Chess Masterclass: How GMs find the Best Moves? Best Tips & Ideas to Improve your Game, Play Better

Summary

This video script explores the secrets of Grandmasters' chess prowess, focusing on their ability to swiftly identify strong moves. It distills insights from numerous Grandmaster games, revealing shortcuts like prioritizing forcing moves, adhering to chess principles, and recognizing problem pieces. The script also introduces 'decodechess' as a tool for analyzing games and enhancing understanding. It emphasizes the importance of intuition, consistency, and the impact of an opponent's last move, concluding with a puzzle for viewers to solve.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The key to playing better chess is the ability to quickly spot good moves, which is a complex task.
• 🎯 Grandmasters use shortcuts to identify the best moves in any position, often evaluating only 2-3 candidate moves.
• 🚫 Eliminate moves that worsen your position or make little sense, narrowing down to potential good moves.
• 👀 Look for forcing moves first, such as checks, captures, or threats, as they are easier to spot quickly.
• 📚 Rely on general chess principles to justify moves, as these fundamental values have been proven over centuries.
• 👍 Grandmasters often make moves that are simple yet effective, demonstrating the power of conventional chess wisdom.
• 🔍 Identify problem pieces on the board, such as your opponent's strong pieces or your own weak pieces, and aim to address them.
• 🛠 Use tools like decodechess to analyze games and understand the engine's recommendations in simple human language.
• 🧠 Develop intuition by studying master games, which helps in recognizing patterns and making unexpected moves.
• 🔄 Consistency in moves is crucial; each move should align with an overall plan and previous moves.
• 🤝 Pay attention to your opponent's last move, as it can trigger a significant candidate move even in unclear positions.
• 🏆 Accept that finding the 'best' move isn't always possible; aim for moves with confidence, balancing risk and time.

Q & A

What is the main difference between a Grandmaster's approach to chess and that of an average player?

The main difference is that Grandmasters quickly spot good moves by using shortcuts and focusing on a limited number of candidate moves, whereas average players may try to evaluate all possible moves without a clear strategy.

How many legal moves can one have in a given chess position?

In a given position, a player can have anywhere from 30 to 40 legal moves.

What is the concept of 'candidate moves' in chess?

'Candidate moves' are the moves that a player considers as the most promising options after eliminating poor moves and those that don't make much sense.

How many candidate moves do Grandmasters typically evaluate?

In most cases, Grandmasters evaluate no more than 2-3 candidate moves.

What is a 'forcing move' in chess?

A 'forcing move' is a move that requires the opponent to respond in a certain way or limits their options, such as checks, captures, or threats.

Why do Grandmasters rely on general principles when choosing their moves?

Grandmasters rely on general principles because they are time-tested and can often lead to effective moves without the need for extensive calculation.

What does the term 'problem pieces' refer to in the context of chess?

'Problem pieces' refer to the opponent's strong pieces or one's own weak pieces that need to be addressed or improved in the game.

What is the role of intuition in Grandmaster-level chess play?

Intuition in Grandmaster-level play allows them to make brilliant moves quickly, often going against general principles based on a deep understanding and feel for the game.

Why is consistency important in chess, according to the script?

Consistency is important because it ensures that all moves align with each other and contribute to an overall plan, making the game strategy more coherent.

What is the purpose of the 'decodechess' tool mentioned in the script?

The 'decodechess' tool helps players analyze their games by providing explanations of engine recommendations in simple human language, aiding in the understanding of piece roles, threats, plans, and tactics.

What advice does the script give about the pursuit of finding the best move in every situation?

The script advises not to get obsessed with finding the best move always, as there may be several equally good moves, and the aim should be to find a move with a degree of confidence.

What is the importance of considering the opponent's last move in chess?

The opponent's last move can trigger a game-changing candidate, even in positions where there are no clear tactics, and should always be taken into account when making a move.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Art of Spotting Chess Master Moves

This paragraph introduces the complexities of selecting good chess moves and the shortcuts Grandmasters use to quickly identify the best moves in any given position. The speaker shares insights from studying numerous Grandmaster games and emphasizes the concept of 'candidate moves', which are the most promising moves that a player should consider. It is revealed that Grandmasters typically evaluate only 2-3 candidate moves due to the limitations of human calculation capabilities under time constraints. The paragraph also hints at the strategies Grandmasters employ to find these moves, such as looking for forcing moves and relying on general chess principles.

