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THE THREE QUESTIONS

Improving play and move selection criteria.

10-questions reduced to three questions for brevity and memory association in a real game

The original 10 questions


1. What does my opponent want?
2. What happens if I pass?
3. What's the least I must do to stop it?
4. Improve my worst piece.
5. Restrict their counterplay.
6. Control key squares.
7. Avoid helpful trades.
8. Prepare my plan safely.
9. Check hidden tactics.
10. Does my move help them?

The reduction to 3 questions

1. What is my opponent trying to do, and what happens if I ignore it?

This merges:

  • What does my opponent want (1)
  • What happens if I pass (2)
  • Does my move help them (10)
  • Check hidden tactics (9)
  • Avoid helpful trades (because trades often help their plan) (7)

This becomes the entire prophylactic awareness module.

2. What is the least I must do to limit their plan and restrict their counterplay?

This merges:

  • What’s the least I must do to stop it (3)
  • Restrict their counterplay (5)
  • Control key squares (6)

This becomes the efficiency + restriction module.

3. What improves my position safely—especially my worst piece?

This merges:

  • Improve my worst piece (4)
  • Prepare my plan safely (8)
  • Avoid helpful trades (from your perspective) (7)

This becomes the self-improvement + safe execution module.

Final Three‑Question System

  1. Opponent: What are they trying to do, and what happens if I ignore it?
  2. Restriction: What’s the least I must do to limit their plan and key squares?
  3. Improvement: What improves my position safely—especially my worst piece?

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