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How to Think in Critical Positions?

Good blog.
Generally king safety is more important than material, so should be #1: king safety first.
Your example is a bit simple: a pawn up, a majority etc. It is obvious.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4 Nxc3 6 bxc3 c5 is a better example. White has the center, but black has a queens' side pawn majority.

Good blog. Generally king safety is more important than material, so should be #1: king safety first. Your example is a bit simple: a pawn up, a majority etc. It is obvious. 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4 Nxc3 6 bxc3 c5 is a better example. White has the center, but black has a queens' side pawn majority.

@MatBobula

In this post, I show a simple way to think in critical positions and how to build a clear plan during the game.
This is exactly the same process I use in my own games and with my students.
I use a thinking method based on 10 steps:

So as a International Master you ask yourself every single question on that list while playing in tournament games?

People of your level (International Master) generally don't rely on checklists. They can evaluate a position very quickly in a holistic manner and know what moves need to be explored.

If you really use this checklist going through the '10 steps' sequentially as an International Master then you would be an extreme outlier.

Now, if it is automatic for you, then you should clarify that. Because it is misleading to claim that this magic formula is the way that you as an IM thinks.

II. PLAN
5 Attack - The position is better for White.

Attack?? That's the vaguest thing I've ever heard.

6 On the queenside - Most of the advantages are on that side.

How will we attack on the queenside?

III. CALCULATION
7 Candidate moves - Na4 or Rhc1.

This is not good enough. You didn't explain how you got to those Candidate moves. Why Na4? Why Rhc1? (And don't tell me because it 'attacks').

  1. Calculation:
    1 Na4 Ne4 2. Rhc1 with a big advantage for White (although Ne4 is annoying).

Why is it a 'big advantage for White'? How am I supposed to learn anything here? Also why is Ne4 annoying??

  • 1 Rhc1 0-0 2. a3 with a big advantage for White and no counterplay for Black.

Why is there a 'big advantage for White' and why is there 'no counterplay' for Black?

10 Decision - 1. Rhc1.

If only if chess were that easy. Just look at two lines 2 moves deep and choose a move!

Also the example position is extremely simple. How is asking 10 questions going to apply to much more complex positions? (also note that even in this extremely simple position, you somehow manage to leave more questions than answers).

Overall this is a rushed and not well-formed blog. Way too many loose ends and undeveloped explanations. As an International Master who gives coaching lessons you surely are capable of much more than this.

@MatBobula >In this post, I show a simple way to think in critical positions and how to build a clear plan during the game. This is exactly the same process I use in my own games and with my students. I use a thinking method based on 10 steps: So as a International Master you ask yourself every single question on that list while playing in tournament games? People of your level (International Master) generally don't rely on checklists. They can evaluate a position very quickly in a holistic manner and know what moves need to be explored. If you really use this checklist going through the '10 steps' sequentially as an International Master then you would be an extreme outlier. Now, if it is automatic for you, then you should clarify that. Because it is misleading to claim that this magic formula is the way that you as an IM thinks. >II. PLAN 5 Attack - The position is better for White. Attack?? That's the vaguest thing I've ever heard. >6 On the queenside - Most of the advantages are on that side. How will we attack on the queenside? >III. CALCULATION 7 Candidate moves - Na4 or Rhc1. This is not good enough. You didn't explain how you got to those Candidate moves. Why Na4? Why Rhc1? (And don't tell me because it 'attacks'). >8. Calculation: 1 Na4 Ne4 2. Rhc1 with a big advantage for White (although Ne4 is annoying). Why is it a 'big advantage for White'? How am I supposed to learn anything here? Also why is Ne4 annoying?? >- 1 Rhc1 0-0 2. a3 with a big advantage for White and no counterplay for Black. Why is there a 'big advantage for White' and why is there 'no counterplay' for Black? >10 Decision - 1. Rhc1. If only if chess were that easy. Just look at two lines 2 moves deep and choose a move! Also the example position is extremely simple. How is asking 10 questions going to apply to much more complex positions? (also note that even in this extremely simple position, you somehow manage to leave more questions than answers). Overall this is a rushed and not well-formed blog. Way too many loose ends and undeveloped explanations. As an International Master who gives coaching lessons you surely are capable of much more than this.