# Chess tactics for beginners, learned the hard way: week 24 > Week 24: 1009 → 1020 in 44 rapid games (22 wins, 20 losses, 2 draws) with 101 blunders. Three basic tactics I missed or walked into. - URL: https://thechesscoach.netlify.app/journey/week-2024-w25/ - Updated: 2026-10-22 - Author: Ignacio Soler Week 24 (June 17–22, 2024) was volume without direction. I played **44 rapid games**, finished **22 wins, 20 losses and 2 draws**, and went from 1009 to 1020. Stockfish found **101 blunders** in my moves. When I sorted the key moments, they weren't deep: they were the basic chess tactics for beginners that every book starts with, a loose piece, a fork, a capture that removes a defender. I either missed them or walked into them. ## The week in numbers | | | |---|---| | Games | 44 (43 at 10 minutes, 1 at 20 minutes) | | Wins / losses / draws | 22 / 20 / 2 | | Rating | 1009 → 1020 (+11) | | Average accuracy | 77.8 % | | Blunders (Stockfish) | 101 (opponents: 97) | | Most played openings | Zukertort Variation (6), Giuoco Piano (4), Zukertort Chigorin (3), Scotch Game (3) | The headline number for me isn't the blunders. It's twelve: the number of games in which I had at least an 80 % chance of winning and didn't win. Ten of those were losses and two were draws by repetition. Put differently, half of my twenty losses came from positions I was winning. Fifteen of the twenty losses are logged as "game abandoned". Of my 141 mistakes and blunders, 80 came in the middlegame. The week also had two very different days. Monday, June 17: twelve games, 8 wins and 4 losses. Wednesday, June 19: fifteen games, 4 wins, 10 losses and a draw, including five losses in a row (#583 to #587). With White I scored 12–8–2, with Black 10–12. My Zukertort setups did fine (Zukertort Variation 4–2, Zukertort Chigorin 3–0); the Giuoco Piano with Black went 1–3. ## Three tactics, three lessons ### The capture I didn't make: removing a defender Game #563, White against omjarwal04 (984). I was winning, +4.11, and Black's bishop on f5 was within reach of my knight on h4. > **Move 12: the e6 pawn guards both f5 and d5** > Position (FEN): `r2qk2r/ppp3pp/2nbpp2/3p1b2/Q2P3N/2P1P3/PP1N1PPP/R3KB1R w KQkq - 3 12` > Played: Bb5 — Bishop from f1 to b5, pinning the knight on c6 to the king > Better: Nxf5 — Knight takes the bishop on f5, attacking the bishop on d6 and the pawn on g7 I played 12.Bb5, pinning the knight on c6 to the king. A pin is nice, but Stockfish says it cut my advantage from +4.11 to +0.79. The engine's move was 12.Nxf5. After 12...exf5, the pawn that used to sit on e6 and protect d5 has gone, and in the engine's line my queen goes to b5 and then takes on d5. That is the idea called removing the defender: you capture or deflect the piece that guards something, and the thing it guarded falls. I still won the game ([game on Chess.com](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107802194574)). ### The knight that went where the queen could take it Game #565, Black against C_Nash (1009), in a Semi-Slav. White was clearly better, +1.88, but nothing was lost yet. > **Move 12: White's queen on d1 sees all the way to a4** > Position (FEN): `r1b2rk1/pp3ppp/1npqpn2/B7/3P4/3BPN2/PP3PPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 4 12` > Played: Na4 — Knight from b6 to a4, attacking the b2 pawn, but the knight can be captured there > Better: Nbd7 — Knight from b6 to d7 12...Na4 attacks the b2 pawn, which has no defender. It also puts my knight on a square White's queen can reach: the diagonal from d1 to a4 is completely empty. 13.Qxa4, and the evaluation jumped from +1.88 to +7.52. This is the simplest tactic of all, a loose piece, and the only defence is the habit of checking every square I move to: who attacks it, and who defends it? The engine's 12...Nbd7 just brings the knight back toward the centre ([game on Chess.com](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107804449122)). ### Taking a pawn into a pawn fork Game #566, White against Saunaboy1993 (990). I was clearly better, +1.75, and Black's pawn on c4 looked like a free gift. > **Move 14: Black's b7 pawn can still move to b5** > Position (FEN): `r2qkbr1/pp1bpp2/2p2n2/4N1pp/QPpP3P/2P1P1B1/P2N1PP1/R3K2R w KQq - 2 14` > Played: Ndxc4 — Knight takes the pawn on c4 > Better: Qc2 — Queen from a4 to c2 14.Ndxc4 takes the pawn. Black's answer is 14...b5, a pawn that attacks my queen on a4, which has no defender, and my knight on c4 at the same time. That's a fork. The queen has to move, and in the engine's line the knight falls (15.Qa6 bxc4). +1.75 became −0.54. Stockfish's 14.Qc2 steps the queen off the a4 square first. Again, I won this game later, in a messy fight where