Think Like a Grandmaster

About This Book

Think Like a Grandmaster by Alexander Kotov is one of the most celebrated chess instruction books of the twentieth century. First published in 1971, it remains a cornerstone of chess education because it tackles a question that few other books address directly: how should a chess player actually think during a game? Kotov was a Soviet Grandmaster who reached the Candidates stage of the World Championship cycle and was renowned both as a player and a writer. His practical experience at the highest levels of competition gave him unique insight into the mental processes that separate strong players from weaker ones. In this book, he distills decades of experience into a systematic method for analyzing chess positions. The book's most famous contribution to chess thinking is the concept of the "tree of analysis." Kotov explains that when faced with a complex position, a player should identify the candidate moves — the most promising options — and then analyze each one systematically to a reasonable depth. The key discipline is to avoid jumping back and forth between variations, which wastes time and leads to errors. Instead, each branch of the tree should be examined thoroughly before moving on to the next. This structured approach to calculation was revolutionary when first published and continues to influence chess training today. Many coaches teach Kotov's method as the foundation of good analytical technique. The concept of candidate moves has become standard vocabulary in chess instruction, and virtually every modern book on calculation references Kotov's work. Beyond calculation, Kotov explores the broader aspects of chess thinking. He discusses how to evaluate positions, how to formulate plans, and how to manage time in tournament games. His advice on time management is particularly practical: he explains how to allocate thinking time based on the complexity and importance of the position, avoiding both impulsive moves and excessive deliberation. The book is divided into several sections that build on each other. The opening chapters establish the theoretical framework for systematic thinking. Middle sections provide detailed examples of the analytical process in action, with Kotov walking readers through his thought process move by move. Later chapters address more advanced topics such as intuition, the role of experience in decision-making, and how to handle positions where calculation alone is insufficient. One of the book's strengths is its honesty about the limitations of systematic thinking. Kotov acknowledges that even grandmasters make mistakes, miscalculate variations, and sometimes rely on intuition rather than pure analysis. This realistic perspective makes the book more useful than idealized accounts of chess thinking that bear little resemblance to actual tournament play. The examples Kotov uses are drawn from high-level games, including many of his own. His annotations reveal the practical challenges of thinking at the board: time pressure, psychological factors, and the difficulty of maintaining concentration over several hours. These insights give readers a realistic picture of competitive chess and help them prepare for the mental demands of tournament play. Critics have noted that Kotov's method, while valuable, can be difficult to apply perfectly in practice. The discipline required to analyze candidate moves without backtracking is challenging, and some positions resist systematic treatment. However, even imperfect application of Kotov's principles leads to more organized and efficient thinking, which translates directly into better results. Think Like a Grandmaster has influenced generations of chess players and teachers. Its emphasis on disciplined thinking and systematic analysis provides a framework that players can use throughout their chess careers. While the specific examples may feel dated to modern readers accustomed to engine analysis, the underlying principles of good chess thinking are timeless.