This is great! It's like a Grand Unified Theory of game review, combining blunder checks, Aagard's 3 Qs, and Nick Vasquez's "got it wrong/didn't see it" into one simple system. The only thing that I can't find a place for here is time management. If you make a mistake primarily as a result of time pressure from playing too slowly earlier in the game, how would you categorize that?
I'll get into "out-of-game issues" more in a future article. Things like time management, tilt, anchoring to past achievements, toxic expectations, having a fixed mindset, being overly attached to goals, etc. would fall into a different category of things. They are things that are very important to work on but would be different than what is discussed in this current article.
Great question! Time management is its own skill, but playing short on time is like being 2-300 points worse or more. Guess it depends on where you’re using the time and why.
The two-layer diagnostic system is genius - seperating 'saw it wrong' from 'didn't see it' makes your post-game reviews way more actionable. I used to just beat myself up after blunders without understanding WHY I messed up, but now I can actually target the specific breakdown. Step 4 is probly my biggest weakness, I find a move I like and just play it without asking what comes next.
When applying this system to post game analysis (let's say we are talking about a serious OTB 90+30 game), how much effort would you put into it? Specifically, would you go over all the moves (which could easily take as much time as the game itself e.g. 3-4 hours), or would you focus on a few key moves? If only key moves, how would you choose these key moves?
You don't need to look at every single move in a game. I would focus on the critical moments where you made a mistake, as well as moves that you thought on for a long time (even if you didn't make a mistake). Those moves can be identified using Chessalyz.ai, the Chess.com/lichess.org game review, or manual (engine) analysis.
Thanks Dalton! Great post. One thing I like to do in Step 1 is make sure I’m looking for the weakness caused by their move first and then the threat. How do you handle that?
You're welcome! You could incorporate this into Step 1 with additional questions like "What did my opponent's recent move change about the position? What did they do/threaten and undo/unprotect?" Recognizing what the opponent's move undoes/unprotects can be useful since it might open up moves for you that weren't available earlier.
Brilliant post. I have been looking for a system to make more consistent decisions at the board and just as importantly classify errors (though I think AI will help with that in the not too distant future) and this is the best I have seen thus far. Thank you!
This is great! It's like a Grand Unified Theory of game review, combining blunder checks, Aagard's 3 Qs, and Nick Vasquez's "got it wrong/didn't see it" into one simple system. The only thing that I can't find a place for here is time management. If you make a mistake primarily as a result of time pressure from playing too slowly earlier in the game, how would you categorize that?
I'll get into "out-of-game issues" more in a future article. Things like time management, tilt, anchoring to past achievements, toxic expectations, having a fixed mindset, being overly attached to goals, etc. would fall into a different category of things. They are things that are very important to work on but would be different than what is discussed in this current article.
Great question! Time management is its own skill, but playing short on time is like being 2-300 points worse or more. Guess it depends on where you’re using the time and why.
The two-layer diagnostic system is genius - seperating 'saw it wrong' from 'didn't see it' makes your post-game reviews way more actionable. I used to just beat myself up after blunders without understanding WHY I messed up, but now I can actually target the specific breakdown. Step 4 is probly my biggest weakness, I find a move I like and just play it without asking what comes next.
From my years of coaching, I would definitely say that Step 4 is where most mistakes are made by club-level players
When applying this system to post game analysis (let's say we are talking about a serious OTB 90+30 game), how much effort would you put into it? Specifically, would you go over all the moves (which could easily take as much time as the game itself e.g. 3-4 hours), or would you focus on a few key moves? If only key moves, how would you choose these key moves?
You don't need to look at every single move in a game. I would focus on the critical moments where you made a mistake, as well as moves that you thought on for a long time (even if you didn't make a mistake). Those moves can be identified using Chessalyz.ai, the Chess.com/lichess.org game review, or manual (engine) analysis.
Thanks Dalton! Great post. One thing I like to do in Step 1 is make sure I’m looking for the weakness caused by their move first and then the threat. How do you handle that?
You're welcome! You could incorporate this into Step 1 with additional questions like "What did my opponent's recent move change about the position? What did they do/threaten and undo/unprotect?" Recognizing what the opponent's move undoes/unprotects can be useful since it might open up moves for you that weren't available earlier.
Brilliant post. I have been looking for a system to make more consistent decisions at the board and just as importantly classify errors (though I think AI will help with that in the not too distant future) and this is the best I have seen thus far. Thank you!
Glad to help!