Always Look at Undefended and Hanging Pieces
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12 days ago
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#5
Josh11live wrote:
Look at loose defended pieces, but that is advanced
You have amazing knowledge for 1200 rapid player well done
Always Look at Undefended and Hanging Pieces
by FIDE Trainer Darko Polimac
If there’s one habit I’ve tried to build in every student I’ve coached—whether they were rated 600 or already pushing 2000—it’s this:
👉 Always check for hanging pieces.
I know, I know. It sounds basic. Maybe even too simple. But believe me—this one habit wins games. Lots of them.
"Coach, I didn't see it!"
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reviewed a student’s game where they were doing everything right—developing, castling, controlling the center—and then suddenly... boom. They drop a knight. Or miss a free rook. Not because they didn’t know better. Just because they didn’t look.
And that’s the point.
In chess, small habits decide big results.
Looking for undefended and hanging pieces—every move—is one of those habits that separates average from excellent.
What Do I Mean by Hanging?
Very simply: a hanging piece is one that’s under attack and not defended.
An undefended piece isn’t being attacked yet—but it’s vulnerable. And in chess, vulnerable usually means “soon to be gone.”
It doesn’t matter if your plan is brilliant. If you overlook that your queen is hanging, you’re in trouble.
One careless moment can undo 20 good ones.
My Simple Rule: 5 Seconds Before Every Move
I tell all my students to do a quick scan before every move.
Not deep calculation. Just five seconds:
What’s hanging?
What’s undefended?
Can I take anything?
Can they take something of mine?
It’s simple. And it works.
Because most players don’t lose by getting outplayed in deep endgames or complicated positions. They lose by missing the obvious. And the obvious is often hanging right there.
How to Get Better at This
Solve tactics every day—but slowly, not just for speed.
Review your own games and ask: “Where did I miss something simple?”
Watch games of stronger players and look for how quickly they notice undefended pieces.
✅ Practice your vision and awareness here: https://chessmadra.com/vision
One Last Thing
We all love cool tactics, fancy openings, and deep strategies. But the best players I know win a lot of their games by doing the basics really well.
And this is one of them.
So next time you play, before you think about the "big plan" or some sacrifice... just pause.
Take five seconds.
What’s hanging? What’s loose? What can I take—or what do I need to defend?
It’s a small question. But it leads to big progress.
🔥 Want to be part of my new September group?
I’ll be taking on a limited number of motivated students for intensive online training—individual progress, daily structure, and a lot of fun along the way.
📩 Just send me an email: dpolimac@gmail.com
I’ll be happy to tell you more.
Let’s work together and build strong habits that last a lifetime.
– Darko
FIDE Trainer & Chess Coach, still reminding myself to check for hanging pieces too!
The LinkedIn article about my student progress https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7355889195262869505/