Elevate Your Chess by Reducing Blunders

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00:00 Puzzle Rush Position 1
01:04 Blunder Check 1
04:48 Puzzle Rush Position 2
05:32 Blunder Check 2
08:37 Overreliance on Forcing Moves
12:00 Punishing the Blunder
13:23 Homework
Why is it that being good at tactics doesn't always mean we catch our own mistakes? Why do we often fail to spot dangerous moves our opponents can make, even when we can easily execute these tactics ourselves? That's what we cover in this video. We talk about how crucial it is to check for blunders and why mastering this process is key to improving your chess game.
To help with this, I've created a course launching by the end of July (The Chess Elevator). It includes exercises to make safer moves and improve these basic skills. By better-spotting threats and blunder-checking your moves, you'll also enhance your ability to recognize tactical patterns like spotting loose pieces, alignments, and forks in your games. This makes it easier to avoid moves that your opponent can easily punish.

[@tonynorriss379]

Qe2 is the only option that doesn't blunder. Qf5 blunders the bishop due to d5, blocking and attacking the bishop, and attacking the queen. Qf3 fails to NxP, forking the queen and bishop, defending f7. Thus forcing Qe2 anyway to save the bishop, but losing the pawn in the process. So, play Qe2 straight away and save the pawn and protect the position.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent, thank you!

[@bluefin.64]

I thought after Qf3 Nxe5 White pins the knight and threatens f5. If Qe7, Nd5 looks crushing. Then I saw 1...f5, when Black looks okay.

[@robmilnejazz]

If Qf5 there is d5 double attacking the bishop and queen. If Qf3 the knight can take the pawn on e5 while simultaneously defending f3 (and forking the queen and bishop for good measure). Doesn't look like pinning the knight would work because of Qe7. So I'd go for Qe2. (I'm 1150 so I'm probably wrong lol)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent! You can still get the course :)

[@bluefin.64]

It looks to me after Qe7 Nd5 wins. I think Black's way out after Qf3 is ...f5.

[@rosscup_yt]

​@@bluefin.64 f5 is bad because of Qxf5, and after ...d5 Qg6+

[@bluefin.64]

​@@rosscup_yt Yeah, f5 is awful. :-) Having seen Nxe5 was losing I assumed f5 was the refutation. That was careless, but as it turns out there is no refutation. Stockfish says Qf3 is crushing, getting up to a score of +3.9 before I stopped running it.

[@davesharratt917]

I settled for the most passive queen move after seeing the double attack d5! or in the other line knight takes pawn. I set it up on the board to give myself a bit more practice looking further into the lines. Nice problem.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Great! Thank you for putting the effort.

[@chimbiepaladin4629]

Well... I got it wrong. Heh. I thought of QF3 looks so beautiful. The. After 3 secs I saw the refutation. So I became fascinated with Qf5! It looks so beautiful. I was so proud of avoiding my previous oversight from Qf3 Nxe5! Qe2 Qe7. So... then I listened to more of you talking and you said white would resign after one of the moves. And I thought Qf3 Nxe5 isn't resignable. And I double checked. And omg I blundered ...d5! So it is amazing because I psychologically was so proud and avoided a blunder and didn't check the second answer carefully. What a great lesson.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Super interesting to read your answer, thank you for answering! Qf5! looks like the juiciest Karpovian multi purpose move at first sight. But then we become scientist and seek counterevidence before playing it. Then we see that counterevidence (1...d5!).

[@chickenmessiah]

I have often told my students that rating can reflect your worst moves, not your overall ability. You can play 28 perfect moves in the Najdorf, but if you hang your queen your rating is quick to forget.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is so true, great point!

[@adolfohuet3974]

1. Qf5 allows black to play d5, making a discovery attack on the queen, guarding the knight and attacking the c4 bishop. 2.Qf3 allows Nxe5 and the knight defends f7 while forking the bishop and the queen. 3. Qe2 traps the knight with no issues.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent!

