In the previous part of The Winning Academy, we have covered four practical tricks how to minimize blunders in our games. In this part, we will add another four. The full list from both parts can be found at the end of the article.
What is probably the most common calculation mistake among club players? Well, many of my pupils have problems to visualise the changes on the board properly. For example, a player calculates a line starting with 1.Nf3-e5, but after several moves he forgets that the knight is no longer on f3. Or he exchanges the dark-squared bishops, but at the end of the line he subconsciously expects them to be on the board.
How can you avoid committing this mistake? After every move, ask yourself: What has changed in the position? With this question, you will bring your focus to all the subtle changes of the position, and this will help you to avoid visualisation problem.
Sometimes even the best fail to spot the possibilities that the changing character of the position brings to them:
So-Giri, Carlsen invitational 2021, White to move:
White is worse due to the funny placement of his g3-rook and the weak pawn structure. Still, his position is more or less defensible. But So wanted to make use of his rook and played the “active” 24.f5??. Giri automatically took 24…gxf5?? and later won the game.
Surprisingly enough, both super GMs ignored 24...Bh6!, winning on the spot due to the weakness of the e3-pawn.
Here's the complete game:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Rc1 Be6 7.c5 c6 8.Bd3 Bg4 8...b6 9.Na4 Nfd7!? 9.Nge2 b6 10.Na4 Nfd7!? 11.f3 e5! 12.Bxe5 12.dxe5 Be6 12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bc8 13...Bd7!? 14.f4 f6 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.0-0 Qe7 17.Qd2 Re8 18.Rf3 b5 19.Nac3 Na6 13...Bh6! 14.fxg4 Bxe3 14.f4 f6 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.0-0 16.cxb6!? Qh4+!? 17.g3 Qe7 16...Qe7 17.Qd2 Re8 18.Rf3 18.cxb6 Qxe3+ 19.Qxe3 Rxe3 20.Rfd1 18...Bg4 19.Rg3 Bxe2 20.Bxe2 Nd7 20...b5!? 21.Bxb5 Qe4! 21.b4?! 21.cxb6!? axb6 22.Rxc6 Rxa4 23.Qxd5+ Kh8 24.Rc7 Rd4! 25.exd4 Qxe2 26.h3 Qd1+ 27.Kh2 Bxd4 28.Re3! Nf6! 29.Rc1!? Qxc1 30.Rxe8+ Nxe8 31.Qxd4+ Kg8 21...Nf6 22.Nc3 bxc5 23.bxc5 Rad8 24.f5?? gxf5?! 24...Bh6! 25.Rf1 Ne4 25...Kh8!? 26.Rxf5 Bh6 26.Nxe4 fxe4 27.Bg4! Rf8 28.Bf5 Rf6 29.Qe2 Qf7 30.Qg4?? 30.Rg5! 30...Rf8! 31.Rf2 Kh8! 32.Be6 Qe7 33.Bf5 Bh6 34.Rh3 Qe5 35.Rf1 Rxf5 36.Rxf5 Rxf5 0–1
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
So,W | 2770 | Giri,A | 2776 | 0–1 | 2021 | D83 | Carlsen Inv KO | 2.14 |
Please, wait...
I think that such a blindness can be explained only by insensitiveness of both opponents to change. In the diagrammed position, the e3-pawn is weak but difficult to approach, and both opponents expected that this is true even after 24.f5.
My sixth trick is: Always try to work out the forced line till the very end. Often players cut their calculation way too early; either because of laziness, or because they don’t trust their abilities to calculate very far. In the next example, Nakamura lost an important game in the Candidates because he stopped calculating one move too early:
Karjakin-Nakamura, Candidates tournament 2016, Black to move:
Karjakin’s last move was quite provocative. He played 29.h4, seemingly weakening his pawn structure. And Nakamura could not resist the temptation. He calculated a long line, hoping to emerge out of the complications with an extra pawn. The American GM played:
29…Nxg3?? 30.fxg3 Nxd4 31.Bxd4 Bxd4 32.exd4 Qe3+ 33.Qf2 Qxd3
But Karjakin cunningly calculated a bit further. In the diagrammed position, he played 34.Rc7, winning a piece with a double attack. The rest was agony for Black.
