January 6, 2026 · Source: Medium
Free Will Is a Lot Like Chess (And I’m Bad at Both).
On choice, constraint, and why some moves can’t be taken back.
Voice6
Lyric intensity5
The line8
Mind under feeling7
Held shape8
Literary mean 6.8 / 10
Highlights
Your first move doesn’t just move a piece. It deletes futures.
Voice
Self-deprecating blogger rhythm; breezy but stops for heavy philosophical pronouncements.
Lyric intensity
Concrete anchors like Lego Harry Potter's scarf ground the abstract physics talk.
Mind under feeling
Moves beyond venting about chess to define freedom through its inherent constraints.
Held shape
Strong arc from 'not learning to win' to 'looking longer before moving'.
Continue on Medium.
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