Every move, every game
The six-step decision process
Visual chess lesson
Identify the opponent’s threat
Black to move. What immediate threat has White created against the king?
Reveal the explanation
White threatens Qxh7#, with the queen protected by the bishop on d3 and the rook on f8 occupying the king's other escape square. Black must answer that mate threat before considering an unrelated plan.
5rk1/5ppp/8/7Q/8/3B4/8/6K1 b - - 0 1 ↗Visual chess lesson
Candidate moves
White to move. Identify several plausible developing candidates before calculating one.
Reveal the explanation
Castling, Be3 and c3 are all plausible candidates in this Italian Game position. The exercise is to form a short list before committing calculation time to the first move noticed.
r1bqk2r/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 2 6 ↗Visual chess lesson
Visualise the candidate move
Before playing Qh5, place the queen there mentally and find Black's reply.
Reveal the explanation
After 1.Qh5, Black has 1...Nf6, developing with an attack on the queen. Visualising the candidate move reveals the opponent's forcing reply before White commits.
Verified line: Qh5 Nf6
4k1n1/5p2/8/8/8/8/8/3QK3 w - - 0 1 ↗Classify
Is the position open, closed, semi-open, dynamic or quiet? The type sets the kind of plan.
Evaluate
Read material, pawn structure, king safety and piece activity—in that order.
Generate
Choose three candidate moves, including one you would not normally consider.
Eliminate
Test each candidate against the opponent’s strongest reply. Discard the ones that fail.
Review
After the game, note which step you skipped. Improve the process, not just the move.
Classify first
Five positions, five priorities
Open
Visual chess lesson
Contest the open file
Which file determines the activity of both rooks?
Reveal the explanation
The e-file is completely open. Both rooks contest it, so control depends on exchanges, entry squares and whether another rook can be doubled behind the first.
4r1k1/8/8/8/8/8/8/4R1K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Open lines and active pieces mean tactics arrive quickly. Prioritise king safety, coordination and concrete calculation.
Closed
Visual chess lesson
Bad bishop
Why does the bishop on c1 have little useful scope?
Reveal the explanation
White's pawns on b2, d2, e3 and f4 occupy dark squares, the same colour as the bishop. They restrict its diagonals, so changing the pawn structure or rerouting the bishop is required.
6k1/8/8/8/5P2/4P3/1P1P4/2B3K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Locked pawn chains reward preparation. Improve pieces and prepare the pawn break on the side where you have space.
Semi-open
Visual chess lesson
Doubled pawn target
Which pawn should the rook blockade and attack first?
Reveal the explanation
The front pawn on c6 is the immediate target. A rook on the half-open c-file can increase pressure while the rear pawn on c7 restricts its support and mobility.
6k1/2p5/2p5/8/8/8/8/2R3K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Some pawn lines have opened while others remain closed. Use the open and semi-open files and decide whether the position should be opened further or kept under control.
Dynamic
Visual chess lesson
Exchange sacrifice
What must White verify before giving a rook for the knight on f7?
Reveal the explanation
White must calculate whether removing the knight destroys Black's king safety and whether the remaining attack provides concrete compensation. The diagram identifies the defender and attacking pieces; it does not claim a forced win.
6k1/5np1/7Q/8/8/8/8/5RK1 w - - 0 1 ↗An unstable imbalance rewards initiative. Act while your activity matters, but verify every forcing line.
Quiet
Visual chess lesson
Improve the worst-placed piece
Which white piece contributes least, and what is its first route towards the centre?
Reveal the explanation
The knight on a1 is the worst-placed piece. 1.Nc2 begins a route towards e3 or b4, where the knight can influence central squares.
Verified line: Nc2
6k1/8/8/8/8/8/8/N5K1 w - - 0 1 ↗With no immediate threats, improve the worst piece, reinforce a weakness or prepare a useful break.
Plans come from features
Evaluate four things
Material
Visual chess lesson
Simplification when ahead
White has an extra knight. What does 1.Qxd8 achieve?
Reveal the explanation
After 1.Qxd8 Rxd8, the queens are exchanged and White's extra knight remains. The trade removes Black's checking and tactical resources while keeping the resulting position clearly favourable.
Verified line: Qxd8 Rxd8
r2q4/6pk/7p/8/8/2N5/6PK/R2Q4 w - - 0 1 ↗Count rather than guess. Ahead usually favours exchanges; behind usually favours keeping pieces and creating complications.
