For the second group of players in the study, the researchers changed the setup so that the familiar solution was no longer an available option. Instead, only the optimal solution would achieve checkmate. Without the familiar solution to distract them, the experts in this second group all found the best solution. In the end, the study confirmed a statement attributed to several world chess champions: “When you see a good move, don’t make it immediately. Look for a better one.” When the Einstellung effect gets in the way—when we can’t see the better move—we can change our definition of the
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