How to Think in Chess | Chess Meditations

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How do you find the best move in the position? Assessing the position, finding the weaknesses, deciding on candidate moves and calculating them is one of the most effective ways.
I have tried to explain the thinking process I go through during a game while trying to find a move. It revolves around looking at the position objectively and considering all its key factors. During that time you point out all the weaknesses in your own and in your opponent’s position and find candidate moves based on those weaknesses.
This method is effective and it will prevent you from wasting precious time on the clock and wondering around the board aimlessly. I truly believe that you don’t have to be a grandmaster in order to start thinking like one. I believe that the main difference between them and us mere mortals is that they have learned to assess the position quickly and that they have created a sort of sixth sense for finding candidate moves.
This, I think, can be trained. Practicing this approach would definitely speed up the thinking process in your head and the result should be finding better moves more quickly.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spent way too much time in a position in which I had two or three perfectly fine and obvious moves (which I could have played instantly). Instead of playing one of them, I wasted time trying to find the perfect move which didn’t exist. Another problem I have is that I tend to overcalculate variations and then discard them or play a completely different move I almost didn’t look at at all.
Following this thought process should reduce the number of such mistakes significantly. I recommend taking any random position somewhere in the middlegame (it has to be equal or about equal) and doing the same thing. I try and solve as many as I can. This should make you faster and better in real games! Here are the stages:
1. General assessment
a) king safety
b) pawn structure
c) material
d) piece activity
2. Concrete assessment
Are there any immediate threats/opportunities?
3. Weaknesses
4. Candidate moves
Look at checks, captures and forcing moves first.
Then search for developing moves or attacking moves.
Look at defensive moves last.
5. Calculation
#chess

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[@HangingPawns]

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TheExtinctPepe nice job

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this kind of explanation is what i've been looking for in my entire chess life

[@HangingPawns]

It's an honor to hear comments like yours:) Thanks!

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I agree

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Thanks Johann:)

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True

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Thank you Karim:)

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[@HangingPawns]

Well I have to say that that is probably as big of a compliment as one could get:) Thanks!

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7:20 “King safety is number one priority” - Garry Kasparov

[@HangingPawns]

True

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Exactly, who cares if there's a Queen hanging if the opponent threatens Checkmate? Superb video apart from that little detail

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@@pablosorbara2280 ​ @Pablo Sorbara ? Did he not start with King's safety?

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[@HangingPawns]

Thank you for the support Naveed:) It's a pleasure to hear that someone finds my videos useful. Comments like this make my day!

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[@HangingPawns]

No problem Jose! Glad to help! Work harder and you will have a positive score against him in no time:)

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[@HangingPawns]

Thank you for the support Eetu:) I really appreciate it!

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One of my favorite chess channel! Thanks a lot bro!

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Like Hikaru Nakamura: "I´ll just go for it"

[@HangingPawns]

:D

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[@cardmaster1799]

17:40 Hanging Knight lol

[@HangingPawns]

Yeah, sorry about that. The point was to show the thinking process.

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This is a video that many of us have been looking for all our chess lives.

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The single best video on chess I have seen. This is the heart of chess.

[@skeptorr]

A very well made video. I think like me many would like to see more examples like the one you analyzed to get a better grip. So please do more examples like this!

[@HangingPawns]

I will cover many examples in the middlegame series which starts on Monday. I will go in depth on certain principles too.

[@skeptorr]

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I just started a month or so ago and this is maybe the most amazing Chess videos I've seen so far, holy cow. This addresses so many doubts I had, some I found out were founded and some which weren't.

[@briandwi2504]

That was a masterpiece. Thanks so much for the benefit of your chess education and experience, and delivered in such an honest, genuine manner. Really great! Will now write down your advice!

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you Brian:) I hope the advice helps!

[@prachuriyashirsha6752]

This is how the feelings of chess is developed... Mesmerising Explanation! May be best video i've ever seen on chess!

