--- Start.

This shall be the last of these posts.
And the next shall be the first of the next.
Observant people can already see what I'm doing.

But enough of that.
Today, the topic shall be, "start".
Like the opening.

How to start something is usually the most difficult step, and requires much thought. With momentum and a good foundation on which to work, the product can arise naturally, but it is laying this base that eats effort. Take for example a large-scale project. Before any work gets done, the infinite branches of possibility and the immensity of the imminent task can paralyse one into inaction. Yet, once a direction is decided and what needs to be done is clear, it suddenly seems that much easier; like a navigator with a roadmap. If the destination is unknown, one cannot proceed to navigate, but once a location is selected, it is (indeed) much easier to plot a course.

Another case is (this was coming for a long time) chess openings. True, one can study a book of openings, or some particularly interesting variations, but working them out over the chessboard without prepared theory... A task indeed. Openings will decide the character and the flavour of the game to follow, so it is pretty essential to begin correctly.

Not that I have great advice on how to start. The best would be to not jump into anything (not just chess games) right on the get-go, but rather to wait. Deliberate. Consider all options, the nature of the opponent or challenge, psychological tricks. Anything at all that might have some bearing on the task. Then, after calculating for ample time, make that first move.

And don't look back.

A crucial step. Never look back on the possibilities out of the thinking that never transpired; the start has been made, and proceed with all skill and alertness.