lichess.org
Donate

Ingraining the habit of blunder checking

TurkeyCreekJack

I would be very grateful if anyone has, or could point me towards, some practical advice for incorporating blunder checking into a pre-move thought process please?

I'm finding it very difficult to combat what seems to have become almost a compulsion to simply move a piece without thinking and this is becoming steadily worse. I only play against Stockfish, and I try to use longer time controls or none at all, but there seems to be nothing that I can do to make myself take the time necessary to play a considered move. This seems to be combined with a degree of tunnel vision that is practically pin-hole camera and I'm stuck in a cycle that I just can't seem to break out of and it is tremendously disheartening as it is killing my ability to progress.

I'd be very grateful for any suggestions and many thanks in advance for any assistance offered.

I would be very grateful if anyone has, or could point me towards, some practical advice for incorporating blunder checking into a pre-move thought process please? I'm finding it very difficult to combat what seems to have become almost a compulsion to simply move a piece without thinking and this is becoming steadily worse. I only play against Stockfish, and I try to use longer time controls or none at all, but there seems to be nothing that I can do to make myself take the time necessary to play a considered move. This seems to be combined with a degree of tunnel vision that is practically pin-hole camera and I'm stuck in a cycle that I just can't seem to break out of and it is tremendously disheartening as it is killing my ability to progress. I'd be very grateful for any suggestions and many thanks in advance for any assistance offered.
RemRus

Step 1. Press 10+5 in main menu, 20 times.

Step 1. Press 10+5 in main menu, 20 times.
SF18NNUE-SFNNV12

@TurkeyCreekJack said ^

I would be very grateful if anyone has, or could point me towards, some practical advice for incorporating blunder checking into a pre-move thought process please?

I'm finding it very difficult to combat what seems to have become almost a compulsion to simply move a piece without thinking and this is becoming steadily worse. I only play against Stockfish, and I try to use longer time controls or ...

https://qchess.net/donthangyourpieces

@TurkeyCreekJack said [^](/forum/redirect/post/CfrhAOmS) > I would be very grateful if anyone has, or could point me towards, some practical advice for incorporating blunder checking into a pre-move thought process please? > > I'm finding it very difficult to combat what seems to have become almost a compulsion to simply move a piece without thinking and this is becoming steadily worse. I only play against Stockfish, and I try to use longer time controls or ... https://qchess.net/donthangyourpieces
TurkeyCreekJack

@RemRus said ^

Step 1. Press 10+5 in main menu, 20 times.

I typically play 30+0 or correspondence. Not that it makes a difference - typically my games are finished in under 10 minutes. This is the issue - I can't seem to actually make myself take longer over choosing a move. I'm pretty much guessing and I can't get past the compulsion to just move something.

@RemRus said [^](/forum/redirect/post/4tcKOCBv) > Step 1. Press 10+5 in main menu, 20 times. I typically play 30+0 or correspondence. Not that it makes a difference - typically my games are finished in under 10 minutes. This is the issue - I can't seem to actually make myself take longer over choosing a move. I'm pretty much guessing and I can't get past the compulsion to just move something.
RemRus

We need a starting point. Need to know where are you now? To do this you need to play twenty games for rating. Just press 10+5

We need a starting point. Need to know where are you now? To do this you need to play twenty games for rating. Just press 10+5
ChessPriyome

BlunderCheck training

Assumption: Checks, Captures and Threats is your "Blundercheck" you want to bring into your "intuition" - your subconscious.

"CCT"

During tactical training, do this:

Come up with your move, but don't make it on the board. Write it down
Look for CCT blundercheck. Go slow; make sure you find them all. Maybe write them down after your move.
Do this deliberately and slowly.
Rinse and repeat about 50 times or until you have cured your bad habit and do it INTUITIVELY - not needing to write the move down and finding all the CCT's. That is the point of the exercise.

You mind should be saying to you:
My candidate move: "I like Bg5 to pin his Nf6"
Checks: None at all
Captures: Bxf2+ then Ng4+
Threats: Bxf2+ then Ng4+

"Ok, the threat is not a dangerous threat and can be countered. Bg5 looks ok to play."

...or something like that.

you will find out at times his threats are real; or he has a check that is an issue; or a capture that hurts you. Thats fine. This is why do it slowly and deliberately. Go to the next candidate move and do the same.

It should not take long yo gsin this intuitive play.

Hope that helps.

This does not matter what your rating is. It should be common practice at all ratings and one of the first things club players learn.

Good Luck.