05:00

🎯 Harnessing Chess Intuition and Consistency

The second paragraph delves into the tools and techniques that can enhance a chess player's ability to find candidate moves. It introduces 'decodechess', a tool that helps analyze games and understand engine recommendations in simple language, offering features to identify piece roles, analyze threats, and evaluate plans. The paragraph also discusses the importance of intuition in chess, suggesting that studying master games can improve a player's intuitive capabilities. Furthermore, it highlights the value of consistency in moves, where each move should align with an overall plan, and the need to pay attention to the opponent's last move as it can influence the selection of candidate moves. The speaker concludes with a reality check, reminding players that finding the best move is not always possible and that the goal should be to make a move with confidence.

Keywords

💡Grandmasters

Grandmasters are the highest-ranked professional chess players, recognized for their exceptional skill and strategic thinking. In the context of the video, Grandmasters are used as a benchmark for excellence in chess, and their methods are analyzed to understand what makes their play superior. The script mentions that Grandmasters have the ability to quickly spot good moves, which is a key concept in the video's theme of identifying shortcuts to better chess play.

💡Candidate moves

Candidate moves refer to a narrowed-down selection of potential moves that a player considers to be the most promising in a given position. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing and evaluating these moves effectively, as it is impractical to assess every legal move. The script explains that Grandmasters typically evaluate only 2-3 candidate moves, highlighting this as a crucial shortcut in their decision-making process.

💡Forcing moves

Forcing moves are those that compel the opponent to respond in a specific way or limit their options significantly. These moves can include checks, captures, or threats and are often easier to identify quickly. The video script suggests that Grandmasters prioritize searching for forcing moves first, as they are a key shortcut to finding the best moves in chess.

💡General principles

General principles in chess are fundamental guidelines that have been established over centuries of play and are used to evaluate positions and guide moves. Examples given in the script include the advice that pawns should capture towards the center and that rooks are most effective on the seventh rank. Grandmasters often rely on these principles to simplify complex decisions and justify their moves.

💡Problem pieces

Problem pieces are either the opponent's strong pieces or one's own weak pieces that require attention during gameplay. The video script explains that Grandmasters look for opportunities to exchange or reposition these pieces to improve their position. This concept is used to illustrate a strategic approach to candidate move selection.

💡Intuition

Intuition in chess refers to the ability to make strong moves quickly, often without lengthy calculation, based on experience and pattern recognition. The script mentions that even Grandmasters rely on intuition, which can lead to brilliant moves that may seem to defy conventional principles. Studying master games is suggested as a way to develop one's intuitive capabilities.

💡Consistency

Consistency in chess means aligning all moves with a coherent strategy or plan. The video emphasizes the importance of making moves that fit well with previous and future actions, creating a unified approach to the game. Consistency is portrayed as a practice that Grandmasters follow to ensure their moves complement each other and contribute to an overall plan.

💡Decodechess

Decodechess is a tool mentioned in the script that helps players analyze their games by providing explanations in simple human language. It offers insights into piece roles, threats, plans, and tactical concepts, which can be used to improve one's understanding of chess. The script suggests that this tool can be particularly helpful for players looking to refine their candidate move selection process.

💡Risk and time

Risk and time are two critical elements that players must balance when making moves in chess. The script advises that while the goal is to find the best move, players should also consider the level of risk they are willing to take and the time constraints of the game. This concept is used to provide a reality check, reminding players that finding the perfect move is not always possible or necessary.

💡Puzzle

In the context of the video, a puzzle refers to a specific chess position presented to the viewers, challenging them to find the best move continuation for a given side. The script uses this puzzle as an interactive element to engage viewers and test their understanding of the concepts discussed, such as candidate moves and forcing moves.