[@eschiedler]

homework position - no engine White has three choices for the queen, Qf5, Qf3 & Qe2. I must admit that I first look for the most forcing, attacking, and activating line, because if I can disprove or prove that one is accurate I can then avoid less work on other lines. Qf5 Qe7 Qxg5 white wins the knight. Qf5 f6 Qxg5 and white wins the knight. Qf5 Nf6 exf6 and white wins the knight and black has no counter-check. However, Qf5 d5! Qd3 dxc4 Qxc4 and black wins the bishop. Therefore, Qf5 is a blunder. In an OTB game it is easy to miss the resource d5 because it is the fourth option that is checked and even looks a bit awkward to play. Qf3 is the next most forcing move, however that is easily refuted. Qf3 Nxe5 protecting both f7 and counter attacking the queen. Therefore, Qf3 is also a mistake. Qe2 h5 h3 Nh6 Qxh5 g6 Qf3 is a reasonable line for white.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent as always!

[@bluefin.64]

I think the move that thwarts Qf3 is actually ...f5 because after Nxe5 White can pin it and threaten f4. Qe7 is met by Nd5.

[@GaryWalters-tk2lp]

I have to say the way your able to find the lines in any situation fascinates me, and it's not so much that your always able to find the correct line but more that you know when to stop calculating the opponents options even when there still seems to be moves available in the line your looking at! Thats an incredible skill, I actually look forward to reading your replies to a given senario, your a very talented player 👍

[@eschiedler]

@@GaryWalters-tk2lp Your words are too kind, Mr. Walters. A couple things come to mind. One is that I've been playing logic puzzles and strategy games my entire life. The other is that some of the chess studies take a long time while concentrating to solve. Enjoy your chess as well!

[@bluefin.64]

1.Qf5 d4 Black wins. 1.Qf3 f5 exf6 2.Nfx6 and Black is fine. Therefore 1.Qe2, and as we're talking about a puzzle, variations are not needed. :-) In a game, Qf2 would need calculation, and truthfully I did some, but it got complicated and I fear I overlooked something obvious. Chess Elevator is a good name and I'd consider using it as the title proper for a series. The Chess Elevator: How to Crush Magnus, or The Chess Elevator Part 1: How to Make Magnus Scream.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Love it! 1. Qe2 is good indeed. Very clickbaity titles, perhaps I need to go in that direction finally to help grow the channel :)

[@Abhi-cwq1]

HW: Qe2 as the knight is almost trapped also qf5 can be met with d5 and qf3 with ne5

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Beautiful!

[@myon_craft150]

this is exactly what i was looking for!! thank you

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad I could help! Thank you!

[@twentyrothmans7308]

Qf5 d6 Resign Qf3 Nxe5 - f7 is held by the Knight, plus we are being forked Qe2 There are no good squares for the Knight. Defend to prevent Qxg4. This is only a temporary fix because h3. Perhaps h5 to defend, and provide a safe haven on h6, which also guards f7. The h5 pawn would be hanging. Counterattack: b5? But the White Bishop has d5, forcing the Rook to move, and then Qxg4 Thank you again for your amazing videos.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent, thank you!

[@s1mon_234]

Homework: Qf5 is a blunder to d5 double attack Qf3 blunders Nxe5 defending f7 and forking bishop,Queen. I checked Qe2, with the idea of f4 winning the knight. Qe7 defends the knight and removes the pin Qe2 defends the e5 pawn, attacks the g4 knight and is not a blunder. I have a Question Coach, what about Bishop takes f7 here? Kxf7 and then Qf3 winning the piece back and exposing the King. Nf6 saving the piece and stop the check does not work because exf6. The d5 double attack is also not working after Qxg4 because there is no bishop on c4 anymore. Bxf7 is the move i would play in my game, but maybe i am also blundering something here. D6 wins back the pawn because the Queen is attacked too, but i think it is still worth it

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! 1. Qe2 is the best. 1. Bxf7+ is a thought, but I don't want to exchange my strong bishop for that unstable knight on g4. They will cover with ...Nf6 and exf6 will be answered by ...Qxf6. Yes, their king is still weaker, but we will be missing that bishop.

[@fishnets007]

Great video and I look forward to the new course. I can spot mate in 2 in 10 seconds, unless it's of me and then give me a lot lot longer.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for the feedback and considering to study the new course!

[@Lukas_E.]

Between his Ph.D and CM title, today's thumbnail is probably an accurate depiction of Can's brain

[@Dr.CansClinic]

One thing I know is that the thumbnail does not truly depict my arm muscles!

