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From	Message
bigpeta 08-May-13, 09:40	Annotating a completed game. Annotation of completed games is probably the best way to improve your play. Your starting point should be the notes you kept during the game. If you dont use the private notepad facility attached to each game then you are missing out on a very powerful tool. Things to note here are:- 1: Moves (with numbers) where you had to think about which path to take. Notes should say what the choices were, the pros and cons of each and which move you played and why. 2: when you play a move and expect a certain reply; if your opponent plays something unexpected then you should note whether you think they made a mistake or you missed something. 3: Also note game plans for reference, especially plans which determine the type of endgame. (see my post on planning for the endgame). Second phase is the free computer analysis available from GK at the end of the game. When you look at the results you have two options:- 1: look at the move scores without comments. This will show you where the advantage swung from side to side. Try to work out why the swing occurred. 2: Look at the computer generated comments which consist of alternative moves to give a better result. Try to understand why the computer move is better than yours. The third phase is to use an engine (there are many free ones available) to look at several options where the advantage swung a lot. The GK engine only gives the best alternate but with an engine running on your own computer then you can increase a value called PV (preferred values). This will give other lines that may be equal or only slightly worse than the best line. (Remember that to a chess engine a difference of only 0.01 means that move is better!!!) With the PV set to three or four then look to see if your played move is in there. If it is then you have played a reasonable option providing the scores are fairly close. If it is not there then if you have time you can increase the PV until your move appears. (Warning you do need a fast computer to do this). The lower down this list your move appears then you need to do some work on your position analysis. Finally write up your conclusions as annotations to the game and post them for others to add to. You dont need to go into too many moves to start with. Annotating a few key moves is enough to get you into the habit. One final note if you cant see why the computer move is better than yours then find a friendly high rated player to explain it to you. But above all annotate your games. Your play will improve and the notes will be available to reference for future play.
snowman100 09-May-13, 06:57	Annotating a completed game. Thanks Pete. It sounds as if a whole new ballgame is opening up. I've never even thought of using the computer analysis! Perhaps this is why I don't seem to be improving. My rating took huge hits after starting loads of games at once. I played 12 for a long while but recently as m,any as 40. I think I should play fewer more thoroughly. Ill start to scale down a bit now.
bigpeta 09-May-13, 10:30	@snowman yes i normally say no more than 30 games but fewer is even better
hogfysshe 11-May-13, 05:24	alternates to the GK notes feature I sent Pete a lengthy response to his post above and he suggested I share a portion of what I wrote, here. I do use the GK "notes" feature (the tab to right of "moves" and "chat"), but usually for move sequences I've tried on the analysis board and for limited notes (do NOT move B to f5!). But for more involved notes, I will sometimes open a Word doc. A Word doc is nice and spacious and you can format and spread out any notes in a way that works best for you. I need that extra space. It suits my visual/thinking style where the "notes" feature feels confined to me. I save this doc right from the start, "game-vs-robinhood" or whatever, and keep it in a folder titled "game notes." Of course, this does not have to be "Word." It can be any savable word processing document. An example of when I might do this is at a point in the game where I am trying to choose from among several options. I might write down the best candidates and then the sequences that could follow, noting the pros and cons of each. Hopefully, this helps reveal why one route is better and why others are not as good or lead to trouble. (As Pete notes, even if you do get in to trouble, comparing your thinking and any notes with people's comments and the computer analysis at the end of the game may help you avoid trouble and make stronger choices next time. So you can't lose.) Now it is not for everyone to go to these lengths. But it is good to be aware of ideals and options so you can consider making them part of your learning/improvement system.
efc8 11-May-13, 15:11	Annotating a completed game This is a very good idea, must utilize it to improve my games. Thanks hogfysshe.
bigpeta 16-Jun-13, 14:45	extra ideas this subject is being discussed in the chess forum. gameknot.com you may find extra useful ideas there.
porcho 14-Jul-13, 16:36	Deleted by porcho on 14-Jul-13, 16:49.

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