Answers.Body: <p>I think it's human psychology; we associate forward moves with attack and backward moves with defense. After all, chess originated as an abstract model for a real war.</p>
  <p>That said, retreating moves don't need to be unintuitive, as long as we're on the defense. I don't have a specific situation in mind either, but retreating a queen or rook to help defending your king from a mating attack feels familiar.</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>I've felt this way while doing certain puzzles as it takes me a long time to find the retreating move</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>That's a good observation: in puzzles, you are almost always on the offense. It's always 'White/Black to move and win material', 'White/Black gives mate in <em>x</em> moves'. In rare cases, it's 'White/Black to move and draw' but even then it's often finding an offensive combination to equalize or force a draw by repetition or stalemate.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-07-02T01:20:55.610Z
Answers.Text: I completely agree and would like to add that the person's risk aversion plays a part.  As I aged, I've tend to attack less.  I often send a soldier forward to entice an overextension.  Retreating this piece seems as natural as placing a knight on f3/f6.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Mike Jones
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-02-20T10:32:33.340Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-02-20T10:32:33.340Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Glorfindel
Body: <p>I've heard IM and GM commentators on chess tournaments, from the Opera Euro Rapid to PogChamps 3, suggest that retreating moves, such as backwards knight and bishop moves, are unintuitive. I've felt this way while doing certain puzzles as it takes me a long time to find the retreating move after a successful first few moves. But I'm curious as to <em>why</em> this is the case. Is it human psychology, or does it have something to do with fundamental principles and piece development? Unfortunately, I don't have a specific board state or game scenario to this display, but any answers would be appreciated.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2021-07-01T04:51:48.300Z
Comments.Text: Does "retreating" mean "towards your back rank" or "away from the opponent's king"?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Rosie F
Tags: <theory><psychology>
Title: Why are retreating moves unintuitive?
ThreadText: # Why are retreating moves unintuitive?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-20)
  
  I've heard IM and GM commentators on chess tournaments, from the Opera Euro Rapid to PogChamps 3, suggest that retreating moves, such as backwards knight and bishop moves, are unintuitive. I've felt this way while doing certain puzzles as it takes me a long time to find the retreating move after a successful first few moves. But I'm curious as to *why* this is the case. Is it human psychology, or does it have something to do with fundamental principles and piece development? Unfortunately, I don't have a specific board state or game scenario to this display, but any answers would be appreciated.
  
  **Tags:** theory, psychology
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Does "retreating" mean "towards your back rank" or "away from the opponent's king"?  
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2021-02-20. Score: 9 | Accepted answer
  
  I think it's human psychology; we associate forward moves with attack and backward moves with defense. After all, chess originated as an abstract model for a real war.
  
  That said, retreating moves don't need to be unintuitive, as long as we're on the defense. I don't have a specific situation in mind either, but retreating a queen or rook to help defending your king from a mating attack feels familiar.
  
  > I've felt this way while doing certain puzzles as it takes me a long time to find the retreating move
  
  That's a good observation: in puzzles, you are almost always on the offense. It's always 'White/Black to move and win material', 'White/Black gives mate in *x* moves'. In rare cases, it's 'White/Black to move and draw' but even then it's often finding an offensive combination to equalize or force a draw by repetition or stalemate.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: I completely agree and would like to add that the person's risk aversion plays a part.  As I aged, I've tend to attack less.  I often send a soldier forward to entice an overextension.  Retreating this piece seems as natural as placing a knight on f3/f6.  
  
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