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How to avoid blunders?

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AtahanT

So I've tried to come up with a checklist to try to eliminate the most basic blunders. Because like many of you, I blunder alot. 

I need your help to improve the list. Is it missing something important? Is the priority of the things to think of in the right order from top to bottom? Do you have your own list? Share your thoughts please...

 

My list:

(When it says "pieces" it always means both mine and the opponents pieces generally)

***While my opponent is thinking:

-What move would I want to make if he makes a passive and non-threatening move?
-Access the strategical situation: Pawn structures, good/bad bishops/knights etc

 

***Right after my opponents move:

-What defense did his moved piece leave behind?
-What did his moved piece block? (like the defense of another of his pieces)
-What did his moved piece threaten?

 

***While thinking of a move:

-Which pieces are hanging or are undefended?
-Any pieces inadequately guarded?
-Which pieces are pinned?
-Are the kings vulnerable to mate or checks?
-Are there any discovered attacks on the board? (Don't forget pawns!)
-What pieces are fork-able or are lined up for forks?
-knight forks
-bishop forks
-queen forks
-pawn forks
-rook forks

 

***When I have decided on a move:

-What defense am I leaving behind when I'm moving this piece?
-Is the square I'm moving to guarded enough to move the piece there?
-Am I blocking the defense of another of my pieces by moving it in the way of the defender?
-Does this move trap the piece?
-Is this move strategically awful when looking at the long term consequences?

 

 

 

Long list eh? But hopefully it is possible to think of all this by reflex after a while. Thoughts?

ManWithNoName

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, my man, practice...

SisyphusOfChess

I've come up with similar lists at times. The trouble is having the discipline to follow it on every move and to not revert to old ways of doing things after a while. 

I'd probably add to this looking at every capture and every check on each move and also keeping in mind the function of each piece in a position - a simple example: After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6, the c6 knight functions as a guard on the e5 pawn, and I would always want to recollect that and consider how that original funtion relates to a move I might be considering playing with that piece later (e.g. "I wish to move Nc6-d4. Does the e5 pawn have another defender now thus allowing me to do that?").

idunnochess

I analyse all my games by chess.com analysis. 

80% of my loss I have BY FAR a better position (my record at the moment is losing a game where computer analysis reported +7.00 advantage)

I can lose game up the exchange, one piece up, two pieces up, no problem.