Should you always have a plan?

Oftentimes, usually in the early mid-game, if there are no completely obvious or clearly strong moves, and there are many possibilities that look ok (ie. not immediately nor apparently bad), I try to think of some kind of plan. What is my goal here? Is there something I should be aiming for in the long run? Is there a piece of mine that doesn't seem to be doing much, and could be better positioned? (For example, "hmm, this knight isn't doing much here. It can't really move much, most of its movements being completely restricted, it's not really protecting anything, nor threatening anything. Maybe I could find a better position for it where it's more active and has a stronger role, and slowly try to reposition it there?") Does my opponent have a weak piece, like a weak pawn, that I should start putting pressure on?

Most of the time, though, I can't really think of anything, so I simply make a move that "doesn't look bad", and just see how the game progresses eventually. A bit like a waiting move, or a move that maybe advances my position just a tiny bit, but doesn't really have any particular plan or goal.

Should one always have a plan? An actual reason for every move (other than eg "protect this piece" or other obvious urgent moves)?

Their is no quick easy answer to your question.  Its takes A LOT of hard work, study, and effort.  Hopefully this helps in some way.

Middlegame Planning

1. Expand your position:
2. Gain more space.
3. Improve the position of your pieces.

 

Decide on what side of the board to play.

1. Queenside: a-c files.
2. Center: d-e files.
3. Kingside: f-h files.

      Compare, space, material, and weaknesses.

 

3. DO NOT HURRY. Regroup your pieces, and be patient.

Good Positional Chess, Planning & Strategy Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-positional-chess-planning-strategy

Here are some reading possibilities that I often mention:

https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-play-positional-chess

https://www.chess.com/article/view/test-your-positional-chess

https://www.chess.com/article/view/do-you-really-understand-positional-chess

https://www.chess.com/article/view/get-ready-to-test-your-positional-chess-again

https://www.chess.com/article/view/can-you-pass-this-positional-chess-test

https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-calculate-long-term-advantages-in-chess

https://www.chess.com/article/view/learning-basic-pawn-structures

https://www.chess.com/article/view/learning-pawn-structure-for-chess-players-under-2000

https://www.chess.com/article/view/your-pawn-structure-is-your-friend

https://www.chess.com/article/view/more-pawn-structures

Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
https://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1948)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Back to Basics: Tactics by Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-back-to-basics-tactics
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5856bd64ff7c50433c3803db/t/5895fc0ca5790af7895297e4/1486224396755/btbtactics2excerpt.pdf
Seirawan stuff:
https://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090229/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review492.pdf
https://www.nystar.com/tamarkin/review1.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092617/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review560.pdf

50 Essential Chess Lessons by Steve Giddins
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708100833/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review534.pdf
https://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/50_Essential_Chess_Lessons.pdf

Amateur's Mind by Jeremy Silman
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094419/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/ammind.pdf
https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/chess/amateurs-mind-the-2nd-edition/

Simple Chess by Stean

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf

https://store.doverpublications.com/0486424200.html

Yes you should always have a plan, otherwise you will get steamrolled.

I can show you 100 examples of planlessness leading to gradual defeat. Here are two from my own games:

 

you have asked a good question here regarding plans. once you developed in the opening the middle game starts... simple middle game plan is: start attacking on every move. I don't mean start taking enemy pieces on every move, I mean start making attacking threatening moves on every move and especially attack weak pawns. that is an effective simple middle game plan.

Yes as long as it is a plan to have FUN and PLAY .

Take it from one guy that said he was going to becone a grandmaster by looking at every move at least 10 ply deep.

 

ROFL.

For a mental check in reality, I highly reccomend that dude go to Yet Another Chess Problem Database and do a few mate in 5 problems.

If you can’t afford a mentor, then your other options are books, pay sites, and free sites, and also people here willing to help you for free. All beginners need input, regardless of the field of study. What that material you ultimately choose is up to you, however, there are universal things that you can do that we all agree on that will make you a better chess player, an even a better decision maker.

1.) Annotated Master games

At your level you have no ideas. Your aim in reviewing annotated master games is gain typical ideas to use in games where it’s possible to recreate some of those chances on the board regardless of the opening you choose, so long as you pick good books that show games in a broad spectrum of openings.

2.). Tactics

It has been said, that tactics is 99% of the game. That may not really be the exact numerical equivalent, however, the point of saying something like that is to simply say tactics are probably the most important aspect of the game. Strategy is also important, however without tactics, you won’t see a strategy.

There are different opinions on “how to study tactics,” up to the point that I cannot anymore offer any advice on this subject, because I simply do not have the answers. It’s up to you to ask the right specific questions and hopefully someone who knows will tell you the answer. Just, what ever the question, don’t do anything without doing your own research on the topic, especially on these forums.

3.) Gaining a correct way of thinking in chess.

You have to develop the skill, of coming up with the best possible move every single move of the game. You can’t do this in blitz. For a systematic way to do this, I suggest you go to Dan Heisman’s website and review his big 5. The big five is 5 fundamental skills to get good at, up to the point of getting a 2000 rating. Also, look at his thinking algorithm, and if you want to know more about his algorithm, you can buy A Guide To Chess Improvement, by Dan Heisman. In that book you will find a lot more nuggets of wisdom than I just spoke.

4.) Study Basic End Games

Though I’m not exactly sure what book will best suit your needs for this, Silmans Complete Endgame course I think is the best beginner book for adults.

5.) Possibly get a theory book appropriate for your level.

Some of these books I mentioned may take the place of a theory book, however, things like Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, and The Amateurs Mind, will eventually have to be looked at.

6.) Consider what chess.com Diamond membership has to offer.

There is just so much you can do with a diamond membership as a supplement to your chess training that anyone would be a foul not to even consider, and just stick to “free sites.”

7.) at the end of the day just have fun.

Chess doesn’t always have to be serious.

8.) Last thoughts

It’s always a good idea to go to your local chess club and find better players than you to play against, and analyze those games with you.

9.) Final thought

No one got really good without attending as much sanctioned tournaments as possible, at least 100 long tournament games in a year.

'A bad plan is better than no plan.' 

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103149/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review594.pdf

https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/chess/silmans-complete-endgame-course/

http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/theres-an-end-to-it-all

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/bobby-fischer-teaches-chessa-review

Hey, I have just written a blog post that introduces a structured method to generate, refine, and apply ideas in chess positions. It might be applicable to your question. 

Link -https://www.chess.com/blog/nikaashpuriwh/data-driven-thinking-applying-the-chicago-approach-to-chess 

No planning is necessary, at my level one move threats and superficial bluffs are more than enough.

lolz

plan  : to make it out of the opening without losing any pieces!

 

What is the plan if you lose pieces?

Plan B : call it a piece gambit and play on hoping that my opponent blunders. 

Sup

 

i always have a packed suitcase in case the desk manager at the hotel rings me up for my bill.