Kids’ improvement · 2026-10-21 · 2 min read
The 10-second habit that stops most blunders
Three questions before every move. Children who ask them lose far fewer pieces.
Most games below 1600 are not lost to brilliant moves. They are lost to one careless move: a piece left hanging, a check missed. The fix is not "be more careful". It is a tiny routine.
The three questions
- What did my opponent’s last move do? (Is something attacked? Is something now open?)
- Is my move safe? (Can a piece of mine be captured after it?)
- Checks, captures, threats: does my opponent have any after my move?
It takes about ten seconds. At first the child will forget. Put the three questions on a small card next to the board and read them aloud before each move in practice games.
After a few weeks it becomes automatic, and the child starts to notice the opponent’s plans too. If a child plays fast, this habit is the single best use of their time.
वह 10 सेकंड की आदत जो ज़्यादातर blunders रोक देती है
हर move से पहले तीन सवाल। जो बच्चे ये पूछते हैं वे बहुत कम मोहरे गँवाते हैं।
ती 10 सेकंदांची सवय जी बहुतेक blunders थांबवते
प्रत्येक move आधी तीन प्रश्न. जी मुलं हे विचारतात ती खूप कमी मोहरे गमावतात.