4 Typical Mistakes Beginners Make in Chess


Dear Chess Friends,


Nowadays chess becomes more popular among adults. Let’s say if, for example, 20 years ago chess coaches had to teach kids only, now we teach anyone who wants to learn chess. As for me, I have approximately equal number of adult-students and youngsters.

And, of course, a teaching approach differs depending on who you are teaching – adults or kids. Usually kids slowly absorb the information you provide them. They also play games at blitz tempo. Why? When I ask them, they usually say that they’ve already found the best move. But, of course, it’s not true. Usually they just make the first move that comes to their mind. And the best advice that I can give to such people is to slow down the game.

However, in this post I want to explain what mistakes adults (beginners) usually make.

And here I think the main mistake is that they play games only – no analysis after the game, no openings study and no puzzles practicing. Of course, I understand that beginners shouldn’t spend much time on openings, but at least they should understand basic principles of how to play the opening stage of the game:

1) Occupy the center with your pawns

2) Develop you minor pieces

3) Don’t forget to castle

4) Think about your queen and rooks activity and at the same time try to come up with a middlegame plan

Of course, I can continue this list, but at least you should know these 4.

For example, look at the board why do some people play in this position 2.d4, but other – 2.Nf3 ? Of course, d4 is more logical, because it helps us to get the control over the center and Nf3 can be played anytime later!

Adults usually play for fun and only some of them try to find the mistakes in their games to avoid them in future. On chess.com you can do a computer analysis after the game and find the blunders. Blunders are blunders! But how to find strategical mistakes that finally led to all these blunders? Computer can’t help you with it. But a coach can. That’s why I think that work with a coach is important especially for beginners. May be not very often, but at least from time to time (once or twice a week). Because it’s only a coach who can explain your strategical mistakes and teach you to find good middlegame plans. These are not the only things that a coach can teach you. Anyway, I think this the second mistake – adult-students neglect working with a coach.

Puzzles? How many of you do solve puzzles on a regular basis? I believe just a few. And are you sure that you solve these puzzles properly? I mean do you run this process properly? Do you calculate the line to the very end before you make a move on the board? Do you cover all possible continuations for the other side? And everywhere your position is better? If yes, then fine, you are doing everything properly.

However, some players refuse puzzle solving at all. Some think it’s not useful, others are just too lazy to do it. However, at the same time they want to get much better in chess. But how is it possible if you miss may be the best type of exercises to improve your calculation skill? The third main mistake is ignoring puzzles.

Bad traps! I think this is how I can call the 4th mistake that beginners usually make. Such players try to create a trap and in case if the opponent gets trapped, they can win much material or even a game. But if he doesn’t get trapped, their position may become worser or even losing. Such players usually take too much risk in a hope of the other side’s blunder.

And in such situations, I usually say to my students “Don’t think your opponent is idiot! Always think that you are playing against someone like Garry Kasparov! And let your opponent surprise you with a blunder.”

I’m planning to continue this topic in a few my next posts, but let’s sum it up.

These are 4 typical mistakes Beginners usually make:

  • Ignore (or don’t know) basic principles of playing the opening stage
  • Neglect to work with a coach
  • Refuse puzzle practicing (or don’t conduct this process properly)
  • Create “bad traps” in a hope for a mistake

To be continued…

I also would like to remind you that I'm going to conduct a Master Class, where you will learn what you can do to improve your chess performance! 

You can register for this Master Class through this link: 

https://clc.to/MasterClassChess

The Master Class starts on Sunday (26th of January) at 10 a.m. (EST), 3 p.m. (GMT), 6 p.m. (Moscow time). It's free.


Best Regards,

FM Victor Neustroev