Questions tagged [beginner]
Questions of interest to or relating to new players.
187
questions
13
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Why can't I move my knight from d5 to c7?
I am a foreigner learning to play chess with my computer. The blue move is the last move and the red one is suggested to go.
I wonder why I can't move my knight anymore. The computer doesn't allow me ...
- 131
1
vote
2
answers
128
views
Why is Qe7 a blunder here?
I'm a chess beginner. I played this game against Stockfish and according to Lichess' analysis, Qe7 was a blunder here, and the best move actually was c6. I can't understand why?
[Title "Why is ...
- 137
0
votes
1
answer
116
views
Why did I lose -> I thought I can swap king and castle to avoid checkmate? [duplicate]
[FEN "6nN/Bp1k2pp/2n5/p7/Q4R1P/5pP1/P3qN2/4K2R w K - 0 1"]
As you can see my king got checkmated through the enemy's queen and pawn.
My question is, why is this a checkmate? I haven't moved ...
0
votes
1
answer
121
views
Most people say that the best opening for beginners to improve is 1.e4 e5. But after 2.Nf3, what should we teach beginners to play: 2...Nf6 or 2..Nc6?
The players under consideration here, the so-called "beginners", are players who are below 1100 Elo, players who do not yet know what openings to play, players who do not know anything about ...
- 4,716
3
votes
2
answers
168
views
The simplest approach for king & pawn vs king & pawn endgames
I'm trying to study king & pawn endgames, where both sides have one or multiple pawns remaining. So far it seems really puzzling to me - while I know the basic principles of opposition and ...
- 133
5
votes
4
answers
185
views
How can I deal with low confidence and 'chess esteem' while I am learning to play, even when I repeat mistakes?
I posted a popular question a couple of days ago, and it brought up another topic that is worthy of a question.
For reference, I've been playing 6–7 weeks, and my chess.com rating is a laughable ~300. ...
- 273
12
votes
5
answers
3k
views
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 ...
- 273
2
votes
2
answers
164
views
Looking for a basic assessment
I'm looking for an app that after I play a game of chess (or 3) will tell me if I'm a beginner or intermediate. Not looking for an app to teach me or to assess the game move by move. Does anyone know ...
- 21
5
votes
5
answers
298
views
How to Learn Chess Comprehensively
I'm a pretty new to playing chess - I understand the fundamentals and can implement some of the basic ideas like forks and pins, but have never properly learned how to play. I'm looking for a ...
- 51
-2
votes
2
answers
230
views
Why is this the wrong move?
I am new to chess. I am playing puzzles on chess.com. I made a move which I thought was checkmate, but it tells me I made the wrong move.
It looks to me like the King is in check by the bishop. But no ...
- 145
1
vote
1
answer
144
views
Exchange Caro-Kann Qc7 line: why does the black king's knight not go to f6?
In this position in the Exchange Caro-Kann:
[FEN "r1bqkbnr/pp2pppp/2n5/3p4/3P4/2PB4/PP3PPP/RNBQK1NR b KQkq - 0 5"]
the computer suggests one of the continuations as:
[FEN ""]
1. ...
17
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Are hypermodern openings not recommended for beginners?
Beginners are taught principles in a classical style: control the center and develop pieces early. To my understanding, hypermodern openings try to control the center from a distance and wait for the ...
- 3,545
22
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Basic "mate in one move" puzzle - what am I missing?
I am extremely new to chess and have been working through some "mate in one" problems on chesspuzzles.com for practice. This one has me very confused though:
The stated answer is:
But why? ...
4
votes
1
answer
385
views
Panov-Botvinnik Attack: position analysis
I am a beginner in chess (1313 lichess, 1177 chess.com rapid) and am in the process of learning the basics of the Panov attack from the Hanging Pawns Youtube channel. In this video, at 15:00,
[FEN &...
9
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How to analyse positions more accurately as a total beginner?
In this position I thought I was winning with white, like +2 or +2.5. But Lichess Analysis shows evaluation as -1.4.
[Title "Black to move after Ne5"]
[fen "rn3rk1/1p1b3p/p2n1qp1/3PNp2/...
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Was my opponent in check?
