My new method of evaluation and candidate move . woodpecker training, complete testing methods.

tldr
I pulled together information from Sheveresky Dovensky ) .  Dan Hiesman, and books and Andrew Soltis books.
pulled together for a unified systematic approach. with a blunder check   that helps inform king safety .. flowing into evaluation  steps.. prophylaxis at end step of eval 
that will elaborate on further
 changing the cct to cci .  for a more robust form of  thinking  its not just threats. it also  can be used to strengthen defensively or offensively. 
in a woodpecker block method of training. complete with testing.
you can also use puzzle rush to train for speed. 
used AI to pull al this together. it didn't add anything.

# The I.T.S.M.A.P - C.C.I Chess Method: Complete Training System

## Overview

The I.T.S.M.A.P - C.C.I method is a systematic approach to chess decision-making that ensures comprehensive position analysis while maintaining practical speed. This method evolved from classical evaluation principles (Steinitz) and incorporates modern advances like prophylaxis, creating a complete framework that prevents both tactical oversights and positional mistakes.

**Core Philosophy:** Assess all threats first, understand the position completely, then choose your best response with proper priorities.

---

## The Complete Framework

### Phase 1: I.T.S (Threat Assessment)
**Purpose:** Understand all dangers before making any decisions

**I - Immediate Threats**
- Scan for opponent's checks they can give RIGHT NOW
- Identify opponent's captures they can make RIGHT NOW
- Look for any immediate tactical shots opponent has available
- Key Question: "What can hurt me immediately on their next move?"

**T - Threats That Take Turns** 
- Identify opponent's multi-move tactical setups (forks, pins, discoveries they're preparing)
- Spot mating net preparations (pieces moving toward your king)
- Recognize positional threats (pawn breaks, piece improvements that create future problems)
- Key Question: "What is my opponent setting up for future moves?"

**S - Safety Assessment**
- Evaluate your king safety after understanding all threats
- Assess how much time/tempo you have before opponent threats materialize
- Determine urgency level: Do you need forcing moves or can you play positionally?
- Key Question: "How safe am I overall, and how much time do I have?"

### Phase 2: M.A.P (Position Evaluation)
**Purpose:** Understand the position's key characteristics to guide your move selection

**M - Material & Structure**
- Material balance: Who's ahead and by how much?
- Pawn structure analysis: Weaknesses, strengths, potential breaks
- Piece coordination: How well are pieces working together?
- Key Question: "What's the material situation and structural landscape?"

**A - Activity & Territory**
- Piece activity: Which pieces are active/passive for both sides?
- Space control: Who controls more territory and key squares?
- Piece placement: Are pieces on optimal squares?
- Key Question: "Who has more active pieces and better space control?"

**P - Prophylaxis**
- Identify opponent's main plans and intentions
- Determine which opponent ideas need to be prevented
- Assess whether opponent plans are more dangerous than your own
- Key Question: "What is my opponent trying to achieve, and should I stop it?"

### Phase 3: C.C.I (Your Response)
**Purpose:** Choose your best move using proper priority hierarchy

**CRITICAL RULE: Always calculate forcing moves first!**

**C - Your Checks**
- Look for all checks you can give immediately
- Calculate forcing continuations completely
- Verify these moves are safe (quick opponent forcing move check)
- Priority: Checks that lead to material gain or mate

**C - Your Captures**
- Identify all captures available immediately
- Calculate tactical justifications (are captures sound?)
- Check for opponent recaptures and counter-tactics
- Priority: Captures that win material or improve position

**I - Improving Moves (When No Satisfying Forcing Moves Exist)**
This follows a natural priority hierarchy:

1. **Tactical Setups**
   - Multi-move combinations you're preparing
   - Sacrificial attacks for kingside assault
   - Piece sacrifices for positional advantage

2. **Short-term Attacking Plans**
   - Bring more pieces into the attack
   - Create threats opponent must address
   - Build pressure on weak points

3. **Positional Improvements**
   - Improve your worst-placed piece
   - Advance pawns to gain space
   - Fix structural weaknesses
   - Prophylactic moves to prevent opponent plans

4. **Long-term Strategic Plans**
   - Piece improvements for future advantage
   - Pawn structure improvements
   - King safety enhancements

5. **Last Resort Moves**
   - Waiting moves that don't worsen position
   - King moves when nothing else helps
   - Desperate tactical attempts when losing

