Post-mortem in chess: post-game analysis

Post-mortem

In chess, a post-mortem (often written “postmortem” or “post-game analysis”) is the informal review of a game immediately after it ends. Players typically sit together at the board—or jump into an online analysis board—and go through critical moments, missed tactics, strategic plans, and time-management decisions. While the term sounds clinical, in chess it simply means learning from a just-finished battle.

Definition

A post-mortem is a collaborative, often relaxed, analysis session that happens right after a game. Over-the-board (OTB) players may analyze beside the board or in the club’s Skittles room; online players typically switch to an Analysis room and sometimes consult an Engine afterward. It’s a cornerstone of chess improvement and club culture, blending sportsmanship (“Good game—let’s see what really happened”) with practical training.

How it’s used in chess

• OTB tradition: Opponents retrace the game, propose alternatives (“What if 17…Nf6?”), and test ideas on the board.
• Online habit: Players invite each other to an analysis board (e.g., “GG—post-mortem?”), share thoughts by chat or voice, then toggle on the eval after human discussion. See also: Eval.
• Club culture: A quick review in the Skittles area after a rated round is common and educational.
• Coaching: Students annotate their thoughts, then compare with coach feedback and engine lines.
• Content/streaming: Streamers often do a live post-mortem so viewers see thought processes and “turning points.”

Why it matters (strategic and historical significance)

• Improvement loop: Post-mortems convert raw experience into lessons—catching blind spots, finding stronger plans, and identifying recurring errors like time trouble (Zeitnot) or overextension.
• Culture and history: The Soviet school emphasized rigorous post-game analysis; Botvinnik’s training culture and later generations (Kasparov, Kramnik, Carlsen) carried the torch.
• Public “post-mortems”: World Championship press conferences function as public post-mortems. Notably, Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, 1997, limited traditional joint analysis due to secrecy and the computer’s nature.
• Swindling insights: Reconstructing how a Swindle or blunder (Blunder) happened sharpens practical defense and risk assessment in future games.

Example post-mortem walkthrough (short)

Imagine this short Ruy López fragment. Both sides review a critical moment on move 12, asking “What if Black played differently?”

Try stepping through and pausing at 12…Nxe5?

• White’s perspective: “On move 13 I spotted 13. Qxd5! simplifying favorably. Before that, I was debating 12. dxe5—good practical choice.”
• Black’s perspective: “12…Nxe5? overlooked the d5 tactic. During the post-mortem I considered 12…Nxe3 13. Qxd8 Raxd8 instead—simpler and safer.”
• Engine check later: Confirms that avoiding 12…Nxe5? improves Black’s chances of equality. Filing this as a pattern: avoid loosening control of d5 in these structures.

Etiquette and best practices

• Ask first: “Would you like a quick post-mortem?” Some players need a break after a tense fight.
• Start human-first: Discuss ideas and calculations before switching on the Engine. You’ll learn more from the thought process.
• Be respectful and specific: “I underestimated 21…c4, didn’t consider the Zwischenzug 23…Qh4+.” Avoid gloating; focus on positions, not people.
• Mark critical moments: Time trouble (Zeitnot), structural decisions (pawn breaks, e.g., Pawn break or Central break), missed tactics (pins, forks).
• Keep it concise when needed: In tournaments, a 5–10 minute review is often enough.
• Offer to share the PGN: Great for later study or coach review.

Online post-mortems in practice

• Invite your opponent: “GG opponentusername—hop into analysis?”
• Annotate your thoughts: Add comments like “I feared …Bxh2+” or “I was playing for a Fortress.”
• Then toggle eval: Compare human ideas with computer suggestions; tag big swings (e.g., -0.3 to +3.0) and label them “critical.”
• Track progress over time: and show how consistent post-mortems correlate with rating improvement.

Famous and fun anecdotes

• Club “laboratories”: In many classic clubs, the skittles room post-mortem is where the real learning happens—spectators join, debates ensue, and creative lines emerge.
• Byrne vs. Fischer, “Game of the Century” (1956): The dazzling queen sacrifice sparked legendary post-mortems and articles, cementing the game’s pedagogical fame.
• Kasparov era: After elite games, sharp public breakdowns became expected—early prototypes of today’s live-streamed post-mortems.
• Modern twist: Engines like Stockfish and ideas from AlphaZero spurred hybrid post-mortems—first human ideas, then “engine truth,” then practical takeaways (what you can actually use OTB).

What to look for in your next post-mortem

• Opening choices: Was your line within Book or a risky TN? Any better Prepared variations?
• Strategic themes: Space, weak squares, and plans (e.g., Pawn break, Outpost, Bishop pair).
• Tactical motifs: Pin, Skewer, Fork, Zwischenzug, Discovery, X-ray.
• Practical decisions: Time management, conversion technique, and avoiding unnecessary risk when a Technical win is available.
• Critical moments journal: Save positions for spaced-repetition study or a coach session.

Related terms

• Skittles: Informal area for casual play and post-mortems at clubs/tournaments.
• Analysis room: Online feature for collaborative or solo review.
• Engine and Eval: Computer analysis that often follows human discussion.
• Blunder, Swindle, Zeitnot: Frequent topics uncovered in post-mortems.
• Adjourn: Historical practice that once shaped how post-game analysis unfolded between sessions.

Quick checklist for a productive post-mortem

• Reconstruct the move order and mark 2–4 critical moments.
• State your thoughts at those points (plans, threats, candidate moves).
• Test alternatives on the board; agree on plausible improvements for each side.
• Only then consult the engine and compare with your notes.
• Record one actionable takeaway (opening fix, endgame technique, or tactical pattern) to apply in your next game.