The Patzer's Checklist
How to choose a chess move
A few years ago, a friend and I complained to each other how we make so many blunders in our chess games. We concluded that we both are fairly good at tactics, but for some reason, it doesn’t translate into results in real games. So we decided to do something about it and create a checklist for avoiding blunders.
The other day, fellow Chesspunk and content creator Thinkerteacher asked a question about how to choose a chess move. This made me think back on the patzer’s checklist.
I gave a short answer to his tweet, and got some follow-up questions. As my response would be too long for twitter, I decided to expand on my thoughts and write this post.
The checklist
A first version of my checklist was created back in 2019, and originally contained 7 points. NM David Bennett presents our checklist and analyzed a training game in which we had the checklist in place on the board.
I have later reduced the list to the following five points:
Tactics. Did my opponent blunder?
Purpose. What is the point of the move? How did the move change the position?
Imbalances. Who has what?
Candidate moves
Blunder check
A neat thing about this list is that it matches the number of fingers on your hand (unless you’ve had some bad luck). This makes it much easier to remember.
Step 1: Look for tactics
Assess your opponent’s move. Does it make sense? Does it leave some kind of weakness you can exploit?
This was the primary concern for my friend and myself. We were good at tactics, but for some reason we missed them in the game. If you treat every move as a potential tactic, you are less likely to miss them. Imagine someone standing next to you saying “white to move and win”.
Did my opponent just blunder?
Look for checks, captures and threats – in that order.
Step 2: Purpose – What just happened?
Most chess players react to a move made by the opponent. We instinctively look at what that move does. “Oh, that move attacks my knight, I must move it!”
A common beginner mistake is to stop there. Sometimes moving an attacked piece may step into a more dangerous tactic. And sometimes, your opponent’s last move may have been a blunder that you could exploit.
Jeremy Silman writes a lot about this in his books. Two recommendations have stuck with me.
Look at all the things that the move does, and also at what the piece no longer does.
First of all, don’t fear the move. Your baseline assumption should be that your opponent blundered and that you don’t have to react. Silman recommends employing an inner voice saying “That’s rubbish!” for each move that your opponent throws at you.
Silman’s second recommendation is to not only look at what the move does. Look at all the things that the move does, and also at what the piece no longer does. Perhaps the move threatens your knight, but it also leaves the 8th rank unprotecting, allowing checkmate.
In your mind’s eye, point at the piece that moved. Think to yourself, what are all the things that the move did to the position. What does the piece no longer do?
Step 3: Look at the imbalances
This step is another recommendation from Jeremy Silman. In his books The Amateur’s Mind and How to reassess your Chess, he presents his framework of imbalances. In short, you should look for things that are different in the position.
Who has the more active pieces?
Who has more material?
Who has more space?
Maybe your opponent has two bishops and you have two knights, or you have a half-open f-file while your opponent has a half-open e-file. These are imbalances that indicate that you and your opponent should have different goals.
Look for things that are different in the position
When trying to remember this step, don’t extend your middle finger to your opponent. That would be bad manners. Instead, think of your middle finger as the middle of your hand. That is where you should find balance – or imbalance.
Step 4: Identify your candidate moves
After listing all the imbalances in the position, you should be able to find a plan that matches your favorable imbalances. Once you have a plan or goal in mind, list all the moves that make use of what you have and your opponent doesn’t.
Work through your various candidate moves and select the one you think is the best. This is a rather difficult process, and it is a skill that will improve with practice. Just do your best and trust your analysis.
Ask yourself: “Do I want to marry this move?”
If you like it, then you should put a ring on it.
Step 5: Blunder check – Is it safe?
The fifth and final step is the “pinky check”. You have your move ready to go. But before you move, just make sure it’s not a blunder. Ask yourself: Is my move safe? Is it just crazy? Am I about to make a blunder?
Just like the first step, use your tactical vision to determine whether there is something wrong with your selected move.
Look for checks, captures and threats – in that order.
Before you move, make sure it’s not a blunder!
If you find something wrong with your move, go back to your other candidates and look for a better one.
Summing up
So that’s the checklist. Start with your thumb and move along each finger until you arrive at your pinky. This is a checklist that you are always allowed to have with you at the board. You just need to remember the steps for each finger.
You could also create an acronym based on the five steps. T-PICK: Tactics - Purpose - Imbalances - Candidates - Blunder Check.
How do you PICK a chess move? Use the T-PICK method.
I agree the K in blunder check is a bit of a stretch. Perhaps you could find a better acronym.
Have you tried this checklist in a game? Or perhaps you have another one? Feel free to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback!
Nice read, thank you! 🤩