I’m new to chess and I had my queen on the left one space away from the king which was on the right and he was unprotected, is that check?
E.g., take the following sample position (note: not provided ...
- 27
2
votes
2
answers
147
views
How do I remember my analyses?
From How do I analyze my game after playing?, I've been annotating my games after playing. I used to turn on the engine immediately to see my blunders, but recently I've been analyzing without engine ...
- 3,545
2
votes
0
answers
129
views
Ultra-beginners mostly moving their pawns
I always wondered why ultra-beginners make so many pawn moves. (I don't have any recollection on my first steps, but I daresay after the first Scholar's mate I immediately added 1 and 1.) After all, e....
- 14.9k
6
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is 10 minute time control too fast for me as a beginner?
Every day I usually play one or two 10+5 games for fun and to try to train my decision making. 10 minutes seems to be the recommended time control for a beginner. However, for a long time I've felt ...
- 3,545
6
votes
4
answers
296
views
Will writing a chess engine help my chess?
At first the premise seems absurd - the computer engine relies much more on brute-force search (Shannon's Type A Strategy) over selecting a few strong lines with heuristics (Type B Strategy). But can ...
- 3,545
11
votes
4
answers
4k
views
How to pass 1000 elo
Currently my chess.com rating is fluctuating between 1000 - 1050. What are some common pitfalls that players in this range make and how can I capitalize on them? I've been playing for about 5 months ...
- 119
3
votes
1
answer
149
views
Literature on Accelerated London system
I (beginner) have been trying to shift from Philidor Defense (I still play it for Black) to the Accelerated London System for Blitz and Rapid. For eg:
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 ...
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How can I avoid stalemate in this position?
I am very much a beginner to chess and have been clueless in my past matches. I feel like I'm either making a move just to protect any of my pieces at that moment or make a move to simply knock my ...
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How does centipawn scoring work?/Why is a higher (positive) score horrible while a lower score is better?
I'm a total beginner in Chess. I've known the basic rules for at least 20 years, but have never played it somewhat serious. Only toddler-level.
I recently started trying to learn how to play properly. ...
- 151
4
votes
2
answers
606
views
“Rating” going up too fast [closed]
I am a chess beginner. I love playing Blitz games (especially 3+0).
I play on Lichess.org. My “Lichess blitz rating” (currently between 1040 and 1060; not giving exact value for privacy) has been ...
1
vote
2
answers
323
views
What are some middle game chess books that are good for beginners? [closed]
What are some great middlegame chess books that are for beginners that will help me to improve my middle game in chess? There aren't a lot of books on the middle game.
3
votes
1
answer
305
views
Why is this a Checkmate? Pawn can capture queen?
I am just learning Chess. Why is this a checkmate? It's Black's turn, and White's queen threatens Black's king, so check. But if I play gxf8, the check is gone. Why doesn't the game let me do it?
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why is 3...c5 a blunder in the Center Game Accepted?
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR"]
[Title "Center Game Accepted"]
[StartFlipped "1"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 c5??
Stockfish says that 3…c5 was a ...
- 1,062
0
votes
1
answer
199
views
How to discourage distracting behaviour by a teenager?
I’m showing a 12 year old male how to play chess. While he has amazing abilities, he plays with the captured pieces, jumps around, leans over the board, knock pieces over that are still on the board. ...
4
votes
2
answers
833
views
What is the great thing about Bc4 here?
Please forgive my blindness! I am a beginner and have not played in months.
I was going to go Bd3, where my bishop would have been protected by a pawn and poised to strike one of the next potential ...
- 333
-3
votes
2
answers
64
views
Benefits Of PGN Files [closed]
I’m wanting to improve at Chess and reduce my number of mistakes and blunders in order for me to win more games.
Can Pgn files help me with my quest to improve?
If not then what can I do?
What is a ...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
113
views
Rules of Checkmate [duplicate]
I’ve attached a picture of the board configuration of an end game. Black wins this game by checkmate, however, I’m wondering how this is valid checkmate?
To my understanding, checkmate occurs when a ...
- 29
2
votes
2
answers
475
views
What are some good tactics books?
I am looking for books with exercises to improve at tactics. It seems that there are lots of options.
My definition of what constitutes a “good” tactics books is variety. Even if the book focuses on a ...
