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Stop inventing, start copying !

ChessAnalysisOpeningStrategy
Stop wasting your time inventing bad plans during your games and start learning from the masters !

Introduction

When I was a beginner, I used to spend a lot of time thinking in my games in order to find what to play next.
Guess what ? All my moves were bad...

But then I realized one thing : I don't have to invent to get better, all I have to do is copy master moves and plans.
Since then, I have won over 1000 elo points and reached almost 2100 fide.

You can do the same, but in order to do so, you have to know everything about master plans, where to learn them, how to learn them, how to use them, etc.

But don't worry, you're in the right place, and I will teach you everything.

What are "typical plans" ?

Strategies and ideas that are accruing in many positions.
It can be particular attacks, exploiting weaknesses, piece maneuvering, and many others.

Let me demonstrate it with one clear example :

https://lichess.org/study/41jInJa9/Jy2tgC9V#17

So basically, it's the ideas behind the moves you play and the direction in which your play goes.

How can you find the right games ?

There are many ways to find the right games to analyze and learn from.
You have to choose games from openings that you play or from positions that are similar.

So here are some ways to find the right games :

1. Ask your trainer or a strong player, who plays your openings, for model games. (don't be shy to ask)

2. Search on google for model games in the opening you want. (Example : model games Chigorin Spanish or Model game in French advance variation etc.)

3. Search for youtube videos where they analyze model games of your openings. (channels that are doing game analysis : Chessnetwork, Agadmator, Hikaru do sometimes interesting game analysis.)

(THE BEST FOR FREE) 4. Open a lichess study, play the first moves for the position/opening you want to study, and open the master database. Then, choose the most interesting games (see picture below).

brave_3IyF4hnpnf.png
Look at the most interesting master games and analyze them in a lichess study.

5. Buy a course on chessable/chessbase (it costs money though...)

How to analyze games and understand typical plans ?

So it's easy to find the games, but how do you even understand the plans and moves that the masters are playing ?

You have to figure out the direction in which the game is going and where the pieces are being played.

Ask you these questions :

Why does he place his pieces here ?
Is it a positional or dynamic position ?
What is his plan ? Does he go for an attack, or is he targeting a weakness ?

Here is one example of how I approach analyzing a game :

https://lichess.org/study/41jInJa9/HhgT4jtf#17

How to use typical plans in your own games ?

So once you analyze master games and their plans, you have to use them.
Most of the time, it happens subconsciously, as you will play the moves and plans that seem logical and natural to you.

But it is not always the case, and sometimes you can still be lost in the large possibilities of the position.
You will have to be asked these questions during the game :

Have I already seen this position (or similar positions) ?
What are the games that I analyzed for this opening, and which plans did the master use?

Here is one of my game examples, so it gets more appealing :

https://lichess.org/study/41jInJa9/gh1CAVcQ#0

Exercices

Now it's your time to work: I give you a choice between two exercises to understand typical plans :

(EASY) 1. Analyze this game by studying the typical plans and moves. The opening is again a Ruy Lopez, Chigorin variation :

https://lichess.org/study/41jInJa9/UHNoQ1DR#0

(HARD) 2. Pick a model game that comes from an opening you play and analyze it. It is harder because you have to find a good model game by yourself.

Conclusion

Chess is one of the most complex games, and people have been studying it for centuries.
Trying to understand the game by only playing and inventing will not bring you anywhere.

You have to study plans and model games in order to find your path to victory.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to write it in the comment section down below.

Don't forget to like my blog and follow me, it would help me a lot.
And if you want to be up-to-date for my next blogs, you can join my team.
Thank you very much.

-Syltstonks