Backward - If you don't Use It, you'll Lose It

Some men in white lab coats did some stuff with Chess players involving lots of electrodes and clipboards. What they found is that Chess players process Chess patterns with the same part of the brain that the rest of us use for recognising people's faces.

A few years ago I'd studied combinations daily for six months and they would just leap out of the board at me. I once heard a Master (who's name I regret escapes me) say "Tactics must be automatic, you spend your time looking at strategy." and that is how it was; Chess patterns came alive of their own accord while I thought on other things.

So you will understand what I mean when I say the 'rust' has set in.

"I remember you, didn't we meet at that party a few years ago? It's Tom isn't it? Oh no, Ted? Ah! That's right, nice to meet you again Mary!".

That's how it now feels looking at the Chess board. There's something familiar about that piece configuration, but I can't quite put my finger on it... does the Knight go here and then the Rook takes that pawn or...