Day 2 · 12 min · Free forever
The one-scan habit
- Install a fixed left-to-right piece scan
- Use it before every capture
Stronger players do not stare randomly. They scan with a job.
Your job: after you choose a candidate move, glance at every piece you own that the opponent could take next move.
Say it out loud in practice: 'Knight safe? Bishop safe? Queen safe?' Ten seconds beats a free piece.
Habit rule · Scan every piece once: is it safe if attacked?
60-second scan drill
Set a clock to 60 seconds. On any position, list every unprotected piece for the side to move — without calculating a win.
You win the drill when the list is complete, not when you find a tactic.
Knowledge check
When should you run the piece-safety scan?