I think that besides this very analytical approach one has the option to play simply, that is avoiding complications and not fearing to resolve them if they come about, and then develop all these reflexes by experience. Let's not forget that GMs (like LuckyTiger :) ) think by recognizing patterns mainly and not by doing tactical analysis of any position from scratch all the time. Generality + experience and a quick eye that spots tactical blunders made by the opponent (that is missing a fork, skewer, or even an infavourable exchange or checkmate) is the way to go for me and it has helped me quite a lot up to now. I'm definately not the player that finds and attacks weaknesses :) I think that this only works against unexperienced players and against good ones it just complicates the position.

another great thinking technique can be found in How to Reassess your Chess, the newest version is volume 4. Look it up on youtube or other sites, the Silman Thinking Technique

that's well-defined article for consultations and avoid the pitfalls 

short and sweet

very helpful

Nice article, i have always had a problem with systematic thinking!

Hi
Thanks for your comment
I had  questions like:
When and how the attack should be done?

How to understand , in the game , I am a winner or loser?

I developed a lot of bad habits playing chess on my handheld scheduler. If you make a wrong move, you just hit the button and choose a different move. It allows guessing to be one of your techniques. Also you aren't forced to learn how to predict your opponent's next move. I think the disciplined steps prior to a move are an underexamined and major element in good to great chess play.

thanks for this. I will use it in my next tournament this weekend.

Sincerely from spain.

Gm LuckyTiger,

I hope to participate in my first tournament ever soon. D'you have any tips for me? 

 ok, but how i lose the fear?

Thank you for such nicely article, though many things sound like common sense for chess player, but many(including me) tend to ignore these things. :)

I just drew a 2100 a few weeks ago in a USCF tournament, and then when I looked at this, I realized that I did all these things. :D

Dear GM Aveskulov

Thank you for your great insights. Your steps might read like common sense, but they are uncommon wisdom.

With your patience, I am going to restate them for myself, just to help cement your four steps in my cement head: 

FIRST - be your opponent! Be generous, not selfish! Think for him/her.  Imagine you are a coach for your opponent. Give them (silent!) considered advice before you think of your own options. (I am poor at this; always thinking of myself first!)

Second: now its your turn. Think: what are the full range of candidate moves I have. Allow yourself to think out of the box: imagine tactical shots and sacs, even if they look bizarre at first glance. Why? Not only will this help you not miss some great tactics, it will deepen your understanding of the position. 

Third: (and having regard to time!), select promising candidates and calculate and compare. Start with the one that you intuitively think is least likely. If threatened, for instance, the last option to think about is retreating that piece. 

Fourth: Decide, but don't move! Have one more decent look around the board. Physically: move your eyes all around the board, as a final check. Don't be lazy or sloppy! 

Now move!

1> be generous: coach your opponent 2>be imaginative: select candidate moves 3> be considered: calculate and compare 4>be decisive: decide. 5>be energetic:look all around the board, one more time. Okay: move!  

Actually, a good recipe for life, as well as chess!

Thanks again for a really excellent article. 

Davidmelbourne.

Almost, I ignore my opponents undeveloped pieces at times, not my own. For some reason my brain just doesn't see them.

Excellent advice "tovarish"!! I got something out of your article.

 I have a tendency to thimk if a piece has not been developed then it isn't actually there, - Actually idea to improve the worst piece is what we should usually do if we don't see any activity from both sides. But undevelopped piece on c8 or a8 can be already enough active don't do any moves. So, everything depends on mission it completes. Did I understand your question?

and I end up dropping things I shouldn't. - That's a very general problem. A lot of players (including GMs) drop the line in the most interesting moment thinking something like "ok, here he crushes me" or "here his king escapes". But just one more question to yourself ("don't I finish the line premature?") could get new points. 

Nice article. hope to read more of this type.

thanks

I consider myself to be a decent player, probably around a 1600 or so although I am technically not rated yet. However, there are times when my brain just ignores things. I have a tendency to thimk if a piece has not been developed then it isn't actually there, and I end up dropping things I shouldn't. Did this ever happen to you when you were still learning? Any advice other than just try to focus more?

kinda helpful ;)

thanks !

Great article & explanation...