It's not about being hungry for victory, but rather about a high level of skill and game sense. It's when you can't afford to play poorly. Even when you're trying to relax, you can't play below a certain level – the moment the quality of your gameplay starts to decline, you immediately notice it. Plus, yes, the techniques and tactics are ingrained in your muscle memory; most moves are executed on autopilot, even if your conscious mind is too lazy to think.