The Winning Academy 16: How to Avoid Blunders (2)

by Jan Markos
12/5/2022 – Every chess player blunders. Even the brains of the very best in the world sometime take a day off. We are humans, and errors are an inherent part of human nature. And yet, few things in chess are as discouraging as losing a good game after a silly mistake. Sometimes, one blunder spoils an entire tournament: a week’s amount of work is gone in a minute or two. But Jan Markos has good news for you. A lot of blunders can be avoided by a little discipline and a few simple tricks.

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

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:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 I played quite a few Grunfelds in the event and in the match vs. Wesley it served me well too. 4.Bf4 One of the (many) critical tests. I tried it myself, a couple years ago against Nepo in Sinquefield Cup. Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Rc1 Be6 This was becoming trendy when I was just starting my Grunfeld journey and it remains one of the ways for Black. The traditional 6...c5 is also in a fine theoretical shape. 7.c5 Critical, closing the position. In general this is very commital, as Black can now focus on preparing e5 break, but it is justified by the fact that the bishop on e6 is now in the way. c6 8.Bd3 This is a major tabia. At some point Grischuk played 8...Bc8!? here and everyone was impressed, but as the time has passed, I discovered that there are many options here. Bg4 One of the natural moves. Ian played b6 against me and got a fine position too, though in the end thanks to a ton of luck in a drawn rook endgame, I won. 8...b6 9.Na4 Nfd7!? 1-0 (77) Giri,A (2779)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2774) Saint Louis 2019 9.Nge2 b6 It was also possible to play for e5, without this break. 10.Na4 Also interesting is the more primitive 10.b4. Nfd7!? Intending e5- a thematic pawn break in these closed structures. 11.f3 e5! This is very typical, getting that essential pawn push in and not worrying about eventually sacrificing a pawn. 12.Bxe5 12.dxe5 Now that the e7 pawn has been pushed, the bishop can sit well on e6. Be6 12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bc8 This was a little too timid. Black still gets a fine position, but there were more spirited options. 13...Bd7!? for starters, this move would have been a better version of the game. At this point I didn't realize that I may develop the knight through a6 and not d7 and that's why I thought the bishop would be in the way here. 14.f4 f6 could lead to a comfortable position for Black. 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.0-0 Qe7 17.Qd2 Re8 18.Rf3 b5 19.Nac3 Na6 with what feels like a better version of the game, now that all pieces are developed. 13...Bh6! didn't really occur to me, but it is indeed tremendously clever. 14.fxg4 White should perhaps play the safer 14.Qd2, but even then Black may sacrifice a piece with Nd7!?. Bxe3 the bishop on e3 is a monster and White king is stuck in the center. His pieces are uncoordinated and with Nd7-xe5 coming in, Black is on top. 14.f4 f6 Standard way of breaking up the pawn chain. Black is now a pawn down, but with the dominant dark squared bishop and a weak e3 pawn, there is plenty of compensation. 