Blundering pieces is quite possibly the most frustrating aspect of chess. Be it the careless queen fall in a winning position or the simple fork that you absolutely didn’t spot, giving away material for nothing can rapidly reverse the choice of a game. Even grandmasters who have a good game will occasionally commit these fatal errors, but for the rest of us, they can be reduced appreciably by some basic, disciplined rituals. It’s not a question of complex theory, but of creating a routine for every move.
Always analyze your opponent’s threats
Take a break before even considering what you’d like to do and look at your opponent’s last move. Don’t assume it was an innocent developing move. Instead, ask yourself:
• Did this move attack any of my pieces directly?
• Did it pose a tactical threat like a fork, pin, or skewer?
• Did it open a new attacking line against my king or weak point in my position? This simple “opponent’s move check” will shield you from many of your blunders.
Your opponent has castled. You are thinking about taking the black pawn on g7. Should you?
Answer
No, you should not take the pawn on g7. This is because black can slide one of their rooks over, pinning your queen to your king and losing the piece.
Use the blunder check technique in your moves
Having decided on the opponent’s plan, select your move. Do not make the selected move yet. Imagine the move being made, then pause for a few seconds to do a final blunder check.
• What is the most lethal reply the opponent could make to this move?
• Does the move expose any pieces to attack, or “hang” them?
• Is a piece being put on a square where it is going to be attacked? This extra mental discipline typically separates a good move from a losing move.
Focus, esspecially while winning
Most errors come when you become careless. When you’ve outmaneuvered your opponent and have an extra piece, you’re guaranteed to win. This is the moment you have to be most careful. The excitement of a winning game can cause you to relax and miss an essential detail. The game is not over until checkmate. Be vigilant and go through the same painstaking process until your opponent concedes.
Develope your sense of tactics
While sound habits prevent flagrant blunders, finer tactical perception prevents the more devious ones. Train your mind regularly by solving chess puzzle and tactics exercises to inculcate the habit of recognizing patterns. The more observant you are of forks, skewers, and pins, the faster you will see them during your games, both against yourself and your opponent. Methodical training will hone tactical instincts and reduce overall blunder frequency. By combining disciplined thinking and regular tactical training, make play from vulnerable to error into regularly good.