How to think like a chess player

I was just wondering how chess players contemplate their next moves. Is it a case of looking at the board and trying to find folks, pins, check etc or are they consistently looking many moves in front? Basically what I am asking is what do you think about before you make your next move? Do you run a script through your head before making each move, for example, "What pieces am I attacking? What pieces attack me? Can I folk any pieces? If I move X piece what is my opponent likely to do?" Or do you think of each move in a totally different way.

Thanks

-Dan

Well basically i do like tal, after every move i think of how i can sac my queen, rook, bishop, knight, pawn...

That is the issue that most worries us the "not higher than avergage" players.

And I put the blame on writers when, in commenting (or annotating) games, they branch too much and give too many suggestions as to what "should have been played" or "that it would have been better. . ."

Since you or me, who are not GM, can not "see" so many moves. . .we get scared.

What I do is to see first what damage my opponent can do, then try to look for a move(s) that coud harm him. . . and watch carefully when his queen, rooks, bishopd and/or knights are somehow preparing a combined attack.

As for me, I am still looking for a darn good explanation of tactics and strategy. . .

Anyhow. . . Go West young man. . .

I look at several things -- The first thing I look for is a move that forces a reply (or a series of replies) that clearly lead to my advantage -- which is the long way of saying: I look for tactics. Secondly I look at "imbalances" -- what favors me? what favors my opponent?  -- or do I need to create an imbalance? I look for moves that gain space. I look for moves that attack the center. I look for my opponent's best move/plan...  in the absence of anything clear to do I just try to "improve my position" and/or make it hard for my opponent to make progress. I also, in general, try to simplify. I like clear plans and clear positions and do best in them. I only play complicated tactics when my back is against the wall or when i see a chance to go for the throat -- otherwise  I try to stay away from big complicated positions and head toward positional squeeze type positions. Which is to say... If I don't have a clear plan, I at least try to steer the game toward the types of positions I'm more comfortable in.

When I'm assessing my opponent's last move I try to remember to do 3 things.  First, look at what the moved piece can do from it's new position.  Second, look at what the moved piece can do from every square it can now move to from its new position.  Third, see if some other piece of your opponent's became more active or threatening because of his move.  For instance, your opponent might move his Knight so it now targets your unprotected pawn.  But the same move might also have opened up a new diagonal for his Queen across the board, and that might turn out to be more important in the long run if you don't notice.

I'm trying to get a good position. If my position is superiour it takes a mistake on my part for my opponent to get the upper hand.

I think the first step is learning the opening...and then you must know about some tactics ..(planning to move in order to achieve your goal)...in this step you should build a good position for your side (placing the Knight,Bishop or Rook)..for me this is important before you start to attacking..because everytime you move your pawn can make different situation on board according on your opponent move...

just sharing, broo...good luck and enjoy the game...coz chess is mental torture in different way..

I'm beginning to think that the best way is not to look for the moves you would like to play. Instead look for the move the position (your pieces) would like you to play. Rather philisophical, I know.

I do look. Finding it is the trouble. 

Use some illegal stimulants. Then you'll know.

You should try reading "How to re-assess your chess" by Silman. He gives you a method to use when anylising a position and how to try and find the best move/plan.

i think that our thinking process should be based on our opponent's threats, take it as given that we face a strong opponent he/she wont make any blunders so it will be difficult to gain material based on his mistakes.

in the opening we should be looking for traps the best approach is to stick to the basic opening principles and try to built a solid position which will allow us later on to tactically use it to our advantage, our first priority should be our King's safety and our opponent's threats not long term attacking strategies and long calculations, if we loose the momentum planning ahead failing to notice the present situations and threats which might arouse then we will loose touch with reality giving our opponent the opportunity to strike

of course we are not Gms or International players who have vast experiences and tactical knowledge of the game which allows them to plan ahead and maintain a touch with the present realities dealing with immediate threats when thinking

i have come to notice some things that when we loose touch with the moment then we are prone to make tactical and strategic mistakes

our opponent does not sleep he has similar attacking ideas and he just wants to find the opportunity to implement his plans stopping our own at the same time so it is essential to be aware that what might seem to be a good idea to us may not be so good in reality so we need to think twice before we sacrifice material or do some short of crazy moves a wrong calculation means that we give the initiative and possibly heavy material to our opponent

i came to believe whoever keeps and maintains the initiative will have an edge over his opponent, a good principle is to never overestimate our plans and never underestimate our opponent either.

a big problem is lack of sufficient time, we simply never have enough time when we have to take decisions and chess is a game of decisions first and foremost, some choices seem to be more attractive than others or sometimes when we find ourselves cornered by our opponent our good moves are hopelessly few so making effective moves quickly based on a given position requires experience which i dont have right now

We always need to consider our opponents threats, but more importantly you need to impose your own will. What do you need to do in the position. Make him react to you.

Thanks for the replies everyone, some very interesting points made. 

I just play very defensively, and look for a pawn I can take. Then I trade pieces, while looking for another free pawn. It's pretty hard for me to do, because sometimes I can't hold off attacks. In which case, I'm forced to counterattack. But, looking for a free pawn or two, is usually what I'm thinking about

I do that too! .. sometimes of course i don't actually think about it and do it bye mistake but still!

That seems awfully coincedental.

Just play a lot. Put some games to analisys and try to find what u did wrong, or could have done better. See some games from pros and ull get better. Good Luck!

Maybe reading a "think like a grandmaster" by Kotov will give you some ideas.

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