Top 5 Mistakes You Should Avoid in Your Games

Here are 5 key chess mistakes you should avoid, with practical explanations and examples you can apply immediately.

1. Automatically Capturing Pieces - “To Take is a Mistake”!
One of the most common errors - especially for newer players - is assuming that a capture is always good.
But in real games, capturing without thinking often lets the opponent activate their pieces, loses time, or worsens your position.

- You may trade your active piece for their inactive one. (A rather common mistake among amateurs)
- You may open files or diagonals that help your opponent gain an attack on your king or your undefended pieces

What to do instead
Before you take anything, ask yourself:

- If I don’t take, do I have a better move?
- What changes? What lines open up, which of my pieces become exposed?
- Does this trade help them develop their pieces?

Capturing should be a choice, not a reflex.

2. Leaving Pieces Undefended

“Loose pieces lose games.”

Undefended or poorly defended pieces are the #1 source of accidental tactics that cost material.
Why it’s a problem - forks, pins, skewers, and discoveries usually work because something is hanging.

Even if the tactic isn’t immediate, being loose limits your mobility and makes you vulnerable.

How to fix it
After every move, perform a “blunder check”:
- Are any of my pieces undefended or only defended once?
- If it isn’t defended make sure it isn’t under attack.

Try to keep pieces defended by one-another

Avoid pushing pawns that leave your pieces stranded. (Pawns are very good defenders)

If you consistently perform this “blunder check” you’ll eliminate a huge number of avoidable losses.

3. Ignoring King Safety

Many games are lost before the middlegame because the king is left in the center too long, or castled into an attack.

Common symptoms:
- Castling late or not at all;
- Pushing unnecessary pawns near your king;
- Opening lines that expose him.

How to improve:
- Castle early unless the side you are going to castle on is open;
- Avoid weakening your king’s pawn structure (e.g., pushing f-, g-, or h-pawns casually if you are castling kingside);
- Consider your opponent’s attacking potential before you choose which side to castle.

A safe king means that you are able to continue with your plan, without having to worry whether you will blunder checkmate or not.

4. Playing “Hope Chess” Instead of Calculated Moves
Hope chess is when you make a move assuming your opponent won’t see the threat or tactic you’re trying to set.

Why it’s bad:
- Stronger opponents always see your threat;
- You often ignore your opponent’s best replies;
- It leads to one-sided attacks that backfire.

The correct approach
When you think, always ask:
“What is my opponent’s best move?”

Don’t just look for your idea, also look for their defense or counterattack.

Make moves that develop, activate and improve the position of your pieces, without having to hope for them to fall for a tactic.
One thing I like to say is: Tactics flow out of superior positions. In other words, if your pieces are on their best squares, and if you play with a plan, the tactical chances will come, you don’t need to try and “create” them

5. Playing Without a Plan
A lot of players develop pieces and push pawns with no long-term idea.
This leads to:
- Uncoordinated pieces;
- Attacks that go nowhere;
- Weak pawn structures;
-Time wasted responding to threats instead of creating your own.

How to fix it
Think in terms of simple, practical plans:
- Develop pieces to good squares;
- Control the center;
- Improve your worst pieces;
- Target weaknesses;
- Open lines for your rooks;
- Perhaps attack the opponent's king.

You don’t need a grandmaster-level strategy - just a clear idea of what you want to achieve.

Final Thoughts

Improving at chess isn’t just about learning more, it’s about avoiding the traps you set for yourself.

By being mindful of these five common mistakes:
1. To take is a mistake
2. Leaving pieces undefended
3. Neglecting king safety
4. Playing hope chess
5. Moving without a plan

Once you master avoiding these, you’ll start playing cleaner, sharper, and more confident chess.

Happy chessing!