---

## The Blunder Check Protocol

**Critical Safety Verification:** Before playing any move, perform this rapid safety check:

1. **Does my intended move allow opponent checks?** (Quick scan)
2. **Does my intended move hang any pieces?** (Rapid capture check)  
3. **Does my intended move walk into opponent tactics?** (Brief forcing move assessment)

**If any answer is "yes" - recalculate or choose different move!**

---

## Step-by-Step Application Guide

### Step 1: Begin with I.T.S Assessment
```
I: "What immediate threats does opponent have?"
T: "What are they setting up for future moves?"
S: "How safe am I and how much time do I have?"
```

### Step 2: Evaluate with M.A.P
```
M: "What's the material and structural situation?"
A: "Who has better piece activity and space?"
P: "What is opponent trying to do that I should prevent?"
```

### Step 3: Apply C.C.I Response
```
First: Check all forcing moves (C.C) - calculate completely
If no satisfying forcing moves: Move to I phase
Within I: Work from tactical setups down to positional plans
```

### Step 4: Blunder Check Before Moving
```
Quick verification: Checks, Captures, Tactics against my move?
If safe: Execute the move
If unsafe: Return to C.C.I and find alternative
```

---

## Training Protocol

### Phase 1: Method Development (No Time Pressure)
**Goal:** Build systematic thinking habits through repetition

**Practice Materials:**
- Tactical puzzle books (focus on method application, not speed)
- Annotated game collections (pause before each move, apply full method)
- Position evaluation exercises
- Bot games with unlimited thinking time

**Key Focus:** 
- Apply full I.T.S.M.A.P - C.C.I to every position
- Never skip steps, even in "obvious" positions
- Build the habit of systematic analysis
- Accuracy over speed

### Phase 2: Speed Development (After Method Mastery)
**Goal:** Maintain accuracy while building practical speed

**Training Progression:**
- 10 minutes per move → 5 minutes → 3 minutes → 1 minute
- Abbreviated method: I.T.S → M.A.P → C.C.I (streamlined)
- Rapid pattern recognition development
- Tournament time control practice

### Phase 3: Advanced Application
**Goal:** Seamless integration in competitive play

**Advanced Training:**
- Complex tactical positions
- Strategic masterpieces analysis  
- Live tournament games
- Rapid time controls

---

## Method Advantages

### Compared to Traditional Methods:
1. **More Comprehensive:** Includes prophylaxis and systematic threat assessment
2. **Better Structure:** Logical flow from threats to evaluation to response
3. **Prevents Oversights:** Built-in blunder checking and complete coverage
4. **Practical Design:** Can be abbreviated for time pressure without losing essence
5. **Modern Evolution:** Incorporates 150+ years of chess development since Steinitz

### Key Innovations:
- **Complete threat assessment before evaluation** (I.T.S phase)
- **Integrated prophylaxis** (P in M.A.P)
- **Automatic priority hierarchy** (C.C.I structure)
- **Built-in blunder prevention** (safety verification)
- **Scalable complexity** (full method for analysis, abbreviated for speed)

---

## Troubleshooting Common Issues

### "The Method Feels Too Slow"
**Solution:** You're in development phase. Speed comes after accuracy is established. Focus on building correct thinking patterns first.

### "I Keep Forgetting Steps"
**Solution:** Use the memorable acronym - I.T.S.M.A.P flows as "It's Map." Practice the framework structure daily.

### "Positions Don't Fit the Framework"
**Solution:** The framework adapts to any position. Some phases may be quick (., no immediate threats in quiet positions), but all phases still apply.

### "Too Much to Think About"
**Solution:** Start with basic application - I.T.S (threats), M.A.P (evaluation), C.C.I (move choice). Depth comes with practice.

---

## Advanced Concepts

### Method Abbreviation for Time Pressure
**Rapid Version:** I.T.S → M.A.P → C.C.I (30 seconds total)
**Ultra-Rapid:** I.T. → M. → C.C. (10 seconds total)
**Emergency:** I → C.C → Move (5 seconds total)

### Integration with Opening Preparation
- Apply method to critical opening positions during study
- Use P (prophylaxis) to understand opponent's opening plans
- Develop opening repertoire based on method-evaluated positions

### Endgame Application
- I.T.S focuses on tactical shots and king safety
- M.A.P emphasizes material balance and pawn structure
- C.C.I prioritizes forcing moves and king activity

---

## Conclusion

The I.T.S.M.A.P - C.C.I method represents a comprehensive evolution of chess thinking that combines classical evaluation principles with modern strategic concepts. By ensuring complete threat assessment, systematic position evaluation, and prioritized move selection, this method prevents both tactical oversights and strategic mistakes while remaining practical for tournament play.

