Are there certain practices before you make each move?

Do you have a mental checklist?

Any Rules of Thumb or sayings?

If so, please share.

Here's a "mental checklist" that I had ChatGPT create:

What do you think?

1. **King Safety**: Always ensure your king is safe. Look for any threats to your king and plan your move accordingly.

2. **Threat Analysis**: Check if any of your pieces are under threat. If they are, consider how you can protect them.

3. **Opponent's Last Move**: Understand the purpose of your opponent's last move. They might be setting up for a future attack or strategy.

4. **Center Control**: The center of the board is very important in chess. Try to control it with your pawns and pieces.

5. **Piece Development**: Make sure all your pieces are developed and not just sitting at their initial positions. Each piece should be contributing to your overall game strategy.

6. **Pawn Structure**: Pawns might seem insignificant, but a good pawn structure can provide a strong defense and open lines for your pieces.

7. **Opponent's Weaknesses**: Look for weaknesses in your opponent's position, such as unprotected pieces, exposed king, or weak pawn structure, and plan how you can exploit them.

8. **Your Next Move's Purpose**: Every move should have a purpose, whether it's to develop a piece, control the center, or set up an attack.

9. **Plan Ahead**: Try to plan at least a few moves ahead. Consider different possible responses from your opponent to your next move.

10. **Time Management**: If you're playing timed chess, always be aware of your clock. Don't rush, but also don't spend too much time on one move.

"chess is a game of strategy and patience. Always think before you move."

Threat Assessment , King Safety , Opponent Mobility , CCAA , Hanging pieces , Undeveloped pieces , Weaknesses , Infiltrations , Piece restriction , Pawn space , File openings , Pawn storms , Discovered Attacks , Line of sight between small value and high value pieces e.g. opponents bishop to your queen , Opponent counterplay , Enemy weaknesses , Pawn wedges , Defence of pawn wedges , Barricades , Stalemate , Time Management , Plans forward , Enemy plans , Purpose of moves , Opponents last move etc.

During opponent's turn: think about strategy: pawn structure, good squares for your and your opponent's pieces, trades to aim for or to avoid, endgame prospects.

During your turn:

1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent's last move?
2. What are 3 candidate moves?
3. Calculate.
4. Evaluate.
5. Decide.
6. Check your intended move is no blunder.
7. Play your move.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=calculating+a+chess+move+checklist

I use the simple checklist: opponent threats, then I look at my possible checks, captures, attacks (including tactics), then I think briefly about positional elements if I'm not calculating a complicated exchange.

In blitz i look only only on materialistic value because of lack of time. From playing otb last tournament are

For attack

1. Take into account every possible capture possible

2. Pointing a higher value piece from a lower value piece

3. Pointing on material

For defence two points i look into

1....

2...

My rating would probably be higher if I didn't have a beer or three while playing.