What mistake do sub 1200 players make the most?

Originally posted by Heroic Metool
[What is OTB?[/b]

OTB = Over-the-Board

Sub-1200 players often just drop pieces or don't develop them properly.

Originally posted by UmbrageOfSnow
Heck, I am over 1400 and dropping pieces is still what kills most of my games, it doesn't just affect sub 1200 players. I have been told that I seem to have a better grasp of tactics, positional play, and openings than many people with a similair rating, just a proclivity for killing myself with a stupid move or two that are worse than the stupid move ...[text shortened]... And I'm not being egocentric here and making excuses, this is what a 1900 player told me once.

My rating is currently bouncing between 1,700 and 1,800 and I make all the mistakes listed and some more that haven't been posted. The difference between stronger and weaker players tends to be in their overall understanding of the position - when you understand the position in front of you, and what to do with it, you're far less likely to mess up and put your queen somewhere where it can be taken. Errors still occur as it's always possible to fail to appreciate some aspect of the position or just plain miscalculate.

Originally posted by Bowmann
They follow too many rules.

And they DO NOT PLAN!

Amen!

Hmm...I've learned some things... studying my previous losses seems good and previous wins. And watching others play and studying their games seems to help. I also wonder about ridiculously high rated players, those that earn it by their brain is great.. but many use false means and then make statements about lower rated players who are using theirs. Ya Ya I know.. not really this thread..but a little frustrating don't you think? Anyhow, thanks for your comments.. I've learned some of my many areas of blunder 🙂

Another classic is this one. Said -1200 player playing black..

1.e4 ..e5
2.Nf3 ..f6?????????????

(obviously because of..)

3.Nxe5! ..fxe5 (with out fail, they always take the knight...)
4.Qh5+ ..g6 (without fail they always play g6.....)
5.Qxe5+ winning rook and two pawns for knight.

Originally posted by marinakatomb
Another classic is this one. Said -1200 player playing black..

1.e4 ..e5
2.Nf3 ..f6?????????????

(obviously because of..)

3.Nxe5! ..fxe5 (with out fail, they always take the knight...)
4.Qh5+ ..g6 (without fail they always play g6.....)
5.Qxe5+ winning rook and two pawns for knight.

1.e4 ..e5
2.Nf3 ..f6?????????????

I think this move only has one question mark.It's not a blunder but a weakening move. Black can play Qe7 next move to recover the pawn, an unnecessary move for have a serious game.

Also note that after 3.Nxe5! fxe5 4.Qh5+ g6 (4...Ke2 is another reply to save the rook if wished. After 5.Bc4+ d5 is a reasonable choice to activate the bishop and defend f5 square, then white wins 2 pawns by Bxd5, Bxb7 etc..)

You gave this varitation, I'm curious;
1.e4 ..e5
2.Nf3 ..f6?????????????
3.Nxe5! ..fxe5
4.Qh5+ ..g6
5.Qxe5+

doesn't win the game actually.

Black has 5...Qe7 6.Qxh8 Nf6 and the queen is temprorarily trapped. How do you get out of that? (d3 suggests itself???? or maybe d4?)

But what is the correct way to stop a possible Kf7 followed by Bg7?

Originally posted by palamut

But what is the correct way to stop a possible Kf7 followed by Bg7?

7.d3 Kf7 8. Bg5 and black is soooo lost...uh...

Originally posted by Jusuh
7.d3 Kf7 8. Bg5 and black is soooo lost...uh...

7.d3 Kf7? is bad. Obviously black must play 7...d5 (preparatory for Nd7) to give more support to the only important positional factor. The knight on f6. Kf7 doesn't help at all.

So if 7.d3 d5 and now 8.Bg5 Nd7 9.Nc3(anything better?) to castle queenside seems like the best plan.But this doesn't solve the trapped queen.

I think 7.d4 (to return a pawn) is more energitic (not better) than d3 and Kf7 can be met by Bc4+...

But if correct move is 7.d3 d5 8.Bg6 Nd7 and how does she get out of that box?

Thx

Why complicate it so much?

7. d3 d5 8. Bh6

Easy win for white. I don't know why we're even analyzing this.

Originally posted by Heroic Metool
Why complicate it so much?

7. d3 d5 8. Bh6

Easy win for white. I don't know why we're even analyzing this.

7. d3 d5 8.Bh6 can be met by Nd7

Originally posted by Heroic Metool
Why complicate it so much?

7. d3 d5 8. Bh6

Easy win for white. I don't know why we're even analyzing this.

Bh6 is I believe the best solution of the trapped queen. But the win is far from easy.So the analysis so far would be:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6? (Nc6, Nf6,d6 are sensible) 3.Nxe5 fxe5?! (3...Qe7 with equality) 4.Qh5+ g6?! (4...Ke7 is another option) 5.Qxe5+ Qe2 6.Qxh8 Nf6!? (6...Qxe4+ 7.Kd1 is also good) 7.d3 d5 8.Bh6! (Bg5 is also playable and white can delay Bh6) so if Bh6 played immediately, two options are left for black.

8...Nbd7 or 8...dxe4 in both variations, white has better game but not an easy win. Thanks for the Bh6 suggestion.

8... Nbd7 9. Nd2 and black has a knight for a rook and two pawns, and nothing to show for it. Should he try dxe4, he'll lose quickly after 0-0-0. That's not just "a better game", that's an easy win for white. I have resigned in better positions than that. 😛

8... dxe4 lets white exchange queens, which loses by default.

Originally posted by Heroic Metool
8... Nbd7 9. Nd2 and black has a knight for a rook and two pawns, and nothing to show for it. Should he try dxe4, he'll lose quickly after 0-0-0. That's not just "a better game", that's an easy win for white. I have resigned in better positions than that. 😛

8... dxe4 lets white exchange queens, which loses by default.

True