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.0-0 16.cxb6!? was possible too, but castling first is more natural. Qh4+!? is a typical maneuvre, softening White's kingside a little bit, before returning the queen to the best square. 17.g3 Qe7 asking White some questions. He is yet to castle, but the e3 pawn is already in need of protection.. 16...Qe7 attacking the e3 pawn, with the idea of provoking the rook to f3, in order to gain some tempi for the development. 17.Qd2 Re8 18.Rf3 18.cxb6 would have led to a roughly balanced endgame. Qxe3+ 19.Qxe3 Rxe3 20.Rfd1 White has a pawn, but Black has the bishop pair. 18...Bg4 Developing with a tempo. 19.Rg3 Bxe2 20.Bxe2 Taking with the queen was also possible. Nd7 20...b5!? this was an option. It was important to see the following tactic- 21.Bxb5 Qe4! Eyeing the a4 knight. Not easy. 21.b4?! Here I felt that things started to turn. I was focussing on the complications that would arise after the piece sacrifice with 21.cxb6!? and I wasn't at all sure what was going on there. Now, however, I get to mobilize my pieces and will eventually win back the pawn. 21.cxb6!? axb6 22.Rxc6 The following line is quite difficult to find. I am curious how far Wesley had seen it and why he had decided not to go for this. Rxa4 23.Qxd5+ Kh8 24.Rc7 and here the fireworks (could) start. Rd4! Boom! 25.exd4 Qxe2 26.h3 Qd1+ 27.Kh2 Bxd4 Now it's White's turn to show some magic. Qg1 mate is a threat. 28.Re3! and now Black's- Nf6! cold blooded. Now again, the natural moves are not good. 29.Rc1!? and the position can simplify- Qxc1 30.Rxe8+ Nxe8 31.Qxd4+ Kg8 With likely a draw. 21...Nf6 22.Nc3 bxc5 23.bxc5 Rad8 Mobilizing the last piece. The c5 pawn is doomed, but also d4 is an idea. Feeling uncomfortable Wesley blunders. 24.f5?? I was so confused by this, giving up a free pawn, that I took it without much hesitation. We both overlooked 24...Bh6! winning on the spot. gxf5?! 24...Bh6! 25.Rf1 Ne4 Simple. I didn't see 27.Bg4! down the line, else I may have gone for 25...Kh8, that also looked attractive to me. 25...Kh8!? 26.Rxf5 Bh6 With a serious threat of Bxe3 that is hard to parry. 26.Nxe4 fxe4 White's rook on g3 is isolated and his c5 and e3 pawns are potentially terribly weak. Here though, Wesley finds a way to regroup. 27.Bg4! The bishop gets activated and all white has to do now to get back into the game is solve the issue of g3 rook. Rf8 28.Bf5 White gets a fine bishop on f5, but he does need to rearrange his pieces. In the time trouble, my opponent failed to do so. Rf6 29.Qe2 Qf7 30.Qg4?? This ties up White's pieces. 30.Rg5! was important. The rook would sit quite fine on h5. 30...Rf8! White no longer has a way to unpin himself and support the f5 bishop with g2-g4. After the inevitable Kh8 and Bh6, the f5 bishop falls. 31.Rf2 Kh8! Bh6 is unstoppable. 32.Be6 Qe7 White also has backrank issues, which become evident after a capture on f6. 33.Bf5 Bh6 this is where the bishop belongs. Now the e7 queen no longer has to guard it. 34.Rh3 Qe5 35.Rf1 Rxf5 36.Rxf5 Rxf5 There is a nasty threat of Qa1+!, so Black gets to keep the extra piece. 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
So,W2770Giri,A27760–12021D83Carlsen Inv KO2.14