- 1,062
2
votes
1
answer
305
views
Why is forking the king and rook a blunder in this Halloween Gambit line?
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR"]
[Title "Halloween Gambit Game"]
[StartPly "22"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6?! 6. d5 Ne5 7. ...
- 1,062
6
votes
1
answer
398
views
Why should Black capture with different pawns in these similar Spanish game variations?
As a general “rule”, I have read that pawn captures toward the center should be preferred.
I have found 2 different positions which look similar but the best way for Black to recapture with the pawn ...
- 1,062
12
votes
4
answers
1k
views
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 ...
- 1,062
1
vote
2
answers
150
views
Why is this rook move a mistake?
Recently I was playing a game on chess.com (300 rating) and after the game the engine showed that this move was a mistake, losing two points of material.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 a5 2. d4 h5 3. f3 f6 ...
3
votes
1
answer
352
views
Why is 2…f6 a blunder in the Center Game?
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR"]
[Title "Center Game"]
[StartFlipped "1"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 f6??
Stockfish says that 2…f6 was a blunder and recommends 2…...
- 1,062
4
votes
3
answers
933
views
Play/learn Sveshnikov Sicilian as a beginner?
I've read countless times, that beginners should not play the Sicilian.
On the other hand, one often reads that the opening does not matter for beginners.
There are many courses claiming the included ...
- 5,746
5
votes
1
answer
898
views
Why is 4…Bb4 an inaccuracy in the Berlin Defense?
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR"]
[Title "Berlin Defense"]
[StartFlipped "1"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bb4?!
When White castles, ...
- 1,062
3
votes
2
answers
315
views
Challenges of becoming a good chess player
Chess is a deterministic game. Hence in principle we can have a perfect strategy for chess, a strategy that prevents a player losing a single game (given that no mistake has been made). All chess ...
- 139
6
votes
1
answer
370
views
Are there any online chess tournaments for beginners( or new players)?
I have been playing online chess for a long time on sites like lichess and chess.com. But I have never played in any FIDE or AICF organized tournament. In this pandemic are there any online ...
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How can white gain a slight advantage in this position? (puzzle for beginners)
Try solving the following puzzle authored by me (for beginners).
White to move and gain a slight advantage, despite being a Queen down for a bishop at present:
[FEN "2k1r3/pp6/n5q1/1N3p2/8/3B4/...
- 379
3
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What does the term LPDO (Loose Pieces Drop Off) mean?
I have been hearing the term LPDO (Loose Pieces Drop Off) a lot lately, which apparently is helping players in the beginning level. If so, does it prescribe some best practices and tips to help ...
- 379
-1
votes
2
answers
142
views
Looking to improve my tactics and possibly develop an opening repertoire at the beginner/intermediate level [closed]
I am new to the game and I so far like it. I have watched people on the internet play, tried to copy their moves and have been maintaining an 800 rating on Chess.com and around 1000 on Lichess. I have ...
- 239
4
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is a good strategy for blocking your opponent from checkmating you even though they always win? [closed]
I like to play chess against my Dad. He is almost a professional player. He always finds ways to checkmate my king. Every game I try new blocking strategies, but none of them work.
- 97
8
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why is g3 a bad move here?
Why is the last move by white, g3 on the board below, considered a bad move? It was in a game that I played recently and my idea was to protect the bishop in f4 and give the other bishop more space to ...
- 191
2
votes
1
answer
123
views
When you study chess what do you do to learn something new? [closed]
All my life i was never been able to progress past beginner level.
When i read a book or study a game i can't long term memorize what i do or what i read.
So in practice what do you do to progress ?
...
- 29
11
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Why is 1. d4 2. c4 3. b3 so bad for white?
I recently played a game that opened like this:
1. d4 c6 2. c4 d5 { D10 Slav Defense } 3. b3
[FEN ""]
My third move, 3. b3 is apparently so uncommon that Lichess doesn't have it in its ...
- 3,057
-1
votes
3
answers
481
views
Why does the computer give me a high accuracy score?
My rating on chess.com is of about 1077 on rapid and today when I won a game against a player with slightly lower rating the analysis results said I played with 73 accuracy according to their best ...
- 125