Pre Move Checklist:
- Make sure all your pieces are safe.
- Look for forcing move: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
- If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
- If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.
- After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"
Hello
We train with our kids in our chess club once a week. The level of the play seems ok (considering they are beginners). I recently saw them playing in the tournament and it was something different - not using much time, no plans at all but most importantly - they hang pieces all the time (e.g. their bishop was attacked by a pawn and they did not do anything about it). What method do you use improving this? Logically, it is very clear but it seems to be a problem for them. Solving easy tactics might be a solution. Do you have any other methods improving this skill of noticing that my piece is under attack? Thank you, Ivo