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:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 d5 7...c6 is the most common continuation here. 8.cxd5 exd5 This pawn structure was seen in many games of Sergey in this tournament. 9.0-0 0-0 10.Nc3 Nbd7 Sergey was able to prove, that Black's position is very solid after 10...Re8 , which might be more flexible. 11.Qc2 The most common setup - the d1-spot is now vacant for one of White's rooks. The ambitious transfer of the knight to f5 doesn't offer White any advantage: 11.Nh4 Re8 12.Nf5 Bb4 13.Re1 Nf8= Another possible plan is based on leaving the Qd1 on its initial spot, but after something like 11.Ne5 Bb7 12.Rc1 Re8 13.Nb5 c5 Black's position seems perfectly playable. 11...Re8 12.Rfd1 In the following recent game Black didn't pose any problems: 12.Bf4 Nf8 13.Rfd1 Ne6 14.Be5 Bb7 15.a3 Ne4 16.b4?! Nxc3 17.Qxc3 c6 18.Rab1 a5 1/2 Gelfand, B (2735)-Martirosyan,H (2425)/Moscow RUS 2016 (25) 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.Rfd1 Bd6 14.Nc4 Bf8 15.Bf4 Rc8 16.Qb2 Ba8 17.Ne5 c5 1/2 Spassov,L (2475) -Georgiev,K (2430)/Plovdiv 1984/MCD (19) 12...Nf8N A novelty. This is a standard manoeuvre - the knight is heading to e6, where it will put more pressure on White's centre, whereas the Qd8 becomes more mobile. In one preceding game Black was able to solve all the problems after 12...Bd6 13.Bc1 13.Nh4!? c6 14.Nf5 Bf8 15.Bf4 13...c6 14.Bb2 Qe7 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.Nh4 g6= 1-0 Pashikian,A (2617)-Hayrapetyan,H (2441)/Al-Ain UAE 2014/ The Week in Chess 1051 (66) 13.Ne5 13.e4 leads only to simplifications: dxe4 14.Nxe4 Bb7 15.Ne5 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Bd6= 13...Bb7 Of course, Black has to cover the vulnerable c6-spot. 14.Bc1! An excellent move! White gets more control over the centre now. Once again, 14.e4 would be harmless: dxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bd6 18.Qf3 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qe7 20.Bc3 Rad8= 14...Ne6 15.Bb2 Bd6 After 15...c5 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Rac1 Bf8 18.e3 the pressure on both hanging pawns is very annoying. The modest 15...c6!? 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.e3 Bd6 would lead to a passive, but solid position. 16.e3 a6 A somewhat inaccurate move, which makes Black's queenside pawn structure less flexible. 16...c5 would be premature: 17.Nb5 Bb8 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Nc4 However, 16...c6!? was a safer option. 17.Ne2 c5 It looks like Hikaru has underestimated the consquences of creating 2 hanging central pawns. Otherwise, he would have continued 17...Rc8 18.Rac1 c6 18.dxc5 GM Karjakin dosn't see a reason for delaying this exchange. Indeed, something like 18.Nc4 Bf8 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Nf4 Rc8 21.Qe2 Ne6 would hardly offer him more. 18...Nxc5! A correct choice - the isolated Pd5 is under strong pressure, but Black's pieces are becoming more active now. 18...bxc5 19.Qf5 Qc7 20.Nd3 Ne4 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Ndf4± 19.Nd3 Nce4! Hikaru sensibly deviates from the exchange of knights. 19...Rc8 20.Nxc5 Bxc5 21.Qd3 Ne4 22.Rac1± 20.Rac1 Possibly, 20.Bd4!? Rc8 21.Qb2 would be more annoying for Black. 20...Rc8 21.Qb1 Qe7 22.Bd4 Rxc1?! There was no reason for losing control over open c-file. 22...Bc5 23.Qa1 a5 23.Rxc1 b5 24.b4! Now, when Black's knight is far from reaching the stable c4-spot, it makes sense to fix the favourable pawn structure. Nd7 25.a3 This move gives Black time for regrouping his forces. A more energetic way was 25.Nef4 h6 26.Qb3± 25...Nf8 26.Ba1 At this stage of game Sergey avoids any ''drastic'' measures. 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 Black has been able to improve the placement of his minor pieces, but the position is still quite unpleasant. 29.h4       Nxg3? A terrible tactical blunder. 29...Nxd4 30.Bxd4 Bxd4 31.exd4 Qf6 32.Qb2 h6 33.Nc5 Ba8 would have kept a worse, but solid position. 30.fxg3 Nxd4 Hikaru's calculations were based on the vulnerablity of Nd3, but he had missed an important detail... 31.Bxd4 Bxd4 32.exd4 Qe3+ 33.Qf2! Qxd3 34.Rc7+- That's it! The double attack immediately decides the battle. The remaining few moves were just an agony. 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Karjakin,S2760Nakamura,H27901–02016E15Candidates Tournament2

