The next improvement: A compound algorithm

It has been an idea in my mind that different positions require different types of thinking patterns. Yes, it would be much easier if we could find one algorithm that works in all positions, like an algorithm to convert FEN values to DTM values. Even though I haven't yet given up on this idea, for now, I will only be working on algorithms that have a margin of error and will have different implications for different people. But one thing is for sure: no matter the implication disparity, it should improve your overall play with the correct usage.

Before explaining the intracacies, I will first give you a look at the improved algorithm.

Improved algorithm

1. Step 01:
   Calculate the amount of tension and the severity of tactical weaknesses (hanging pieces, king safety disparities, alignments, and trapped and overloaded pieces) in the position.
2. Step 02:
   Choose the algorithm according to the calculation done on the first step in the following manner:

• High tension and severity:
  Use the pure form of IAA. To keep this blog post short, I won't be explaining this algorithm here. But if you want to learn about it, click here. But instead of using intuition as the evaluation function, use "verbal evaluation". "Verbal evaluation" is described below in sufficient detail.
• Medium tension and severity:
  1. Step 2.2.1: Create a verbal evaluation for the current position by comparing positional factors. Positional factors are the factors that define a position in various situations. The steps to be carried out here are solely based on your chess knowledge. Some important positional factors in chess positions are given below:
     King safety, Material, Activity, Pawn structure, Space, Weaknesses, Passed pawns, Domination
  2. Step 2.2.2: Come up with the candidates for the best move by getting ideas and making plans with the aid of the verbal evaluation on what to do next.
  3. Step 2.2.3: Compare the positional factors after each of your opponent's plausible moves against your candidates for the best move to get a new verbal evaluation. You can look further than this, but the rule is that you should always look an even number of plies ahead. Figure out the move that gives resulting positions with the highest improvement of the verbal evaluation of the initial position.
  4. Step 2.2.4: Make sure you are not falling into any tactics by analyzing your tactical weaknesses and your opponent's actions against them.
  5. Step 2.2.5: Play the move that gives the resulting positions with the highest improvement or the lowest depletion of the verbal evaluation of the initial position without falling into tactics that cause a much devastating depletion of the verbal evaluation.
• Low tension and severity:
  These situations usually occur at the beginning of the endgame. The technical phase of the endgame. But they can also occur in closed middle-game positions. A speciality of this phase, apart from being tactically neutral, is that the verbal evaluation evaluates all moves to be equal. Hence, the thinking pattern you should follow is different. Given below is the thinking pattern you should follow. It's called "schematic thinking" in the great book "Excelling at Chess" by Jacob Aargard.
  1. Step 3.1: Create an extra-detailed verbal description for the position.
  2. Step 3.2: Fantasize a positioning of pieces which improve the verbal evaluation. You will need an extra amount of knowledge and experience to come up with realistic and effective fantasy positions
  3. Step 3.3: Work on maneuvering your pieces and pawns to get your "fantasy" position on the board. Make sure you don't create tactical weaknesses and fall into tricks using calculations in the process.
  4. Step 3.4: Exit from this thinking pattern into the IAA at the right moment to get to a favourable position compared to the current position. Use verbal evaluation as the evaluation function.

Complex, but successful. This is the result of the improvement I gained over the past couple of weeks. This algorithm is my best so far, but it has some gaps. Some of them are explained below.

Gaps explained

1. This algorithm requires a great deal of knowledge and experience to use. But as I have come to realize, chess is not entirely math yet. It is something that requires training, skill and knowledge. This algorithm will surely enhance your play by a great margin, but without further learning, it is as useful as it is for you now.

2. The second gap is that it might be difficult for the inexperienced to understand (especially these factors such as creating "fantasy positions"). I have done my best to explain it here, so understanding it using the knowledge you gain from external resources and thinking alone is up to you.

3. This algorithm is slow. It should never be used in blitz or rapid without modifications. Following are my ways of modifying the algorithm to suit blitz and rapid. Given above is the algorithm for standard chess.

   Blitz: Sense the correct moments to use the IAA and schematic thinking. In all other occasions when you don't sense it's the time to switch, use the algorithm for positions with medium tension and severity. Don't spend much longer to build up verbal evaluations and use intuition to know which of the lines to explore and evaluate.
   Rapid: Use the same modified algorithm as in blitz but take more time to build up the verbal evaluations.

These are the gaps I see in this algorithm. But at least, these can be mitigated through further studies and gameplay, as I am doing now. It has been tiring but useful to write this article, as it's hard to always keep these in your head during periods of rest. These do not go into muscle memory. So I am glad to have finished writing this, and if you have any questions, we can discuss them privately or in the comments section. Hope you enjoyed the read and have a nice day!

External links

Twitter: https://x.com/felew699
Against Stockfish: https://lichess.org/study/2guM490P
Club of Believers: https://lichess.org/team/the-club-of-believers
Opening Study: https://lichess.org/study/cKyW7Mmz

Special Thanks to...

Grammar Editor: https://app.grammarly.com/