Tricks and Insights- How to Win After a Blunder
We've all been there. "Aw, I thought my queen was on the LIGHT square!" or "Stupid mouse! Now I lost my rook!". More than half of players will likely click the resign button immediately. But is the position really lost? Or is there still a way to victory?
Resignation has become somewhat a reflex for chess players, especially in the 100-1200 rating range. But in many cases this is a terrible blunder on your part.
Finding out if the Position is Lost
The first thing you have to assess after a blunder is if you can keep playing comfortably. Ask questions like "What was the value of the piece?" or "Has this done damage to my overall position and if so, how much?" The loss of a piece or pieces worth 1-3 points is no big deal, especially if you still have a queen. Even higher valued pieces can be regained, especially in games under 1200 rating.
Above, even though White is up a knight, Black has a strong attack on White's kingside and an opportunity-rich position.
2. Assess The Game Phase
The next really important thing to assess is the phase of the game. In the opening, there is a very high chance that you will be able to regain any material lost whether through tactics or through a blunder on your opponent's part. In the middle game, there is still hope for you, albeit a little less than in the opening. In the endgame there is the lowest chance of regaining material, especially if your opponent has a powerful piece (i.e. a rook or queen) and you just have a king and a handful of pawns.
Above is an example of a virtually lost position. White can checkmate in just a few moves and Black has no powerful pieces. In this position you can do two things: hope for a stalemate or hope for a draw by repetition.
3. Assess Your Opponent's Position
Finally, take a look at your opponent's side. Try to see if you can spot any weak spots. Remember, sometimes position outweighs material. If your opponent's side is weak, even a few pieces can launch a strong attack. Turn to strong tactics, forcing moves, and generally promote chaos. Your opponent might be overconfident in his/her lead and miss important points.
Tips
1. Wait for your opponent to actually take a blundered piece before resigning. They may not see it.
2. Look for tactics in the position. You might be able to regain that material.
3. Don't offer draws before a blundered piece is taken, this will just alert any unknowing opponents of your misstep.
4. Force a draw. If all else fails, try to force a draw by using a perpetual check or by using the trick below.
Stalemate Trick
Conclusion
I hope this post has helped you gain a deeper understanding of how much a blunder affects your positions. I also hope this saves you some rating in the future!
Thanks for reading!
