

One more clue:  Collecting the different translations of Sunzi 's essays might not help you. 

Minor Jottings
Some people believed that they are participating in a terrain that is similar to a "chess" game.   The problem is that they are really employing the "one move at time" approach like a checker player.  ... 

Realistically, this approach does not work against ultra class professionals. 

That is another competitive illusion of the information economy.