[@rosscup_yt]

Qf5 is a blunder because of d5, Qe2 is a good move but Qf3 actually is not a blunder either. A) 1. Qf3, Nxe5 2. Qe4, Qe7 3. Nd5 White wins a piece B) 1. Qf3, f5 2. Qxf5, d5 3. Qg6+, K moves 4. Nxd5 white wins After this lines i come to the conclusion that Qf3 is winning on the spot, even if it looks like a blunder at first.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your kind feedback and analysis!

[@gvgthewave602]

Theres an app called REALITY CHECK on android which offer positional puzzles. Allowing/asking you to find the best move in the given position

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback. Are there explanations/annotations too?

[@educatorul]

Qe2 but I would consider bf7 -1 for an exposed king

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks! We don't want to give up the strong lsb for that knight though :)

[@EliDollinger]

For the homework: Qf5 fails to d5 and Qf3 fails to Nxe5. Qe2 defends the e5 pawn, attacks the knight, and discourages black from pushing the d pawn. Qe2 is the answer. As for why puzzle skills don't always transfer to playing ability; I assert one of the reasons is the mental heuristics of fast time controls. Most of the time, people play chess online in fast time controls (blitz or faster). They have conditioned themselves to move quickly. In a blitz game or bullet game, if you don't see a tactic within a few seconds, you assume there is no tactic. If you're not certain there's a tactic, you can't afford to spend too much time looking because time is a precious commodity. In a puzzle, you know there's a tactic so you will spend the time to look for it. I personally find that in long time controls (classical and correspondence) the transfer of skills is much better.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent answer, and great insights! Totally agree on the fast time controls encouraging those habits & impulsivity & lack of blunder-check process.

[@EliDollinger]

@@Dr.CansClinicIn your opinion, should an adult improver play those fast time controls? On one hand you get a lot of practice and exposure to positions, which will help your pattern recognition. On the other hand, the fast games encourage bad habits in regard to calculation and blunder checking. If I have 3 hours to play, should I fill that time with blitz games, rapid games, classical games, or some combination of all of them? What is most valuable for my growth as a chess player?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@EliDollinger That is a great question that deserves a future video. I will explore long formats/podcast idea more in the future, and that will be discussed deeply there. But my hunch is that you should predetermine the number of blitz games you will play per day. And stop playing once you reach that limit.

[@GaryWalters-tk2lp]

A great lesson, pattern recognition or lack of it! plays a big part in my mistakes, although they are getting less frequent now I'm looking for the oppenents threats first of all. I noticed when the board was flipped in the second position I didn't initially see the pattern until I asked myself if the opponent could refute my move, then it suddenly clicked that I had to recapture with the knight and then the pattern appeared like magic, so I guess for me this has now become a three part process for each move.... Does my opponent have a threat, what are my candidate moves and can my move be refuted. Loved the homework example, by process of elimination Qe2, Qf5 and we're in a world of pain after d5, Qf3 and we loose the pawn and have to deal with the fork on our bishop and queen. Interestingly I was itching to castle here and attack blacks centralised king as it looked so vunerable ignoring the threat of Nxe5 or Qh4 but I do think I try and over think what I can play

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your excellent feedback! Calculation has 3 legs, and you laid it out nicely. And order is also important, and you laid out the order correctly too :)

[@Aramalisadventures]

1.Qf5 with a double attack on the knight and f7 pawn where a checkmate is threatened! Black will play 1…Nf6 (the knight is lost anyways) 2.exf6 and White will have material advantage and should convert it easily Greetings from Beirut, Lebanon

[@mikejschin]

1.Qf5 actually loses for White. Black has a much better move than 1...Nf6.

[@Aramalisadventures]

@@mikejschin ah yes didn’t notice that! True

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Good that you saw it now :)

[@NickBriglia]

Well, tactical skill helps you reduce blunders. Tactical skill isn’t just seeing your tactics. It’s also seeing your opponents tactics.

