Calculation, logical thinking and decision-making in chess - FM Alisa Melekhina

FM Alisa Melekhina's book on competitive gaming strategy and optimal decision-making, "Reality Check" is hot off the printing press! www.amazon.com/dp/1546685685/
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Calculation, logical thinking and decision-making in chess
Where most players think of tactics, they would be better off considering calculation. Tactics usually involve the winning of material or a forced checkmate but there is much more to calculate than that. Situations such as a liquid pawn center, choosing which piece to recapture a pawn with or working out how to maneuver a knight to a better square, all require careful calculation. And it's these 'normal' decisions that often separate advanced players from beginners. Simply put, better players make better decisions more often.
In this 1 hour video, FM Alisa Melekhina discusses the critical skills of calculation and decision-making. Many times, we're faced with choices. Do I open or close the center? Exchange minor pieces or not? Castle kingside or queenside? These decisions can have long-standing effects on our game so it's important to get them right.
Alisa starts with an example from one of her own games, playing the Black side of a Sicilian Defense against an International Master in 2015. FM Melekhina notes that, as soon as a player is out of book, the real tests begin. Where should each undeveloped piece be moved to? Will the bishop be better placed on f5, e6 or g4? It's these decisions, which may seem unimportant to some players, that can make all the difference. Each square will affect where the other pieces can be placed and give the opponent different options in terms of winning time by attacking pieces. It's these small advantages and disadvantages that snowball into winning positions.
Even when making positional decisions, calculation is all-important. The ability to see the consequences of each variation might decide the winner.
After this instructive example, Alisa Melekhina shows a more direct example (around 30 mins into the video). In an Queen and pawn endgame, White can force checkmate. To do so, White has to find a series of forcing moves... and one quiet move! This is a more concrete form of decision-making in chess, and one that pays high rewards.
Next, Alisa Melekhina looks at a typical attacking set-up, the type we might see in our own games. White has many pieces aimed at the Black King: bishops on d3 and f6, a knight on g5 and Queen on e4. Of course, we have to expect our opponent will find the best defense but we also have to be ready to play the winning move if they don't! Alisa breaks the position down into simple components to show all the possible checkmating patterns available if Black makes a wrong move.
This is definitely a video you'll get the most from by calculating along with FM Alisa Melekhina instead of just watching and waiting for the answers.

[@PriveGitaarles]

I really like her videos, she has a calm way of explaining things so clear

[@ChesscomGames]

Thank you! Yes, she is a very good teacher!

[@dangelvette2519]

This was excellent! I consider myself a dangerous attacking player but this video convinced me that I need to get down in the trenches calculate better instead of just making moves the feel-good out of instinct!

[@rickmiller5268]

" How many moves can you calculate ahead" , I once heard a Grand Master asked this same question and his response was- One, but it's always the right one. 🤓🤗

[@ChesscomGames]

Ahah, nice one! :D

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

Reti said it, originally. (I've heard it mis-attributed to Capablanca.)

[@mastersplinter3901]

Simon Williams said that! Ginger GM.

[@ChesscomGames]

Hey guys, small editing error, on the sidebar it says "get this course now at 30% off" . This full video is not part of the course, it was free video made for ichess fans, although the course covers similar topics. Cheers

[@tigerspaw]

Outstanding video. Thank you for posting it.

[@Royalchess1]

I'm just 9:30" into this and I'm not straining to understand her; she's not "talking down" to her audience. I'm actually enjoying this! She purposely stops so we can study the position; blending TACTICS & STRATEGY which she explains (what I think is) clear. Making the complex simple...SIMPLEXITY! I wonder if Alisa would be the Women's World Chess Champion if she didn't have to work for a living. This begs the question...Hmm?!

[@ChesscomGames]

Thank you for your comment! Glad to see your appreciate our courses. Alisa is very talented and she is a great chess coach.

[@SathvickSatish]

Thank you for coming to our chess club and the lecture! We appreciate it!

[@ChesscomGames]

Sathvick Satish Glad to see you enjoy the course. See you 😊

[@tdekoekkoek]

At 57:42 you are not threatening checkmate on h7. However if Rd1 you are threatening Bh7 check, followed by taking the queen on f6

[@johnschenck8497]

Chess teaches us that small decisions add up over time choose wisely. Which is true about each of our lives.

[@markdstump]

Thank you Alisa

[@ronclass1782]

Great communication

[@josephreeves57]

Great video's!! well explained:) Where can I get the complete PGN to this game that Alicia is showing us?? From young to old, we all appreciate these outstanding lessons:)

[@edu.monstrik]

Great examples, very educative and well explained.

[@ChesscomGames]

Thanks! Alisa is a great teacher, let's hope she finds some time to get new courses recorded.

[@ldeans5620]

I hope I've become a better player listening to Alias Melekhina. If not, at least I've enjoyed the presentation.

[@ChesscomGames]

We're glad you liked it! If you want more, you can still get 30% off the Melekhina Method course at ichs.co/2j1EwCm

[@ubiergo1978]

Again, if I only had more money. T__T.

[@ashwinkumar26]

This is very instructive for

[@Stupid_fellow.]

14:03 u missed pawn B5

[@ChesscomGames]

b5-pawn is captured en passant by a5-pawn, which is again recaptured by a7-pawn. And c6-knight is hanging.

[@Stupid_fellow.]

iChess.net thanks for info. I just happen to knew about en passant yesterday. Today i read ur replay. :)

[@ronclass1782]

Lol

[@VernAfterReading]

I got stuck on Qb4 at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJmldoN5jMupqdkm13s and couldn't figure out how to make it work until I actually placed the pieces on a board and then - facepalm - QxQ! Hard to see capturing back sometimes when you're zero'ed in on mating someone instead.

[@ChesscomGames]

It happens at times. We are only human. :-)

[@locutusdborg126]

Didn't you go to law school?

[@gamerbuoy]

Alisa, while I love your humility (never lose that). Be less apologetic for the intrinsic instructional value of a rarely seen position. Social media has made the world's internet stars too defensive.

[@vanerdomel2807]

afther ..... - Rd7 Qh6 wins the game

[@ChesscomGames]

Van Erdomel When ?

[@vanerdomel2807]

at 48 min thats in the second game she shows

[@vanerdomel2807]

at min. 48,09 in the second game she shows

[@ChesscomGames]

Van Erdomel What after Bf8 ?