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Questions tagged [blunder]

A blunder is a move that is a mistake that leads to losing material (e.g. a pawn or a piece) more or less without any compensation.

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What is the most effective way of reducing blunders?

Many people suggest tactical exercises as the best form of study for this purpose but I find that it only attacks the problem from one dimension (not making the strongest in a position). Analyzing my own games I find that I'm much more likely to…
rgrinberg
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Is allowing takebacks in friendly games a bad practice?

When I am playing friendly games with my brother, if one of us makes a big blunder that would make it pointless to continue playing, instead of quitting, we undo the move(s) to give a second chance (if we both agree, otherwise the one that did the…
ajax333221
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Why does chess.com consider this promotion a blunder?

I've just played a game on Chess.com, and I'm surprised that the engine considers a promotion that I made a huge blunder. Like, my position was rated -62.8 (basically a won game), and after I promoted my pawn to a queen the rating dropped to -6.40.…
Fabio says Reinstate Monica
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How to recover from a blunder?

I have been in a situation where I have not been paying attention and suddenly I move my queen to an unprotected square and it is taken. My initial thought is: Oh $*%! :) But if the blunder is mediocre or not devastating, how does one get into the…
xaisoft
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Has there been any blunders in resignation?

We know that despite what is shown in the movies and such, most chess games don't end by a "checkmate" move and oftentimes one side realizes that they are losing and resigns before the end. Now this begs the question: Has there been any serious…
polfosol
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Stockfish blunders away a piece

Using stockfish_8_x64 with Arena 3.5.1, I see a weird pick by Stockfish. Start here: White, Stockfish, to move. It plays bb6-g1,losing the bishop and the win. Also strange: the same engine does not make this weird move in the Tarrasch program.…
Larry
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What is the better way to stop blundering all my games?

I am on the road that starts from the "Beginner" stage, trying to leave this "town". I know and understand the rules, I also understand most of the "classic" tactics. I am able to reproduce some mating patterns (and to understand them I think). But…
pim999
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Improving the observation skill & making less blunders

I've noticed that the most common reason for me to lose a game is not lack of knowledge but failure to observe whats happening on the board. This is specially true for rapid games but it happens in slow chess as well. In a recent game i moved a rook…
X X
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How do I stop blundering my queen?

I have a particular bad habit when I play chess. I play reasonably well (at least by the standards of people I play with), and am quite careful with my pieces. But in about 80% of games I play, once I get into a good position - one or two pieces…
naught101
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Why was move 26 in Carlsen-Anand 2014 WC Game 6 a blunder by both players?

In the Anand vs Carlsen Match 6, why was move 26 a blunder for both players? [White "Carlsen"] [Black "Anand"] [FEN "6rr/1k3p2/1pb1p1np/p1p1P2R/2P3R1/2P1B3/P1B2PP1/2K5 w - - 0 1"] 1.Kd2? a4?
user4247
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I blunder too much in over-the-board chess

I have played 99% of my games online, I have seen and learn almost everything related to chess with the fonts Alpha or Mérida, either through diagrams or games, etc . However, when I play with an actual chessboard, I blunder too much, I have trouble…
ajax333221
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Is there a name for this common type of blunder?

I'm sure most of us have done it at least once ... I had a position where one of my pieces were under direct threat - I was a pawn up, but my opponent attacked my rook with his bishop and threatened to get the pawn back if I was careless. I tried to…
firtydank
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What is a blunder?

I am looking for a precise definition for a blunder. Computers often flag moves as blunders for any move that loses a point advantage or more. But what if I am completely winning and I decide to simplify the game by "sacrificing" my material plus.…
CognisMantis
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As a novice, how can I improve at defending my pieces other than what I'm already doing?

I’m struggling with chess after about six weeks of proper learning, i.e. strategy other than how the pieces move. I get this is a short time. I’m working hard to try and learn, and joined a chess club about a month ago. So far I’ve won zero games.…
tomdot
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Why is it a blunder to capture this pawn even if its defender is pinned?

[FEN "1r1q1rk1/p4pp1/3p1b1p/2pQ4/4P3/P1P2P2/1P2B1PP/1K1R3R b - - 0 20"] [Title "The Position"] 1... Bxc3?? In this position, I believed that the best move for Black is Bxc3. It’s a free pawn, creates a threat on b2, and exposes the white…
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