As a dedicated adult chess improver, I’ve recently been focusing on filling gaps in my game analysis skills. I spent this week watching dozens of online videos on how to analyze chess games. I’ve noticed a recurring pattern: many videos simply demonstrations of game analysis without practical guidance. However, amidst the noise, I discovered a handful of actionable tips that have reshaped my approach to analyzing my games.
This article shares the common themes I found, my personal analysis plan, and my favorite video resources to help you refine your game analysis and grow as a player.
Common Themes in Effective Game Analysis
Analyze Without an Engine First - Start by analyzing your games without assistance from a chess engine. This fosters independent thinking and helps you identify your own strengths and weaknesses.
Keep a Record of Your Thought Process - Document your thoughts during the game. What did you notice? Why did you make certain moves? This record provides valuable context for understanding your decisions and learning from them.
Understand Moves, Don’t Just Judge Them - Rather than solely focusing on whether a move was “good” or “bad,” strive to understand the reasoning behind moves. What were the intentions or missed ideas?
Organize Your Analysis Systematically - Use tools like Lichess Study to structure your analysis. Creating an organized format makes it easier to revisit and learn from your work.
Identify Patterns in Mistakes - Over time, look for recurring mistakes across multiple games. Are you missing tactics? Misplaying specific endgames? Struggling in certain pawn structures? Identifying these patterns helps target improvement.
Compare Opening Choices with Master Games - For openings you played, find master games in the same variation. Analyze how the masters approached the position and how their ideas differ from yours.
How I Built My Plan
I wanted a plan that I could reliably complete in about 15 minutes per game for my online rapid games. This ensures I can analyze consistently without feeling overwhelmed. For over-the-board (OTB) games, I plan to dedicate more time and conduct a deeper analysis, as the stakes and learning opportunities are greater.
My Analysis Plan
Opening Review (4 minutes)
Check opening explorer for your line
Note first position where you left known theory
Compare your moves with common master game choices
Rationale: Understanding opening fundamentals provides a solid foundation for middlegame play and helps develop a reliable repertoire.
Critical Moment Analysis (5 minutes)
Identify the most significant position where the game changed
Write down what you were thinking during the game
Analyze alternative moves you considered
Rationale: Deep analysis of one critical position is more valuable than superficial analysis of many positions.
Pattern Recognition (3 minutes)
Note the pawn structure that arose
Identify piece placement issues
Look for tactical themes you missed
Rationale: Recognizing common patterns helps improve pattern recognition and positional understanding.
Engine Check (2 minutes)
Verify your analysis of the critical position
Look for tactical opportunities you missed
Note significant evaluation changes
Rationale: Engine validation helps identify blind spots and tactical oversights.
Lessons Learned (1 minute)
Write down 1-2 key takeaways
Note specific improvements for future games
Add to your personal improvement database
Rationale: Documenting lessons helps reinforce learning and creates a reference for future improvement.
My Favorite Videos on Game Analysis
Here are the top five videos that have influenced my game analysis approach:
How to Analyze Chess Games by Hanging Pawns. Why I liked it: Very specific tips on how to think about analysis. Probably aimed at a bit higher level than me
Reviewing Your Own Chess Games by Dan Heisman. Why I liked it: Practical advice for different phases of the game
How to Analyze (& ANNOTATE) Your Own Games by ChessDojo (David). Why I liked it: I like the idea of focusing on one important part of the game
Tips for Analyzing your Chess Games by Eric Rosen. Why I liked it: Some practical tips on the tools to use and the idea of adding a summary
How to Annotate Your Games (Without a Coach) by ChessDojo (Kostya). Why I liked it: Some specific advice on how to think about moves
Conclusion
Analyzing your own chess games is one of the most powerful ways to improve, but it can feel overwhelming at first. I do not feel that there are a lot of good resources out there. By adopting a structured approach, staying curious about your mistakes, and drawing inspiration from master games, you can turn your analysis into a transformative habit.
Whether you’re analyzing blitz games, rapid games, or OTB tournaments, the key is consistency. Start small, keep improving your process, and, most importantly, enjoy the journey of discovery in each move.
What’s your favorite way to analyze your games? Let me know in the comments!