Planning ahead

For me, there is nothing more annoying in the game, than intrinsically planning a move sequence that can win the game, or capture the Queen for a Knight; only for the opponent to selfishly play an unexpected move, ruining my intentions.

Whether it is an opening development, setting a trap, or simply positioning looking for a later attack; planning ahead carefully is essential. Plotting the next sequence of moves could be between as little as two or three, or greater than ten.

This method serves most, if not all players well, but I was slightly amused to read about an encounter between the great Capablanca, and the American Charles Jaffe.

The seemingly invincible Capablanca lost. After the game a reporter asked Capablanca, how many moves he planned ahead. ‘About ten’, was the reply. The reporter asked Jaffe the same question. The answer came as a surprise to those present,

‘Only the one,

But I always make sure it is the best move!’