How do you analyze?

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Date: 30 Nov 2005 16:17:43
From: jeanp.a
Subject: How do you analyze?

I propose you a small inquiry:

In slow game, when it is in turn to play,
how do you analyze the position before deciding you your move?
Do you begin to envisage all the possible moves of the opponent?
Then do you assess all your possible moves?
Do you envisage several variants? Until what depth?
In sumy, what is the mental proccessus which you use?

JPA

Date: 01 Dec 2005 23:19:21
From: Ray Gordon
Subject: Re: How do you analyze?

>I propose you a small inquiry:
>
> In slow game, when it is in turn to play,
> how do you analyze the position before deciding you your move?

I look for the biggest threat.

> Do you begin to envisage all the possible moves of the opponent?

I check my opponent's biggest threat as well.

> Then do you assess all your possible moves?
> Do you envisage several variants? Until what depth?
> In sumy, what is the mental proccessus which you use?

It's mostly instinct, similar to what a running back would have on a
football field.

Date: 02 Dec 2005 10:09:06
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: How do you analyze?

Ray Gordon <[email protected] > wrote:
>> In sumy, what is the mental proccessus which you use?
>
> It's mostly instinct, similar to what a running back would have on a
> football field.

But, you know, without the running. Or the field. Um, or the ball. But
similar, anyway.

Of course, in one-minute chess, there isn't time for anything other than
instinct.

Dave.

--
David Richerby Fluorescent Tool (TM): it's like a
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ screwdriver but it'll hurt your eyes!

Date: 01 Dec 2005 09:35:52
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: How do you analyze?

jeanp.a <[email protected] > wrote:
> Do you begin to envisage all the possible moves of the opponent?
> Then do you assess all your possible moves? Do you envisage several
> variants? Until what depth?

We've just had a thread about the `what depth' question:

http://tinyurl.com/9xer3

Executive sumy: ``It depends very much on the position.''

Dave.

--
David Richerby Enormous Hungry Composer (TM): it's
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ like a pupil of Beethoven but it'll
eat you and it's huge!

Date: 30 Nov 2005 21:50:45
From: gejimayu
Subject: Re: How do you analyze?

>Do you begin to envisage all the possible moves of the opponent?

There is no better way to waste time than starting to think about moves
without at least a vague imagination of what you want to achieve. It's
much better to look for "candidate moves", for example in the opening
to develop a piece is def. worth thinking about (because it follows a
general principle). You can't say it's always bad to move the same
piece 2-3 times in the opening but these are exceptions, if you don't
find a candidate move that gives you at least an equal result you still
can look for "unusual" moves. That's the "everyday business" in the
game. The higher your strength, the better your feeling. If you have an
king's attack going on, and you don't see any way to increase the
pressure (maybe because all your pieces joined the attack, standing on
good squares), then there should usually "go something". This is
another standard situation to look for special candidate moves, i.e.
tactical solutions. If your opponent has a weak bottom rank (and no
pawn moved to get air for his king) then you should ask "How can I
exploit this?" This technique holds true in general:

"Where are my opponent's weaknesses?" - "How can I exploit them?" or
the other side of the coin (!)
"Where are MY weaknesses"? - "How can I defend/repair
them?"

Hope it's more clear now :)

Michael.

Date: 01 Dec 2005 07:06:59
From: jeanp.a
Subject: Re: How do you analyze?

Thanks to those who have already answered my questions,

I hope that the other players will participate in this post.

Thank you in advance

JPA

Date: 30 Nov 2005 17:42:00
From: Inconnux
Subject: Re: How do you analyze?

jeanp.a wrote:
> I propose you a small inquiry:
>
> In slow game, when it is in turn to play,
> how do you analyze the position before deciding you your move?
> Do you begin to envisage all the possible moves of the opponent?
> Then do you assess all your possible moves?
> Do you envisage several variants? Until what depth?
> In sumy, what is the mental proccessus which you use?
>
> JPA

I have recently been reading 'Reassess your Chess' by Jeremy Silman.
IM Silman has an excellent 'thought process' of how to analyze
positions... the book is well worth the money and is considered a
modern classic on positional play

J.Lohner
ICC 'Inconnux'