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Best chess lessons online. Thank you so much! Your a gifted teacher, and provide clear and sensible instructions. I’m grateful to you!!! Keep up the great work!👍

[@ravirawat6856]

I Found Ne4, this idea is kind of similar to Caro Kann position (Classical variation Bf5 ) where White castle queenside and then play ng3-ne4 to be then able to play g4 n attack 🗡️

[@HangingPawns]

Good job Ravi!:) Yeah, this is from a French, but the main line Caro often has similar patterns

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Amazing amount of detail and cohesive thought process shared, all for free. God bless you!

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This changes everything for me, so helpful!

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[@HangingPawns]

Thanks for saying that:)

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This is probably one of the more important videos to new chess players. Keep up the great work!!!!

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[@HangingPawns]

No problem! I'm very happy to hear that you think that!:)

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This was exactly what I needed to see. I actually just employed your advice in a game position that I normally would have not known what to do and won the game in 16 moves. You have gained a new subscriber.

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[@HangingPawns]

:D I'm happy to hear that! The main purpose of the vids is to help people to improve (including myself). Cheers!

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You're subbed to Chess network: RESPECT

[@184chief]

Nice simple method which is logical and gets the right thought processes happening. Great thinking!

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Another great video! Thanks a lot!

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This was excellent. Thank you very much.

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I really like your teaching. Many thanks!

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this video was so highly instructive

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Thanks a lot for all the videos

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This has to be one of the greatest calculation videos ever, thanks so much

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Great video! Thanks for the motivation! I learned so much!

[@HangingPawns]

No problem:)

[@msan3965]

Really interesting system. I’m definitely going to apply this to my games. Thanks for the Vid!

[@flowbare]

Another extremely helpful video. Great way to save time in the thinking process and focus on what matters. By discarding all the potential red herrings which are legion and can so often exhaust your analytical faculties, you’ll avoid that terrible ailment which leads to very bad moves: the brain freeze. I love this website. The videos go in depth into theory and show you the bad moves (and how to punish them) as well as the good ones. Thanks for the numerous insights.

[@HangingPawns]

I'm happy to hear such positive and well argumented feedback! Thanks!

[@daves1413]

Very useful video, thanks!

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Great video about thinking chess!!

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Very instructive, thank you for this great video 👍

[@boromir674]

What you describe and address in this video is being conscious during the game. This applies in all aspects of life. But first comes the realization indeed.

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks for the wise words!

[@ZachMay569]

Very helpful. Time management is a critical factor in real life application of chess games

[@pixelatedparcel]

Hello Hanging Pawns, Never more than a casual player, I returned to chess a few months ago after a 20-year hiatus. Having resolved to learn chess from the ground up in order to improve my understanding of the game, I slowly migrated away from blitz (at which I am truly horrible) towards more serious study and play via chessable.com and online correspondence chess. Having spent countless hours studying endgames and master play, I recently switched my focus to tactics but was looking around for written or video material on how to properly evaluate positions as I am convinced I am grossly deficient in this subject. Someone on chessable responded to my query by suggesting this very video and I can't tell you how glad I am to have found it. I immediatly subscribed, obviously. Your explanations are clear, concise and to the point and I am certain my play will improve dramatically as I integrate and apply the lessons learned from this video. My heartfelt thanks for this wonderfully enlightening video and I look forward to going through your content and spending many hours benefiting from your insight and experience. Regards, PixelatedParcel

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I love your channel, it deserves clearly 500k subs

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks:)

[@matejblazeka5377]

Very good! This is one of my favorite themes for trainings and thank you for sharing one small part of my chess psychology and knowledge! Stjepan is great guy and chess student, he will develop in master of chess, he knows that and I know that. We have chances to watch his chess way, lets enjoy and in same time make our own way. And remember, every chess game is beautiful if we putted in it at least one small piece of ourselves in it! :)

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you Matej.:) I would never have started studying seriously if it weren't for you:)

[@seanomaille3051]

This is a great lesson. I'm certain I will get better positions if I follow your instructions. Thanks for creating such a practical video! Good luck with your road to GM.

