lichess.org
Donate

How to ruin an advantage:

en.lichess.org/nGYd93pS/white#31

I seem to be getting quite a few of these situations. Often I'll be playing a slightly higher rated opponent, things are going pretty well and then BAM it's all gone. I can get over-excited when there's an attack going on... I check the analysis afterwards and sure enough, I had a real advantage and totally squandered it! haha
This is a very familiar story! :) It takes discipline and practice to use the thinking strategies that eliminate blunders, minimise errors and reduce inaccuracies. I have found the training exercises very useful to decrease my error rate and to train my thinking to go through a logical process. Check for opponents threats including check-mates, threats on queen, count the exchange, look for opponents best move (IMO). Some moves are semi-automatic in the opening of course but be careful that a small variation from your opponent doesn't lead to material loss or a mating threat. For me it a continuous and ongoing process of dragging my rating from 1800 to 2000 or there abouts. I also find the game analysis very useful, win lose or draw. As well as going over the game move by move, I look at the game stats such as inaccuracies, errors and blunders. At my level it is a blunder and error free game that usually sees me winning. I can still win even with a blunder but often the opponent makes more blunders or does not capitalize on my blunder. The inaccuracies, as long as not more than 5 in a 40 move game, are not critical to victory at my relatively low rating. Usually there is a high number of errors on both sides and it is the player with the least number that wins, but, not always. The last blunder many make is the last one by not recognizing a defendable mate.

This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.