How to Think in Chess | Chess Meditations
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
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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
Your thumbnails are so aesthetically pleasing!
Also amazing content. Ty bro
Thanks Johann:)
True
Agree!
@@HangingPawns If you take h4 pawn with dark square Bishop then Rook on h1 take your dark square Bishop.
High quality free chess lessons man, I'm loving your videos.
Thanks mate:) I'm glad you find the lessons useful!
TheExtinctPepe nice job
I know right, HangingPawns is a god
Just found him, subscribed and liked. Invaluable techniques. Thanks so much !
this kind of explanation is what i've been looking for in my entire chess life
It's an honor to hear comments like yours:) Thanks!
Agreed! Great video!
I agree
Same here... thank you so much, Hanging Pawn!
Super agree!
Very systematic, professional
And free , you're the man.
Hope you get to your goals man 💪
Thank you Karim:)
Wow, In which world a person can teaches so deeply to learners "Free" like you, really i am too much impressed, this is my 2nd video on your channel and i am just saying WOW Amazingly Awesome !! I can watch you videos for hours. Please keep it up. Hats off to You Sir. You are a treasure for me.
Thank you for the support Naveed:) It's a pleasure to hear that someone finds my videos useful. Comments like this make my day!
@@HangingPawns Videos absolutely Free from your channel really a Treasure!!
@@HangingPawns i have been watching all day.....this is just too explicit
I honestly believe ever since I started watching your videos a lot more frequently and taking what you're teaching to everyone who is watching to heart, I've improved a great deal and I really appreciate you and your content. I've started playing games against my school's chess team sponsor, who is rated 1950 USCF, and not get completely destroyed, managed to win two, draw one, but still lose a lot to him. Anyways, I can tell there is improvement, and your videos help a lot, keep up the absolutely amazing stuff and thank you so much.
No problem Jose! Glad to help! Work harder and you will have a positive score against him in no time:)
Your chess lessons are the best and most well created on the whole of youtube! Its like you care so much about your audience understanding each and every concept you teach, and you teach it in such a straight forward manner leaving nothing uncovered. Unlike most chess youtubers who just post click baity chess 'lessons' that are really just entertainment and are very ineffective for studying as they only cover a tiny amount of the things on that topic leaving everything unanswered and improving no ones chess ability. Everything you do is amazing - your systematic and structured lessons, your playlists, your teaching style, everything is top quality! You are absolute saint and we all thank you for your service. best wishes 💙
The best chess video I have ever seen!
Thanks a lot for saying that Siegfried! It means a lot to me!
One day I made a plan & created a repertoire for myself.
I only play 1. e4 & try to play Ruy Lopez (Compromise on other variations for now) & for black I only play KID or Pirc Defense.
Since I crwated this repertoire I increased my rating from 500 elo to 700 elo online.
Now I feel much confident for Ruy Lopez, KID & Pir & loose less games for these variations.
I really appreciate all the work you put in to bring us good quality content like this. Also I like your video thumbnails a lot, they are really creative and visually appealing. Keep up the good work and I wish you success on your road to GM. (PS. you probably inspire people to keep on going, like you do even though your channel is small , you still upload for this little follower count which in my opinion is the best thing ever.) Thank you once more.
Thank you for the support Eetu:) I really appreciate it!
Better content than St. Louis
Well I have to say that that is probably as big of a compliment as one could get:) Thanks!
@@HangingPawns I particularly like the work that goes behind making such amazing thumbnails. Plus the interface is classy and the commentaries are concise. Add some running gags and you have the potential to rival agadmator in the future.
7:20 “King safety is number one priority” - Garry Kasparov
True
Exactly, who cares if there's a Queen hanging if the opponent threatens Checkmate? Superb video apart from that little detail
@@pablosorbara2280 @Pablo Sorbara ? Did he not start with King's safety?
This is a video that many of us have been looking for all our chess lives.
One of my favorite chess channel! Thanks a lot bro!
Thank you for watching Pedro:) No Problem!
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.
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!
I will cover many examples in the middlegame series which starts on Monday. I will go in depth on certain principles too.
@@HangingPawns Awesome!
I watched this a year or two ago at the beginning of my chess journey. Just rewatched and this might be the best chess video I’ve ever watched, absolutely amazing stuff. Best chess on TH-cam
I've been watching chess videos for months and have played a few dozen games trying to get better. Even cracked open a few Silman books to help improve. This short video is just great. My way of approaching the chess board wont ever be the same, for the better.
:D I'm happy to hear that! The main purpose of the vids is to help people to improve (including myself). Cheers!
