Thinking Ahead in Chess

Chess looks like a game about pieces, but it is really a game about plans. Every move changes what is possible next, for you and for your opponent. Strong players do not just ask "what can I take?" - they ask "what will my opponent do if I move here?"

A good habit is the three-question check. Before every move ask: Is my move safe - can my piece be captured? What is my opponent threatening right now? And what is my plan - am I developing pieces, controlling the center, or protecting my king? Beginners who ask these three questions beat beginners who do not, almost every time.

Losing pieces teaches faster than winning. When a game goes wrong, replay the moment it turned and ask what the warning signs were. That habit - review, find the lesson, try again - is the same habit that makes people better at math, reading, and just about everything else.