One move ahead!

[Richard Pask]

Much is made of the ability of the top players to look many moves ahead (in certain types of position).

More important, I find, is the ability to look one move ahead correctly: something I have singularly failed to do on numerous occasions.

Here's a prime example of the need to be ever-vigilant. (It's a useful, highly practical win too.)

9-14 22-18; 11-15 18-11; 8-15 25-22; 5-9 24-20; 7-11 22-17; 4-8 17-13; 3-7 28-24; 15-19 24-15; 10-19 23-16; 12-19 29-25; 1-5 26-22; 6-10 13-6; 2-9 32-28; 19-23 27-18; 14-23 22-17; 9-14 17-13; 14-17 21-14; 10-17 28-24; 23-27 24-19; 27-32 25-21: Black to play and draw

Continue: 17-22? (32-28! is the draw: H. Cravens v R. Martin 1974) 19-16!; 8-12 13-9! … White wins.