You're subbed to Chess network: RESPECT
Love this video. Very educational and really well thought out. It's hard to find chess instructors like this on TH-cam!
Thanks for saying that:)
The UFO was passing by your window at 5:55
Haha, no it's a fenicular.
@@HangingPawns i think they were cars
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!
Thank you Brian:) I hope the advice helps!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, this is now one of the best channels for chess in my opinion out, hope you keep going with the helpful videos you come up with!
No problem! I'm very happy to hear that you think that!:)
This is how the feelings of chess is developed... Mesmerising Explanation! May be best video i've ever seen on chess!
There is no better format and way of presenting chess informations than this! It's the pinnacle of a chess lecture and the fact that this is free is mindblowing.
The single best video on chess I have seen. This is the heart of chess.
Dude. Your content is sooo fucking good. You have me sooo hooked on your videos. The way you explain is extremely easy to follow and it is exactly what kind of instruction I am looking for. It was a blessing to find your channel. Can’t wait to see the subscribers grow
This is the channel I'm looking for. Hope you'll continue to help beginners and intermediate players like us. Thanks a lot.... Just subscribed and liked it.
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.
I'm happy to hear such positive and well argumented feedback! Thanks!
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.
I'm one month into training... and this video has been the most helpful I've seen on youtube so far. Thank yoy bro'
Thank you for saying that Daniele! Very happy to be able to help!
I'm really glad i found this channel, great explanation, one hella nice thumbnail, nice guy, soothing voice, and all that for free. Bless you man !
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! :)
Thank you Matej.:) I would never have started studying seriously if it weren't for you:)
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.
Thank you man so much man watching you just playing training game give some general advices in chess , has been a beautiful experience even you’re not the best player we still learn from you thank you and keep up the good work.
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!👍
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.
Thanks for the wise words!
This is probably one of the more important videos to new chess players. Keep up the great work!!!!
Great video. Easy to understand and made a lot of sense. I shall be using this method of thinking and making my best move.
Like Hikaru Nakamura:
"I´ll just go for it"
:D
Huge fan from Brazil, my fiancée is an extraordinary chess player who plays since hers 8, so it turns me in some kind of chess enthusiastic. Your video is an extremely value content on TH-cam. Keep up the great Chanel.
Amazing amount of detail and cohesive thought process shared, all for free. God bless you!
Sir you are the best by this method I beat a player of 1973 and my rating was 1907 and this a improvement in just 1 and half years and increased my rating from 1500 to 1900
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
Nice simple method which is logical and gets the right thought processes happening. Great thinking!
Thank you for this! exactly the video that I needed. Addressing the fundamentals, not going too top line. 20 minutes and I got something worth learning! Keep up the good work, man! wish you all the best for road to GM.
Great video :) Zibbit sent me, you sir have a new subscriber. Dont know how i have missed your content until now ;)
Hey Stefan:) Many thanks to Zibbit for sharing. I'm glad you like the content!
This has to be one of the greatest calculation videos ever, thanks so much
This was actually brilliant. New sub.
Thank you:)
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.
Hvala na podršci Milane! Pretpostavljam da razumijes hrvatski:) A ako ne... Thank you!
Best Video Ever Thanks Brother😊
I think this is most important things to know
Thanks for the praise Ritik!:)
Im from brazil and you re changing my chess ty man
Haha, no problem:) Glad to hear that!
Thank you for the lesson! I found the information highly useful, and it was a pleasure to watch. I'm happy to be on the road to GM with you!
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.
Excellent again, the principles!
Glad you like the video Joel!
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.
Excellent videos! Keep up the great work.
Thanks! I will!
Thank you so much for this video and also all the opening theory videos - they are great!
No problem! Happy to hear you find them useful!
Very helpful. Time management is a critical factor in real life application of chess games
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 🗡️
Good job Ravi!:) Yeah, this is from a French, but the main line Caro often has similar patterns
I watched your video twice and this really works for me. It's really enjoyable getting a position from anywhere and assessing it. Gracias senior.
Great video! Thanks for the motivation! I learned so much!
No problem:)
I love your channel, it deserves clearly 500k subs
Thanks:)
Amazing I had thought process problems and I always played my moves in less than a minute but this has made me think the whole 15 minutes I found Ne4 10 minutes into the thinking but then I started considering Kb1 and I evaluated the position and found that Ne4 was better Thank you for the high quality free lessons❤️❤️
Thank you man!
Glad to help you improve:)
extremely instructive
Glad you think so:)
Thumbnails are great just like the content simple and effective thanks for sharing
Thank you for watching:)
I will implement the notes on the right into my chess game immediately. It can only help. Thanks for your time.
