Evaluating positions means judging who stands better, and why, by checking material, king safety, pawn structure and piece activity in that order.
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Material and king safety come first because they decide games fastest. Pawns and piece activity come next, and the result tells you which plans and which moves deserve real calculation.
How to do it
- 1Count material, then check how safe each king is.
- 2Look at the pawns alone: weaknesses, majorities, open files.
- 3Compare piece activity and find your worst-placed piece. Improving it is often the plan.
For your level
When you finish developing, stop and check: material, both kings, the pawns, and which of your pieces does the least.
Common mistakes
- Calculating variations before deciding what the position needs.
- Judging on material alone, when king safety and activity decide many games.
Questions
- How long should evaluating a position take?
- Under a minute, most of the time. It is a checklist, and its purpose is to tell you which two or three moves deserve real calculation.