Evaluating a Position

Every plan starts with an honest evaluation. The checklist, in strict order:

1. KING SAFETY — is either king in real danger? (trumps everything) 2. MATERIAL — count it, including the exchange 3. ACTIVITY — whose pieces have jobs? Rooks on open files, knights on outposts vs. bystanders 4. STRUCTURE — weak pawns, weak squares, good vs bad bishops

Disagreements between factors resolve UPWARD: activity beats structure, safety beats everything.