In 2005, an estimated 70 million American households spent $7 billion to buy vitamin supplements. So what does this have to do with chess? Well the truth of the matter is that the chess community is not immune to the advertised potential of some of these supplements.

The promise of better memory or the ability to focus for longer periods of time is too tempting for any serious chess player to ignore. But do any of them work? To explore this question I did what most of you would do and went straight to the web. If you are inclined I recommend doing a Google search on memory vitamins from the search bar on this page. The number of hits for my search was over six million! With so many choices I decided to focus on the three I saw mentioned the most: DMAE , Ginkgo Biloba, and Gotu Kola. Besides seeing these mentioned most frequently these were also the ones I was able to get the most unbiased reports on.

DMAE

Dimethylaminoethanol, also known as DMAE or dimethylethanolamine, is an organic compound. This compound also goes by the names of N,N-dimethyl-2-aminoethanol, beta-dimethylaminoethyl alcohol, beta-hydroxyethyldimethylamine and Deanol. It is a liquid with a color that ranges from clear to pale yellow.

Data Source Wikipedia

DMAE is a naturally occurring nutrient found in high concentrations in fish.

Promises:

DMAE can elevate one's mood, counter depression, and boost cognitive functions (such as memory and concentration), and even increase intelligence. These benefits stem from this nutrient's role in manufacturing acetylcholine, a crucial neurotransmitter that is responsible for healthy mental functioning.

Data Source Nutritional Supplement Info

Side Effects:

I found a source which warned against using DMAE if you suffer from epilepsy, bipolar disorder, or manic depression.

Data Source Lowering Cholesterol

Clinical Results:

While there are some test that show kids with ADD appear to be helped by taking it the majority of the scientifically run test could not find any significant increase in memory or brain performance.

Data Source NYU School of Medicine

Gotu Kola

Centella asiatica is a small herbaceous annual plant of the family Apiaceae, native to Asia. Common names include Gotu Kola, Asiatic Pennywort, Antanan, Pegaga, and Brahmi (although this last name is shared with Bacopa monnieri and other herbs). It is used as a medicinal herb in Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

Data Source Wikipedia

Gotu kola is a slender, creeping plant that grows commonly in swampy areas of India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, South Africa and the tropics. Its fan shaped leaves are about the size of an old British penny - hence its common names Indian pennywort, marsh penny and water pennywort.

Data Source Herbal Information Center

Promises:

I was going to list all advertise beneficial properties of the herb, but after reading several pages I discovered that this plant can do it all. Its good for whatever ails you. It can increase mental ability and even cure leprosy.

Data Source Herbal Information Center

Side Effects:

Side effects are rare but may include skin allergy and burning sensations (with external use), headache, stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, and extreme drowsiness. These side effects tend to occur with high doses of gotu kola.

The use of gotu kola for more than 6 weeks is not recommended. People taking the herb for an extended period of time (up to 6 weeks) should take a 2-week break before taking the herb again.

Asiaticoside, a major component of gotu kola, has also been associated with tumor growth in mice. Though more studies are needed, it is wise for anyone with a history of precancerous or cancerous skin lesions, such as squamous cell, basal cell skin cancer, or melanoma to refrain from taking this herb.

Data Source Maryland Medical Center

Clinical Results:

I am going to have to say that the jury is still out on whether this herb can do all that they claim. I found several sites that gave this herb amazing credit for treating several ailments, but whenever mental functions was mentioned there was no clinical test which confirmed it would help you perform.

Data Source Maryland Medical Center

Ginkgo Biloba

The Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), frequently misspelled as "Gingko", and sometimes known as the Maidenhair Tree, is a unique tree with no close living relatives. It is classified in its own division, the Ginkgophyta, comprising the single class Ginkgoopsida, order Ginkgoales, family Ginkgoaceae, genus Ginkgo and just the one species. It is one of the best known examples of a living fossil. In the past it has also been placed in the divisions Spermatophyta or Pinophyta. Ginkgo is a gymnosperm (as opposed to an angiosperm), meaning "naked seed"; its seeds are not protected by an ovary wall and hence, the berry-like structures produced by female ginkgo trees are technically not fruit.

For centuries it was thought to be extinct in the wild, but is now known to grow wild in at least two small areas in Zhejiang province in eastern China, in the Tian Mu Shan Reserve. However, as this area has known human activity for over a thousand years, the wild status of ginkgos there is as yet uncertain.