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:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 cf. 1.e4 c5 2.c3 and also 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 - see below 1...d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.Be2 cxd4 This rare move leads to positions arising from the Alapin Sicilian but with an extra tempo for White. However, it is unclear whether the tempo gives White any real benefit. 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 1/2 (15) Maisuradze,N (2308)-David,A (2602) Orsay 2009 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 1-0 (22) Lemos,D (2292)-Caramia,J (2187) Villa Ballester 2006 a5= 8...Qxd1 or 8...Bxc5 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Rxd1 Bxc5 transposes to the 7.dxc5 system. 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Nc3 Be7 Compare this position to the annotation to move 1! 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 1/2 (18) Teichmann,R-Blackburne,J Ostend 1905 10...Ng4 A strange manoeuvre. Fabiano Caruana definitely overlooked something. But even after that Black's position is very solid! 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= 1/2 (35) Jordaan, W-Mujica,H LSS 2006 11.Bf4 Nf6 After this move we get a position arising from some side Sicilian lines - see, e.g. another line in the annotation to move 1 (in brackets). 11...Bd6 12.Qd2!? 12.Rc1 12.Qd2?! 0-0 13.Rfd1 b5 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.Bf3 Rc8= 1/2 (37) Wolf,C (2148)-Muse,D (2393) Germany 2016 12.Qa4 0-0 13.Rfd1 Nb4 14.Ne5 Nbd5 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nxd5 1/2 (16) Wittmann,W (2365)-Paehtz,E (2421) Germany 2006 12...0-0 13.Na4 An active move. White tries to prevent his opponent's comfortable development. Alas, in vain. 13.a3 Bd7 14.Ne5 Be8 15.Be3 Rc8 16.Bd3 Nd5 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.f4 Nxe5 19.fxe5 Rxc1 20.Qxc1 Bc6= 1-0 (37) Hristodorescu,D (2267) -Filipek,J (2416) Brasschaat 2002 13.Bd3 Nb4 14.Bb1 b5 15.a3 Nbd5 16.Be5 Bb7 17.Qd3 g6 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Rc7 Bd8 20.Rc5 Qd7= 1/2 (55) Crouch, C-Franklin,M (2335) London 1974 13...Nd5 14.Bg3 Bd6 15.Bd3 15.Ne5 Nce7 16.Qb3 Nf5 17.Rfd1 1-0 (63) Sturc,G (2137)-Obdrzalkova,A (2153) Slovakia 2002 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?! After this move White gets an isolated central pawn in a simplified position, which is rather favourable for Black although his edge is minimal. 20.bxc3= 20...Nxa2! 21.Qxa2 Rxb7 22.Qxa6 Rc7 23.b3 A strange move. 23.Be5 /= 23...Nf5 24.Rxc7 24.Be5!? 24...Qxc7 25.Qb5 h6 26.d5?! This move increases Black's advantage a little bit: he gets a B vs N in an open position; besides, White's double g-pawns will be another headache for him. 26.Be5!? 26...exd5 27.Qxd5 Nxg3 28.hxg3 Rd8 29.Qb5 g6 30.Ne5 Qc5 With B vs N, it is usually favourable to exchange queens and not rooks. 31.Qxc5 Bxc5       32.Kf1 Kg7 33.Ke2?       A sudden but typical blunder: when your position consequently deteriorates, you often lose patience. 33.g4!? but even after that White faces a long defence. 33...Bb4! 34.Rc1 Re8 35.f4 f6 36.Rc7+ Kh8 37.Rc6 The only chance to create technical problems for Black. fxe5 38.Rxb6 exf4+ 39.Kf3 Re3+ 40.Kxf4 Bd2 41.Rxg6 Kh7 42.Kf5 Rxb3 This endgame is difficult to win but Black's important trump is that he can trade rooks despite the "wrong" corner! 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 Here is the point: 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 , and there is no stalemate as White has another g-pawn! Therefore Black wins. 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 Black has won a pawn but he can't trade rooks anymore. 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? White goes for a R vs R+B endgame but it is lost as he can't avoid the Philidor position! 106.Rd8 Bd6 107.Rg8 continuing resistance. 106...Bd6! 107.Kh4 107.Rg2 Kf5 107...Bxg3+ 108.Kxh5 Kf5 109.Rd5+? This ends the game immediately. 109.Rb2 Rc1 110.Rb5+ Be5 111.Rb4 reaching the Philidor position. However, after his dramatic game against Svidler from the Candidates tournament-2016 (which apparently cost him a World Championship match), Fabiano Caruana must know the way to win by heart. 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2809Caruana,F28070–12017B22Sinquefield Cup 5th2