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extremely instructive

[@HangingPawns]

Glad you think so:)

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Excellent videos! Keep up the great work.

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks! I will!

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I loved this lesson! Thanks 🔥

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Excellent again, the principles!

[@HangingPawns]

Glad you like the video Joel!

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Thank you so much for this video and also all the opening theory videos - they are great!

[@HangingPawns]

No problem! Happy to hear you find them useful!

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Thank you man!

[@HangingPawns]

Glad to help you improve:)

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I Find your videos vere helpfull and i Want to congragulate you because teaching something sistematically is something else. Your videos are the best i’ve sene so far. Good job.

[@BUREAUTOM]

Really valuable lesson. Very well explained. Thank you.

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Thank you sir!

[@HangingPawns]

No problem!

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Thank you! This really helped a lot!

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You are a wonderful human being and a great and humble teacher of chess. I love your sincerity and your way of teaching.Keep up the good works.

[@HangingPawns]

Hvala na podršci Milane! Pretpostavljam da razumijes hrvatski:) A ako ne... Thank you!

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Great job !thanks !

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This is a high level lesson. Really instructive and easy to implement. You have some talent sir

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Excellent video brother.

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I'm one month into training... and this video has been the most helpful I've seen on youtube so far. Thank yoy bro'

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you for saying that Daniele! Very happy to be able to help!

[@rachelthomas9962]

Very sound advice. Thanks.

[@HangingPawns]

No problem Rachel:)

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This was actually brilliant. New sub.

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you:)

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I am loving this. Amazing teacher.

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you very much for saying that, John.

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This is extremely helpful

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Thank you for this!!! I will try, it looks awesome!

[@HangingPawns]

:) Good luck!

[@Money11119]

this helps a lot. Thanks

[@ThePioneerChannel]

Nice and simple instructions! Cheers from Canada!

[@SCthatsMe]

Nice, ty for makin these Chess Bro

[@HangingPawns]

Np Sean!

[@afshinalijani]

I think this video is great and very informative. I try to use a very similar method for finding the best move. I think the following method is more basic and particularly helpful for beginners like me: Steps following your opponent’s move Step #1: Note the time to adjust your playing speed if needed. Step #2: Consequences of the opponent’s move: 1. What does the opponent’s move do? 2. What does the opponent’s move no longer do? Step #3: Finding the candidate moves: 1. Is there a serious threat? If yes, find the best response. 2. If no threats, look for tactics (CCT, undefended pieces). 3. If no tactics, evaluate and improve the position of your worse piece. Step #4: Blunder check your candidate move by calculating the opponent’s reply: 1. What does the candidate move do? 2. What does the candidate move no longer do? Golden rule of calculation: End the calculation with your opponent’s move (not with yours). Steps while waiting for your opponent’s move Do you need to stop thinking to conserve energy? Step #1: Evaluate the position for the bigger picture: a. King safety b. Material advantage c. Piece activity d. Pawn structure Step #2: Guess the opponent’s move.

[@akanosf3842]

Thanks for the great video !

[@HangingPawns]

No problem Andi!

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Best Video Ever Thanks Brother😊 I think this is most important things to know

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks for the praise Ritik!:)

[@sijisaju1304]

OMG i learned a lot!! Thank u so much

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You did a good job on this video, I found it really helpful. Keep up the good work. Ray

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks Ray!

[@TheOneNickel]

Excellent video!!!!

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you:)

[@heathstephens4181]

I will implement the notes on the right into my chess game immediately. It can only help. Thanks for your time.

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Very good explanation

[@princevonny]

Thx for the video!

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Thank you Stephan that is going to improve my chess a great deal

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Amazing. Thank you.

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Excelente video!!!

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Another super good video thank you so much for making them.

[@HangingPawns]

No problem Ajarn!

[@ramprasadshendge3897]

Thanks such a great information Superb it's much easier and more importantly and usefull.....

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Thanks sir you are doing great job for us