Calculating Like Pro

Calculating is an important part of chess. Accurate calculation leads to victory. But many beginners are not able to decide which move to play and end up in a bad position.

So, here are a few tips which may help beginners in calculating.

1.Forcing Moves(Checks/Captures/Threats)

Forcing moves, as the name suggests, are moves which force the opponent to respond to. As your opponent has to respond to them, you can easily be able to decide what moves your opponent can make and makes calculating

easier.

2. Squares

After you calculate a move, make sure to check which square is defended, which square is protected, which diagonal is opened for the bishop, whether this move opens the file for my rook.

3. Shuffle the Order

Lets say that you make a calculation that, you check your opponent, he is forced to move his king to a square, and then you find a checkmate, but the opponents queen is preventing it. What can you do? 

You can take the pawn at c4 with Bishop, white will capture the Bishop, then we check the king with Queen at d2 and sacrifice the Queen and do a back rank checkmate.

But what if the don't take the Bishop, what if they move the move the Queen to c2, then we get no checkmate.

So, we shuffle the order, we first give check, then we take the pawn.

4. Sacrifice

You want to remove the defender of a square, or open diagonal for your Queen, or even trap your opponent's king between his pieces. For this you have to sacrifice your pieces. Sacrifices are brilliant moves, and everybody wants to make a brilliant move. So always look for sacrifices, when you certain that nothing can go wrong.

I hope these tips will help you calculate better.