Working backward to solve problems - Maurice Ashley

Imagine where you want to be someday. Now, how did you get there? Retrograde analysis is a style of problem solving where you work backwards from the endgame you want. It can help you win at chess -- or solve a problem in real life. At TEDYouth 2012, chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley delves into his favorite strategy.

Talk by Maurice Ashley.

[heron]

Me watching the video in reverse: You may have outsmarted me, but I have outsmarted your outsmarting

[scottotteburn]

To the proofreading backwards comment— you can do that when drawing a portrait or very recognizable objects too. If you're drawing from a picture, you flip it upside down (and your drawing of course) and you start to see the face or objects more as shapes and shades. Lots of people are amazed at how much better (or more accurate) their drawing turned out than they thought by doing this. It's an early lesson in drawing representationally that's useful to recognize the same logic Maurice mentions with the double "the." The mind imposes preconceived ideas of a face or object rather than seeing it for a series small decisions based on shape and shade.

[TheDeathstriker]

Came here hoping for a chess lesson! Lol, am I alone? :D

[andresantosid]

"If you can see the end game, your youth will not be wasted on you".
Thank you, Maurice!

[inothernews]

Some TED talks are too long, this is too short!

[Pankaj-Verma-]

I request TED to Upload this genre more frequently.

[MrFizzminecraft]

i worked a chemistry problem backward once in an exam, it saved me 20 marks. i kinda knew the answer i just couldn’t show my work, so working it backwards showed me all the steps. amazing how it works!

[zhouwu]

I really love how practical his thinking is! It feels like stuff I can apply straight away!

[nerdynachos]

I can't even remember how many times that second THE has caught me!

[sakthipriyar]

From nowhere Youtube has recommended me this after 8 years. And wow, it's gonna be life changing😁💯

[Ral]

_"Youth is wasted on the young."_ Not if you can see the end first.

[harrythegoodguy]

I don’t even know my high school math teacher taught me this kind of mindset and til now im still using this in literally every problems in my life

[nergydrink]

damn, all those moves was just for that end quote.

[azaria_phd]

2:35 I've fallen for this trick so many times already that I already expected a double "the" and noticed it immediately.

[reasonswhyrealestateage]

You have a very interesting way of looking at things Maurice. I am definitely going to take your suggestion and use a retrograde approach to my own chess games. Thank you for doing this video.

[BluEN]

Good job to the education system for training us to not work backwards.

[vincec]

For all Military (and ex military), one thing we learned while in service was “backwards planning”. Very useful in all aspects of life. Great video.

[fortfanop]

0:15 There's a myth that grandmasters can see 10, 15, 20 moves ahead.
Hikaru: Allow me to introduce...

[Trainstationgr]

after i finished queens gambit on netflix, this charismatic dude keeps getting recommended at me.

[abhimat]

Retrograde analysis - a very useful tool for learning. Thank you!