Very good video!! Simple and concise explanation. Also, the teacher is right when he says that we should not trust engines. I can say from a experience that I had just now. I tried to analyze this position by using the Stockfish engine embedded in Chess.com: r1b2rk1/2qpbppp/p1p1p3/2Pn4/N2B1P2/3B4/PP4PP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 1. The engine stated that the position is even. But, after I played a couple of forcing moves starting with 1. Nb6, the engine started by saying that White has the slight advantage and soon, after a few more forcing moves, started saying that White has the decisive advantage!!
Love your videos. Amazing content and excellent explanations that are straight to the point.
This is a high level lesson. Really instructive and easy to implement. You have some talent sir
Amazing Video, You have answered all of my questions.
Thanks for the great video !
No problem Andi!
I luv how he's replying to as many comments as he can. Thx Hanging Pawns.
This thought process video was extremely helpful too. Looking forward to more!
I try to reply to as many as I can. At least during the weekend when I'm not as busy:)
Stjepane svaka cast za kvalitetna predavanja. Pozdrav iz Banja Luke!
Hvala ti!
This is awesome! Brilliant explanation in simple words.
17:40 Hanging Knight lol
Yeah, sorry about that. The point was to show the thinking process.
Very sound advice. Thanks.
No problem Rachel:)
Thank you sir!
No problem!
This changes everything for me, so helpful!
Excellent video!!!!
Thank you:)
You have broken down everything i have always wanted to hear.I have more than 200 chess books but cant get anywhere.God willing im going to listen to all your videos.Thanks alot..you are doing an wesome job...be blessed.
Thanks a lot for saying that:) It's a real confidence boost to hear!
I know it’s just a training video but you missed Qxf5 around 17:35 this was a wonderful lesson and I will be practicing this in my longer time controls! Cheers :)
I know I know:) Glad you will try it out Ray!
You did a good job on this video, I found it really helpful. Keep up the good work. Ray
Thanks Ray!
This channel is so amazing !!! I won a chess tournament in chess.com today because of this vid thnx
this video was so highly instructive
Thanks for the video. I came across your videos about the sicilian openings which i really like, becausethey are "faster" than other videos. I'm unrated yet, and I'm a weak player, but for what it's worth: you ware asking about our thinkingprocess:
- When it comes to improving my pieces, I think about "illegal moves": if I could change one, two, three things on the board; what woud I do? So in your example, as the black player, I would think:
"I hate my bishop. I would like to have it on c5, where my nite is. Then I look for ways to make this happen. I guess ... here it's hardy possible. Maybe Nd7, Be7, Bc5, but there are a lot of pawns haning, I guess. I don't like to saystuff, but maybe t wuld ... neah,it would not be worth it." (Maybe I would like the bishop on f8 even more? And it's easer to play; if the Nite takes the pawn, it's pinned anyway?
"Or maybe my rook on a8. If I could put it anywhere on the board, where would I want it? I mean the most illegal movewould be Ra1, but maybe a counter-attack on the kingside then? There are nowhite pieces. (and sure, as you pointed out in the video: after d4, the bishop is open as well; certainly d4 woud be better than a premature kingside attack)"
- Also, somethimes you play the worst move for your opponents and play them, just to show us a variation. I guess that's because the computer demands a move. Over the board, I don't think about the "worst2 move, but about "no move at all" to find threats. "What If my opponent could make 2 or 3 moves at once? What would he do? ...and that's the threat."
- And I wanna move one piece or a pawn for my opponent. Maybe I find a way to move it for him. When he's at the toilett or nt looking. Nah... I mean: focing him to move.
...maybe I spend too much time (and energy!!) on thinking about nonsens then, dunno and it's a bad idea to do this; what do you think? So thanks for your advices and your videos. :) Just to answer your question about our thinking process.
This is amazing. I love this kind of lesions.
Still come back to this excellent video :) I love the theoretical side - hard to come by for chess!
I am loving this. Amazing teacher.
Thank you very much for saying that, John.
Really interesting system. I’m definitely going to apply this to my games. Thanks for the Vid!
Nice and simple instructions! Cheers from Canada!
Very useful thanks
Np:)
Really valuable lesson. Very well explained. Thank you.
I really like your teaching. Many thanks!
This was excellent. Thank you very much.
Love your vids
Thanks:)
Thank you Stephan that is going to improve my chess a great deal
This video is masterpiece, thank you
Lol the right move was my instinct😂
That happens a lot:) The stronger you are, more often you think of the correct move first.
Very instructive, thank you for this great video 👍