The Candidate-Moves Method
In 1971, Alexander Kotov published Think Like a Grandmaster and introduced the concept of "candidate moves", a systematic method for choosing a move in a complex position. The idea is simple: instead of calculating the first move that catches your eye, you identify all the promising moves first, then analyse each one. Decades later, this remains the most effective thinking framework in chess.
The problem it solves
The most common way club players lose time and accuracy is what Kotov called "jumping between variations." You see a move, start calculating, hit a problem, abandon it, see another move, calculate that, abandon it, go back to the first move, and by the time you choose, you've spent five minutes and analysed nothing thoroughly.
The candidate-moves method solves this by imposing structure on the thinking process. You list first, calculate second. This discipline prevents the aimless back-and-forth that eats clock time and produces poor decisions.
The method, step by step
Step 1: Identify candidate moves. Scan the position for all reasonable options. Typically, these are checks, captures, and threats, in roughly that order of priority. In a quiet position, look for improving moves: can a piece go to a better square? Is there a pawn break available?
Step 2: Evaluate each candidate systematically. Take each candidate move and calculate the main line 2-4 moves deep. What is your opponent's best response? What do you play after that? Reach a position you can evaluate (material balance, king safety, piece activity) and move to the next candidate.
Step 3: Compare and choose. After analysing each candidate, compare the resulting positions. Choose the move whose resulting position is best for you, or, if all positions are roughly equal, choose the one with the most practical upside (the one that poses the most problems for your opponent).
When to go deep, when to stay shallow
Not every position requires deep calculation. In quiet positions with no immediate threats, a 2-3 move look-ahead is sufficient, focus on improving your pieces and following your strategic plan. In sharp, tactical positions with checks and captures, you may need to calculate 5-8 moves deep.
The skill is knowing which positions are tactical and which are strategic. A good heuristic: if the position contains a forcing sequence (checks, captures, or strong threats that limit your opponent's options), calculate deeply. If the position is quiet and your opponent has many reasonable responses, think strategically instead.
The "blunder check" addon
Kotov's method assumes you're choosing between good moves. But the most common mistake in chess is not choosing the wrong good move, it's playing a blunder. Add this step to the method: before finalising your move, check it for safety. Does it hang a piece? Does it allow a check? Does it leave something undefended? This takes two seconds and prevents the majority of blunders at every rating level.
See also: 7 Habits That Actually Improve Your Chess, blunder-checking is habit number one.
Try it yourself
In your next slow game (10+0 or longer), consciously apply the candidate-moves method in every critical position. Before calculating, write down (mentally) your 3 candidate moves. Analyse each one for 2-3 moves. Compare. Choose. This will feel slow at first, that's normal. With practice, the listing phase becomes instant (your brain learns to pattern-match candidates) and the discipline pays off in better decisions and fewer blunders.
Reinforce the habit with puzzle training: for each puzzle, identify all candidate moves before trying to solve it.