How to blunder less.

How can I blunder less ?

Check your intended move is no blunder before you play it.

Lol ... Yes that often happens, realising after you play the move.

It is a little mental discipline.
Check first, move next.
'Sit on your hands' - Tarrasch

Every time you move a piece it changes the relationship between your own pieces and that of your opponents pieces.

one rule of thumb is to check before each move which of your pieces may not be "touching" each other anymore. An unprotected piece is a weakness that can and will be exploited by a good player.

I think that in order to blunder less, before moving, visualize your intended move, then look around the board for possible replies by the opponent, especially looking for replies you did not think about when you chose what move you intend to play. Also look to see what changes your intended move makes, such as what is no longer being done because you are moving and changing things.

Now, it takes a lot of time to do all this, which means you cannot do it while playing bullet, blitz or even 10/0 rapids. If you play fast time controls, you will blunder, plain and simple. Play longer time controls, such as 60 minutes with a 30 second increment.

@8

"Play longer time controls, such as 60 minutes with a 30 second increment."
++ 60|30 strains the eyes. 15|10 is enough.

You check before move 3, before move 4, before move 5... 6... 7... and so on, 11, 12, 13... Then, on move 21, something distracts you and sac ! ... Blunder. And almost always one is enough to lose the game.

It's definitely not easy to stay focused throughout the game, from start to the last move, without getting distracted for a moment. That is the problem.

@10

15/10 translates to 25 seconds a move on average for a 60 move full game of chess that goes to an endgame. It probably takes a beginner 25 seconds just to do a simple and quick blundercheck before making a move, which means no time for actually picking what move to play. Hence, 15/10 is still speed chess, and expect lots of blunders. There simply is not enough time to properly look at the opponent's replies to any move you intend to make.

It is not forced.

This is the title of a YouTube video I made a while ago.

There could be a few reasons why you make mistakes. Maybe you struggle with checking for mistakes, basic strategies, tactical patterns, calculating moves, managing time, or dealing with psychological factors. I explain everything in detail here.

But just understanding the theory isn't enough to stop making mistakes. You need to practice too. You can find a workbook with challenging exercises here: https://stopmakingblunders.matbobula.com/

@12

"15/10 translates to 25 seconds a move on average for a 60 move full game of chess"
++ That is correct, but it should be 40 seconds/move at the start and 10 seconds/move to finish. Beginners rarely reach 60 moves, most games are essentially decided before move 30.

"It probably takes a beginner 25 seconds just to do a simple and quick blundercheck"
++ He should be able to do it faster, just like 5 seconds. If he takes 25 seconds for a simple and quick blundercheck, then how much time will he need to make a plan, identify candidate moves, calculate, evaluate, decide?

"15/10 is still speed chess, and expect lots of blunders."
++ Yes, but staring at a screen for hours in 90|30 strains the eyes.
Whatever the time control, most beginners play too fast, not too slow.
They fear the clock and want to save time on their clock for a late game phase that will not happen and usually end a game with plenty of unused time left on their clocks.

One way to practice without the time pressure is to play the bots. Find one that challenges you, but that you can beat if you play your best. Bot games don't have the clock, so you can practice your blunder checking without time pressure, making it a habit, and getting faster too. Bots are good for that sort of training, but they do play weird at times.

Take time over your moves, and avoid blitz games that can force you to move before you thought the move through. Do a quick examination - is your King in danger, is the opponent King in danger, are any of your pieces hanging/ in danger, are any of the opponent pieces hanging/ in danger? Doing a sort of check list will reduce blunders by perhaps half, it is hard to eliminate them entirely. I sometimes forget the check list and suffer for it.

The check list not only reduces your own blunders but makes it easier to spot those made by the opponent, as well as any mistakes or weaknesses that are not outright blunders.

Every time the opponent moves, think: "What is he/she trying to achieve by that move?"

Lastly, take the WHOLE BOARD into account. Sometimes it is possible to become laser-focused on one section of the board and not notice a long-range opponent piece like a Bishop or Rook. They are shorter-range but also watch out for what the Knights can do, the opponent's and yours.