[@brainfellow5140]

Thank you again Dr. Can, great video! Re: Homework - My thoughts on each possibility: 1) Qe2 attacks only the knight doesn't seem like a useful move, imo, queen is retreating - was pruned immediately from my candidates list. 2) Qf3 forks knight and f7, but black has defensive option f6, if exf6, the knight can retreat with Nxf6 and both threats are neutralized. 3) Qf5 looks strongest because it still forks knight and f7, but now if black moves f6 to try defend, it result in mate: Qg6+ Ke7, Qf7# so White will have to give up Nf6 in order to defend. Pushing d5 result in exd5(ep) and the fork is still there. So based on this, Qf5 is my choice.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the answer! Qf5 d5! creates a double threat on the bishop on c4 as well as the queen on f5 (you forgot about the bishop on c8).

[@brainfellow5140]

@@Dr.CansClinic Oh wow, I didn't see that... 🙄 In that case... Qf3 then, maybe it's not such a useless move - keeps an eye on e5 and also attacks the knight. I threw that move out from the outset...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@brainfellow5140 Thanks, but 1 Qf3 allows ...Nxe5! :)

[@brainfellow5140]

@@Dr.CansClinic I think I'm confusing myself now, I meant Qe2 when I said "keeps an eye on e5"...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@brainfellow5140 Hah, great! :)

[@xSlashPsychic]

How do you solve the issue of your mind just going on autopilot and refusing to blunder check. I tell myself that I am not allowed to make a move without blunder checking first, but that lasts for about three moves and then later I realize I've made 25 moves without blunder checking. My mind just won't listen to me. I think it's because it feels like 90% of the time the move you make is not a blunder, so checking for blunders is not being reinforced (as in operant conditioning), instead it feels like you wasted your time looking for something that isn't there so the behavior of blunder checking doesn't become automatic.

[@Watercolordragon]

For me is a so tiring process, but in some positions my alarm goes on because they destroy me so many times 😂

[@s1mon_234]

Yeah its like mental stamina, if you play too many games or too fast time control you stop the blunder check and calculate less. It helps to play 2-3 Games per day with slower time control to train the good habits. To think about what would my opponent do after my move is not wasting time, even if your move is no blunder. Preventing the opponent ideas/plans is always good

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Playing slower time controls helps. Smelling the right cues from the environment helps a lot! Some positions require much more careful blunder check process, especially if as a result of your move you are creating a weak king, loose pieces, alignments and forks, trapped pieces, pawn structure changes, etc. In those moments you can take more time in this process, instead of blindly following the recipe of always check for checks captures threats by the opponent (then you lose on time).

[@bluefin.64]

@@Dr.CansClinic I said basically the same thing as Slash recently, and I think your answer here is right. These days I blatantly overlook things that are well within my ability to see, but this started after playing bullet exclusively for over a year. Maybe all those coaches who say too much speed chess is bad for your game have a point.

[@TheSilentLearner786]

Qe2❤

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Yes!

[@indigochild2.098]

also homework: Candidates Qe2, Qf3, Qf5, Qf3: doesnt work as the knight can simply take the pawn, Nxe5 whilst simultaneously defending the mating square f7. Qe2: this is an okay move, you attack the knight whilst defending the pawn on e5, but black can simply play h5 defending the knight, and if you folow up with f3 or h3 to try and win the knight, you have created a square for the knight on h6, not the best option for black, as the dark squared bishop for white can rip it of the board if he wants, but its a fair trade as the rook and pawn cover, im sure white would not want to do this trade anyway, as the dark squares for black can be taken advantage of. so its an okay move but not the best. Qf5: To my eyes Qf5 is the best of the 3 moves, it is the most direct and is multi-faceted! it combines both attack and defense 3 fold, defends the pawn on e5, attacks the knight on g4 and is threatening #Checkmate on f7. black loses a piece or gets checkmated. Black has to play damage control and defend the mate so either Qe7 just allowing the knight to be captured, perhaps black could take the pawn anyway on e5 defending the mate, then black captures Qxe5+, the only move then is Qe7 anyway, Be7 queen takes on g7. so Qe7 straight away seems like the best black can do here, stopping checkmate and allowing white to pick up the knight. sticky situation for black but Qf5 is the best move Dr Can! so after so much needed revision with Dr Can Qf5 runs into the beautiful d5 discovery, which i missed! So Qe2 must be the correct way to go!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your feedback! 1. Qf5 looks beautiful at first sight, but there is a direct refutation. Can you find it? They will create a double threat on the bishop on c4 and the queen on f5.

