BLUNDERS! Lecture with GM Ben Finegold 

This is one of the best chess lectures you will ever see, Ben is the only GM who will tell you this stuff

I'm not gonna lie, the fact that a grandmaster blundered Rh8+ because he missed Rxe5, and *another* grandmaster resigned because he *also* missed Rxe5 makes me feel so much better about my game that I'll be talking about it for the next five years.

38:06 "My 1st wife ... so like in the 3rd round she resigned ... Are we married now? No." lol

As someone who takes a lot of pride in playing dozens of good moves in a row just to blunder later on and feel insanely frustrated, this chess lecture is easily one of my favourites I've ever listened to

I’ve watched countless hours of chess videos on RU-vid. This one tops them all.

5:34 to the contrary, Ben. I had watched Germany-Brasil semifinal in 2014 and i was entertained the entire time.

“That’s boring; that kid is going to get killed. I don’t care about that” -Benny F

I actually spat out my coffee at 10:25 because I laughed so hard.

'you at home know nothing' That is disturbingly accurate. Has Ben seen me playing?

One of the best chess lectures ever

My blunders, half-assed attacks leaving pieces hanging.

I live by this motto of never resign, I was playing a game and was down to only my king and was about to get mated, he had mate in 1 on the board. He missed it and pushed his pawn and stalemated me so, yeah never resign.

Thanks for re-uploading my all-time favorite chess lecture. Ben is absolutely hilarious.

Amazing video. The best chess teacher in youtube

This is absolutely phenomenal stuff. Bravo Ben.

This is my favorite lecture of all time.

You're a really good teacher and lecturer. I really enjoy your videos teaching Chess. Keep it up!!

I agree with the central premise of the lecture, but you also have to give me an opportunity. I try to blunder my queen whenever I can, but it's sometimes hard to find a good square for it. If you cooperate by developing your pieces and castling, together we can accomplish anything

Fantastic lecture. I think one other sport that can come close to chess with critical blunders is speedskating - as per Steven Bradbury's 2002 Winter Olympics gold medal where his main strategy in the final was to hang back and wait for blunders. Snooker could also be like that on a per-frame basis where being in the lead doesn't matter if the opponent manages to really snooker you; except in snooker, a match is always decided out of multiple frames. So yeah, chess is quite unique with the type of intestinal fortitude it trains tournament players up for.

Halfway through this I thought I'd take a break for a 30 min rapid game...went on to blunder my queen!

Finally, we discuss a subject which i am an expert of! \o/

man, how I love Ben Finegolds lectures, useful and entertaining, as we'd say in dutch, "hij is een heerlijke droogkloot"

Thanks Maestro Ben you are unique and generous

Your explanation on why no-one is necessarily 'better' at chess per se, is one of the most interesting and eye-opening pieces of advice I've heard for a beginner yet. Appreciate your no-nonsense, non-conventional, lateral thinking perspective. I feel like the majority of chess players are INTJ's or something, with their advice being very INTJ-like, focused on specific moves, tactics etc. without offering much other insight as a whole; on a macro, omnipresent level in terms of a wise monk or Alan Watts. I relate to these kind of teachers much more.

In my last game, my opponent resigned a winning position immediatly after blundering a queen. I was confused as to why untill i noticed i could take the free queen. I was too busy calculating a mated net 😅

You are an awesome teacher. It brings back memories of my favorite character from Scrubs and my boss in the compulsory social year that still existed back then.

How to win at chess: 1. Don't blunder 2. Don't resign 3. Don't lose

Best reupload ever

Some years ago when this video was originally uploaded I watched it through and then my next chess session I won 17 consecutive games and I am a 900 player. That 17 game win streak probably had some luck involved and I was also probably a little more focused that day than usual but for sure it also had something to do with this lecture.

Thanks this really helped

Amazing stuff

Golden lecture for beginners!

At around 13 and a half minutes, or shortly before that, Ben says, paraphrasing "Now youre going to say that never happens and that was weird, except this is what this lecture is about so im gonna show you a million examples." Correct. That's why those million examples are there, because there's valuable lessons to be learned if you accept the fact that there is a valid lesson to be learned. If you dismiss it as not worthy of learning, you won't learn nothin' and you'll never get better. Learn from every game, every opponent, learn from people you've never played, learn from your teacher, learn from right examples, learn from bad examples, learn from brilliancies, learn from mistakes. Always learn, and if you forget, learn it again until you stop forgetting. Never don't learn. Always be learning. The only reason the world champions of chess are any good is because they're constantly studying each other and critically analyzing their own games, wins and losses alike. They never stop learning, and they reinforce stuff they already know with constant reminders. If you ever have an excuse not to learn something, your brain is lying to you. Tell that punk to shut up, and listen to your teacher.

These always give me some hope of getting back to 600 and then I blunder 10 matches in a row

I really like, that there is an actual lecture with students. It makes the content far more relatable than Levy babbling for 20 minutes straight. This makes it relatable and the tempo is nice to learn the lesson. Apart from that, the lesson was really nice and I enjoyed it very much. I like how he keeps insulting his audience and is very sweet to his students. I look forward for more content of this kind.

Thanks!

