How I Play Chess

There are many decent books on the topic of how to think during a game of chess. This post is not an attempt to challenge Grand Masters’ advice but instead is focused on how I play chess.

1) Threat scan. Scanning the chess board for threats from both sides is my first task. If there is a threat from the opponent, I think about how to counteract it.

2) Planning. I try to develop a plan by considering strategic goals, namely, piece activity, King safety and pawn structure. Once a plan is made, I focus on sequence of possible moves through which I can achieve my objectives.

3) Calculate Variations. First I prioritize available sequence of moves (candidate moves) and then analyze one by one critically. At the end I select the candidate move with the bright future.

4) Blunder Check. Before making the move selected in step 3, I quickly check once again one-move offensive or defensive disasters.

If all is clear, I made the move.

Two Valuable Tips to Improve Your Chess Game

During reading first chapter of “Chess Training for Budding Champions” by Jesper Hall, I found following two valuable tips:

1. Create a database of your chess games and combinations along with other chess gems that may inspire you.
2. Annotate your own games as deep as you can.

I will definitely give them a try.

Chess Diary / Journal

Currently I am reading “Chess Training for Budding Chess Champion” by Jesper Hall. That’s a great book for a Chess Novice, like me.

Jesper Hall has advised that a chess enthusiast should maintain a diary, to mark his progress. I will treat this blog as my online chess diary. I will post here about my progress in chess, inspiring chess tips, memorable games by grand masters, chess links and chess news.