Chess lessons › Good chess habits
After a loss
Take a break before the next game, then look at the loss calmly and find the move where it turned.
The idea
Take a break before the next game, then review the loss calmly.
- Black’s knight on d4 leaves the pawn on e5 without a defender.
- A hurried player grabs it with the knight and walks into a trap.
- After a loss, stop for a while, then find the move where it turned.
In a game: After a loss, wait before the next game, and later find the move where it turned.
How the lesson begins
Every player loses games. What you do next matters. Shake hands, or say good game online, and then take a break before you play again. The wish to win it back at once is strong, and a hurried, angry game often goes worse than the one you lost.
Later, when you are calm, look at the game. Write down what you thought first, then check it, and find the move where the game turned.
Find the move
Here is the kind of position a hurried player meets: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4. Black’s pawn on e5 has no defender now. White to move. Take your time and play a sound move.
A hint
The pawn on e5 looks free. Before you take it, look at Black’s replies. Is there a calmer move?
Show the answer
4. Nxd4
Nxd4 trades off the knight in the centre, and O-O brings the king to safety. Both are good. The quick grab of the pawn on e5 is the move to fear, as the next step shows.