Building Calculation Depth: The Candidate Move Method

Alexander Kotov's "Think Like a Grandmaster" introduced the world to the concept of candidate moves. Here's how to use it in your daily practice.

What is a Candidate Move? Before calculating deeply, list every possible move worth considering. Don't calculate any move fully until you have the full list. This prevents tunnel vision.

The 3-Step Process 1. **Identify threats** — What is my opponent threatening? Can they win material or checkmate? 2. **List candidates** — Write down (or mentally note) 3–5 candidate moves. 3. **Calculate each** — Go 3–4 moves deep on each candidate before choosing.

Pattern Recognition Accelerates Candidates The more tactical patterns you know (pins, forks, skewers, discovered attacks, deflection), the faster you generate quality candidates. Solve 10 tactical puzzles daily.

Avoid the Blunder Trap Most blunders happen when a player "feels" a move is good and plays it without listing candidates. Even one second of "wait — what else?" before a big move prevents 80% of tournament blunders.

Drill Routine - Mondays/Wednesdays: 20 tactics puzzles (under 5 seconds each) - Tuesdays/Thursdays: 5 complex puzzles (5 minutes each, write candidates) - Weekends: Annotate one of your own games with candidate move analysis

Consistent practice over 3 months will add 100–150 Elo to most junior players.