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HoosierLife
So I have a decent understanding of openings.

Trying not to blunder still, but that still happens.

Develop my minor pieces, castle, connect the rooks.

Then move the pieces that are not doing much of anything.

Then find a piece to attack.

Problem is, everyone seems to be attacking my castled king long before I get to even connecting my rooks or moving them.

Then I spend the whole game playing defense hoping they blunder.

Not sure what to do next?
VenemousViper
HoosierLife wrote:
So I have a decent understanding of openings.
Trying not to blunder still, but that still happens.
Develop my minor pieces, castle, connect the rooks.
Then move the pieces that are not doing much of anything.
Then find a piece to attack.
Problem is, everyone seems to be attacking my castled king long before I get to even connecting my rooks or moving them.
Then I spend the whole game playing defense hoping they blunder.
Not sure what to do next?

Can you post a few examples ? It would be helpful.

HoosierLife
How do I post the games?
HoosierLife
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.Be3 h6 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Nc3 c6 9.Qf3 Ne5 10.Qe2 Bg4 11.Qd2 Bd7 12.Bf4 Ng6 13.Rfe1 Nh5 14.g3 Qf6 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.Bxe5 Qf7 18.Bd6+ Kd8 19.Bxf8 Rxf8 20.Re3 Kc7 21.Nf3 Rad8 22.Qe2 Bh3 23.Ne5 Qf5 24.g4 Bxg4 25.Nxg4 Nf4 26.Qf3 Qxc2 27.Re7+ Kb8 28.Rb1 Rd3 29.Qe4 Nh3+ 30.Kg2 Rxf2+ 31.Nxf2 Qxf2+ 32.Kh1 Rd2 33.Qe1 Qxh2# {0-1}
HoosierLife
- https://www.chess.com/live/game/102185646547
TheGuyThatIsNew

I probably would not have moved Queen to f3 due to it being attacked by the Knight as shown in your game. I would've just pushed the pawn to f4 or taken more spaces. Rather I think it's not that they're attacking you, but that you're giving them chances to make one move threats and it feels like they're pushing you back. Which makes you defensive for a bit and hard to regain the initiative.

Soufriere

Looking at your game on 02/20/24 (Ruy Lopez: Old Steinitz Def) things fell apart after move 8... Nd4. By capturing the Knight (9. Bxd4) without the support of the Queen on d2 your Knight at g5 is now hanging. Placing the Queen on d2 also connects the Rooks.

A better 9th move would have been moving your Bishop to safety at c4 additionally you would have two minor pieces targeting f7. Ultimately you would want to keep the Bishop on a2-g8 diagonal as part of your strategy.

Best of luck in future games!

ChessMasteryOfficial

Knowing how to defend effectively is as crucial as knowing how to attack.

HoosierLife
What the heck happened here? This is what I’m talking about. Check out this #chess game: Seibak vs HoosierLife - https://www.chess.com/live/game/102288271207