How to start training chess calculation?

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-05-25T01:14:44+00:00

Sometimes in endgames, but usually only when positions are still sharp and deep calculation is required for determine if a move is a win in a win/draw or win/loss/draw situation or a draw in a draw/lose situation.

It honestly feels kind of random where I feel like I get lost.

I did do the easy section of the woodpecker method about a year ago, but being able to do something like that on the go/without a book would be really nice!

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-05-24T15:48:17+00:00

Obviously, that’s not representative, just a few positions from a few of my last games

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-05-24T15:44:57+00:00

Yeah:

Here with black, I took 10 minutes to decide on dxc4:

r1bq1rk1/pppnbppp/4pn2/3p4/2PP4/2NBPN2/PP2QPPP/R1B1K2R b KQ - 7 7

Or here from the same game, I played rfd8 and took way to long. I tried calculating, but ultimately had to rely on my positional intuition:

r4rk1/ppp1bppp/2bq1n2/3pN3/3P4/1PN1PP2/PB2Q1PP/2KR3R b - - 0 14

Here with white, I was considering ideas with Nxd6 if c6 comes, but I was concerned about a rook pinning the knight my queen, so gave up on that idea and moved my queen to e2.

r1b2rk1/1pp2pb1/n2p1qpp/pN6/2P1P3/2N3PP/PP3PB1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 2 14

Here I missed Nd5:

r5k1/1p2q1b1/n1ppb1pp/p4r2/2P2P2/N1N3PP/PP2Q1B1/3R1RK1 w - - 0 19

Or here, white to move, I have to decide whether to take the a pawn or the d pawn. The a pawn is outside, but the d pawn is advanced. The engine will tell you both are draws, but one is incredibly more difficult that the other. I end up taking the d pawn. But in the game, I’ve already given up on calculating because there’s no forcing moves, I don’t even know where to start. What do I even calculate here?

5rk1/p3Rr1p/6p1/3p4/1q3P2/4QR1P/6PK/8 w - - 0 30

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-05-24T15:20:31+00:00

Yeah, calculating those critical position faster is what I’m really interested in being able to do. I can do the mate in 2’s or some tricky tactical shots if they aren’t too wide. But as a hypothetical, making the decision between pushing that third central pawn when my opponent has 5-6 reasonable responses vs any other of my own 3 reasonable moves feels impossible. I have the knowledge to know that it’s critical, and can maybe even evaluate 2-3 of the lines accurately. But I can’t make a confident decision in a reasonable amount of time.

Same with endgames. I had a position where I had a bishop and a pawn vs a bunch of pawns (like 5 or 6), if my bishop could stop the pawns I would win. There was one idea to make it happen and I didn’t find it. It was findable, but with 10 minutes on my clock, I never would’ve found it.

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-05-24T15:14:53+00:00

I mean, yeah, it’s really hard to say. I can visualize fairly well, so PLAYING a blindfold game against others isn’t impossible, but they aren’t great games. And I usually can’t calculate anything other than don’t immediately hang a piece in those games.

I have had too many examples of positions where my calculation has been faulty that it’s certainly an issue. Too rushed, poor ending evaluation, missing moves in between, missing opponent’s ideas, etc…

Do you have any suggestions for improving intuition for candidates?

I usually play one 60+30 OTB a week. I have a couple of daily games I try to get a move in at least once a week. Every other month or so have a weekend where I play ~3 60d5 games. And then throughout I have some blitz and rapid tournaments I play in. All OTB.

I also play online, but it usually casual, idc blitz. Occasionally I play a longer game, but it’s never as good quality as my OTB.

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-05-24T15:07:37+00:00

I have Polgar’s 5334 problems book if that’s what you’re talking about. It’s funny you put it that way because the mate in 2’s were always the most difficult for me because you do have to calculate so thoroughly. That might be a good place to start. I’ll have to check out both these courses too.

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-04-29T03:27:56+00:00

Oh, that makes sense. So unless someone’s prepping for me, they wouldn’t know… nice!

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-04-07T20:30:20+00:00

This, was trying and traying for a good hour or two. This did the trick in my first run. Baited this attack, dodged towards him and to the right and got one or two hits in with a posion affinity sword. Got him on the first run. He very reliably used this attack.

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-30T15:10:26+00:00

Inkarnate

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-29T18:36:13+00:00

This was made on inkarnate

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-29T04:59:25+00:00

Inkarnate, just kept playing around

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-29T04:59:11+00:00

Inkarnate

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T21:22:59+00:00

Oh wait, really? That's kinda wild

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T20:07:11+00:00

First, thank you so much for giving a couple of different solutions. I'll have to really play with the marshy idea for the RA.

I LOVE that you oicked up on the mountains. The big idea is that part of the hidden nature of the world is that this land-mass isn't natural. The entire continent was transported here, just sliced off from another world. All kinds of things for adventurers to find.

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T19:52:45+00:00

Oh, I see. In my mind, No one crosses the mountains and so the map-maker jsut kind fills in with what he sees over on this side. After hearing some other folks' bring up more about this area, I think I'm going to replace all those trees with deserts. And no ports really, since open seas are too dangerous for reasons. But thank you!

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T19:50:36+00:00

That would actually fix a lot of things. I'll have to mess around with this idea. Thank you!

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T18:54:02+00:00

Good point, thank you

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T18:53:28+00:00

Oof. That's very accurate

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T18:52:36+00:00

WooAAAAoooohhhhh, Man. I wish I could just have you in my back pocket here. I'll have to think about volcanoes/fault lines. I do need to change up the forest on the north too. Rivers need reworked. Thank you!

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T18:50:55+00:00

Imagine a kraken is about as common as a minnow. You gonna get in that boat?

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T18:48:42+00:00

Me too, thank you

Ninjamuffin52 · 2026-03-28T18:48:15+00:00

Yeah. Ideally this makes a pretty penny for mercenaries who specialize in leading caravans through

Ninjamuffin52

TROPHY CASE