Why most players analyze games wrong
The typical post-game analysis flow looks like this: open the game in Chess.com or Lichess, click "analyze with engine," watch the evaluation bar jump around, note that move 23 was a blunder, feel bad, close the tab.
This isn't analysis — it's evaluation tourism. You're letting the computer think for you, which means you're not building the pattern recognition that actually improves your chess.
Real game analysis requires effort. It should be uncomfortable. That discomfort is where learning happens.
The right way to analyze a game
Step 1: Analyze without the engine first
Go through the game move by move and write down (or at least think through) your answers to these questions at each critical moment:
- What was I thinking when I played this?
- What alternatives did I consider?
- Where did I feel uncertain?
- Where did the position feel like it turned?
This step is non-negotiable. If you skip it and go straight to the engine, you're not building your own calculation ability — you're just verifying the computer's.
Step 2: Identify your candidate moves before checking
At every position where you made a significant mistake (eval drop of 1+ pawn), pause before checking the engine line. Ask yourself: "What should I have played here? What did I miss?"
Force yourself to find the better move. The struggle to find it — even if you fail — trains your pattern recognition in a way that passively reading the engine line never will.
Step 3: Use the engine to understand the why, not the what
Once you've worked through the position yourself, turn on the engine. But instead of just noting "Nf5 was the best move," ask:
- Why is Nf5 better? What does it accomplish?
- Why did I miss it? Was it a calculation error? A pattern I don't recognize?
- Have I seen this type of position before? Where?
Understanding the reason behind the best move is what transfers to future games.
Step 4: Find the critical moment
In most games, there's one or two moments where the game was decided — not the final blunder, but the earlier decision that put you in a losing position. Find these moments and spend most of your analysis time there.
Ask: "What was the last moment where I had a good position? What happened next? Was my mistake tactical (miscalculation) or positional (wrong plan)?"
Step 5: Categorize your mistakes
Keep a simple log of your mistakes by type:
- Tactical: missed fork, overlooked hanging piece, miscalculated sequence
- Strategic: wrong plan, poor piece placement, ignored imbalances
- Time pressure: rushed moves in difficult positions
- Opening: left theoretical preparation, ended up in an unfamiliar position
After 20-30 games, your log will reveal patterns. This is the most valuable output of game analysis — knowing which type of mistake you make most often.
How many games should you analyze?
One game analyzed deeply is worth more than ten games skimmed. But for identifying patterns, you need volume. Aim to thoroughly analyze at least one game per week, and do a lighter review of others to spot recurring themes.
Tools like Be Good at Chess can help with the pattern-spotting across many games at once, but they should complement your manual analysis of individual games, not replace it.
Common mistakes in game analysis
Only analyzing losses: You can learn just as much from wins where you played inaccurately and got lucky. Analyze games where the result doesn't match the quality of play.
Stopping at the blunder: Don't just identify the losing move — understand the whole sequence. Why were you in a position where a blunder was possible?
Moving on too fast: Spend 20-30 minutes on a game, not 5. Deep analysis of one game beats shallow review of five.
Not following up with training: If you identify a pattern — say, you keep missing back-rank threats — immediately do 10-15 puzzles on that theme. The connection between analysis and targeted practice is what makes improvement stick.
Building an analysis habit
The players who improve fastest analyze every serious game they play. Not necessarily for an hour — even 15 minutes of focused analysis beats nothing. The key is consistency.
Pick a time control where you have enough time to actually think (10+5 minimum), and commit to reviewing each game before you play another.