**Remember:** This is not just a calculation method - it's a complete chess thinking system designed to improve your understanding and results at every level of play.

**Master the method first, speed will follow naturally.**

oh chess com removed the youtube metions. bummer. building habits for phase 1. slowkaru -hirkaru for phase 2 phase 2 live chess tournament . follow along and pausing.

i t s? - blunder check. oppoents' checks captures and my kings safety how much time do I have?
m a p = the rest of positional evaluation. + prophylaxis at the end

together its an easy thing to remember ITS. my opponents' plans. MAP mapping the board state. like a MAP> gee funy how that works?

instead of CCT checks captures and threats.

c c i?= my checks captures ( priority to the forcing moves ) and improvement an upgrade from threats . how do you define a threat?
 But u can define an improvement. 
 attacking improvement./ activity improvement or defensive improvement.
setting up future plans.

i reworked some elements and i hope this is more comprehensive easier to understand. 
yes I used ai but every pieceof info is one I plugginto the document myself. piece by piece.

The I.T.S.M.A.P - C.C.I Chess Training System: Complete Guide
What Is This System? (Explaining to a 5th Grader)
Imagine you're learning to drive a car. You need to check your mirrors, look both ways, signal your turns, and follow the speed limit - all in the right order, every single time. If you forget even one step, you might crash!

Chess is exactly the same. Every time it's your turn to move, you need to follow the same safety steps in the same order. The I.T.S.M.A.P - C.C.I system is like your "chess driving manual" - it tells you exactly what to check and in what order, so you never crash (make a bad move that loses the game).

Think of it like this:

A = Look both ways before crossing the street (check what your opponent is trying to do)
I.T.S.M.A.P = Check all your mirrors and gauges (understand everything about the position)
C.C.I = Choose which way to turn and how fast to go (pick your best move)
B = Double-check before you actually cross (make sure your move is safe)
The WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY
WHO should use this system?
Anyone learning chess - including absolute beginners! From people who just learned how the pieces move (around 600-800 ELO) all the way to advanced players. The system grows with you as you get better.

IMPORTANT FOR BEGINNERS: This system is PERFECT for people who just learned how the pieces move. You want to build good thinking habits from your very first real games!

WHAT is this system exactly?
It's a step-by-step thinking method that you use on EVERY SINGLE MOVE. It combines all the best chess ideas from the greatest players in history into one easy-to-remember process.

The system has three main parts:

A-B Safety Protocol - Your safety net (start and end every move with safety checks)
I.T.S.M.A.P - Understanding the position (what's happening on the board)
C.C.I - Choosing your move (what you should do about it)
WHEN do you use it?
Every single move! Just like you check both ways before crossing every street, you use this system before every chess move. No exceptions.

WHERE did it come from?
This system combines the best ideas from chess legends:

Wilhelm Steinitz (first World Champion) - taught us how to evaluate positions
Aaron Nimzowitsch - taught us to stop opponent's plans
Modern grandmasters - taught us to look for forcing moves first
WHY does this work so well?
Prevents blunders - You can't forget to check for danger
Makes you think like a master - You're using the same thought process as the best players
Works with any chess book or video - Once you learn this, everything else makes more sense
Builds good habits from day one - You learn the right way to think from the beginning
The Complete System: Step by Step
The A-B Safety Protocol (Your Bookends)
Think of these like bookends on a shelf - they hold everything together and keep it safe.

A = AFTER your opponent moves

What to do: Immediately look at what your opponent's move attacks
Why: This is like looking both ways before crossing - you need to see danger first
Example: If your opponent moves their queen, ask "What is their queen now attacking?"
B = BEFORE you make your move

What to do: Take one last look to make sure your chosen move is safe
Why: This is your final safety check - like looking one more time before crossing
Example: Before moving your knight, ask "After I move my knight, what can my opponent capture?"
Phase 1: I.T.S (Understanding the Dangers)
This is like being a detective - you're gathering information about all the dangers on the board.

