Chess - How do you know how many moves ahead you are able to think?

Question

like what are ways to decide upon what you want to move and how do you predict that your oppoenents could possibly move in that position? i want to know whats in the mind of an expert chess player.

ty for answering

Answer 1

William is right. expert chess players, and masters don't see very far into the game, they may do as few as 3 moves ahead, and as many as 5, or up to 10 if it's very very complex. Nothing you or me can't do. The difference is they calculate and make the right moves.

Answer 2

Depends on position and how forced replies are.  In a complicated middle game is different than a king and pawn ending too.:)

On average maybe two or three moves. (White's move and Black's reply is one move.  You may mean "ply" which is a move without a reply.  The reply is another "ply".  Most chess players will consider a move as 2 ply.)

I'm a class C (1400-1599) USCF.  Grandmaster's are about the same just evaluate the end position better.:)

Answer 3

I play chess a lot and I try to play the best move in any position.

I think I can see 5 moves ahead, but then again some positions are harder to predict than others.

Come play against me on Yahoo Chess.