Key Notes

Question 1

Technique

What’s the first step of the thinking method?

Answer 1

Moves
Use the algorithm
One by one, go through only the viable:
1. Checks
2. Captures
3. Attacks

Then if there are none:
1. Improvements/Defenses
2. Pawn Breaks

Don’t fully calculate each move category (checks, captures, attacks, etc). Just try to see if there’s any viable ones and only calculate those. You should only calculate 2-3 promising candidate moves based on PAMKS.

Question 2

Technique

What’s the second step of the thinking method?

Answer 2

Blundercheck After the move you’re about to play one by one, skim through your opponent’s

• Checks
• Captures
• Attacks

See if you have a good response to them.

Don’t look at ALL the possible checks, captures, and attacks your opponent can do. Just look at obvious/simple ones.

Question 3

Technique

How are you going to remember this method?

Answer 3

The MB method
MB
Moves Blundercheck

Question 4

Time management

How should you manage your time in a 15+10 chess game?

Answer 4

Minimum: 12 seconds. Stuff like simple recaptures
Typical: 20-35 seconds. Most simple/non critical positions
Critical: 50-120 seconds. Critical moves

Enough time to blunder check in typical/maximum positions

Question 5

Time Management

Practical time management tips?

Answer 5

1. Know pregrame how much time you need to spend per move before the game.
2. Remember the clearly defined, MB method
3. Remember that going low on time will also cause you to blunder when blunder checking
4. Let it flow. Use intuition. Don’t hestitate on non critical moves too much. Keep up with the pace

Question 6

Time management

How should you manage your time in a 3+2 chess game?

Answer 6

Minimum: 0 seconds. It’s blitz, can premove recaptures.
Typical: 3-10 seconds. Most moves.
Critical: 8-20 seconds. Critical moves.

Not enough time to blunder check

Question 7

Time management

What are critical moves?

Answer 7

Critical moves are:
- The first move after your opening preparation.
- Any move that wins material or starts a forced checkmating attack.
- Any move that seems to lose or win the game.
- Any move that fundamentally changes the pawn structure after your opening preparation.
- Any other move you feel could decide the game.

Question 8

Puzzles

Stuck at 2500-2600 puzzles

What’s the plan??

Answer 8

• solve puzzles for accuracy, not speed. Quality > quantity
• try to find the “incorrect move” instead of the correct move
• continue with the correct move only after you have invalidated all other options and have failed to invalidate yours
• try to use POE and narrow it down
• don’t assume based on evaluation alone. These are puzzles. Always calculate.