Forcing Moves First
The most effective way to calculate is to look for forcing moves first. Checks, captures, and threats limit your opponent's responses, making variations easier to foresee. This guide teaches you how to prioritize forcing moves in your analysis to find tactical shots and avoid missing critical opportunities.
Before you improve a piece or make a quiet move, always ask: Is there a forcing move?
What Are Forcing Moves?
Forcing moves are moves that severely limit your opponent’s choices. The classic set is known as:
- Checks – the king must respond
- Captures – material is immediately changed
- Threats – something serious must be answered
These are often abbreviated as CCT.
Why Forcing Moves Come First
- They can win material or deliver mate immediately
- They often refute quiet-looking plans
- They expose tactical weaknesses
- They prevent walking into opponent tactics
Common Errors When Forcing Moves Are Ignored
- Playing a slow improving move and getting hit tactically
- Missing a simple check that wins material
- Overlooking a capture that refutes your plan
- Assuming “nothing is happening” in the position
The Correct Order of Thinking
- 1. Opponent threats
- 2. Your forcing moves (CCT)
- 3. Quiet improving candidates
- 4. Compare and choose
Checks: Powerful but Dangerous
- Not every check is good
- Bad checks can lose tempo
- Always ask: What is the follow-up?
Strong players use checks to force progress, not just to “do something”.
Captures: Look Twice
- Is the capture defended?
- What recaptures exist?
- Does the capture open a line?
Many blunders come from “automatic” captures.
Threats: Subtle but Deadly
- Threatening mate
- Threatening material gain
- Threatening to improve decisively
Good threats often force awkward defensive moves.
Forcing Moves in Time Trouble
- Checks are easiest to calculate
- Captures simplify positions
- Threats reduce opponent options
Training This Skill
- Pause before every move: “Any checks?”
- Use tactics puzzles consciously
- Review missed forcing moves after games
- Apply during slow games first