Pawn structure
Visual chess lesson
Doubled pawn target
Which pawn should the rook blockade and attack first?
Reveal the explanation
The front pawn on c6 is the immediate target. A rook on the half-open c-file can increase pressure while the rear pawn on c7 restricts its support and mobility.
6k1/2p5/2p5/8/8/8/8/2R3K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Find isolated, doubled, backward and passed pawns. Permanent weaknesses make long-term targets.
King safety
Visual chess lesson
Back-rank overload
How is the rook on f8 overloaded between the queen and the back rank?
Reveal the explanation
1.Bxf7+ attacks the queen with check. If 1...Rxf7, the rook leaves its back-rank post and 2.Re8+ forces 2...Rf8 3.Rxf8+ Kxf8. White has exchanged a bishop and rook for Black's queen and rook while retaining the rook on a1.
Verified line: Bxf7+ Rxf7 Re8+ Rf8 Rxf8+ Kxf8
5rk1/5qpp/8/8/2B5/8/8/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Open lines or missing defenders around either king may override every slower consideration.
Piece activity
Visual chess lesson
Improve the worst-placed piece
Which white piece contributes least, and what is its first route towards the centre?
Reveal the explanation
The knight on a1 is the worst-placed piece. 1.Nc2 begins a route towards e3 or b4, where the knight can influence central squares.
Verified line: Nc2
6k1/8/8/8/8/8/8/N5K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Find the piece with the fewest useful squares or no role. Improving it is often the plan.
One useful sentence can be enough: equal material; their c-pawn is weak; kings are safe; my knight is misplaced.
Strategic tools
What to do when nothing is forced
Improve the worst piece
Visual chess lesson
Improve the worst-placed piece
Which white piece contributes least, and what is its first route towards the centre?
Reveal the explanation
The knight on a1 is the worst-placed piece. 1.Nc2 begins a route towards e3 or b4, where the knight can influence central squares.
Verified line: Nc2
6k1/8/8/8/8/8/8/N5K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Give your least useful piece a destination and a route. A small activity gain is a real plan.
Use prophylaxis
Visual chess lesson
Prophylaxis — identify the opponent’s plan
Black intends ...Bg4, pinning the knight to the queen. How can White discourage it?
Reveal the explanation
1.h3 controls g4 with the h-pawn. White has identified Black's intended pin and prevents or discourages it before pursuing a slower plan.
Verified line: h3
r1bq1rk1/ppp2ppp/2n5/3p4/3P4/2P2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1 ↗Ask what your opponent wants next and remove the idea before starting your own plan.
Prepare a pawn break
Visual chess lesson
Pawn break timing
White to move. Which pawn capture breaks open the locked centre?
Reveal the explanation
1.fxe5 dxe5 exchanges Black's e5-pawn and changes the closed structure. The knight on f5 blocks a straight f-pawn advance, making the capture the relevant break; in a full position White should still verify that the opened lines favour White's pieces.
Verified line: fxe5 dxe5
6k1/3p2pp/3p4/3PpN2/4PP2/8/6PP/6K1 w - - 0 1 ↗A break changes the structure. Support it with pieces first; play it when the timing works.
Occupy an outpost
Visual chess lesson
Knight outpost
What makes d5 a durable square for the knight?
Reveal the explanation
The knight is supported by the c4-pawn and Black has no c- or e-pawn available to challenge d5. That makes d5 an outpost.
6k1/8/8/3N4/2P5/8/8/6K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Route a knight to a square no enemy pawn can challenge. Permanent squares justify patient manoeuvring.
Apply the principle of two weaknesses
Visual chess lesson
Principle of two weaknesses
Why are the pawns on opposite wings difficult for one king to defend?
Reveal the explanation
The pawns on a6 and h6 form two widely separated targets. A rook can switch between wings faster than the defending king, stretching the defence.
6k1/8/p6p/8/8/8/8/3R2K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Fix one target, create another on the opposite wing, then switch faster than the defence can reorganise.
Activate a rook
Visual chess lesson
Contest the open file
Which file determines the activity of both rooks?
Reveal the explanation
The e-file is completely open. Both rooks contest it, so control depends on exchanges, entry squares and whether another rook can be doubled behind the first.
4r1k1/8/8/8/8/8/8/4R1K1 w - - 0 1 ↗Use the file your plan creates, contest it early and look for penetration on the seventh rank.