Stockfish counted 8 blunders for me and 9 for my opponent ([game on Chess.com](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107806117820)). ## The lesson of the week These are not advanced ideas. Removing the defender, loose pieces and forks are the first chapter of any list of chess tactics for beginners, and I'd read about all three. Knowing them wasn't the problem; looking for them was. The practical lesson I'm keeping: when I'm about to take something, I first ask "does a pawn of theirs attack two of my pieces after this?" When I'm moving a piece, I ask "can anything take it on its new square?" And when I have a knight or bishop that can capture a defender, I look at what that defender is guarding before I play anything else. Three questions, all about the board in front of me, none about theory. ## All games this week | Game # | Date | Colour | Opponent (rating) | Result | Opening | Accuracy | Link | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 563 | Jun 17 | White | omjarwal04 (984) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Variation | 87.7 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107802194574) | | 564 | Jun 17 | Black | Praveen201083 (1017) | Loss | Kings Pawn Opening | 89.7 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107802299376) | | 565 | Jun 17 | Black | C_Nash (1009) | Loss | Semi Slav Defense Main Line | 81.1 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107804449122) | | 566 | Jun 17 | White | Saunaboy1993 (990) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Chigorin Variation | 47.9 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107806117820) | | 567 | Jun 17 | Black | kajukatli07 (1008) | Win | Scotch Game | 78.2 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107809378758) | | 568 | Jun 17 | White | SkenderBresa (1012) | Loss | Modern Defense with 1 d4 | 55.1 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107811237510) | | 569 | Jun 17 | Black | astarosta1 (1008) | Win | Ruy Lopez Opening Cozio Defense | 76.2 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107811250968) | | 570 | Jun 17 | White | Arsrugg (1007) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Variation | 94.2 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107811419488) | | 571 | Jun 17 | Black | hager876 (1057) | Loss | Scotch Game | 64.4 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107811478780) | | 572 | Jun 17 | White | SoyyyyySauce (1007) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Horwitz Defense | 87.5 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107811523968) | | 573 | Jun 17 | White | Serkancaz (1040) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Variation | 93.1 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107811669162) | | 574 | Jun 17 | Black | anantomar (1037) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening | 88.0 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107811799300) | | 575 | Jun 18 | Black | IQ_6 (1070) | Loss | Giuoco Piano Game | 75.6 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107817462962) | | 576 | Jun 18 | Black | dkap1961 (1032) | Loss | Three Knights Opening | 77.8 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107824667246) | | 577 | Jun 19 | White | Sword612 (1033) | Loss | Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Variation | 59.5 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107833513026) | | 578 | Jun 19 | White | Sword612 (1025) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Variation | 88.1 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107833542942) | | 579 | Jun 19 | Black | ashrafherbalife (1019) | Loss | Kings Pawn Opening | 55.6 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107833622640) | | 580 | Jun 19 | Black | Whizzyx1 (978) | Win | Queens Gambit Accepted Rosenthal Variation | 84.6 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107833747840) | | 581 | Jun 19 | White | mmaamz1973 (1015) | Loss | Englund Gambit | 47.5 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107834273140) | | 582 | Jun 19 | Black | hzamir2 (1007) | Win | Ruy Lopez Opening Classical Defense | 95.3 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107834584908) | | 583 | Jun 19 | White | HugoBlosse (1063) | Loss | London System | 77.9 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107834750492) | | 584 | Jun 19 | White | khaidirmalau (1041) | Loss | Indian Game | 78.6 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107838009126) | | 585 | Jun 19 | White | light_rs (1006) | Loss | Queens Pawn Opening | 79.0 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107839437322) | | 586 | Jun 19 | Black | kkjjkk8 (997) | Loss | Ruy Lopez Opening Cozio Defense | 95.8 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107839908532) | | 587 | Jun 19 | Black | maelgastine (1014) | Loss | Giuoco Piano Game | 80.7 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107840102524) | | 588 | Jun 19 | White | Starfiszh (993) | Draw | Indian Game East Indian London System | 78.2 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107840165088) | | 589 | Jun 19 | White | ayoop7 (881) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Horwitz Defense | 97.3 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107843234582) | | 590 | Jun 19 | White | Vova83Litvinets (1021) | Loss | Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Variation | 75.5 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107843302384) | | 591 | Jun 19 | Black | TheBigVejeta (985) | Loss | Birds Opening Dutch Variation | 46.5 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107844562024) | | 592 | Jun 20 | White | Shikimori01 (987) | Win | Indian Game London System | 88.0 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107849809082) | | 593 | Jun 20 | Black | artemchyk15 (986) | Win | Slav Defense Modern Quiet Schallopp Defense | 85.6 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107849864422) | | 594 | Jun 20 | Black | Pentacrylixx (981) | Win | Vienna Game Anderssen Defense | 96.6 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107850881900) | | 595 | Jun 20 | White | Erenyt32 (1017) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Chigorin Variation | 75.9 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107850902052) | | 596 | Jun 20 | Black | DovahDouche (1012) | Loss | Giuoco Piano Game | 42.2 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107851067246) | | 597 | Jun 20 | White | Rosegold152 (1008) | Win | Englund Gambit | 88.4 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107851365732) | | 598 | Jun 20 | Black | richorld (1022) | Loss | Scotch Game | 58.7 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107861629968) | | 599 | Jun 21 | White | nazifzeze (882) | Win | English Defense | 89.2 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107865821272) | | 600 | Jun 21 | White | DC_Papenburg_1979 (998) | Draw | Modern Defense with 1 d4 | 67.9 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107866658644) | | 601 | Jun 21 | Black | Hismail10 (1030) | Loss | Giuoco Piano Game Main Line | 64.5 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107871689080) | | 602 | Jun 21 | Black | ekashe (1005) | Win | Giuoco Piano Game | 80.9 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107872048852) | | 603 | Jun 21 | White | Dflint01 (1042) | Loss | Indian Game East Indian London System | 81.8 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107873423202) | | 604 | Jun 22 | Black | MHD3570 (1015) | Win | Scotch Game Classical Variation | 90.0 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107882083452) | | 605 | Jun 22 | Black | ratlehmohamed (1017) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Chigorin Variation | 81.4 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/107882145724) | | 606 | Jun 22 | White | ian1nacho0 (400) | Win | Queens Pawn Opening Zukertort Chigorin Variation | 97.0 | [game](https://www.chess.com/game/live/112831791771) | ← [Week 23](/journey/week-2024-w24/) · [Week 25](/journey/week-2024-w26/) → · [All weeks](/journey/) · Spot your own missed tactics: [review your own games like this](/features/ai-chess-analysis/). ## FAQ ### What chess tactics should beginners learn first? Judging by my own blunders this week: loose pieces (a piece left where it can be taken), forks (one piece or pawn attacking two things), and removing a defender. All three key positions below are one of those. ### Can a pawn fork a queen and a knight? Yes. In game #566 I took a pawn on c4 with my knight, and Black's reply ...b5 attacked my queen on a4 and the knight on c4 at the same time. ### How often do 1000-rated players miss tactics? Often, in my case. Stockfish counted 101 blunders in my 44 games this week and 97 by my opponents, and in 12 games I had at least an 80 % winning chance and didn't win. ## Related - [From 631 to 1385: my chess journey in 2,117 games](https://thechesscoach.netlify.app/journey.md) - [Week 23 (Jun 2024): back to 10-minute games and back over 1000](https://thechesscoach.netlify.app/journey/week-2024-w24.md) - [Week 25 (Jun 2024): I missed a mate in 3 and it cost the game](https://thechesscoach.netlify.app/journey/week-2024-w26.md) - [Can Claude analyze chess games? Yes, with Stockfish](https://thechesscoach.netlify.app/answers/can-claude-analyze-chess-games.md)