This is a checklist which I have created for myself which I use for classical over the board games and has really helped me to reduce stupid blunders from my gameplay. Basically I just run through all these 10 thing in my head before making each move. Obviously this is a beginner checklist at the moment, so is there anything you guys can suggest to make it an intermediate checklist? I am currently around 1600 and would love to break into 1700 next year.
Each of the following applies for both your next move and your opponents last move.
screening of current board position (10-30 seconds)
1. Will I be checkmated next move? 2. Can I be checked? 3. Can my queen be attacked? 4. Can any pieces be captured? 5. Can any pieces be attacked? If yes, will there be a fork?
short term (1-3 moves ahead) screening and analysis (1-3 minutes)
6. Will my next move result in reduced protection of another piece/pawn? 7. Will my next move leave me susceptible to fork/pin/skewer? 8. Is there back rank mate danger? 9.What is the material situation? Should I be initiating/avoiding exchanges? 10. My elementary school chess teacher would always tell us ‘If you don’t know what to do, don’t move a pawn!’. I never understood why, but now I think it is because it could potentially lead to pawn structure and board control weaknesses that cannot be rectified later, and if you really wanted to change pawn structure then you would be very sure that you have to move a pawn.
This is a checklist which I have created for myself which I use for classical over the board games and has really helped me to reduce stupid blunders from my gameplay. Basically I just run through all these 10 thing in my head before making each move. Obviously this is a beginner checklist at the moment, so is there anything you guys can suggest to make it an intermediate checklist? I am currently around 1600 and would love to break into 1700 next year.
Each of the following applies for both your next move and your opponents last move.
screening of current board position (10-30 seconds)
1. Will I be checkmated next move?
2. Can I be checked?
3. Can my queen be attacked?
4. Can any pieces be captured?
5. Can any pieces be attacked? If yes, will there be a fork?
short term (1-3 moves ahead) screening and analysis (1-3 minutes)
6. Will my next move result in reduced protection of another piece/pawn?
7. Will my next move leave me susceptible to fork/pin/skewer?
8. Is there back rank mate danger?
9. What is the material situation? Should I be initiating/avoiding exchanges?
10. My elementary school chess teacher would always tell us ‘If you don’t know what to do, don’t move a pawn!’. I never understood why, but now I think it is because it could potentially lead to pawn structure and board control weaknesses that cannot be rectified later, and if you really wanted to change pawn structure then you would be very sure that you have to move a pawn.
Look forward to your suggestions!