Here's the complete game:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 d5 7...c6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Nc3 Nbd7 10...Re8 11.Qc2 11.Nh4 Re8 12.Nf5 Bb4 13.Re1 Nf8= 11.Ne5 Bb7 12.Rc1 Re8 13.Nb5 c5 11...Re8 12.Rfd1 12.Bf4 Nf8 13.Rfd1 Ne6 14.Be5 Bb7 15.a3 Ne4 16.b4?! Nxc3 17.Qxc3 c6 18.Rab1 a5 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.Rfd1 Bd6 14.Nc4 Bf8 15.Bf4 Rc8 16.Qb2 Ba8 17.Ne5 c5 12...Nf8N 12...Bd6 13.Bc1 13.Nh4!? c6 14.Nf5 Bf8 15.Bf4 13...c6 14.Bb2 Qe7 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.Nh4 g6= 13.Ne5 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Bb7 15.Ne5 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Bd6= 13...Bb7 14.Bc1! 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bd6 18.Qf3 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qe7 20.Bc3 Rad8= 14...Ne6 15.Bb2 Bd6 15...c5 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Rac1 Bf8 18.e3 15...c6!? 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.e3 Bd6 16.e3 a6 16...c5 17.Nb5 Bb8 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Nc4 16...c6!? 17.Ne2 c5 17...Rc8 18.Rac1 c6 18.dxc5 18.Nc4 Bf8 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Nf4 Rc8 21.Qe2 Ne6 18...Nxc5! 18...bxc5 19.Qf5 Qc7 20.Nd3 Ne4 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Ndf4± 19.Nd3 Nce4! 19...Rc8 20.Nxc5 Bxc5 21.Qd3 Ne4 22.Rac1± 20.Rac1 20.Bd4!? Rc8 21.Qb2 20...Rc8 21.Qb1 Qe7 22.Bd4 Rxc1?! 22...Bc5 23.Qa1 a5 23.Rxc1 b5 24.b4! Nd7 25.a3 25.Nef4 h6 26.Qb3± 25...Nf8 26.Ba1 26.Nc5!? Bxc5 27.bxc5 Bc6 28.Qb2 Ne6 29.f3 Nf6 30.Bxf6 gxf6 31.Qb4± 26...Ne6 27.Qa2 Bc7 28.Nd4 Bb6 29.h4 Nxg3? 29...Nxd4 30.Bxd4 Bxd4 31.exd4 Qf6 32.Qb2 h6 33.Nc5 Ba8 30.fxg3 Nxd4 31.Bxd4 Bxd4 32.exd4 Qe3+ 33.Qf2! Qxd3 34.Rc7+- f5 35.Rxb7 h6 36.Bxd5+ Kh7 37.Bg2 Re2 38.Bf1 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Karjakin,S | 2760 | Nakamura,H | 2790 | 1–0 | 2016 | E15 | Candidates Tournament | 2 |
Please, wait...
How do you know that you have come to the end of the line? Simply: there will be no more forcing moves available.
The trick No. 7: Don’t lose your focus in simple positions. It takes only one knight to deliver a fork, and only one rook or bishop to pin your piece. Often players feel too safe in endgames and simple middlegames. However, stopping to calculate in any position is a dangerous thing to do.
In the next example, Aronian was too careless:
Aronian-Caruana, Sinquefield Cup 2017, White to move:
White is worse, because his b3-pawn is very vulnerable, and in an open position a bishop is stronger than a knight. Yet, his position would be fully defensible after E. g. 33.g4.
Aronian presumably wanted to help his b3-pawn as soon as possible and forgot for a moment that his knight is a potential target as well. He played 33.Ke2?? and lost a piece after 33...Bb4! 34.Rc1 Re8 35.f4 f6.
The Armenian fought like a lion for another 80 moves but was unable to save the game.
