FM Nate Solon - How to Evaluate Chess Positions

Evaluate Like a Grandmaster: https://amzn.to/4iHUuxThttps://zwischenzug.substack.com/

00:00 Intro

05:20 Position 1

17:24 Position 2

26:50 Position 3

37:05 Position 4

39:29 Position 5

50:37 Position 6

58:05 Position 7

1:04:05 Position 8

In this episode, I sit down with FIDE Master Nate Solon to explore the often-overlooked but crucial skill of evaluating chess positions. Calculation without proper evaluation is meaningless, yet this skill is rarely trained in isolation. To challenge ourselves and deepen our understanding, Nate and I tested each other with instructive positions, thinking out loud and revealing how we assess imbalances, king safety, and long-term plans.

As we worked through these exercises, we invited you, the viewers, to stop the video and evaluate the positions yourself before hearing our thought processes—an invaluable opportunity to refine your own judgment and strategic instincts.One of the key takeaways from our discussion was how king safety and piece activity often outweigh material considerations, especially in dynamic positions. We also explored practical techniques to sharpen evaluation skills, drawing from Nate’s work in Evaluate Like a Grandmaster. If any position surprised you, let us know in the comments—we'd love to hear how your assessments compared to ours!