Calculation

Congratulations! You have completed your study of the basics on positional chess!

But this alone is not enough to beat your opponent. Say that you got a good pawn structure or even better placed pieces, but you suddenly blundered a piece and all of your previous efforts are wasted…

This is why Lesson 4 is created! This is definitely the most important lesson and its not easy, so we strongly suggest that you watch the video above. We want to prevent you from making blunders! Before we learn about calculation, lets first talk about the thinking process in a chess game (Yes, I can tell you GMs think like this):

We’re about to teach you the method Hikaru uses to calculate so fast and accurate!

  1. Evaluate the position, make note of different positional factor and find the “key factor” to the position 

    1a. Weaknesses 

    1b. Pieces 

    1c. What does my opponent want to do? 

  2. Start to make a list of candidate moves that is relevant to the “key factor”  

  3. Start to calculate the candidate moves you have listed 

  4. Make a note of the final position in your calculation, then think: 

    4a. What have I achieved? 

    4b. Is my position getting better or worse? 

  5. Compare the final position of each choice and decide on a move  

Candidate Moves: A list of the possible continuations of the position.

Seems Confusing? Lets break this down step by step by using examples:

In a nutshell, this is a step by step method on how to systematically think in chess. Although this method seems like a lot of work, but it will rewarding. Let’s take a look at the following diagram, this is puzzle I got from chess.com.

Diagram 1

Step 1: Evaluate the position, make note of different positional factor and find the “key factor” to the position 

1a. Weaknesses 

1b. Pieces 

1c. What does my opponent want to do? 

Positional Analysis of Diagram 1

Ok, so lets Evaluate this position. First and foremost, we can see this position is a complete mess, so there is no time to dilly dally, white must act quick. Ok, weaknesses, black has some key weaknesses around his king and the same goes for white. The pawn on a7 seems undefended as well. Next, pieces. White has 4 pieces in the attack, although the rook on h1 is the worst placed for white, he simply doesn’t have time to improve it. Again, both kings are in grave danger. Ok, let’s move on to the final point: White does my opponent want to do? Well, black wants to take the bishop on d3 but also to give checks on the white king.

After all that analysis, we have to tie it together and form a conclusion, this is the most important point in step 1.

Again, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that both kings are in grave danger. If white doesn’t checkmate black, black WILL mate white.

The summary above is what I mean by the “key factor”. Ok! So after knowing what’s important in the position, lets figure out the specifics.

Step 2: Start to make a list of candidate moves that is relevant to the “key factor”.

Basically, lets make a list of possible moves that create threats to the black king. Here is my list:

  1. Qg4+ OR Qf5+ OR Qh3+

  2. Nxa7+

  3. Bxe4

Of course, these moves are not engraved in stone, so its absolutely normal that you have other moves in mind. But regardless of what moves we came up with, its essential to come up with something.

Diagram 2

Step 3: Start to calculate the candidate moves you have listed 

My Calculation of Diagram 1 (Puzzle 2850)

  1. Qg4+ OR Qf5+ OR Qh3+ Black can then block with either e6 and Rd7 when white doesn’t have anything special, so black is winning here.

  2. Nxa7+ Kd7 Qf5 (Bb5 Ke6 black is winning here) e6 Qf7 (Bb5 Ke7 black is winning here) Be7 Bb5# White wins.

  3. Bxe4 Qc1 or dxe4 black wins.

This part can be confusing so I suggest the reader watch the video for this part. Diagram 2 to the right is the calculation tree, showing the branches or variations of such moves.

Diagram 3

Step 5: Compare the final position of each choice and decide on a move  

This part is relatively easy, just compare the result of each variation. According to our analysis above, one move leads to checkmate the other leads to a loss, so its obvious on which move we pick:

Diagram 4

So. What do we get out of all of this?

Calculation is a skill, and it can be practiced. The best way of doing this is using the method above, when doing exercise positions or puzzles. Yes, I know this is a lot, but once you get use to think this way, your calculation will contain much less error’s than before

And maybe then, you might have improved your chess!

Congratulations! You have officially finished the “Mastering Chess Dynamics” Chess Course! Make sure to review this material often and be sure try out some things you learned in practice!