In C++, how can one predict if move or copy semantics would be invoked?

Given the latitude that a C++ compiler has in instantiating temporary objects, and in invoking mechanisms like return value optimization etc., it is not always clear by looking at some code if move or copy semantics will be invoked (or how many).

It almost feels as if these primitives exist for incidental optimizations. That is, you may or may not get them. It seems like it's difficult to design any kind of resource management strategy that leverages moves, when it is hard to control the invocation of moves themselves.

Is there a way to predict clearly (and simply) where and how many copies and moves might occur in some code? Ideally, one would not need to be an expert in compiler internals to be able to do this.