Here's the complete game:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 1.e4 c5 2.c3 2.Nf3 a6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 e6 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Bf4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Be7 10.Nc3 Qd8 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 e6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Be2 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Na3 cxd4 9.Nb5 Qd8 10.cxd4?! a6 11.Nc3 1...d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.Be2 cxd4 7...Nbd7!? 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.a3 b5 10.b4 Be7 11.Bb2 Bb7 12.Nbd2 Nb6 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Ne5 Bd6 15.Ndf3 Bd5 7...Nc6!? 8.dxc5 8.Ne5 cxd4 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.exd4 Bd6 11.Nc3 Qc7 12.h3 0-0 13.Be3 Rd8 14.Qc2 a5= 8...Qxd1 8...Bxc5 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Rxd1 Bxc5 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Be3 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Nd5 12.Bxe7 Ncxe7 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Ne5 0-0 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.Bf3 Qe7 18.Bxd5 exd5 10...Ng4 10...0-0!? 11.Rc1 Bd6 12.Bg5 12.a3!? 12...h6 13.Bxf6 13.Bh4 Bf4 13...Qxf6 14.Ne4 Qf4 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Qb3 b5 17.Rfd1 Rd8 18.Bd3 Bb7 19.Be4 Rab8 20.Qe3 Nb4= 11.Bf4 Nf6 11...Bd6 12.Qd2!? 12.Rc1 12.Qd2?! 0-0 13.Rfd1 b5 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.Bf3 Rc8= 12.Qa4 0-0 13.Rfd1 Nb4 14.Ne5 Nbd5 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nxd5 12...0-0 13.Na4 13.a3 Bd7 14.Ne5 Be8 15.Be3 Rc8 16.Bd3 Nd5 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.f4 Nxe5 19.fxe5 Rxc1 20.Qxc1 Bc6= 13.Bd3 Nb4 14.Bb1 b5 15.a3 Nbd5 16.Be5 Bb7 17.Qd3 g6 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Rc7 Bd8 20.Rc5 Qd7= 13...Nd5 14.Bg3 Bd6 15.Bd3 15.Ne5 Nce7 16.Qb3 Nf5 17.Rfd1 f6 18.Nf3 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Bd7= 15...Nce7 16.Qb3 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Nc5 b6 18.Ne4 Qd8= 16...b6 17.Be4 Rb8 18.Rfe1 Bb7 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.Bxb7?! 20.bxc3= 20...Nxa2! 21.Qxa2 Rxb7 22.Qxa6 Rc7 23.b3 23.Be5 23...Nf5 24.Rxc7 24.Be5!? 24...Qxc7 25.Qb5 h6 26.d5?! 26.Be5!? 26...exd5 27.Qxd5 Nxg3 28.hxg3 Rd8 29.Qb5 g6 30.Ne5 Qc5 31.Qxc5 Bxc5 32.Kf1 Kg7 33.Ke2? 33.g4!? 33...Bb4! 34.Rc1 Re8 35.f4 f6 36.Rc7+ Kh8 37.Rc6 fxe5 38.Rxb6 exf4+ 39.Kf3 Re3+ 40.Kxf4 Bd2 41.Rxg6 Kh7 42.Kf5 Rxb3 43.Rd6 Bg5 44.Rd7+ Kg8 45.Kg4 Bf6 46.Kf5 Bg7 47.g4 Rb2 48.g3 Rb5+ 49.Ke4 Bf6 50.Rd3 Rb4+ 51.Kf3 Bg5 52.Rd5 Rb3+ 53.Kg2 Kf7 54.Rd6 Ke7 55.Rc6 Rd3 56.Ra6 Rd6 57.Ra3 57.Rxd6? Kxd6 58.Kf3 Ke5 59.Ke2 Kd4 60.Kf3 Be3 61.Kg2 Ke4 62.Kh2 Kf3 63.Kh3 Kf2 64.Kh2 Kf1 65.Kh1 65.Kh3 Kg1 65...Bg1 66.g5 hxg5 57...Ke6 58.Kf3 Ke5 59.Ra5+ Rd5 60.Ra3 Kd4 61.Ra4+ Kd3 62.Ra3+ Kd2 63.Ra1 Rc5 64.Kf2 Rc2 65.Rb1 Bf6 66.Kg2 Ke3+ 67.Kh3 Kf2 68.Rb5 Re2 69.Rb6 69.Rd5!? Re5 69...Bg5?? 70.Rf5+ Ke1 71.Rxg5!= 69...Bg5 70.Rb5 Bd2! 71.Kh2 Kf1+ 72.Kh1 72.Kh3 Kg1 73.Rb1+ Be1 74.g5 h5!-+ 72...Re4 73.Rf5+ Ke2 74.Kg2 Rxg4 75.Rf2+ Kd3 76.Rf6 Rd4 77.Rf1 Ke4 78.Rf8 Bg5 79.Rf1 Be3 80.Rf8 Rd2+ 81.Kh3 Bg1 82.Kg4 Ke5 83.Rf5+ Ke6 84.Rf1 Bd4 85.Rh1 Bg7 86.Kf3 Kf5 87.Rh5+ Kg6 88.Rb5 Rd3+ 89.Kf4 Bf8 90.Rb6+ Bd6+ 91.Ke4 Rd1 92.Kf3 Kf5 93.Rb5+ Be5 94.Rb6 h5 95.Rh6 Kg5 96.Re6 Bd6 97.Re8 Rc1 98.Re6 Rd1 99.Re8 Rg1 100.Kf2 Rc1 101.Kf3 Kf5 102.Re3 Bc5 103.Rd3 Ke5 104.Rd2 Rc3+ 105.Kg2 Ke6 106.Kh3? 106.Rd8 Bd6 107.Rg8 106...Bd6! 107.Kh4 107.Rg2 Kf5 107...Bxg3+ 108.Kxh5 Kf5 109.Rd5+? 109.Rb2 Rc1 110.Rb5+ Be5 111.Rb4 109...Be5 110.Kh4 Rc4+ 110...Rc4+ 111.Kh3 Rc2-+ 0–1
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Aronian,L | 2809 | Caruana,F | 2807 | 0–1 | 2017 | B22 | Sinquefield Cup 5th | 2 |
Please, wait...
