Turn a finished game into something you can learn from.
Keep the question small
Instead of trying to fix an entire game at once, choose one moment where you were unsure. Write down the alternatives you considered and what you expected your opponent to do.
Review before switching on analysis
Try to explain the position in your own words first. An engine can help test a line later, but its answer does not explain what you noticed or missed during play. Use analysis after a game, within the rules of the event or platform.
Keep a useful record
- The position or move number.
- Your original plan.
- The reply you overlooked.
- One question to revisit next session.