💡Chess Talk

Chess Talk appears to be the name of the video series or the channel producing the video. The script mentions a special discount for Chess Talk viewers, indicating that it is a community or audience that the video is directly addressing. Chess Talk is used to create a sense of belonging and to offer exclusive benefits to its viewers.

Highlights

Grandmasters excel at quickly identifying good moves due to their ability to spot candidate moves efficiently.

In a typical position, there are 30-40 legal moves, but understanding candidate moves is key to efficient play.

Grandmasters often evaluate only 2-3 candidate moves, contrary to the belief that they consider all possible moves.

Forcing moves, such as checks, captures, or threats, are prioritized by Grandmasters as they limit the opponent's response.

Grandmasters rely on general chess principles to simplify complex positions and justify their moves.

Consistent application of general principles like pawn structure and piece activity leads to effective play.

Grandmasters often simplify their decision-making process by using conventional chess wisdom.

Problem pieces, both strong opponent's pieces and weak own pieces, are key targets in move selection.

Repositioning weak pieces to better squares can create opportunities for future moves.

The tool 'decodechess' helps players analyze games in simple language and understand engine recommendations.

Intuition plays a significant role in Grandmaster play, developed through studying master games and recognizing patterns.

Consistency in moves is crucial for aligning with an overall plan in chess.

Being aware of the opponent's last move can trigger game-changing candidate moves.

Grandmasters demonstrate the ability to play brilliant moves without much thinking, powered by intuition.

A reality check emphasizes that finding the best move is not always possible, and players should aim for moves with confidence.

The video includes a puzzle for viewers to find the best move continuation for white, encouraging interactive learning.

A call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and engage with the content for further chess insights.

Transcripts

Have you ever thought what makes one person play better chess than another?

What is it that Grandmasters have and you don't?

Well, the simple answer to this is the ability to spot good moves quickly.

Selecting a good move is a remarkably complex task.

But in this video, I am going to reveal the Shortcuts that Grandmasters use to play the

best moves in any position.

Over the years, I have studied numerous Grandmaster games and this is like a summary of all my

learnings.

If you can implement these in your games, then you will definitely become a better chess

player.

Okay, so recently I had shared this quote on my Instagram page and it is absolutely

true.

Look, in any given position, you can have 30-40 legal moves.

You cannot evaluate each and every one of them.

That's where you need to understand the concept of candidate moves.

When you look at all the move options, there are some that make your position worse so

you can automatically rule them out.

Then there are some moves which do not harm you but still you can reject them because

they don't make much sense.

Eventually, as you get better, you learn to recognise moves that are possibly good.

These are the ones that we call 'candidate moves'.

They are the finalists in your move selection process.

How many candidate moves do you think Grandmasters evaluate?

Any idea?

4?

5?

6?

Let's reveal a secret, in most cases, Grandmasters do not look beyond 2-3 candidate moves.

Those experts who tell you to evaluate all sorts of moves are just bluffing you.

It is almost impossible for a human to calculate all variations for more than 3 or 4 candidates,

especially considering the strict time controls these days.

If you are wondering, how can you restrict your analysis to just 2 or 3 candidates, just

follow the Shortcuts that I am going to share with you now.

This is what the masters use to find the best moves.

The first thing that grandmasters look for are forcing moves.

A Forcing move is one which requires the opponent to reply in a certain way, or which greatly

limits the ways in which he can respond.

So basically, forcing moves can be checks, captures or threats.

These are like your one-move, two-move tactics.

You should always look for such moves first because somehow, it is easier to spot them

in the first few minutes.

Surprisingly, this is how our brains work.

The more you study a position, the less you will see tactically.

To learn more about tactics, you can check out this video by clicking on the I button

above.

Let's move on to another important technique that Grandmasters use to find the best moves

and that is relying on general principles.

Grandmasters often justify their moves by citing fundamental chess values such as pawns

should capture towards the center, rooks belong on the seventh rank, knights are most effective

near the center etc etc.

You can often play a "general principle move" without much thought because its value has

been proven over centuries.

That's what experts call conventional chess wisdom.

The degree to which grandmasters rely on general principles often astonishes other players.