I = IMMEDIATE Threats

What to look for: Things your opponent can do RIGHT NOW that hurt you
Simple questions to ask:"Can they check my king right now?"
"Can they capture any of my pieces right now?"
"Can they win material with a tactic right now?"
Think of it like: Looking for cars that are already in the intersection
T = THREATS That Take Turns

What to look for: Dangers your opponent is setting up for later
Simple questions to ask:"What is my opponent trying to build?"
"Are they preparing to attack my king?"
"Are they setting up a fork or pin?"
Think of it like: Seeing cars that are speeding toward the intersection
S = SAFETY Assessment

What to figure out: How much danger you're really in
Simple questions to ask:"Is my king safe enough?"
"Do I need to defend immediately, or can I attack?"
"How much time do I have before their threats become dangerous?"
Think of it like: Deciding if you need to run across the street or if you can walk normally
Phase 2: M.A.P (Understanding the Position)
Now you understand the dangers. Time to understand everything else about the position - like checking the weather, traffic conditions, and road signs.

M = MATERIAL & Structure

What to check:"Who has more pieces?" (Count the points: Queen=9, Rook=5, Bishop/Knight=3, Pawn=1)
"Who has better pawns?" (Look for holes, weak pawns, passed pawns)
"Are my pieces working together well?"
Think of it like: Checking if your car has enough gas and if the roads are good
A = ACTIVITY & Territory

What to check:"Which of my pieces are doing important jobs?"
"Which pieces are just sitting around being lazy?"
"Who controls more of the board?"
Think of it like: Figuring out which route has less traffic and better roads
P = PROPHYLAXIS (Stopping Bad Things)

What to check:"What is my opponent's main plan?"
"Should I stop their plan or continue with my own?"
"What are they hoping I DON'T do?"
Think of it like: Figuring out if you need to change your route because of construction ahead
Phase 3: C.C.I (Choosing Your Move)
Now you understand everything about the position. Time to pick your best move! Always check the most forcing moves first.

C = YOUR CHECKS

What to do: Look for every way you can check the opponent's king
Why first: Checks are forcing - your opponent MUST respond
Questions to ask:"Can I checkmate?"
"Can I check and win material?"
"Can I check and get a better position?"
Think of it like: Emergency vehicles get to go first in traffic
C = YOUR CAPTURES

What to do: Look for pieces you can capture
Why second: Captures are usually forcing too
Questions to ask:"Can I capture something and win material?"
"Can I capture and avoid their threats?"
"Are my captures safe?" (Will they recapture with something bigger?)
Think of it like: Taking the fastest lanes when they're available
I = IMPROVING MOVES (When no good forcing moves exist) This is like choosing the best regular route when there are no special situations:

Tactical Setups - Prepare a combination for next move
Short-term Attacks - Bring more pieces toward their king
Positional Improvements - Make your worst piece better
Prophylactic Moves - Stop their plan (from the P phase)
Long-term Plans - Improve your pawn structure or piece placement
Waiting Moves - When nothing else works, improve your king safety
The Training Phases (Your Chess Learning Journey)
Think of learning this system like learning to play a musical instrument. You start with simple songs and gradually work up to concerts!

Phase 1: Foundation Building (Learning the Basics)
Goal: Learn the vocabulary and basic skills What to study:

Strategy books: Heisman's evaluation books, Seirawan's "Winning Chess" series
Tactics: "1001 Beginning Chess Tactics," "Chess Tactics for Kids"
Endgames: Silman's "Complete Endgame Course" (up to 1800 section)
Games: First Morphy book
Think of it like: Learning the alphabet and basic words before reading stories

Phase 2: Habit Formation (Making It Automatic)
Goal: Practice using the system until it becomes natural What to do:

Beginner Building Habits (YouTube training) → reach 1200 rating
Intermediate Building Habits (YouTube training) → reach 1700 rating
Key rule: Use the A-B Anti-Blunder Protocol on EVERY SINGLE MOVE
CRITICAL WARNING FOR 600-800 ELO PLAYERS: STOP playing regular games during this training phase! This might sound crazy, but here's why:

When you feel rushed in real games, you'll drop the system and go back to "gut feeling" moves
This creates BAD habits that are harder to break later
You'll confuse your learning process by mixing systematic thinking with rushed decisions
Focus ONLY on training exercises where you can take your time and do the method perfectly
HOWEVER: You WILL have plenty of time to practice the full method using bot games! Bots give you unlimited thinking time, so you can practice the complete A-B protocol without pressure.

