Low Elo Checklist

I posted this under another comment, but I thought I might share. This has helped me tremendously to net 90+ accuracy games over the past few days. This is not "the best checklist" or anything like that, simply a checklist that's helping me a bunch. It also might help other noobies on here too. Here it is:

#1 - Only G30s and nothing faster. This depends a lot on your ability to calculate lines quickly and see certain ideas present on the map (not only easy things like pins, but is a support piece being pinned and there's a tactic for the opponent? What about double checks, discovered attacks, removing the defender ideas...?, etc.) Assuming he's playing fast, he should take all the time he needs. I recently finished a ~95% accuracy game, 40+ moves, using all my time. My opponent had 10+ mins left on his clock. As you can see, taking all the time, seeing everything on the map, and making your smartest decision will help a lot.

#2 - Speak out loud what you are seeing. He can talk to you, someone else, or just himself; it doesn't matter. The idea is to verbalize what you're seeing and follow a basic checklist at times.

#3 - There are some checklists out there. The most basic one he needs to start doing on every move, even opening moves, are these: 

Step 1. How did my opponent's last move affect the position? Is he threatening anything (meaning, is he attacking something undefended)? If yes, move on to step 1a. If not, move on to step 2.

Step 1a. Do I need to defend (move or support depending on the value), or should I make a stronger threat (Yes, my knight is hanging, but your Queen is trapped when I move my Bishop there, go ahead, take it!).

Step 2. Did my opponent leave anything hanging? If so, and a quick tactics check pans out, go ahead and take it! It's free! Remember to check if taking it will make you lose out on more material (take his free Bishop, but he can get your Queen, yikes!). These are the traps and gambits in the e4 c5 lines. Cheeky stuff. Never assume it's free because they forgot about it (which will be the case the lower you go).

Step 3. Calculate tactical lines, especially when Kings are open to attack or there is tension between pieces (Bishops defended by pawns are looking at each other. That's fine, but after I go first and we trade, your Knight is hanging, and my Queen takes it for free. 600's aren't noticing these 1-2 move calculation ideas). Calculate the opponent's lines as well. This takes time and is slow to improve, that's why G30s are my minimum for now.

Step 3. If nothing "juicy" is on the board, ask yourself: Is my next potential move following Chess Principles? Attacking the center, casting early, Rooks on open files, leaving no piece hanging, moving my pieces toward the enemy king, improving my worst placed piece, developing rapidly without blundering to tactics, etc.). Never rely on "hope chess," which is seeing a cheeky tactic working if your opponent doesn't notice it. For example, don't put your Knight on a4 hoping he didn't see it attacking his Queen on b6 after a discovered check; he'll just move it to safety (or threaten something else!). This may work a fair amount of time in the lower ratings, but it should be reserved for those who are "just having fun" and don't care about improving into the higher ratings (faster games utilize these tactics well too). Make sure your moves are almost always positionally sound by following chess principles.

5. Finally, commit to the move and start thinking about what the opponent can do in response. While it's their turn to move, you should be formulating responses to their potential responses. This will make your response quicker in turn.

Let me know if this helps! I'm sure it will!

P.S. - If anyone higher rated wants to touch on this "low elo" check list, I'd love to see it!

P.P.S. - I used "he" as the pronoun for easier reading. Obviously, this applies to any other player present!

Have a great day!