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:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Something new, Finally ! d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5!? Of all the lines exchange variation was the least expected. cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Rc1 7.Qb3 is the more popular line nowadays 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 Something has definitely gone wrong for White.Black has not only solved the opening problems but also has the intiative. Probably the hybrid of Rc1-Qb3-Bb5 isn't correct and allows black a lot of time. 15.Ne5 Rxc3 16.Rxc3 Rxc3 17.0-0 h6 17...Nh5!? was an artificial but an interesting option. If black manages to remove the bishop and consolidate he will clearly be better. 18.g4! Interesting complications follow after 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 In my opinion white has sufficient activity for the pawn. 18.h4 Ne4 19.g4! It is important to play actively and create some quick counterplay. Bh7 20.Rb1 g5 21.hxg5 hxg5 22.Bh2 Nd2! Engine at first fails to understand and evaluate the position of Rook vs two pieces. Black is actually in no danger at all as the activity of black's rook is always sufficient for a draw. 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 Diagram
34.Nxe6? You simply cannot explain such moves. 99/100 times Carlsen would play the correct move, but apparently even the World Champion blunders! Any other move would have drawn easily. Rb6 35.Nf4?? Actually this is the real blunder ! Carlsen must have been so demoralized by missing Rb6 that he failed to see that he can still save the game. The point is that immediate 35.Nc5 is met with a3 and black wins, but White can invert the move order by playing 35. Kc2! & then Nc5 35.Kc2! Rxd6 36.Nc5 a3 37.Kb3= and the king catches the pawn 35...Rxd6 36.Kc2 Rb6! Now the king is cut off and with accurate play black managed to win the game 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 Now white is in a type of zugwang as any move by King or the knight loses a piece. Hence white has to slowly give up all of his pawns. 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 Between these two the d4 games have clearly been more fighting and full of thrill compared to the dry and ever-boring berlins. So, I hope & wish to see a lot 1.d4 games in the upcoming WCH match. Fingers crossed ! :)
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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2881Anand,V27850–12014D10Wch Rapid12

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:

  1. Make sure you are aware of all unprotected pieces.
  2. Make a list of all forcing moves and don’t forget to check every one of them, at least briefly.
  3. Don’t forget to check all the exchanges as well.
  4. Don’t play natural moves instantly. Take ten or twenty seconds to doublecheck everything.
  5. Always ask yourself: What has changed on the board with the last move(s)?
  6. Try to calculate the lines till the very end.
  7. Don’t relax in simple positions
  8. Make sure you calm down after you have blundered or experienced an unpleasant surprise.

Links

 

 

 

 


Jan Markos is a Slovakian chess author, trainer, and grandmaster. His book Under the Surface was the English Chess Federation´s 2018 Book of the Year. His last book, The Secret Ingredient, co-authored with David Navara, focuses on the practical aspects of play, e.g. time-management over the board, how to prepare against a specific opponent, or how to use chess engines during the training process. Markos was the U16 European Champion twenty years ago. At present he helps his pupils from several countries to achieve similar successes. Apart from focusing on the royal game, he is also the author of several non-chess books, focused on critical thinking, moral dilemmas, and phenomenology.

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.