Academy | Calculation | Framework | Threats
Understanding your opponent’s threats is the first step in effective chess calculation. Just as you search for tactical opportunities, you should also search for your opponent’s threats. Before planning your own moves, you must first understand what your opponent is trying to achieve.
If you observe a serious threat, you must either neutralize it immediately or create a stronger counter-threat—but be careful, counter-threats are tricky!
Taking time to recognize threats has a psychological benefit too. Knowing what the threats are helps you feel calmer and focus on the right response. Otherwise, you carry an underlying fear of the unknown, which can negatively affect the clarity of your thinking. And, if there are no serious threats, you know you are free to explore your options.
Examples of Knowing the Threats
The Takeaway
In chess, where possibilities are nearly endless, pruning your calculation is essential, and identifying your opponent’s threats is the first step in that process.