It has been scientifically proven

that our brains can reasonably juggle about seven objects at once.

So it's understandable that when it comes to chess, a game with millions

of possible combinations after only the first ten moves,

the human brain has a difficult time thinking very far ahead.

The best you can do is to consider the current position, weighing

the consequences of the more plausible moves. Of those,

a couple will draw your attention as the most promising.

Focusing on one at a time, do the "I move here,

then she moves there" style of thinking,

noticing the number of times you think back and forth this way.

This number is how many moves you are thinking ahead.

The next step is to challenge yourself and think one more step than you currently do.