[@indigochild2.098]

@@Dr.CansClinic oh wow ahaha thankyou for the reply, been away from chess for quite a while im rusty! Qf5 runs right into D5! beautiful little discovery, thanks for helping me, so much fun to learn so i guess Queen e2 is the move? i was so focused on the knight and queen i missed the tactical shot. thanks for the reply

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@indigochild2.098 My pleasure, always happy to reply :) 1. Qe2! is the best indeed!

[@joelrivera9394]

Filipino subscriber here mabuhay and God bless...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Greetings to Philippines! 😊

[@xdhruuvvv]

I was stuck in 1000 range and by just using 3ply calculation method.. I reached 1100 easily.. justt wantt to thank you 😁❤

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Wow, that is so motivating to hear, congratulations! I am really happy that my work has likely contributed to it❤️

[@xdhruuvvv]

@@Dr.CansClinic I want to ask u something... Before i start playing online chess... I feel very anxious and scared.. (i love playing chess) but idk how to cure this problem.. by this I'm not consistently playing... Any solution for this... Maybe in video format ?? Or in reply.. it would help lot's of players i guess

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@xdhruuvvv Thanks. That deserves a video on its own :)

[@MaltaCros]

Instead of moving the Queen first, why not 1.Bxf7+ and if 1... KxB only then 2.Qf5+, winning the Knight. The only alternative to 1.Bxf7+ is 1...Kd7, in which case 2.Qf5 anyway, and White has a strong attack against the uncastled Black King.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Logical, but our attack will lose steam without the lsb, and we don't want to exchange that piece for the poor knight on g4. Where are our remaining pieces in that final position to deliver a decisive attack against the black king?

[@davidwhitecross1021]

What fide classical rating range would you say chess elevator will be for?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I designed it for 600 - 1200 ELO players.

[@user-gg6df4xr3i]

Raising your floor in the chess elevator,and i will be buying instantly with video...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Then I will catch you on the 3rd floor!

[@sanjaywali1106]

Why not bishop f7 then Qf3 and equalize material🤔

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is a thought, but we don't want to exchange our strong bishop for that misplaced knight :)

[@SatyaDwivedula]

Why not 1. Bxf7 Kxf7 2. Qf5+ Ke7 3. Qxg4 d5 4. Qf4 dxc4 5.Qxc4?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

They can cover 2...Nf6 and we really did not want to give up our strong light squared bishop.

[@SatyaDwivedula]

Thanks. You are an excellent teacher, BTW. But wouldn't 2. Nf6 lose the Knight?

[@salemtv5808]

since i’m the world champion in blundering i searched for the course but couldn’t find it please post a link to it specifically since the current link takes us to all courses and that one doesn’t appear, thanks

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks! The course will be published by the end of July :) You will soon be cured from your blunders!

[@salemtv5808]

@@Dr.CansClinic hahahah looking forward..thanks a lot

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@salemtv5808 Will your friend make that video on attacking chess? :)

[@salemtv5808]

@@Dr.CansClinic yes he’s very excited but he’s committed to the 100 end games series he will work on it once he’s done …thanks

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@salemtv5808 Great!

[@richardsrensen4219]

hi i am 14-1500 can i get somthing from your course ?.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely! Those fundamental processes can be beneficial for intermediate players too. Elevator 3 contains positional puzzles as well, so you can benefit from those too.

[@TheChingChongSlayer]

I like puzzles but its absolutely not similar as playing games, by playing the game you understand to handle blunders in the game.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback. Playing games can give you great feedback indeed, if you are willing to analyse your own games and mistakes!

[@TheChingChongSlayer]

@@Dr.CansClinic yeah for sure, inthe area of 600 or 800 I agree 100%, puzzles and middlegame principles are key. But i see about myself, im around 1650 elo, and I took a pause because of semester exams(I study computer science) I always gets a big elo drop of 70 elo because of loses sometimes even 100 and I trying to solve few puzzle rushes during this period to maintain the level. Its still hard😭 P.S. I forgot to say, but great video Dr. with or without that those puzzles were entertaining!