Planning and Calculation

First know the type of game you are playing. A tactical and open position or a safe and closed position. Figure out the ideal plan. It may be initiating an attack or exchanging a vital piece and others. It differs across different openings and different positions. The best way is to study top players' games extensively. The more and more games you study the more ideas you get, and when you come across similiar positions in tournament games you already know what you have to do. Every opening has different game plans and if you know them it will be much easier to play. So when you study openings, figure out the ideas that are to be executed in the middle game as well. Calculating ability can be developed by solving tactical problems. Analyze your tournament games without computers initially and note down the ideas. Calculate long variations and then check them with computers.