An average player may calculate variation after variation and still not be convinced

with his move whereas in the same situation, a Grandmaster will play a very basic but effective

move and justify it by simply saying, 'I didn't want to double my pawns' or 'my rook needed

an open file'.

That's what is admirable about Grandmasters.

They simplify even the most complex positions.

So always remember the golden rule: 'Keep it simple'.

This will help you not only in Chess, but even in life.

Anyways, now let's look at another cue that Grandmasters often use to find candidate moves.

And that is to look for problem pieces on the board.

Problem pieces here refer to your opponent's strong pieces and your own weak pieces.

For example, your opponent's knight might be stronger than your knight simply because

it is controlling more squares or maybe it is placed much better.

You need to look for moves to exchange such pieces especially when you cannot find any

other attractive candidates.

Also sometimes, when you can't trade off your worst piece, you should atleast try to reposition

it on a better square in order to develop & create opportunities for future moves.

At times, it might become difficult for you to analyze whether you are selecting the right

candidates or not.

To help you out in your learning process, I would like to share a really helpful tool

that I came across recently and It's called decodechess.

On their website, you can simply import the games you want to analyse.

And then, once you click on this 'Decode' button, you will see a great explanation of

what the engine recommends.

The beauty about this is that unlike other chess engines, this explains everything in

simple human language.

You can activate some additional features by clicking on this + button which creates

some more tabs like these.

If you scroll down, you can find details of the major threats and further down, you can

understand how to find the best moves in this position.

Through these tabs, you can identify piece roles, analyse threats, evaluate plans and

understand tactical concepts.

From here, you can even play against a human-like opponent and decode each move as you play.

All in all, this app provides you with a lot of information which can be used to improve

your understanding of the game.

You can register for free and try it out.

And if you like it, then you can buy their unlimited access plan.

We have partnered with them and they've agreed on a special discount for all Chess Talk viewers.

You can avail this for a limited time period by using the coupon code CHESSTALK.

All links are in the video description.

Moving on, one more thing that stands out in grandmaster games is their magical ability

to play brilliant moves without much thinking.

At times, they even go against the general principles that we discussed earlier.

That's strange, isn't it?

But let's try to understand how this happens.

Yes, the great Magnus Carlsen himself admitted that it's the power of intuition at work.

But intuition is not a gift just for the GMs.

There is a lot more to it.

You obviously need to have a good feel for the game, but you can also develop your own

intuitive capabilities.

The best way to do this is to study the master games.

This will help you recognise critical patterns, and eventually come up with moves that you

might not have even thought of earlier.

Now let's discuss about another practice that Grandmasters follow and that is to be consistent.

Even when there are no obvious cues to justify a move, you might feel a particular candidate

is right just because it fits in well with your previous moves.

And that's what consistency is all about.

In summary, all moves that you make should align with each other, which means they should

be part of an overall plan.

It sounds simple to be consistent, but it isn't.

Sometimes while playing a game, we do not realise whether our 24th move fits in with

the 23rd or 25th for example.

After the game, it's very easy to see everything clearly.

But during the game, you have to play one move at a time.

Therefore, you should always make a conscious effort to be consistent with your moves and

plans.

All these pointers are very helpful, but don't forget to pay attention to your opponent's

last move.

Even in positions where there are no clear tactics, your opponent's last move can trigger

a game changing candidate.

I have made a complete video on this topic so don't forget to watch it by clicking on

the I button above.

Okay!

Now let me give you a quick reality check.

No matter how good a player you become, you should not get obsessed about finding the

best move always because at times, it might not even exist.

In most positions, there are several good moves that look equally good but you only

have to choose one of them.

While playing a move, you need to balance out between the element of risk and time.

So ultimately, your aim should be to simply find a move that you can play with some degree

of confidence and hope that it is the best.

Okay, so it's puzzle time.

In this position, you need to find the best Move continuation for white.

If you are able to find the solution to this puzzle, then share it in the comments below.

I am reading all your comments & will give them a heart if your explanation is correct.

All the best guys!

Let's see how many of you can solve this.

Well, don't forget to Like this video & if you haven't yet Subscribed, then Subscribe

now.

Thanks for watching & I shall see you in my next video.