Goal and mindset for a tournament

The author of "Mafia in the Style of Zen" says that an important condition of a well-played tournament is the right mindset, which lets you act confidently and effectively. He begins his lesson with an example from his own practice of how not to set goals. This lesson analyses that example and the proposed formula.

The author's example: how not to set a goal

The author remembers his very first classic tournament "as if it happened yesterday". The last game for a place in the final: if you win, a place in the top ten at a prestigious tournament is guaranteed. He played black. His don, the false sheriff, removed him with the deciding hand in the round at nine (that is, his own black), and there were two misses, although the rest of the mafia sat nearby.

This case showed that there are situations that upset a lot or even take away the wish to travel to other cities and play tournaments. For spontaneity and ease to be kept in the game, and for no immersion in inner dialogue to happen, it makes sense to think rightly. The author's goal was, if not victory, then play at the final table. That tournament put him out of action: he was very upset, because with all his heart he wanted to reach the goal and did not. Why play at something that causes extremely unpleasant emotions? As he understood later, you cannot set victory as such as a goal and tie your emotional state to it.

Why victory cannot be the goal

Mafia is a team game, and chance has no small place in it. Much depends on the mindset and concentration of the team, correct checks, the dealing of roles and the ability to hear others. With a proper level of skills you can by your influence cover the "deafness" and "blindness" of those around, bring your players to their senses "here and now" so that they shoot accurately or vote for the black player. But you cannot insure against absolutely everything.

The author saw many tears and shouts because of the wrong goal "to overcome and win" in games where achieving victory did not depend entirely on a particular player. Nothing good came of it.

The right formula

The author proposes a goal worth holding to: "At the tournament I show my strongest play and do everything that depends on me for my team to win". This attitude:

1. activates resources for powerful play and lets you give 100 percent;
2. removes the attachment to a place in the tournament table, so the importance of the event does not block spontaneity or overload the nervous system;
3. in case of defeat explains the result calmly: insufficient preparation and a touch of bad luck.

But do not overestimate the contribution of those around you

In the author's opinion, up to 85 percent of a game may depend on the contribution of one person, that is, you. Good play over a distance leads to prizes: this is confirmed by the roughly identical make-up of the top 10 in club ratings and at tournaments. The figure of 85 percent is his personal estimate, not a calculation.

This thought balances the previous one: you are not responsible for chance, but you are responsible for everything else. It is exactly here that the "right goal" and the "total responsibility for the result of the game" from the lesson on playing for extras meet.

How to work with mindset in practice (recommendations of the Academy)

1. Before the tournament write the goal as an action: "I show my strongest play: I speak clearly, take the initiative, leave a will".
2. After each game assess not the outcome but the fulfilment of the goal: did I take the initiative, did I leave a will, did I buy a vote.
3. Right after a loss analyse two things: what I did wrong and what did not depend on me.
4. Between games breathe, drink water, do not discuss the result with opponents.
5. If you lost concentration, remember the goal: the strongest play right now.

For the red

A red who sets the goal "I am red for everybody" quickly loses flexibility. The right goal includes analysing the game and gathering votes, not only the absence of suspicion.

For the black

A black who sets the goal "win at any price" risks playing illogically. The black's goal: build a plan for the win, decide whom you will lift, and carry it out without suicidal moves.

Example (compiled for the Academy)

A player lost three games in a row. He tells himself: "The tournament goal is met if in every game I take the initiative and leave a will". He notices that in the lost games he took the initiative, and in two games left the will vague. He prepares four phrases for the will and uses them in the fourth game. The result does not guarantee wins, but he keeps control over what depends on him.

Self-check questions

1. Why can victory not be set as the goal at a tournament?
2. How does the right goal sound according to the author?
3. What does "up to 85 percent of a game depends on you" mean and what limits it?
4. How is the goal related to playing for extras?

Practice

Write your goal for the nearest tournament by the author's formula and add three actions you can control. After each game tick which of them you fulfilled.

Typical mistakes

• Tying mood to the place in the table.
• Thinking that victory depends entirely on you.
• Not changing the wording of the goal after defeats.
• Substituting excuses for the goal.

Source of the idea. The chapter "Setting the goal" from Dmitry Novik's book "Mafia in the Style of Zen" (2020). The percentages belong to the author. The recommendations on working with mindset, the example, questions and practice were compiled for the Academy.