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Questions tagged [best-practice]

Best practice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_practice) is the best way of doing something or the recommended way of doing something in a high-quality manner.

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How do I analyze my game after playing?

What techniques do you use to analyze your games or other people's games? How much time do you spend on analyzing the game? Are there any tools (electronic or manual, such as a piece of paper) you use during analysis?
xaisoft
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What is the most effective way of reducing blunders?

Many people suggest tactical exercises as the best form of study for this purpose but I find that it only attacks the problem from one dimension (not making the strongest in a position). Analyzing my own games I find that I'm much more likely to…
rgrinberg
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Is allowing takebacks in friendly games a bad practice?

When I am playing friendly games with my brother, if one of us makes a big blunder that would make it pointless to continue playing, instead of quitting, we undo the move(s) to give a second chance (if we both agree, otherwise the one that did the…
ajax333221
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Best ways for improving "tactics"

I have been playing chess for a long time, and I have been around 1850-1900 ELO for quite some time. I have always wondered which are the best ways to improve the tactics. Does playing more and more games improve chess tactics? Playing limited…
Anshu
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How quickly must a move be completed?

I was playing in a tournament once, during a sequence of captures, my opponent could recapture my Knight about 4 different ways. He just removed it and carried on thinking. What should I have done?
AndyM
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What to do after losing a game?

What to do after losing a game? I think that this question is on everyones' minds after a loss. I am guessing that everyone has their own way of coping with a loss. The best way to cope with a loss can turn out to vary from person to person. Yet,…
Rauan Sagit
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Is it more helpful to play with a titled player than to play with a chess engine?

I can choose to hire a titled player to play with me; at the same time, playing with the computer is usually free and more flexible. As far as improving one's chess skill is concerned, is there more value in playing with a titled player than playing…
Zuriel
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How do I learn a new opening?

Often times, when I find myself going through the lines of a new opening, one that I would like to start using in my games I hit the concrete wall after a couple of days of studying it. Due to the fact that this is new to me, I simply don't…
Helio
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What is the better way to stop blundering all my games?

I am on the road that starts from the "Beginner" stage, trying to leave this "town". I know and understand the rules, I also understand most of the "classic" tactics. I am able to reproduce some mating patterns (and to understand them I think). But…
pim999
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What is the etiquette (or tournament rule) for the act of capturing a piece?

There are a few different possible ways of capturing an opponent's piece. You could: Pick up both your piece and their piece simultaneously with both hands, then set your piece down where their piece was. Pick up both your piece and their piece…
Tanner Swett
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How not to use a chess engine?

How not to use a chess engine? What are the bad practices when using a chess engine, and the good ones? How trustworthy are their suggestions and evaluations?
ferit
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Eating and drinking before and during a game

Food and liquid intake provides a human body with energy. Yet having a meal before a chess game can cause the body to focus more on digestion than chess. While lack of energy during a six hour game can cause loss of focus and thereby mistakes.…
Rauan Sagit
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What are techniques to improve the number of moves thought through in advance?

I read somewhere that on average a GM can think up to 10-15 moves ahead in tactical positions. Is there any specific technique to improve this depth? Please do not provide a generic answer on how to improve one's game, I am only interested in…
Binoj Antony
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Checklist before you make a move

What is the checklist that you generally follow before you make a move? I would generally look first for forcing moves (checks/captures), then moves that give me some positional edge. It would be good to know what good players think during moves.
Bhupen
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Can I become a GM by playing 100 games per day without studying books, strategy, etc?

Some things in life you learn by simply doing, not just doing it, but doing it a lot. Practice makes perfection. I don't believe no-one is born a GM. Even Kasparov had to practice a lot. So has anyone have experience with just playing many, many…
Eduard Roberts
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