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10 Common Chess Mistakes Beginners Make
The ten mistakes that cost beginners the most games, from hanging pieces and early queen moves to ignoring threats and playing too fast, and how to fix each one.
Most games between beginners aren't won by brilliant moves; they're lost by avoidable ones. The good news is that the same few mistakes come up again and again, which means fixing them is the fastest way to improve. Here are the ten most common, and what to do instead.
1. Hanging pieces
Leaving a piece where it can be captured for free is the number-one cause of lost games. Before every move, check that the piece you're moving will be safe on its new square, and that moving it doesn't leave another piece undefended.
2. Ignoring your opponent's last move
Every move your opponent makes has a purpose. Before you think about your own plan, ask: what does that move threaten? Does it attack a piece, prepare a check, or open a line towards your king? This one question prevents more blunders than any other habit.
3. Bringing the queen out too early
An early queen can win a pawn or set a trap, but it usually becomes a target. Your opponent develops pieces with tempo by attacking it, and you end up behind in development. Develop your knights and bishops first; the queen can join later.
4. Moving the same piece repeatedly in the opening
Every move spent on a piece that's already developed is a move not spent on one that isn't. Unless you're capturing something or escaping an attack, bring out a new piece. See our guide to opening principles for the full set of rules.
5. Not castling
A king left in the centre gets caught when the central files open. Castle early, usually within the first ten moves. If you have a reason not to, make sure the centre will stay closed.
6. Pushing pawns in front of your king
After castling, pawn moves like g4 or h4 can be part of an attack, but they also open lines towards your own king. Each pawn move leaves squares behind that can't be defended by pawns again. Push them only with a clear purpose.
7. Grabbing material without checking the cost
A free pawn isn't free if taking it puts your queen offside, opens a file towards your king or wastes two moves. When you see a capture that looks too good, look again: what can your opponent do after it?
8. Trading when you're behind (and not trading when you're ahead)
When you're up material, trading pieces makes your advantage grow. When you're down, every trade makes the deficit harder to overcome. Beginners often do the opposite, swapping pieces to "simplify" when losing and avoiding trades when winning. Reverse it. Read more in chess piece values.
9. Playing too fast
Especially in online games, it's tempting to move instantly. Fast moves are fine in quiet positions, but when pieces are attacking each other, slow down. In a game with a 10-minute clock you have time to spend 30 seconds on a critical move. Use it. Our guide to managing your clock covers this in detail.
10. Resigning or giving up too early
Beginners resign positions that are still playable, and stop trying once they're a piece down. At lower levels, games swing wildly; your opponent may well blunder back. Keep making the most difficult moves you can, look for tricks, and remember that stalemate is a draw. Only resign when there's truly nothing left.
The blunder check
Most of these mistakes can be prevented with a short routine before each move, which takes only a few seconds once it becomes a habit:
- What did my opponent's last move threaten?
- What are all my checks, captures and threats?
- After the move I want to play, what are all of my opponent's checks, captures and threats?
If step 3 turns up a problem, pick a different move. This is the single most useful habit in chess, and grandmasters do it too, just faster.
Practise it
Play a game against the computer on Easy using the blunder check before every single move, even obvious ones. It'll feel slow. Then play another. Then review both in the move list and count how many pieces you lost to simple captures. That number should go to zero quickly.