The biggest reason people struggle in lower-level chess is because of blunders. They make them in almost every game.
A mistake can instantly put you in a bad position, no matter how well you played earlier: if you had great opening knowledge, great positional skills, great endgame skills, whatever; a single mistake can change everything (you lose a piece or get checkmated).
So, how do you avoid blunders? Follow this simple algorithm:
While avoiding blunders is crucial, I also share a few basic principles with my students. These principles help them figure out what to do in each part of the game - the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame. Understanding these simple principles is like having a map for your moves. I provide my students with more advanced algorithms that incorporate these fundamental principles. When you use this knowledge along with being careful about blunders, you're not just getting better at defending. You're also learning a well-rounded approach to chess. Keep in mind, chess is not just about not making mistakes; it's about making smart and planned moves to outsmart your opponent.
If it's my move.
And I think to myself
"Can he attack me i.e. is there any move he can do right now that can attack me".
(If so then I should think about defending against that).
And let's say the answer is No.
So then I ask Can I attack him. And let's say the answer is Yes.
And I make my attack move.
Was that thinking 0 moves ahead, or was it thinking one move ahead?
So there, I haven't considered whether after I attack him, then has it opened up an attack against me.
For example here.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/97112459497
I made my move.. 16. Be6
Prior to making that move, I looked at it and thought can he attack me.. not really.. Can I attack him, Yes And my plan of attack was to move my bishop there and lay a trap for him where if he takes my bishop, then I use my knight to E6 and take his Queen.
But what I hadn't noticed, was that my attacking move of 16. Be6 had left my Queen vulnerable.
So I hadn't thought that far ahead of my attacking move changing the board to let him attack my Queen and doing a queen trade and messing up pawn structure.
I'm thinking I failed even to think One Move ahead. Because after my move 16 Be6 I didn't foresee 16...QxF3
I think the first question of "can he attack me", is incomplete and hypothetical because the real "can he attack me", should be considered after my move by adding in the thoughts of have I made myself vulnerable by that move
By not considering that, was that a failure to even think one move ahead?
Or like, even if you think one move ahead, if you don't consider whether that move makes you vulnerable, then you haven't really thought one move ahead!
I think it's easier to think one move ahead, if just making a defensive move.
But if making an attacking move.. you have to reconsider the defense.
Is there any kind of flow chart for thinking one move ahead?