Chess question

Guys what is your go-to thought or plan when making a move any move just a thought or doubt

I think “what is my opponent trying to do” and forcing myself to draw arrows(in my mind) on where the piece could go and I mainly check the moves that brings their piece(that they just moved) closer to my position because that is where threats usually come. After that I check what move can I do that makes either a check, capture, or attack on my opponent’s side of the board and if I see one I will calculate until I have no more forcing moves(this way of calculating works because there is not much to calculate) and if it does not work and there are not more forcing moves to calculate I go to the plan of Least Active Piece which means to develop a piece to a more active position like moving a Bishop to not become like a pawn or moving a rook to an active square. If I also check improving moves that even give up a pawn.

Your question is similar to "how do you run?"

I think in both cases it depends very much on the settings:

- playing with limited time (and how much) or not

- rated game or unrated game

- team or single competition

- aim (result) for the game

All these settings are influencing a suitable way of choosing the right move. For example: With limited time it is very important to identify the positions in which it is required to use the thinking time and in which to play a move which is "good enough" securing valuable time. Most players either play all moves quite fast or after they are out of their opening book are overthinking all moves until there are in big time trouble.

I see what my opponents move changes to the position and try to stop the attack or counter

lol sugar

Ask yourself a big umbrella question, break into smaller parts, e.g. "What does my opponent want" and "What do you want?"

Use Checks, Captures, Threats / Attacks (Often), Advancements/Developments

Tactics

Position:

- Safe King
- Good Piece activity & Spacing

- Make your opponent's position worse by taking advantage or creating weaknesses in opponent's territory.

Keep in mind, this is general & there's no true one-size-fits-all.