Candidate moves

The basis for the calculation of variations lies in the candidate moves. Before we actually calculate concrete variations, we first select some interesting possibilities. This is how we choose candidate moves.
Unlike the computer, which takes almost all possibilities into consideration, we limit ourselves to a few possibilities. That is the strength, but at the same time the main weakness of the human way of thinking: if the choice we make is much too small, we can miss the strongest continuation. As was correctly stated by Kotov: 'It is possible to calculate variations in depth accurately, but without having included the most important moves. If we thus exclude from our calculation of variations the best choices, then all the calculations we have made are a useless collection of individual moves and variations.'

To avoid this human failing, we need some guidelines for the calculation of variations.
1) Accurately calculating over the short distance of the first few moves is more important than the capacity to calculate long variations.
A mistake in these first moves is more dangerous than a mistake at the end of the variation.
2) Look not only for your own candidate moves, but also those of your opponent.
3) The first things you absolutely must consider are all the active possibilities (checks, possible captures and attacks).
4) If, after some thought, your preferred move still does not lead to a clear result, then before your drown in the sea of variations, it is better to go back and look for other candidate moves. There is perhaps a better and simpler solution!

I saw u on yt about the lucena position