What is a Good move ! vs Excellent move !! ?

 On sites like Chess.com and Lichess, labels such as Good Move and Excellent Move come from a chess engine’s evaluation. But practically, strong players consistently make these moves by following clear thinking habits. I’ll explain both: how engines judge them, and how you can play them.

1. What is a Good vs Excellent move?

✅ Good move

  • Improves your position

  • Does not worsen the evaluation

  • Follows principles (development, safety, activity)

⭐ Excellent move

  • Best or near-best move in the position

  • Often not obvious

  • Solves multiple problems at once

  • Keeps or increases your advantage under best play

Engines typically call a move excellent when it’s very close to the top engine choice.

2. The thinking process strong players use (VERY important)

Before every move, do this mental checklist:

Step 1: Ask “What is my opponent threatening?”

80% of blunders happen because this step is skipped.

Step 2: Look for forcing moves (CCT)

Always calculate in this order:

  1. Checks

  2. Captures

  3. Threats

Excellent moves are often forcing.

Step 3: Improve your worst piece

Ask:

  • Which piece is doing nothing?

  • Can I activate it?

Good players improve good pieces.
Excellent players fix bad pieces.

Step 4: King safety and piece coordination

Ask:

  • Is my king safe?

  • Are my pieces working together?

An excellent move often connects pieces or prepares an attack.

3. Positional rules that lead to “Good Moves”

Follow these consistently:

  • Develop pieces early

  • Castle early

  • Control the center

  • Don’t move the same piece repeatedly without reason

  • Don’t grab pawns if it costs development

If you do these, most of your moves will be rated Good.

4. How to find Excellent Moves

These habits separate strong players:

🔹 Think one move deeper than your opponent

Ask:

“If I play this, what will they do?”

Then ask again.

🔹 Create two threats at once

Forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks.

Excellent moves often force concessions.

🔹 Improve position before attacking

Strong players don’t rush.
They prepare:

  • Rooks on open files

  • Knights on outposts

  • Bishops on long diagonals

🔹 Pawn structure awareness

Excellent moves often involve:

  • Pawn breaks (e4, d4, c5, f5)

  • Fixing weaknesses

  • Creating passed pawns

5. How engines judge “Excellent”

A move is labeled Excellent if:

  • It’s within a very small evaluation difference from the best move

  • It avoids long-term weaknesses

  • It maintains winning chances in complex positions

So don’t chase the label—chase correct thinking.

6. Training methods to make more Excellent moves

🔥 Daily habits

  • 10–20 tactical puzzles/day

  • Analyze your games without engine first

  • Study classic games (Capablanca, Karpov)

🔥 Key skill levels

  • Below 1200: tactics + blunder checking

  • 1200–1600: calculation + positional ideas

  • 1600+: prophylaxis (prevent opponent’s ideas)

7. One golden rule

Excellent moves are usually quiet, simple, and annoying for your opponent.

If your move:

  • improves your position

  • limits your opponent

  • has no obvious drawback

…it’s probably excellent.

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