BlunderCheck training Assumption: Checks, Captures and Threats is your "Blundercheck" you want to bring into your "intuition" - your subconscious. "CCT" During tactical training, do this: Come up with your move, but don't make it on the board. Write it down Look for CCT blundercheck. Go slow; make sure you find them all. Maybe write them down after your move. Do this deliberately and slowly. Rinse and repeat about 50 times or until you have cured your bad habit and do it INTUITIVELY - not needing to write the move down and finding all the CCT's. That is the point of the exercise. You mind should be saying to you: My candidate move: "I like Bg5 to pin his Nf6" Checks: None at all Captures: Bxf2+ then Ng4+ Threats: Bxf2+ then Ng4+ "Ok, the threat is not a dangerous threat and can be countered. Bg5 looks ok to play." ...or something like that. you will find out at times his threats are real; or he has a check that is an issue; or a capture that hurts you. Thats fine. This is why do it slowly and deliberately. Go to the next candidate move and do the same. It should not take long yo gsin this intuitive play. Hope that helps. This does not matter what your rating is. It should be common practice at all ratings and one of the first things club players learn. Good Luck.
RemRus

@TurkeyCreekJack said ^

I only play against Stockfish

Stop playing against the computer. Start playing against people.

@TurkeyCreekJack said [^](/forum/redirect/post/CfrhAOmS) > I only play against Stockfish Stop playing against the computer. Start playing against people.
kindaspongeyedited

As far I know, RemRus has no authority to give orders.

@TurkeyCreekJack said in #1:

... I'm finding it very difficult to combat what seems to have become almost a compulsion to simply move a piece without thinking and this is becoming steadily worse. ...

[Event "casual classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/e2UnxZ9y"] [Date "2026.10.04"] [White "lichess AI level 3"] [Result "1-0"] [BlackElo "1500"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "1800+0"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 d3 d6 6 h3 O-O 7 Nd5 Nxd5 8 Bxd5 Ne7 9 c3 Nxd5 10 exd5 Bd7 11 b4 Bb6 12 a4 a6 13 Ra2 Re8 14 a5 Ba7 15 O-O Rf8 16 Re1 f5 17 Rae2 f4 18 c4 Qf6 19 Bd2 Rae8 20 c5 Bb5 21 Qb3 dxc5 22 Bc3 cxb4 23 Bxb4 Rf7 24 Nxe5 h6 25 Ng4 Qg6 26 Rxe8+ Kh7 27 Ne5 Bxf2+ 28 Kh1 Qg3 29 Rb8 f3 30 Nxf3 Rxf3 31 Re6 Bxd3 32 Ree8 Bf1 (~#-3 --> ~9.3) ...
Perhaps, it would help to take a close look at the consequences of some of your choices. Don't you think that it would have been better if you had thought about the results of 33 Qxf3 ?

Perhaps, of interest: "... Now and then you have to move on: if you have the feeling that the position is relatively simple and your planned move is okay, you'll do better to play it without too much hesitation, otherwise time pressure will be a regular guest in your games. ..." - Move First, Think Later (2012) by IM Willy Hendriks

As far I know, RemRus has no authority to give orders. @TurkeyCreekJack said in #1: > ... I'm finding it very difficult to combat what seems to have become almost a compulsion to simply move a piece without thinking and this is becoming steadily worse. ... [Event "casual classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/e2UnxZ9y"] [Date "2026.10.04"] [White "lichess AI level 3"] [Result "1-0"] [BlackElo "1500"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "1800+0"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 d3 d6 6 h3 O-O 7 Nd5 Nxd5 8 Bxd5 Ne7 9 c3 Nxd5 10 exd5 Bd7 11 b4 Bb6 12 a4 a6 13 Ra2 Re8 14 a5 Ba7 15 O-O Rf8 16 Re1 f5 17 Rae2 f4 18 c4 Qf6 19 Bd2 Rae8 20 c5 Bb5 21 Qb3 dxc5 22 Bc3 cxb4 23 Bxb4 Rf7 24 Nxe5 h6 25 Ng4 Qg6 26 Rxe8+ Kh7 27 Ne5 Bxf2+ 28 Kh1 Qg3 29 Rb8 f3 30 Nxf3 Rxf3 31 Re6 Bxd3 32 Ree8 Bf1 (~#-3 --> ~9.3) ... Perhaps, it would help to take a close look at the consequences of some of your choices. Don't you think that it would have been better if you had thought about the results of 33 Qxf3 ? Perhaps, of interest: "... Now and then you have to move on: if you have the feeling that the position is relatively simple and your planned move is okay, you'll do better to play it without too much hesitation, otherwise time pressure will be a regular guest in your games. ..." - Move First, Think Later (2012) by IM Willy Hendriks
swimmerBill

One possibility:
play 3 day/move games. Write down candidate moves, ideas and
write down the blunder check step.
Do that every move and in time it will be internalized.

One possibility: play 3 day/move games. Write down candidate moves, ideas and **write down the blunder check step**. Do that every move and in time it will be internalized.