Game Spotlight: Look for a Better Move

Among the best known quotes regarding Chess is Emmanuel Lasker’s, “When you see a good move, look for a better one.”  Which is great advice, with a couple of caveats.  First, you still have to consider the clock.  So yes, keep looking for better moves, but be prepared to cut yourself off and just play the good move if you’re in danger of using too much time.  Perhaps more importantly, following this advice can lead to convincing yourself that a good move isn’t.  The second move you consider isn’t automatically a better move, and it’s very easy to make yourself believe that it is.

So, what does this look like in practice?  Here’s a game I showed to a friend the day after it happened, and this idea came out in conversation.  In the sequence from move 25, there’s examples of finding a better move, failing to do so, and just making a practical decision not to bother looking because a move was already winning enough.

The Third Jamhuri Cup is this weekend at Goan Gymkhana.  Good luck to all participating.