Psychology is one of the most important aspects of chess, yet most players put themselves at a serious disadvantage by ignoring this aspect of the game. Being ‘nice’ is all very well in civilian life, but in the war zone of the chess board a more ruthless approach is required.

The fact of the matter is that a good chess player must be something of a scoundrel in order to survive. On this DVD Davies discusses the various ways by which a player can conduct psychological warfare, from inducing Pavlovian responses to insulting the opposition with provocative moves. A knowledge of these methods is essential for the serious tournament competitor, if only to avoid becoming another victim. Video running time: more than 4 hours.