Think a move ahead.
Short, free lessons in strategy. Each idea is shown in chess or poker, then used at work and in study.
For people who run teams, people who want to, and students: where to start. Free and offline: no account, no ads, no money.
Before you act, ask how the other side will answer.
against
In poker You bet. Who calls this, and with what?
“Our final offer is ₹40 lakh, valid until Friday.”
At work Before you send it: what will they say back?
Eleven skills, three places to practise them
Chess
Looking ahead, and planning
- Think aheadSee how others will respond before you act: in a negotiation, against a competitor, at the family table.
- CalculateWork a plan through step by step before you commit to it.
- Plan long-termKnow what you are trying to achieve, and make each step serve it.
Poker
Odds, risk and reading people
- Size the riskCommit in proportion to your edge, so one bad outcome cannot ruin you.
- Keep a cool headDecide as well after a setback as before it, and judge decisions, not results.
- Weigh oddsPut numbers on uncertainty instead of going on gut feeling.
- Read hidden informationReason from incomplete evidence, and update as more arrives.
- Bluff and model opponentsUnderstand how others see you, and how that shapes what they do.
Game-theory labs
Trust, bargaining and bidding
- Cooperate or defendKnow when to trust, when to protect yourself, and how reputation builds.
- Be unpredictableStop being predictable where someone can take advantage of it.
- Value and bidPrice things fairly, and avoid overpaying when you win.
How it works
- Learn the idea A five-minute lesson names it.
- See it in a game Chess, poker or a lab, against the computer. Then play it anywhere.
- Use it On a decision of your own, at work or in study.
- Bring it back Just before you would forget it.
Playing games on its own does little for general thinking. An idea is more likely to carry over when it is named and practised on your own decisions, so every lesson does both: does this transfer? Your progress stays on this device.