Things to help you find a move in a chess game when it's my turn

A collection of principles and checks to help organise your thought processes while finding your next move. (Game Play analysis-GP) and to analyse your mistakes after the game. (Postmortem analysis -PM)

Types of Error

I have the feeling that if a player can easily group bad chess moves into categories then he is a step closer to avoiding these mistakes in a game.

1. Automatic captures. For example capturing pieces or pawns that are 'dead wood' when the move is needed elsewhere. Automatic capture errors

Game play analysis

1. Examine their last move
   1. Does it contain a threat?
2. Categorise the position as:
   1. Still in known opening territory.
   2. Defending with material advantage and a much better probably winning position.
      1. Be extremely suspicious of playing outright attacking moves. OK if it wins outright! (2 times!)
   3. With initiative.
      1. Don't attack without reserves without a good reason.
   4. Better ending
      1. Be suspicious of playing routine pawn exchanges. Pawn exchange error examples

Post mortem analysis

Play through the game with a strong computer program, which has an assessment capability. Look for all hte moves you played which resulted in a dramatic drop in the computers evaluation of your position.

1. Categorise the position as:
   1. Still in known opening territory.
      1. Well known opening errorForgot what to do?
      2. Failed to spot a good move in a well studied opening?
         1. Look at the conditions for the move to be played. Is it a 'one off' or does it occur in other similar situations. Opening error examples
      3. Taken by surprise by an idea or move that you haven't seen before?
   2. Defending with material advantage and a much better probably winning position.
      1. Be extremely suspicious of playing outright attacking moves. OK if it wins outright!
   3. With initiative.
      1. Don't attack without reserves without a good reason.
   4. Better ending
      1. Be suspicious of playing routine pawn exchanges. Pawn exchange error examples