What makes a good first practice game?

I tested “What makes a good first practice game?” in a few practice games. The biggest difference was writing down what information I actually gained before making the next move.

One counterpoint on “What makes a good first practice game?”: the same plan can become predictable if I use it every round. I try to keep a second option ready.

For a newer player thinking about “What makes a good first practice game?”, I would practise one small position at a time and talk through the choices after the game.

I keep a short note after each match about “What makes a good first practice game?”. Looking back at those notes helped me spot when my assumptions were wrong.