Principles of pragmatic chess thinking

One of the fundamental pillars of chess intuition is the development of a pragmatic flow of thought according to techniques, schemes and game principles that are easily applicable to any situation.

Since most positions in chess do not require more than 2 to 3 move maneuvers in line with the achievement of precise strategical objectives, the cases where global plans are deemed necessary are rather rare and correspondent to specific positional criteria more than generic plans or typical maneuvers, but it is always possible to implement nuances of flexible thinking that favor our selection, execution and reassessment of the considered moves.

Examples abound in practice, so we will limit ourselves to learning the core ideas in each of these principles in order to creatively stimulate our strategic reasoning and avoid overloading our memory unnecessarily.


1. Proportion

Your plan must be consistent with the strategic nuances of the position. The selection and calculation of moves should not be made based on an exhaustive assessment of the approximate final position, but according to the criteria of whether your position has improved or worsened.

2. Economy

In the attack you have to invest the maximum expenditure of force. In the defense, it is the contrary, a minimum expenditure of force should be applied.

3. Contrast & Reduction

It is often enough to make sure that your move is logical, promising, and not 'easily refutable'. In other words, that it instinctively looks good and is superior to any other possible movement at your disposal, having nothing better to bet on.

4. Contingency Route

In critical situations (with little time on the clock, or in a totally defensive position), it is best to dispense with the extensive visualization of variations in case you recognize in the analytical process that a draw can be achieved at least, and there are also no less promising tactical opportunities to play for the initiative.

5. Time Management

It is feasible to spend more time choosing a move only when it is indisputable that the situation has an exact solution, that the decision to be made will influence the rest of the game, or that a reasonable logical continuation is not immediately apparent.

Otherwise, it is enough to subtly review the necessary little variations, endeavoring to assess the preponderant tactical resources of the position on which to justify your moves.
 

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