Think Like a Grandmaster: The Move Decision Process Every Chess Player Must Learn

“A strong player is not the one who sees many moves ahead, but the one who sees the right move in every position.”
— Alexander Kotov

                                                         Table of Contents
                                                             Introduction
                                      The Problem with How Most Players Think
                              Kotov’s Grandmaster Flowchart: From Idea to Execution
                        The Logical Thinking Method: Catching Your Opponent’s Plan
                              The Unified Thinking System: Merging Kotov and Logic
                                         Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
                         Conclusion: Become the Player Who Always Finds the Right Move

Introduction
In chess, the difference between a good move and a blunder is often not calculation, it’s thinking in the wrong direction.

We all know how it feels: you’re in a promising position, but your opponent suddenly plays something unexpected. You panic, you rush, and suddenly the board turns upside down.

So what went wrong? Not your tactics. Your thinking system failed you.

In this blog, we’re going to show you exactly how Grandmasters think during a game, based on two legendary approaches:

1) Kotov’s Grandmaster Thought Process

2) The Logical Flowchart for Catching Opponent’s Ideas

These systems will change the way you see the board and give you a crystal-clear way to choose better moves under pressure.

The Problem: Most Players Guess, Not Think
Let’s be honest: many chess players even decent ones play a move just because it “feels right.” They glance, they guess, and they move. But this doesn’t work against strong opponents who think in systems, not spur-of-the-moment guesses.

So how do strong players consistently find good moves?

The answer lies in structured thought.

Kotov’s Grandmaster Thinking Method:

Alexander Kotov's process isn’t just about calculation, it’s about clarity of thought. It teaches you how to go from feeling confused to making the best possible decision using logic and discipline.

1. Study the Position
Before you make any move, look at the whole board not just where the last move was played.

Are there pieces hanging?

Is your king safe?

Are there weak pawns or open files?

Which side has more space or better coordination?

Example: Your opponent just played Qd2. Don’t just react observe the full board. Maybe they’re planning to castle queenside or start a bishop-queen battery. Don’t get tunnel vision.

Key Principle: Observe before you act. Don't move until you’ve looked at every corner of the board.

2. Come Up with an Idea
Once you've seen the position clearly, now it’s time to think: “What can I do here?”

Your idea could be:

An attack on the king

Defending a weak piece

Improving a passive piece

Trading to simplify a complex position

Example: You realize your rook isn’t doing much on a1. Maybe your idea is to double rooks on the d-file or swing it over to the kingside for an attack.

Key Principle: Every move must have a reason. Never move just because “it looks natural.”

3. Calculate the Consequences of the Idea
Now run your idea through the engine of your brain. Calculate:

1) If I play this move, what will they likely respond with?
2) Can they stop my plan or punish me?
3) Does my idea create weaknesses?

Don’t look 10 moves ahead, just look clearly 2–4 moves deep, but with purpose.

Example: You want to play f4 to attack. But wait! after f4, can your opponent play ...Qh4 and pin your pawn, or open your king? You calculate and realize you need to prepare the move first.

Key Principle: Don’t assume a move is good, prove it by seeing ahead.

4. If the Idea Fails, Find Out Why
Here’s where most players give up, they say, “Ah, never mind,” and go for the next random move.

But grandmasters investigate the failure.

1) Was your piece hanging?
2) Did it leave your king open?
3) Did you miss your opponent's resource?

Example: Your knight sacrifice on g5 doesn’t work not because it’s a bad idea, but because your queen isn’t yet on the right square. The idea is almost correct.

Key Principle: Failure is feedback. Learn from it immediately.

5. Fix the Weakness or Rethink the Plan
This is where real chess growth happens. Don’t throw away your idea, ask:

1) Can I prepare this move with another one first?
2) Can I support it with a different piece?
3) Should I delay it for a better moment?

Example: Before the knight sacrifice works, you might need to play Qd2 to support it — and then the tactic becomes deadly.

Key Principle: Strong players don’t throw away ideas, they build them up.

6. Repeat Until an Idea Passes the Test
Now test your improved version. If it still fails, restart the process with a new idea. If it passes, congratulations! you’ve found your candidate move.

