A model game is useful when you follow the decisions and plans rather than rush through moves to the result.
What to do
Pause at changes in pawn structure, exchanges and attacks. Predict a move, explain the idea and compare it with the played move. Keep only the lessons that relate to your current understanding.
A mistake to avoid
Do not treat the winner’s every move as an instruction valid in all positions. The opponent’s resources and concrete tactics still matter.
A detail worth checking
Limit annotations to a few turning points during the first pass. Too many copied variations can obscure the main plan and make the game harder to recall than a concise account of the important decisions.
Try this practical check
Choose one game with an opening you play. Summarize the middlegame plan and one turning point without copying the annotator’s wording.
Related reading
6 Best Chess Books for Beginners and Improving Players (2026)
