We make too many mistakes in defence. But even champions make mistakes.
I have often heard the question: "how can I avoid the simple ones?" Simple mistakes often result from a lack of concentration. There is a remedy for that: there are various techniques that can improve our concentration. Another reason is sheer laziness. We make a superficial judgement relying on our own routine and reflexes. We play like a calf; that is, a slow, awkward, ineffective player dependent on thoughtless routine. How can we eliminate this bad habit? We have to force our mind to continuous mental effort. At the beginning, it will require a considerable effort. After some time, the mental effort will become automatic. This chapter includes 60 defensive problems, in which all calf-like reactions are assigned to myself. It is a useful convention, since the reader should be very satisfied to find a better solution than the author.