Key Principle: Never rush to make a move just because you spent time on it. Make the move because it survived your logic.

7. Play the Move with Confidence
Once your move passes the test, play it. No second-guessing. The work has been done.

1) Trust your process
2) Don’t change your mind impulsively
3) Stay calm and focused

Key Principle: Confidence comes from structure, not guesswork.

Key Insight: Kotov’s method teaches you how to think systematically. You’re not just reacting you’re planning, testing, fixing, and then executing. It’s a thinking loop that turns chaos into clarity.

The Logical Flowchart: Understanding Your Opponent’s Move

Where Kotov’s method helps you pick your best move, this flowchart helps you understand your opponent’s move which is just as important.

It starts with one golden question:

“Why did my opponent make that move?”

Let’s break it down.

If It’s a Threat: React With Logic, Not Panic

First, check if your opponent’s move is a threatening move:

1) Does it attack something?
2) Is it setting up a fork or discovered check?
3) Does it aim at a weak square or your king?

Step-by-Step Reaction:

1) Identify the threat clearly
Don’t rush. What’s being attacked or targeted?

2) List all your defensive options
Can you block? Defend? Counterattack?

3) Use logic to pick the safest response
The best defense is the one that keeps your position solid and doesn’t create new weaknesses.

4) Check that your reply doesn’t make things worse
Always ask: “After I play this, what will they play?”

Key Principle: Defend calmly, not emotionally. The board is a puzzle not a warzone.

If It’s Not a Threat: Think Strategically
If the move isn’t attacking anything, it’s probably part of a bigger plan.

Ask: What stage of the game are we in?

Opening Phase

1) Develop all your minor pieces

2) Control the center (e4/d4/e5/d5)

3) Castle early for king safety

Your goal: Build your army before fighting.

Middlegame Phase

1) Activate your pieces (don’t leave rooks or knights idle)

2) Look for weak pawns, outposts, and open files

3) Trade pieces only when it benefits your plan

Your goal: Create pressure, not chaos.

Endgame Phase

1) King becomes a fighter, bring it into the game

2) Push passed pawns

3) Convert small advantages slowly

Your goal: Simplify and promote.

 
Once you understand the phase, opponent’s idea, and your position — now it’s time to decide your move.

Final Decision:
1) You find a potential move

2)Ask: Can my opponent punish it?

If yes → Think again
If no → Play confidently

This one final safety check is what separates blunder-free players from those who self-destruct.

Use This System in Every Game

You now have two elite thinking systems:

1) Kotov’s Method → Helps you generate, test, and play good moves
2) Opponent Logic Flowchart → Helps you understand the meaning of your opponent’s move

When combined, these systems make you a chess player who:

1) Thinks clearly under pressure
2) Doesn’t panic against threats
3) Plans strategically instead of guessing tactically

Conclusion: Become the Player Who Always Finds the Right Move and Plays the Game with Purpose, and also Does Not Panic:

Every strong player has one thing in common: they don’t guess. They think in structured systems.

When you combine:

1) Kotov’s loop of idea evaluation
2) The logic tree of opponent move understanding

You no longer play chess in the dark, instead:

1) You play with purpose.
2) You calculate with confidence.
3) You defend with clarity.
4) And you attack with timing.

Most chess players lose because they either:

1) Don’t see the danger in their opponent’s move
2) Or don’t know how to build and trust their own idea

But you now have the tools to solve both.

Imagine this: You sit at the board. Your opponent plays a sharp move.
But you don’t panic. You pause. You observe. You ask why.
Then you start thinking. Not randomly but with a flow.

You eliminate weak ideas. You test and refine.
Then, when it’s time, you play your move not in fear but with full conviction.

That’s what it means to Think like a Grandmaster.

And now, you can do it too.

So next time you sit at the board or open your chess app don’t just think harder. Think better. The right move is always there. You just have to find it and now, you know how.

Before you leave, here is a general overview in a form of video on How to Think Like a Grandmaster, have fun and keeping learning: 

Ready to level up your thinking permanently? Bookmark this guide. Print the flowcharts. Train your brain. And start playing chess like a master, one logical move at a time. ♟️🔥

Happy Playing!