Coach Yourself: Post-Game Reviews That Compound Skill

For years I solved, closed the tab, and moved on. My plateau broke when I added a five-minute review after each game. The results: fewer repeats of the same mistake, faster recognition of patterns, and a calmer mindset for the next puzzle.

Promise of this guide: you’ll get a blunder taxonomy, a review template you can keep under five minutes, and a simple stall map to prioritize practice.

To test the loop today, start a new session and keep notes as you go.

The Blunder Taxonomy

• Slip
  Execution error (mis-click, mis-copy).
  Prevention: slower confirmation on the final digit in a unit.

• Blind spot
  Missed pattern you “know” (e.g., box–line).
  Prevention: structured scan order.

• Strategy gap
  Technique not in your toolkit yet (e.g., XY-Wing).
  Prevention: pattern-of-the-week focus.

• Tunnel vision
  Over-investing in one area.
  Prevention: rotate units every 60–90 seconds.

The 5-Minute Review Template

• 00:00–01:00 — Timeline: note one turning point (where the puzzle opened up)
• 01:00–02:00 — Errors: classify any mistake by the taxonomy above
• 02:00–03:00 — Stalls: mark each stall >60s and what broke it
• 03:00–04:00 — Patterns: list techniques used; circle one to train next session
• 04:00–05:00 — One commitment: a single change you’ll test tomorrow

Build a Stall Map

Print (or imagine) a 9×9 with three colors: early/mid/late. Shade where stalls cluster. Most players find one or two recurring “hot zones.” That’s your next training target.

Micro-Drill: After-Action in Motion

Right after your next solve, take exactly five minutes to fill the template above.

Then reopen a board and, in the first three minutes, apply your one commitment. Keep the loop tight.

On your stats view, watch stalls and mistake types shift over a week.

Reflective Questions

• Which mistake costs you the most time: slips, blind spots, or strategy gaps?
• Do your stalls cluster in boxes with heavy notes—suggesting decluttering?
• Are you tracking one change per day, or trying five and proving none?
• What does your turning point usually look like—singles, structure, or pattern?

Brain & Attention Note

Short reviews reinforce learning while the memory trace is fresh, improving recall of the next similar position. Think of it as spaced repetition for situations, not facts.

Methodology & Workflow

• Session logs: stall counts, error tags, and time-to-turning-point
• Weekly summaries: track a single behavioral change
• Limitations: self-report bias and puzzle difficulty variance

Summary & Call to Action

Don’t let effort evaporate when you hit “finish.” Review, tag, and turn insight into tomorrow’s plan.

👉 Ready to compound your skill? Play a puzzle now, run the five-minute review, and commit to one change for the next session.