Checks, Captures, Threats

Checks, Captures, Threats, commonly shortened to CCT, is a routine for noticing the most urgent options in a position first. It helps generate candidate moves and reduces the chance of overlooking tactical resources, immediate actions that can win pieces or pawns, or attack the king.

• Checks: moves that attack the king. The opponent must reply in a way that ends the check.
• Captures: moves that remove an enemy piece or pawn and immediately change the material, meaning the pieces and pawns available, or open lines.
• Threats: moves that prepare a concrete gain on the next turn if the opponent does not respond.

The order is for searching, not for automatic selection. Not every check is good, a capture may lose more material than it wins, and a threat may be answered by a stronger one. Each option still needs calculation and comparison with quieter alternatives.

Apply the scan for both sides. Before playing, ask which checks, captures, and threats the opponent will have after your move. That second scan acts as a blunder check.