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Make fewer chess blunders – 6 interactive exercises

Learn a short routine for checking your next move. Compare three choices in each position and discover which threat, reply or rule makes the difference.

Think before you move

  1. Read the threat. Look for checks, captures and undefended pieces your opponent can attack.
  2. Compare two candidates. Picture each move and find the strongest reply.
  3. Check the outcome. Is your king safe? Can the piece you moved be captured?

Each board is shown from White’s side. The side to move is given above each exercise. In English notation Q is queen, R rook, B bishop, N knight and K king. Pawn moves have no piece letter.

1. Look at checks first

Black to move. White has moved the f- and g-pawns. Which move ends the game immediately?

Position before the move. Black to move. Black rook a8, Black knight b8, Black bishop c8, Black queen d8, Black king e8, Black bishop f8, Black knight g8, Black rook h8, Black pawn a7, Black pawn b7, Black pawn c7, Black pawn d7, Black pawn f7, Black pawn g7, Black pawn h7, Black pawn e5, White pawn g4, White pawn f3, White pawn a2, White pawn b2, White pawn c2, White pawn d2, White pawn e2, White pawn h2, White rook a1, White knight b1, White bishop c1, White queen d1, White king e1, White bishop f1, White knight g1, White rook h1 8 76 5 4 3 2 1abcdefgh
See answer and board after the move

Qh4#. The queen checks along the h4–e1 diagonal. White cannot capture the queen, block the diagonal or move the king to safety.

Position after the answer. Black rook a8, Black knight b8, Black bishop c8, Black king e8, Black bishop f8, Black knight g8, Black rook h8, Black pawn a7, Black pawn b7, Black pawn c7, Black pawn d7, Black pawn f7, Black pawn g7, Black pawn h7, Black pawn e5, White pawn g4, Black queen h4, White pawn f3, White pawn a2, White pawn b2, White pawn c2, White pawn d2, White pawn e2, White pawn h2, White rook a1, White knight b1, White bishop c1, White queen d1, White king e1, White bishop f1, White knight g1, White rook h1 8 76 5 4 3 2 1abcdefgh

Follow a check all the way through. Name the three ways to answer check and rule each one out.

Read the related lesson · Check and checkmate

2. Save the attacked queen

White to move. The black bishop on g4 attacks your queen on d1. Which move takes the queen to safety?

Position before the move. White to move. Black king g8, Black pawn h5, Black bishop g4, White rook a1, White queen d1, White king g1 876 5 432 1abcdefgh
See answer and board after the move

Qd3. On d3 the queen is off the bishop’s diagonal and Black cannot immediately capture her.

Position after the answer. Black king g8, Black pawn h5, Black bishop g4, White queen d3, White rook a1, White king g1 876 5 4 32 1abcdefgh

Before capturing, look for the recapture. A capture that gives check can still lose material.

Read the related lesson · The bishop

3. Spot a pin against the king

White to move. The white knight stands between the black rook and the white king. Which move is legal?

Position before the move. White to move. Black king a8, Black rook e8, White knight e2, White king e1 876543 2 1abcdefgh
See answer and board after the move

Kf2. The king moves to f2, which is unattacked, and steps off the e-file behind the knight.

Position after the answer. Black king a8, Black rook e8, White knight e2, White king f2 876543 21abcdefgh

Trace a line from the attacker to your king. Ask whether your move opens that line.

Read the related lesson · The pin

4. Make an escape square

White to move. Black can bring the rook to a1 with check. Which white move gives your king an extra escape square?

Position before the move. White to move. Black rook a8, Black king g8, White rook e2, White pawn f2, White pawn g2, White pawn h2, White king g1 876543 2 1abcdefgh
See answer and board after the move

h3. The pawn clears h2. After …Ra1+, the king can step to h2 because the rook on a1 attacks along rank one and the a-file.

Position after the answer. Black rook a8, Black king g8, White pawn h3, White rook e2, White pawn f2, White pawn g2, White king g1 87654 3 2 1abcdefgh

An escape square only helps if your king can legally reach it. After a pawn move, check who attacks that square.

Read the related lesson · The king

5. Checkmate or stalemate?

White to move. You have a king and queen against a lone king. Which queen move gives immediate checkmate?

Position before the move. White to move. Black king h8, White king f7, White queen g5 8 76 54321abcdefgh
See answer and board after the move

Qg7#. The queen checks h8 and the white king protects her on g7. Black cannot capture her or escape.

Position after the answer. Black king h8, White king f7, White queen g7 8 7654321abcdefgh

When winning an endgame, check that your finishing move actually gives check. No legal move without check means a draw.

Read the related lesson · Check and checkmate

Use this position in a lesson with a worksheet

6. Find the knight fork with check

White to move. Which knight move attacks the black king and queen at the same time?

Position before the move. White to move. Black queen d8, Black king h8, White knight e5, White king g1 876 5432 1abcdefgh
See answer and board after the move

Nf7+. From f7 the knight attacks both h8 and d8. Black must answer the check. For example, after …Kg8 comes Nxd8.

Position after the answer. Black queen d8, Black king h8, White knight f7, White king g1 8 765432 1abcdefgh

Name both targets of a fork before you move. Then check whether the opponent can capture the knight.

Read the related lesson · The fork

Play a practice game against the bot

Play one game and use the routine whenever the bot attacks a piece or gives check. Pause before replying. Say which piece is in danger and which reply you expect.

After the game, choose one moment that surprised you. Write down the bot’s move, your reply and one alternative. Compare the alternative with the bot’s strongest response. That gives you something specific to practise in your next game.

Open the chess bot