The Big Mistake Players Make After a Game: The Engine Trap

Want to Really Improve? Follow This Step-by-Step Game Analysis Method

You played a game. You lost. You immediately clicked on the attractive engine sign and watched the bar go swinging in every direction. You moved on to the next game. But did it really give you a chance to learn? Maybe not.

Every one of us is constantly trying to improve at the game and wants to gain ELO points. A really good way (recommended by all great players) would be to analyze our games systematically. So how do we do it?

Step 1 - Reflect on your thought process

The emotions and adrenaline of the game have settled down. It’s now time to review not just the game but your thought process with a fresh set of eyes (and infinite time!). Feed your game into the system and self-annotate it. Note down your thought process elaborately, with respect to:

• the key strategies you employed
• the calculations you made
• the time you took for certain moves
• moments you found difficult, etc.

“Only a severe self-critical outlook will help a player to assess his strong and weak points and so further the process of improving his play.” – Alexander Kotov, Think Like a Grandmaster

Step 2 - Identify critical moments in the game

Such as:

• After the last move from your opening preparation
• Key exchanges and trades
• Transitioning from middlegame to endgame
• Complex tactical positions
• That one move for which you took 20 minutes, etc.

Step 3 - Was there a better move or a better plan?

Once you have identified critical moments in your game, see if you could have done anything better. For example:

• After the last move from your opening preparation – was there a better plan?
• Key exchanges and trades – could they have been better?
• Transitioning from middlegame to endgame – was it an ideal choice?
• Complex tactical positions – was there a better variation?
• That one move for which you took 20 minutes – how could you have handled time more efficiently? etc.

“When you see a good move, look for a better one.” – Emanuel Lasker

Step 4 - Working on your critical errors

Once you identify the areas in which you are struggling, it is time to work on them. More often than not, you will notice common patterns of errors in many of your games. You can choose books, online sources, or a mentor to help you in these particular areas. Modify your training schedule to cater to these areas.

“You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player.” – José Raúl Capablanca

Now, if you want, you can click on the engine to help you with some complex calculations and to see if you missed any gross errors. In the earlier stages of your journey in chess, even if you see the bar going up and down, you may not understand why.

Using the engine eliminates the thought process and effort you can put into understanding the game. If you love chess, you see beauty in its complexities. The challenge to your intellect drives you to play this fascinating game. Why lose that opportunity to have a great experience by clicking on the engine?

Play. Reflect. Analyze. Learn. Improve. Enjoy!