And a final piece of advice: Sooner or later you will blunder in some of your games. That is simply inevitable. Once it happens, remain calm. Don’t get lost in a cloud of depression, lethargy, and self-scolding. In fact, what happens after a blunder is often more important than the blunder itself.
Please, try to cut the chain reaction of mistakes. Remember: many bad positions can be saved if a player is up to the task.
Of course, it is very difficult to protect your inner peace after blundering. In the next example, not even Carlsen was able to do that:
Carlsen-Anand, Rapid World Championship 2014, White to move:
This endgame is equal. Materially, Carlsen has the upper hand, but the a4-pawn is strong and guarantees Anand equality. Both players had around five minutes on the clock in this rapid game, when the World Champion made a surprising error:
34.Nxe6?
Anand quickly answered 34...Rb6 and the Norwegian was visibly shocked. (You may have a look at his face expression and body language here.) However, White’s last move did not change the objective evaluation of the position. There was still a path to equality. After 35.Kc2! Rxd6 36.Nc5 a3 37.Kb3 White would eliminate the dangerous pawn and draw comfortably.
However, Carlsen was not able to calm down and find the best solution. He played 35.Nf4?? and the game continued 35…Rxd6 36.Kc2 Rb6! 37.Nxd5 Rb7. Although materially is White OK again, his king can not approach the a-pawn and this pawn will cost White his knight.
Here's the complete game:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5!? cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Rc1 7.Qb3 7...Rc8 8.Nf3 e6 9.Qb3 Bb4 10.Bb5 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 11.Qxc3?! a6 12.Be2 Ne4 13.Qa3 g5 11...0-0 12.Bxc6 Rxc6 13.Qxb7 Qc8 14.Qxc8 Rfxc8 15.Ne5 Rxc3 16.Rxc3 Rxc3 17.0-0 h6 17...Nh5!? 18.g4! 18.Bg5 f6 19.g4 fxe5 20.gxf5 exd4 21.fxe6 Rc6! 18...Nxf4 19.exf4 Bc2 20.Re1! f6 21.Nd7 Rc4 22.Nc5 Rxd4 23.Nxe6 Ra4 24.f3 18.h4 Ne4 19.g4! Bh7 20.Rb1 g5 21.hxg5 hxg5 22.Bh2 Nd2! 23.Rb8+ Kg7 24.Rb7 Be4 25.Rxf7+ Kg8 26.f3 Nxf3+ 27.Rxf3 Bxf3 28.Nxf3 Rc1+ 28...Rxe3 29.Nxg5 Ra3 30.Nxe6 Rxa2 31.Nc5 a5= 29.Kf2 Rc2+ 30.Ke1 Rxa2 31.Bd6 a5 32.Nxg5 a4 33.Kd1 Rb2 34.Nxe6? Rb6 35.Nf4?? 35.Kc2! Rxd6 36.Nc5 a3 37.Kb3= 35...Rxd6 36.Kc2 Rb6! 37.Nxd5 Rb7 38.Nc3 a3 39.e4 Kf7 40.e5 Ke6 41.Kc1 Rc7 42.Kd2 Ra7 43.Na2 Rb7 44.Kc3 Rb8 45.g5 Kf5 46.d5 46.Kc2 Rb2+ 46.Nc1 Rc8+ 47.Kd2 Kxg5-+ 46...Kxe5 47.g6 Kxd5 48.g7 Ke6 49.g8Q+ Rxg8 50.Kb3 Rg3+ 51.Kb4 Ke5 52.Nc3 Re3 53.Kc4 Kf5 54.Kb4 Kg4 55.Na2 Kf3 56.Nc3 Kg2 57.Nd5 Rf3 58.Nc3 Kf1 59.Kc4 Ke1 60.Kb4 Rh3 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Carlsen,M | 2881 | Anand,V | 2785 | 0–1 | 2014 | D10 | Wch Rapid | 12 |
Please, wait...
Please note: After a shock or an unpleasant surprise, your main task is to calm down. Don’t calculate, don’t think about the position, just try to get back to your inner stability. (You might use some breathing exercises or other psychological tools.) This might take a minute or two, but it is a time well invested. Without calming down, the risk of producing more and more mistakes is simply too high.
Here is the full list of my anti-blunder tricks. I hope they will help you to minimize chess disasters and bring more calmness and joy into your games:
- Make sure you are aware of all unprotected pieces.
- Make a list of all forcing moves and don’t forget to check every one of them, at least briefly.
- Don’t forget to check all the exchanges as well.
- Don’t play natural moves instantly. Take ten or twenty seconds to doublecheck everything.
- Always ask yourself: What has changed on the board with the last move(s)?
- Try to calculate the lines till the very end.
- Don’t relax in simple positions
- Make sure you calm down after you have blundered or experienced an unpleasant surprise.
Links