Think of it like: Learning to drive in a parking lot with an instructor (bot) before going on busy highways with impatient drivers (human opponents)

Phase 3: Reinforcement (Getting Even Better at Basics)
Goal: Go back to easier material with your new understanding What to study:

Tactics: "Chess Tactics for Kids" (again - but now you'll see deeper patterns!)
Games: Chernev's "Most Instructive Games"
Think of it like: Playing simple songs again, but now you understand the music theory behind them

Phase 4: Intermediate Mastery (Advanced Skills)
Goal: Add more sophisticated concepts to your system What to study:

Advanced tactics: "Chess Tactics from Scratch"
Classic games: Fischer's "60 Memorable Games" OR Tal's autobiography
Video analysis: Saint Louis Chess Club game analysis series
NOTE: Still NO opening books! Your system is more important than memorizing moves
Think of it like: Learning more complex pieces and understanding different musical styles

Phase 5: Advanced Mastery (Expert Level)
Goal: Master-level calculation and deep understanding What to study:

Calculation: "Think Like a Super-GM," Aagaard's calculation books
Advanced theory: Advanced Heisman and Soltis books
Master analysis: Hikaru's tournament game reviews
Finally: Now you can add opening books if you want, but your system is still more important!
Think of it like: Playing concert-level pieces and understanding music like a professional

Testing Your Progress (Milestone Markers, NOT Training!)
Before each phase: Play against a 2000+ rating computer What to measure:

How long each move takes you
How many blunders you make
How often you find the best moves
IMPORTANT TESTING MINDSET:

You WILL lose to the bot - that's expected and normal!
How badly you lose is the test
How much you improve each phase is your reward!
Don't over-test - This is a milestone marker, not a training method
Use bot games to practice the full method - You have unlimited time, no pressure
After Phase 5 (Calculation Books Complete): NOW you can do Puzzle Rush training!

Puzzle Rush Score Expectations:

800 ELO: ~20 puzzles (Pre-method baseline)
1200 ELO: ~30 puzzles
1600 ELO: ~40 puzzles
2000 ELO: ~50 puzzles
Master/GM level: ~60 puzzles
Personal Recommendation: Train until you reach at least 40, ideally 50+ puzzles consistently.

The Beautiful Test: Compare your pre-method and post-method Puzzle Rush scores - this shows the true power of systematic thinking under time pressure!

Think of it like: Taking a music exam before moving to the next level - you're measuring progress, not training for the test

How This Plugs Into ALL Chess Content
Here's the amazing part: Once you learn this system, EVERY chess book, video, or lesson becomes useful and makes sense!

Watching YouTube Videos
Before the system: "I don't understand why the grandmaster made that move" After the system: "Oh, that move was their 'C' phase - they're checking the king to win material!"

Examples:

GM says "Black is threatening..." → You think "That's the 'T' in I.T.S.!"
GM explains a tactic → You think "That fits in the 'C-C' part of my response!"
GM talks about king safety → You think "That's my 'S' phase and my A-B protocol!"
Reading Chess Books
Before the system: Confusing advice that doesn't fit together After the system: Every concept has a place in your framework

Examples:

Tactical puzzle books → Practice for your C.C.I phase
Strategy books → Expand your M.A.P understanding
Game analysis → See the whole I.T.S.M.A.P - C.C.I system in action
Learning from Games
Before the system: "Why did they play that move? I don't get it." After the system: "Let me trace through their thought process using I.T.S.M.A.P - C.C.I"

You can watch any game and understand the player's thinking because you're using the same mental framework they used!

The Magic Result
You become a learning machine instead of just a chess student. Every chess resource you encounter makes you better because you know exactly how to organize and use the information.

Think of it like: Once you learn to read, every book in the library becomes useful. Once you learn I.T.S.M.A.P - C.C.I, every chess resource becomes useful!

Why This Changes Everything
Most chess students learn in a scattered way:

Monday: Watch a tactics video
Tuesday: Read about pawn structures
Wednesday: Study an opening
Thursday: Try to put it all together (and get confused!)
With this system:

Every day: You're building the same mental framework
Every resource: Fits into the same organized system
Every game: Uses the same reliable thought process
You're not learning a thousand different chess things. You're learning ONE powerful way to think that organizes everything else automatically.

That's why this system works so well - it doesn't just teach you chess moves, it teaches you how to think about chess in the same way that masters do!