My style differs and it is folowed and defined of the opening and the movements of the opposite player . I can play both style . Strategig or tactical open positions .
As for the other sport you play tennis I play table tennis . And one of he rules is clear "throw the ball on the other side correctly " and let them make a mistake. The rest is strategy and consistency
The chess player I admired the most for his attacking , daring combinational play was the Magician of Riga….Mikhail Tal or “ Misha”
Many would love his risk/ reward play
But the player I also admire is the Russian player Sergey Karjakin
He is a very strong defensive player having been nicknamed “ the minister for defence” 😊😊😊
Not so exciting to watch but drew 6 to 6 in the world chess championship against Carlson in standard chess with his style only to be beaten in a “ shootout”. That’s another story
So exciting attacking or unsexy defending is just a way to play.
Both have a place in chess, in sport and in life
The COVID lockdown stimulated an interest in chess. And so did the Netflix series "The Queen's Gambit". And, surprisingly, the Hans Niemann controversy added even more publicized drama.
What is the right balance in chess? Everyone is different. From a spectator watching you would like to see attacking, aggressive, innovative chess with brilliant moves and great tactical and positional play. But does anyone see boring, closed, clogged artery chess as masterful. Multiple draws over and over. Is that not also chess. What if you draw with a chess player way above your standard due to this “ boring” approach. The answer most would say is the draws with players well “ below” your standard would negate this defensive fortress mindset.
If you wait “ patiently “ for your opponent to make a “ mistake” and never press forward just building painfully slowly waiting, waiting….. a draw may come if nothing eventuates?
I play chess and tennis socially . Funnily, my way of playing both are similar. I play defensive chess AND tennis.
What does a “ chess fortress” mean. It’s probably in my mind.
You start the game and for some reason I think defend defend defend. Protect the king with my chess fortress in my head. Try and not let anything through.
But that is not just in the corner” chess fortress” in my mind though like theory .
In my mind I try not to let anything through across the whole board.
Some call this “ a closed position”. Like a blocked drain lol.
In greek history like the 300 spartans. Nothing can go through right??
Wrong of course.
There is always the “ goat path at thermopylae “.
A way through.
My mindset is also in my tennis. Get everything back and wait for the mistake.
This strategy is flawed.
There is in many cases “a way through”
As you go into your golden years like I have you reflect on what your style was in chess, in sport or life.
The realisation then comes that it doesn’t really matter.
Flawed is human and whatever your style all that matters is that you enjoy the journey😊😊😊
What is your “ style” in chess Are you inherently aggressive and need to find defence more or vice versa.
There is no right or wrong.