Stop Blundering! Master Calculation & Break 1000 ELO!
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An outlook into the training: I was playing white against the legendary master Andreas Dückstein. It is black to move, how should black continue the game?
Jul 12, 2025
0
#5
I'm trying to get to 1100 and people (including me) definitely still blunder 💀
As for the puzzle: I immediately thought about ...Qxa3, but I think this runs into problems if White immediately recaptures with the queen: exf6 appears to place Black's other knight in a real tight spot.
The second move I thought of was ...fxe5, preventing exf6 and winning a pawn after exd5 Nxd5. This suddenly makes White's dark square bishop a lot more useful, but there's other things to consider: White's pawn chain has been broken up, giving them two isolated pawns (a3 and c3), and Black threatens ...Nd3, forking the rook and the dark square bishop (which would be more or less trapped as well). While Nd3 can be prevented quite easily with several different moves, it doesn't change the fact that two of White's pawns are now isolated, which could be a problem later on.
Edit: I looked at the solution. I will not say anything.
Fr3nchToastCrunch wrote:
I'm trying to get to 1100 and people (including me) definitely still blunder 💀
As for the puzzle: I immediately thought about ...Qxa3, but I think this runs into problems if White immediately recaptures with the queen: exf6 appears to place Black's other knight in a real tight spot.
The second move I thought of was ...fxe5, preventing exf6 and winning a pawn after exd5 Nxd5. This suddenly makes White's dark square bishop a lot more useful, but there's other things to consider: White's pawn chain has been broken up, giving them two isolated pawns (a3 and c3), and Black threatens ...Nd3, forking the rook and the dark square bishop (which would be more or less trapped as well). While Nd3 can be prevented quite easily with several different moves, it doesn't change the fact that two of White's pawns are now isolated, which could be a problem later on.
Edit: I looked at the solution. I will not say anything.
Capturing the e5-pawn is a bad idea.
Interestingly there is only one move here which guarantees a substantial advantage.
You’re not alone—and it’s a more common struggle than you might think.
Most players at this level don’t lose because of bad openings or lack of knowledge. The real problem usually lies in how they calculate. Without a clear process, even strong ideas get lost in the chaos of the position.
I’m Saro Khachatouri, a FIDE Instructor with over 12 years of coaching experience. I started chess relatively late myself and had to figure out a lot on my own, so I understand how frustrating that rating wall can feel. Over the years, I’ve worked with many adult improvers and club players, helping them develop practical calculation habits that actually show up in their games.
Topic: Calculation – Your Key to Blunder-Proof Chess
When: Sunday, August the 9th
Time: 12 PM EST
Where: Zoom
Duration: 90 minutes
Cost: $20
For: Players looking to get past 1000 and build real consistency
Sign up here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=33104617&appointmentType=67414950
During this live session, we’ll walk through three of the most useful tools I use in coaching:
The CCT/CCA framework (Check – Capture – Threat / Check – Capture – Answer) to avoid immediate tactical mistakes
The Variation Tree, which gives you a clean mental structure for evaluating moves
A simple system for spotting Candidate Moves and comparing them meaningfully
This isn’t about memorizing lines—it’s about making better decisions, with more confidence, in every game you play.
There’ll be plenty of examples, interactive exercises, and time for questions at the end.
In order to sign up write me a pm or simply post here