Data Source Wikipedia

Promises:

Ginkgo is a medicinal herb that is said to be effective in helping treat the following conditions: Arterial circulatory problems, Cerebral atherosclerosis, Cerebral edema, Cerebral vascular insufficiency, Cochlear deafness, Diminished sight and hearing ability due to vascular insufficiency, Impairment of memory and/or ability to concentrate, Intermittent claudication as a result of arterial obstruction, Retinopathy, Senility, Sensitivity to cold in the extremities due to peripheral circulatory insufficiency, Short-term memory loss, Tinnitus (of a vascular origin) Vascular Diseases, and Vertigo (of a vascular origin). It has been considered especially helpful in cases Alzheimer's disease and dementia. It is usually advisable to purchase a standardized version of this herb. The average Ginkgo Biloba preparation is a 50:1 extract standardized to 24% of the ginkgo flavonone glycosides. It can be taken as a capsule, pill, or tincture.

Data Source Rx List

Side Effects:

Overall, ginkgo leaf extract (used in most commercial products) appears to be well tolerated in most healthy adults at recommended doses for up to six months. In several reviews, ginkgo was associated with similar rates of side effects as placebo (sugar pill). Minor symptoms including headache, nausea, and intestinal complaints have been reported.

Data Source Medline

Clinical Results:

Multiple clinical trials have evaluated ginkgo for a syndrome called "cerebral insufficiency." This condition, more commonly diagnosed in Europe than the United States, may include poor concentration, confusion, absent-mindedness, decreased physical performance, fatigue, headache, dizziness, depression, and anxiety. It is believed that cerebral insufficiency is caused by decreased blood flow to the brain due to clogged blood vessels. Some research reports benefits of ginkgo in patients with these symptoms, but most have been poorly designed without reliable results. Better studies are needed before a strong recommendation can be made.

Data Source Mayo Clinic

Conclusion:

All these herbs have appeared to have some medicinal value. However, with the possible exception of ginkgo none of these herbs appear to help increase mental ability. This subject I believe demands more scientific testing. If these herbs are being marketed under false promises then this should be brought out and the public should be educated about what they are putting in their bodies.

I think the best thing you can do for your body and brain is to treat them right. Eat a well balanced diet thats full of fresh vegetables and fruits. Try getting regular exercise. All the recent great grandmasters admit that part of their chess training is physical exercise. Some day there might be magic brain pills, but today is not that day.

The second game between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik was one of the most exciting games anyone has seen in years, with both players going at each other without compromise. 8000+ visitors were on the server to see the drama unfold, accompanied by live audio commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan. Full annotated report.

The World Championship between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik started with a fighting 75-move game that lasted six and a half hours. Topalov played a novelty on move 12, and achieved a drawing position. But he refused to repeat moves, pressed for a win, blundered and lost. Full report and commentary.

Read complete article at ChessBase News

This is my first blog post ever, so I would like to start by saying thank you for taking the time to read this.

Why should you put any weight in what I plan to post? The answer to this very important question is simple. I have been playing chess for a very long time, but most importantly I have a unique perspective of the game that most people don't have. I am confined to a wheelchair. This site isn't about my illness so I don't plan on going into detail about it. What I will do is share with you what I've learned as a result of having to view the world and specifically chess from this angle.

One of the biggest positives that I have gained from my situation is that everything I do physically takes longer. This probably doesn't sound like a positive, but it absolutely is. Most mistakes in chess and I believe in life is moving before you have truly considered the situation. With my situation there is no rushing. It takes me several minutes to get the piece I want to the right square. So I've trained myself to do one very simple thing. Whenever I think that I've found the right move I stop and look for another one. This sounds obvious, but how many times have you found the perfect move only to regret it the second your hand left the piece.

Making an immediately regrettable move is not due to lack of preparation or being out played. It's simply carelessness. Taking time to truly consider your options will eliminate this mistake. We are faced with situations everyday that require us to chose from a pool of possible solutions. Very few of these are so time critical that we can't employ my simple rule.

The simple rules always same the hardest to implement usually because they require you to adjust your way of thinking. Following this rule is no different from doing anything new, you have to practice it. Remember the next move is always the most important. Slow down and make it count.