Candidate-move training means generating plausible alternatives before committing to a line. It helps expose attractive but incomplete first impressions.

What to do

Choose a position from your game, list a few forcing and positional candidates and calculate each consistently. Keep notes before viewing an engine evaluation.

A mistake to avoid

Do not generate a long list without examining the opponent’s replies. A manageable shortlist is useful only when the comparison has substance.

A detail worth checking

Write one reason for rejecting each serious alternative. This separates a calculation exercise from a move-ranking guess and makes it easier to review whether you overlooked a reply or misjudged the resulting position.

Try this practical check

Spend a fixed practice period on one position. Record your preferred move, the alternatives rejected and the reply that would worry you most.

6 Best Chess Books for Beginners and Improving Players (2026)

Reference and further practice

Lichess analysis board