Tree of Analysis for Patzers

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chessbuzz

Besides Think Like a Grandmaster, which is a bit advanced, is there another book that discusses organizing your "tree of analysis" into something more manageable by players under 1800?

jdilley

I will give you my personal analysis tree, I have found it works wonders.  I follow this list before each move I make in general.  The list should be followed in order.  Don't deviate.

Defence:

1.  What was my opponent's move?

2.  Why did he make this move?  

     a) Does it threaten anything?

     b) Does it increase pressure anywhere?

     c) Are there any checks or forcing moves available now to them?

     d) Do I need to defend?

Offense:

3.  Are there any checks available to me?

4.  Can I capture any pieces?

5.  Can I threaten any pieces?

Positional:

6.  Rooks - Are there any files that can be opened?

              - Can I move a Rook to a more active file?

7.  Knights - How can I improve their position?

                - Can I restrict my opponent's Knights?

8. Bishops - How can I improve their position?

                - Can I restrict my opponent's Bishops?

Analysis:

9.  Review prospective move list

    - Check for opponent responses

10. Select Move

    - Check again for opponents responses

aansel

Silman's works give a thought process and I believe Purdy has one as well. Checks and captures and unprotected pieces always deserve first look. 

chessbuzz

@jdilley @aansel Thank you both for your responses.

dwtrue
jdilley wrote:

I will give you my personal analysis tree, I have found it works wonders.  I follow this list before each move I make in general.  The list should be followed in order.  Don't deviate.

Defence:

1.  What was my opponent's move?

2.  Why did he make this move?  

     a) Does it threaten anything?

     b) Does it increase pressure anywhere?

     c) Are there any checks or forcing moves available now to them?

     d) Do I need to defend?

Offense:

3.  Are there any checks available to me?

4.  Can I capture any pieces?

5.  Can I threaten any pieces?

Positional:

6.  Rooks - Are there any files that can be opened?

              - Can I move a Rook to a more active file?

7.  Knights - How can I improve their position?

                - Can I restrict my opponent's Knights?

8. Bishops - How can I improve their position?

                - Can I restrict my opponent's Bishops?

Analysis:

9.  Review prospective move list

    - Check for opponent responses

10. Select Move

    - Check again for opponents responses

This is helpful nevertheless... isn't this also called a (chess) "thinking system"?

pinkerton

Mine's a variation of this when I play chess online, and I think it represents a similar analysis tree for some portion of chess playing players:

1. Did you feed the cat?

Yes/No

a) yes -> Proceed to step 2.

b) yes, but why is it scratching my legs? -> throw him in the laundry basket

c) no? -> let it starve/go feed now, go back to the screen.

2. Look at his/her handle, is there something you can deduce from the name? Eg playing style, temperament, psychology...

a) flirtatious female name: say hi, maybe a chat will start and you can win on time

b) morphy/tal-like name: start planning on barricading your king!

c) etc etc

3. Plan ahead - 

Doesn't Game of Thrones start in a few minutes???

a) 5 minutes: OK, 5 minutes, we can finish this (assuming is a blitz game)

b) 3 minutes: When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die! Attack starts now!

b) less than a minute: Hodor.

4. OK, what did he just do?