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Safety is an illusion, says Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand is used to solve the trickiest problems on a chess board but on Friday, he was busy giving advice to people on almost all the topics under the sun.

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MUMBAI: Viswanathan Anand is used to solve the trickiest problems on a chess board but on Friday, the world chess champion was busy giving advice to people on almost all the topics under the sun… from Rahul Dravid’s form to children’s pocket money and from terrorism to relations with Pakistan. Anand was giving a lecture on ‘Lessons from chess’ through video conferencing to an audience spanning 19 cities across the country.

Anand said that there are number of lessons to be learnt from chess that have use in day-to-day life. One of the first is to know your goals and to be objective. “The aim in chess is to win the game. Therefore, one needs to think rationally even if it means being merciless while doing self analysis. Objectivity allows you to grow,” he said.

He said that like in chess, in life too, you should know what opposition one is facing. “One should have a fair idea of the opponent. This evaluation is of great help in preparing yourself for the battle ahead,” he remarked.

Risk-taking was the biggest lesson that Anand has learnt from chess. “Safety is an illusion. Many a time, not taking risk is not the best strategy. What I have learnt is that you can be aggressive and yet safe.”

He further added that if risks should be based on sound preparation. “It is important to be passionate for what you do. So, even in a worst-case scenario, the risk doesn’t pay off, there is no regret about what you have done as your passion never fails you,” he said.

Citing the example of the recently held World Championship match against Kramnik, Anand said he had deviated from his usual opening move as he knew the Russian was comfortable with that strategy.

“Shifting to d4 from e4 was a risk. However, I had prepared for close to a year. Regardless of the outcome, I knew this strategy would not only surprise Kramnik, but also broaden my horizon,” he said.

Anand however admitted that in chess and life, there are situations which are completely out of your control. “In such a scenario, you have to trust your intuition and make the best practical decision. Also, one should lower expectations and fight till the end,” he said.

The audience bombarded Anand with questions that were related to everything but chess. These ranged from terrorism, Dravid’s woeful form, investment banking, unfair office competition, Indo-Pak relations and ways to reverse the economic downturn.

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