Questions tagged [beginner]
Questions of interest to or relating to new players.
190
questions
2
votes
6
answers
145
views
I'm Complete Beginner, where to start?
I'm complete beginner and would like to ask for advice in finding best source of learning materials and path to follow. I heard about chess.com as one stop shop in terms of lesions as well as playing ...
3
votes
2
answers
315
views
Why is h3 a mistake?
This is the 12th move of this game I played as white: https://lichess.org/b7B16RLF/white#22
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Be3 { C65 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Kaufmann ...
- 6,524
1
vote
1
answer
159
views
Why is Ba4 an inaccuracy here? Why is Bd3 the best move?
I played this game recently as white: https://lichess.org/b7B16RLF/white#18
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Be3 Bxe3 6. fxe3 d6 7. d4 Bd7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Qe2 a6 10. Ba4 ...
- 238
63
votes
14
answers
22k
views
How should I make a 6 year old think more?
I have been teaching my 6 year old daughter chess for past 2 years. She plays reasonably well. She often defeats level 25 in Chess Lv 100 app and sometimes Level 6 in Chess.com app. So I am guessing ...
- 15.8k
0
votes
5
answers
546
views
What are some good chess resources to learn from?
I have looked in a lot of places, but I can't find good places to learn chess. I am at the stage where I know basic chess strategies, but my rating is still below average. I can't find a source longer ...
- 3,280
11
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Is the English opening the most suitable for beginners?
Here are my understandings of the English opening:
The English opening is as good as 1.d4.
Since it is less common than 1.e4 and 1.d4; it is more likely that an average amateur player is less familar ...
- 8,819
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 ...
- 105
1
vote
2
answers
139
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 ...
- 255
5
votes
4
answers
194
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. ...
- 520
0
votes
1
answer
125
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 ...
- 17.1k
2
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What should a beginner focus on to improve his level?
I learned chess only about 1 month ago. Of course, my first game was terrible. After reading some tips I improved a little. Learning basics of few openings (like Spanish, Vienna and Urusov) increased ...
- 3,695
0
votes
1
answer
137
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 ...
- 15.8k
3
votes
2
answers
202
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 ...
- 15.4k
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
167
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 ...
-2
votes
2
answers
234
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 ...
5
votes
5
answers
312
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 ...
- 3,313
1
vote
2
answers
398
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.
- 3,695
11
votes
5
answers
44k
views
Is there any good app for learning openings?
My great fail is that I cannot learn opening or initial play.
Normally I only play when I can connect to my mobile app (Chess Free on iOS), and play at a very low level (adjusted as a single bar), ...
- 3,695
3
votes
3
answers
333
views
What are some "quick start" openings?
First of all, I'm sorry if it looks like I didn't really research before asking the question, but I really did put in some effort and couldn't find a satisfying answer.
My problem is, I don't want to ...
- 6,010
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. ...
- 3,695
1
vote
1
answer
166
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. ...
- 6,010
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 ...
- 6,010
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? ...
- 1,485
4
votes
1
answer
402
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 &...
- 94.5k
5
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Tools specifically for training at finding loose pieces?
There are of course lots of tactical trainers out there, but I'm wonder if there are any that focus solely on the basic skill of spotting loose or hanging pieces. It is of course a trivial exercise ...
- 103
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/...
- 8,155
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 ...
- 19.8k
2
votes
2
answers
523
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 ...
- 791
2
votes
2
answers
150
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 ...
- 1,242
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 ...
- 1,242
2
votes
0
answers
131
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....
- 15.4k
6
votes
4
answers
877
views
What are some resources for someone past beginner but whom is not yet intermediate?
I've been playing chess off and on for the better part of 15 years, however, I've never done it enough to count myself as any good at it. I'd like to get better, but intermediate guides go over my ...
- 3,587
6
votes
4
answers
303
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 ...
- 6,010
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 ...
- 7,988
3
votes
1
answer
163
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 ...
- 829
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 ...
- 2,262
4
votes
2
answers
609
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 ...
6
votes
3
answers
315
views
Analyze this game
I am improving my chess. What is the best move here and why? (black moves)
rnb2rk1/pp2qpp1/3p1b1p/2pBp2Q/4P2P/3P1N2/PPP2PP1/2KR3R b - h3 0 1
- 3,695
5
votes
7
answers
943
views
Is playing stronger opponents useful as a beginner?
I have signed up to a chess website and there are very few people who are as bad as I am (rating around 800), so I have to resort to playing against people who are much better (1200+) and end up ...
- 94.5k
3
votes
1
answer
319
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?
- 3,695
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 ...
- 1,072
4
votes
3
answers
1k
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 ...
CommunityBot
- 1
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. ...
- 94.5k
4
votes
2
answers
847
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 ...
- 24.8k
-3
votes
2
answers
66
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 ...
- 1,123
1
vote
2
answers
114
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 ...
- 8,155
6
votes
1
answer
400
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 ...
- 8,155
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 ...
- 1,072
5
votes
1
answer
902
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, ...
- 1,072