Throughout my life, I’ve taken part in countless chess camps around the world and learned from some of the best coaches out there. Each coach has their own unique philosophy and teaching methods, but there’s one exercise that almost all of them have consistently recommended.

American grandmaster and renowned coach Gregory Kaidanov called it “Solitaire Chess,” which is where I first heard about this exercise, but it may be more widely known as “Guess the Move.” During a camp led by Ramesh R.B. (founder of Chess Gurukul and coach of talents like Pragg), I learned his preferred way of using this exercise.

I’ve shared insights from that camp, including a detailed mind map, in a previous blog post: What I Learned from One of the World’s Best Coaches. But here, I’ll focus specifically on “Guess the Move.”

How to Practice ‘Guess the Move’

1. Choose a Player
Start by selecting a specific top-level player whose games you’ll study. Ramesh suggests picking someone whose playing style is similar to your own. This makes the exercise more relevant and effective. For a deeper guide on how to choose the right player, check out the video I made:

2. Study the Game from Their Perspective
Choose games that the selected player won, and focus solely on guessing their moves.

3. Skip the Opening Moves
You don’t need to guess the opening moves, as they often follow well-known theory. Start the exercise after the first 4–5 moves.

Step-by-Step for Each Move

Understand the Opponent’s Move
Ask yourself: Why did my opponent play this move?
Identify three possible reasons within 15–20 seconds. This trains you to think prophylactically and anticipate your opponent’s ideas.

Evaluate the Opponent’s Move
Look for potential weaknesses.

  • Does the move create any new weaknesses?
  • Did you miss anything important?

Identify Candidate Moves
Come up with three possible moves for your player.
Briefly analyze each one and rank them from worst to best.

Check the Actual Move
Compare your top-ranked candidate move with the one the player actually played.

  • If you guessed correctly—great!
  • If not, think about why you missed it.
  • If the move wasn’t even on your radar, see it as a chance to learn something new.

Repeat and Refine
Repeat the process for every move, using the same structured analysis. Over time, this exercise will sharpen your understanding of positional subtleties and strategic planning.