How to analyse your games

The point of analysing your game is to see where you need to improve for next time, not to see if the computer disagrees with you, or to produce a set of notes suitable for a magazine.

As soon as possible after the game, write down your thoughts as you remember them during the game, concentrating on critical moves and mistakes. There may have been only one critical moment; so be it. Also, make a note of where you ran out of 'book' moves that you can remember.
On Lichess or your home database (DO NOT TURN ON THE ANALYSIS ENGINE), enter the moves of the game and your thoughts about the critical moment(s).
Do not turn on the analysis engine.
Go through the moves again, this time trying to decide if your thoughts during the game at those moments were correct, and if not, what is correct.
Still don't turn on the analysis engine.
Make a note of any improvements in moving or thinking.
Now you can check your analysis against the computer's. You may now have three comments to compare about a critical moment: "Me then", "Me now", and "Stockfish".
Again, make notes of any more improvements in moving or thinking. A mistake in calculation (I missed a check at the end) may also have a mistake in judgement (there was no way this was going to work because I was not as well developed as my opponent).
Also, when you ran out of 'book' moves, use the book/database to see if you missed any good ideas.
If you made a mistake (as if...), or if you disagree with the computer, think about how you are going to avoid that mistake next time, and make a list of tips for yourself at the end of the game (e.g. don't rush through the opening, don't assume recaptures are forced).
You can also make a longer list of tips from all your games. If you keep giving yourself the same advice, stop giving the same advice, and start taking it!

N.B. You are allowed to disagree with the computer. Computers will tell you what the best move and likely result is, computer vs. computer. You are trying to decide what is the best move for you.

Club player example: HICUP

GM Example: https://youtu.be/_SGjLJ13oYk?t=568

More advice on game analysis from the Chess Dojo:
5m version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3MiuKuynm0
25m version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKfaWbD84S8

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HICUP.PNG

Chess Tips

MIDDLEGAME TIPS:

* KNIGHT: The short-stepping Knight can get left behind if the battle moves away, so the best bet is to keep them in the centre. They are often best placed on c3 and f3 in the opening, although a Pawn on c3 may be needed to support d2-d4. Later, e5 and d5 are useful squares to occupy when they can threaten Pawns on c7/f7 and pinned Knights on c6/f6. They may be driven away from e5/d5 by pawns; best are squares where the opponent cannot - or dare not - chase them with pawns. If Black has moved his Pawns from c7 to c5 and from e7 to e5 then a Knight on d5 can never be driven away, only exchanged for another piece. When this happens, you can try to recapture with another piece which also cannot be driven off. But another good square for a Knight, when pawns are on e4 and e5, is f5: here it threatens the pawn on g7, and if ever Black pushes it away with g6 then a hole appears on h6 for the Knight to hop into, perhaps giving check.

Devon Junior Chess Association (DJCA)

Supporting junior chess in the county

Devon Junior Chess

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Chess Tips