Candidate moves are a short, deliberate list of plausible choices examined before committing.
Three ideas to understand
- Start with checks, captures and direct threats, then add one or two positional moves.
- Compare candidates against the opponent's strongest reply, not a cooperative answer.
- Confirm the tactical idea with a complete legality and blunder check before playing it.
Work through a concrete example
In a quiet position, improving the worst piece may outrank a harmless check.
A reliable thinking process
List the stable imbalances: pawn weaknesses, open lines, space, good and bad pieces, and king safety. Choose the imbalance you can improve without allowing a tactical reply, then identify the pawn break or exchange that would transform the position. Strategic plans should have a target and a way to make progress.
Common mistake
Listing too many moves consumes time; choosing only one creates tunnel vision.
Practice drill
Use a three-candidate limit in five positions and record why each rejected move failed.
Check your understanding
Name the worst-placed piece for each side and one useful pawn break. If all pieces stay on the board for five moves, which side improves more easily—and what exchange would change that conclusion?
Take it into your next game
Save one representative position and review it briefly before your next playing session. During the game, do not search for an identical diagram; watch for the same relationship between pieces, squares and pawn structure. Mark the moment when the idea first became relevant, even if you chose another plan. After the game, compare your decision with the lesson and write one adjustment for the next session. This transfer step is more valuable than rereading the article without making a decision.
Finally, explain the position in one sentence without using the lesson title. If the explanation names the relevant squares, pieces and consequence, you understand the idea rather than only recognizing its label. Continue with the related lesson and compare the decision process.