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Better Chess Analysis: The 3x3 Method
By FJ Snijman - He writes about divorce, electronics, passive income, ZX14R, local SEO and small businesses
October 27, 2023
The source is a transcript from a YouTube video by GM Noel Studer that argues against common chess game analysis methods, particularly the "Game Review" feature on Chess.com, which the speaker claims often leads to confusing and misleading takeaways.
The Problem with Traditional Chess Analysis
The Grandmaster proposes a "3x3 method" as a superior, simpler, and more effective alternative for self-improvement, emphasizing that game analysis should be future-focused to identify actionable lessons rather than merely listing past errors.
Key Takeaways
- Avoid confusing automated analysis that provides wrong lessons
- Focus on future improvement rather than past mistakes
- Use the 3x3 method for clear, actionable insights
The 3x3 Method Explained
This recommended method involves selecting three crucial moments from a game and asking three "why" questions for each—focusing on the player's choice, why it was suboptimal, and why the engine's suggestion is better—to derive clear, personalized takeaways.
- First "Why": Why did I make this specific move?
- Second "Why": Why was my move suboptimal?
- Third "Why": Why is the engine's suggestion better?
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
The speaker warns that gaining "wrong lessons" from automated analysis is highly detrimental to a player's progress, making the strategic avoidance of overwhelm and confusion critical for effective learning.
Bottom line: Focus on quality over quantity in your chess analysis. The 3x3 method provides a structured approach to extract meaningful lessons without the confusion of traditional analysis methods.
