A Framework for Position Analysis

Based on the Steps Method, I developed the following framework for Position Analysis:

It is critical that you complete your Orientation before you start looking at moves and variations.

With complete orientation, you have a much better understanding of the position, which creates a logical framework for moves and variations in the Calculation and Evaluation step.

Let me illustrate the framework with the following example from Step 3+:

Orientation:

• Material balance: White is a pawn up
• Nc3 and Ra1 are undefended and on the same diagonal
• Ra1 and Bc1 are not developed yet, and White's rooks are not connected
• Bb6 is pinning the pawn on f2, and Rf8 is indirectly attacking the pawn on f2
• Ng4-Qh2+-Qh1 is mate
• White is threatening to trade black's most powerful attacker Qd6, with Qe6+ (White's plan)
• Ra8 is not active yet.

In summary, Black has a lot of pressure on f2, and white's king is vulnerable. White would like to trade attackers to reduce the pressure, finish their development, and potentially convert their material advantage.

This leads us to the next step:

Calculation and Evaluation

Let me show how the orientation connects to candidate moves:

• 1... Bd4 (Nc3 and Ra1 undefended and on the same diagonal): create a pin
• 1... Qg3 (the pawn on f2 is vulnerable and pinned, bring attacker ): attack the pinned piece, bring attacker for a mating attack
• 1... Bc7 (threaten mate to the vulnerable king): create a battery and threaten mate
• 1... Ng4 (Bb6 is pinning f2 and Rf8 is indirectly attacking f2): discovered attack on f2 and threaten mate with Qh2
• 1... Bxf2 (immediately attacking the vulnerability f2)
• 1... Rae8 (Ra8 is not active yet): activate all pieces, trade defender Re1

Let's calculate and evaluate the different candidate moves. Visualization is an important aspect of analysis. For this reason, I am not showing the moves in the diagram above.

• 1... Bd4 2. Bb2 Rae8 3. Qd2, and White has finished their development. Bd4 is undefended. =
• 1... Qg3 (the life of Qg3 now depends on Bb6) 2. Be3 (from the Orientation, we know that White likes to trade!) 2... Bxe3 3. Qxe3 Qxe3 4. fxe3 Black's attack is gone, and White is better
• 1... Bc7 (this plays right into White's plan) 2. Qe6+ Qxe6 3.Rxe6 with equality. Note that by finding White's threat in the Orientation, we find 2. Qe6 immediately, whereas otherwise we might have considered 2. g3.

This leaves us with 1... Bxf2, 1... Ng4 and 1... Rae8. From a practical point of view, I would disregard 1... Bxf2 and 1... Ng4. With 1... Rae8, we can trade a white defender first before launching our attack. The improved balance between attackers and defenders can only work in our favour.

• 1... Rae8 2. Qd2 Rxe1+ 3.Qxe1 Ng4 4.hxg4 Bxf2+ 5.Qxf2 Rxf2 7.Kxf2
  Can you visualize this position and evaluate the material balance? Is Black winning?
  Black invested a rook+bishop+knight into the attack for a queen+pawn: 11 versus 10 points.
  Can you find the winning move for Black? The targets Nc3 (undefended piece) and Kf2 (king) make it easy to find the double attack Qf6+, winning Nc3 with a winning advantage for Black.

Verification

The principal variation, starting with 1... Rae8 consisted of forcing moves that left White with no alternatives. We did not overlook a strong reply by White.

Most common analysis issues

What are the most common issues that players have with using this framework?

• Not considering the opponent's plan as part of the Orientation
• Skipping the Verification step, which tries to falsify your calculation by considering the strongest replies of your opponent
• Jumping to moves and variations before completing the Orientation
• Inability to visualize, including being fluent in naming the squares:
  • Clear image of the positions in the variations
  • Precise assessment of the changed dynamics between pieces in the variations
• Inability to evaluate a position correctly, especially when one side has more material and the other side has a lead in development and more space
• Inability to have a structured thought process
  Many students have difficulty with the following assignment: make a decision tree of the variations, give an evaluation at the end of each line, and highlight the principal variation.

I started a video series analysing one position using the process outlined above. There are more than 10 videos for different rating categories.
https://youtu.be/5J6z-UNtrkE

On Saturday morning, I am live-streaming, solving lichess puzzles with viewers using the process above.

• Orientation - Calculation/Evaluation - Verification
• Accuracy over Speed (guessing)
• Calculation (specific variations) over Intuition

It is fun to try to find the Truth together in the positions!