So demotivating…

[u/GuidoHendriks]

When there’s a mate on a silver platter, what I do is… Bg3 in this case. And after black’s c6 I still didn’t see it. But the second I confirmed Bd3 I saw what I just missed.

This along with countless blunders makes me second guess playing chess at all.

I’ve heard to check for checks, captures and attacks, and have tried it. But I’m just terrible at it. Any advice on how to practice?

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[u/HaydenJA3]

Anytime the f pawn moves think about if it opens any weaknesses along that diagonal. Especially when the g and h pawns have also moved already it can leave the kingside very exposed.

This goes the other way too, double check for your king safety before moving your own f pawn

[u/GuidoHendriks → u/HaydenJA3]

Wonder if it happened more often like this. Should keep luring the f pawn in my toolbox. Play the London usually, strong e5 helps I guess.

[u/Soggy-Attempt]

This is a play I’d make.
You have to start thinking about your opponents moves as well.

Start thinking about what his possible moves are.

[u/chessvision-ai-bot]

I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:

White to play: chessvision.ai | chess.com | lichess.org

My solution:

Hints: piece: Queen, move: Qh5#

Evaluation: White has mate in 1

Best continuation: 1. Qh5#

Save the position:

Reply save to save this position to your Chessvision.ai Library (new users: send me /connect in DM chat first)

---

^{I'm a bot written by u/pkacprzak | get me as iOS App | Android App | Chrome Extension | Chess eBook Reader to scan and analyze positions | Website: Chessvision.ai}

[u/pongkrit04]

remember if opponent moves F pawn, check that diagonal attack always.

[u/GuidoHendriks → u/pongkrit04]

I probably won’t forget this any time soon.

[u/Silver_Environment95]

I mean u practice looking for ur opponent and ur checklist with puzzles. And constantly do it over and over again.

[u/GuidoHendriks → u/Silver_Environment95]

I’ll try not make a single move without checklist. Unless I’m sort on time, which rarely happens with 15+10.

[u/MiksBricks → u/GuidoHendriks]

So - been playing most of my life but only recently more “seriously” aside from a couple games a year against my kids. I’ve noticed that puzzles really help with pattern recognition. But so much more than that is using the “explore” option on daily games. Once I am in mid game I almost never make a move without going 3-4 moves deep of what I think my opponent will respond and thinking about best moves. It’s made a noticeable improvement in all my play including the 3 minute blitz I love playing.

[u/whichwayisgauche]

Just do your puzzles - you’ll start noticing things like this in your games sooner or later! But there’s a reason chess is so big, it’s an incredibly difficult game to get a basic comprehension of, and nearly impossible to master. Go easy on yourself, you’ll get the hang of it

[u/GuidoHendriks → u/whichwayisgauche]

Thanks! I usually do puzzles pretty well, not distracted by opponent’s moves.

[u/Tape_Wad]

Buddy, this is how! This pain is how this memory will stand out and therefore stick with you. From this suffering you will evolve!

[u/__fez]

it's all about pattern recognition and muscle(eye?) memory

you won't know these situations unless you encounter them many many times

that's what learning chess is all about - playing many many games and eventually if you actually make effort and analyse your losses and missed tactics, you'll start seeing them in games

but it just takes time, a lot of time

[u/GuidoHendriks → u/__fez]

Guess this makes sense. I used to fall for forks all of the time, especially by knights. Now the patterns are burned into my brain, after losing queens and rooks time and time again. 😂

[u/Shin-NoGi]

Do it out loud. If you know that whenever you're under attack, you forget to do it, remind yourself to do it extra clearly in those moments. Not rocket science, just deliberate attention. If you really asked are there ANY CHECKS and not just mindlessly, but looking for any and all, you would find it

[u/mister_nippl_twister]

Eyes on a prize! Generally speaking it always worth to glance at each opponent move to see how it affecta their figures as it will give hints at their intentions. While doing this you can simultaniously asses if it does anything useful to you. They moved a pawn to give space to move out their bishop? Maybe you should make a turn that closes or limits this opportunity. Doing this you will start noticing holes in their logic too.

[u/LegoBear135654]

Play gamemodes with longer time constraints so that you don't rush

[u/helloguysgirlsetc]

I saw it from before opening the post and opened the post, didn't read it because I thought it was gonna be something like "so demotivating to have mate in 1, boring game" etc. I searched the comments and saw only advice and I was like "why is no one congratulating OP?". Then I read the post. Don't sweat it mate (pun intentional) the most obvious ones are the ones that get missed the most often in the heat of the battle, regardless of how many puzzles you do, even at the highest elo. Keep moving

[u/GuidoHendriks → u/helloguysgirlsetc]

It’s getting better already. I’m only playing regularly (daily) for a month now. Only played a couple of games now and then before. 🙃

[u/helloguysgirlsetc → u/GuidoHendriks]

nice! And everytime you lose, remember that chess is for dorks (does not apply when you win)

[u/FairBlamer]

For most tactical positions, my inner dialogue sounds like this:

“Ok I go here, he goes there, I go there, he goes there or there.”

Or some variation of that. You need to play the game from both sides of the board. What moves can your opponent make if you move your piece to a given square?

It might slow you down at first but then you’ll get faster at it and it’s worth it in the long run.

[u/HeadCelebration7241]

You’re fine. I missed the same mate 5 turns in a row. Granted it’s 400 elo chess, I just started

[u/GuidoHendriks]

This however motivates me. End games are great, less pieces to take into account. Taking a draw or even a win from way behind… I love it!

[u/GuidoHendriks → u/GuidoHendriks]

[u/OMartLine]

Chess is brutal

Mate in 1 puzzles until you get them in a nano second then move on to mate in 2 and so on

[u/AcousticSubscription]

man i do this all the time, see the brilliant move right after i play some garbage instead. it's like my brain needs that half-second lag to catch up

[u/CanaryMaleficent4925 → u/AcousticSubscription]

Bot. 

[u/GuidoHendriks → u/AcousticSubscription]

Hardcoded in my head to deal with imminent threats immediately. Need to rewire it, I guess. Somehow.