amp10amp10amp10amp10Choosing the subject wasnt easy at allamp10since the topic of defense requires a comprehensive analysis from differentamp10angles in order to give the chess player under pressure useful guidelinesamp10during a game. Of course the technical part is a matter of findingamp10challenging new and interesting positions. I was struggling with describingamp10the emotions that we have during the game how they influence ouramp10decisionmaking process and what we can do about that. Hence I tried the bestamp10I could to define the issues the defender encounters during a stressful game.amp10Finally I am confidently sharing with you the lessons that I learned from sportamp10psychologists and literature and my experience as a player over 30 years.amp10amp10amp10GM Jan Werle November 2021