"I look one move ahead... the best!"

Siegbert Tarrasch

Chess is a wonderfully rich and complex game, but ultimately the goal can be simply defined as consistently finding the best move. If you are able to do this, you will win your games. However, the million dollar question is: how can we give ourselves the very best chance of doing so?

Per Ostman is convinced that there are three key elements: first and foremost, a structured move-by-move thinking process; second, the desired skills to execute this process; and finally, traditional chess knowledge we can build upon. Ostman examines these three vital building blocks which form the basis of what we need to master. He describes in detail a clear thinking process he has developed over several years as a chess teacher - a process to guide us in our ultimate search to find the best move.

• Improve your chess by structured move selection
• Numerous examples to illustrate clear thinking processes
• Covers calculation, planning and attacking skills
• Includes opening, middlegame and endgame play

Per Ostman is an experienced chess teacher and analyst. He has trained his son, Erik, to become one of the strongest junior players in Australia and has guided his school to continued success at state championships. He works as a Solutions Architect for Microsoft, and has also developed computer chess programs.

007 Foreword

009 Preface

013 Introduction

016 Part 1: Process

018 Update

022 Select

026 Verify

030 Check

033 Execute

035 Prepare

038 Full Example

043 Part 2: Potential Candidate Moves

052 Part 3: Knowledge

054 Opening

072 Endgame

103 Imbalances

124 Combinations

141 Attack

157 Part 4: Skills

159 Calculation

177 Evaluation

182 Planning

188 Creativity

190 Time

198 Part 5: Preparation

200 Physical

202 Mental

204 Training

211 Opponent

214 Failure

**

218 Conclusion

220 Recommended Resources