I don’t blunder because of Ben. Except for when I do

hundreds of weeks ago for us at home

About 35 years ago, my brother and I had a friend who was terrible at chess, but he loved to play, even though he lost every single game against us in an epic way. That is, all but one. He was obsessed with putting us in check, and 99% of the time it was a wasted move. However, my brother was so bored at beating him, he quit thinking about playing the game and just made random moves [could beat him spotting him two rooks and a queen, right]. Then he got beat a few moves into the game by two bishops, checkmating his king on the back rank. His opponent did not even see the checkmate, he just kept putting him in check, and my brother ignored the threat. Thank you for another one of your amazing lectures. I particularly enjoy your humor. Your lectures are very informative and fun to listen to and watch.

Oh how I wish I had a 60 sec conversation with this man about not blundering advice 💭

Real talk!

Goddamn, why'd i get flamed in the first minute? 😂 He's right though, I'm not even playing rn and I've already blundered in my next game

I love Ben.

just discovered your channel, great stuff, can you please share the software that you are using to review the games?

There are more billionaires than Grandmasters in the world. Go Ben! Never play F6 like I did once in your stream. I’m new but Ben is my virtual coach lol

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 *🏁 Resigning and Blundering* - Understanding the concept of resigning and blundering in chess. - Resigning and blundering are common occurrences in chess games. - Resigning often happens when a player realizes they are in an irrecoverable position, while blunders occur when players make serious mistakes in their moves. 01:02 *🧠 Chess Psychology and Game Evaluation* - The importance of evaluating positions and not solely relying on player ratings. - Demonstrating how players at any level can make mistakes or blunders, affecting the outcome of the game. - Understanding that winning in chess often results from capitalizing on opponent blunders rather than solely playing superior moves. 07:38 *⏳ Time Management in Chess* - Highlighting the critical role of time management, especially in blitz games. - Explaining the consequences of time trouble, leading to suboptimal moves or even blunders. - Emphasizing the significance of not resigning prematurely, especially in fast-paced games, where opponents may make errors under time pressure. 20:21 *🏠 Avoiding Blunders in Chess* - Making a blunder in chess can ruin an otherwise strong game. - The frustration of losing due to a blunder can be compared to building a house only for it to collapse with one misplaced nail. - High-level players often win not just by playing perfectly, but by capitalizing on their opponent's mistakes. 22:31 *🏁 Exploiting Opponent's Mistakes* - Even in equal positions, one side often has more practical chances to win. - Relaxing prematurely in chess can lead to blunders, even in seemingly easy positions. - Maintaining focus throughout the game is crucial to avoid falling victim to unexpected blunders. 26:12 *🎖️ Identifying Winning Moves* - Sometimes, players miss winning moves due to time pressure or tunnel vision. - Recognizing mating threats and forcing moves can lead to decisive advantages. - Being aware of all potential threats on the board, even in Blitz games, is essential for maximizing winning chances. 31:06 *🤷‍♂️ Handling Resignation in Chess* - Resigning in chess is often seen as conceding defeat, but it can also be considered insulting in certain contexts. - Not resigning can be a strategic choice, especially when playing against stronger opponents who may make mistakes. - Understanding when to resign and when to play on can impact a player's reputation and competitive success. 38:58 *📜 Learning from Famous Examples* - Analyzing famous chess games can provide valuable insights into tactical and strategic principles. - Even strong players can overlook winning opportunities, leading to surprising outcomes. - Resigning prematurely, especially in winning positions, can result in missed opportunities for a comeback. 40:57 *🏆 Chess blunders and missed opportunities* - Examples of chess blunders from historical games. - Importance of not resigning prematurely in winning positions. - Highlighting common mistakes and overlooked winning moves. 46:14 *🏞️ Simultaneous exhibition game blunder* - Explanation of a simultaneous exhibition game scenario. - Analysis of a blunder that led to resignation in a winning position. - Demonstrating a winning move overlooked by the player. 51:01 *🎾 Drawing opportunities and resigning prematurely* - Discussion on drawing opportunities in chess. - Illustration of a game where a drawing move was overlooked. - Emphasizing the importance of not resigning hastily and seeking chances for a draw. Made with HARPA AI

You can resign in Curling. Which may be why they often call it Chess On Ice!

As an Icelander I was gald to see the game between Benedikt (who I know) and Haukur (who I knew, but he passed away many years ago) starting at the 39th minute ish

ben is a good chess teacher

Finally, relatable chess content.

Is it a very encouraging sign if I see the moves he's asking? I have put chess away for many years since 13, scored 1400 at a local club back then. I just restarted playing and I realize that these chess puzzles are "moderate difficulty" for me. At any rate, thanks a lot for this lesson Mr Finegold

This is very true; however, it doesn't tkaes into account what lies behind blunders. The reason you blunder is so often that you already had a terrible position, or had very little time on the clock, didn't understand the opening etc. So while it is true, it is also a bit superficial and not the whole story.

I blundered by watching this vid years after the theory changed and Ben is well ....

I actually think the same "no blunders!" mentality applies to basketball. Look at the Boston Celtics in the past few years. They play brilliant basketball with great focus and execution, go up by 20 or 30, get comfortable, think they can win on auto-pilot without the same level of focus, and then they lose games. If you want to win in chess or basketball, stay locked in until the game is over!

These days The Patriots vs a high school team might be pretty competitive

Finally a chess lecture about a subject where I know to be good in.

Change the words chess with life and this would be a lesson for all humanity to see.

Man I was just playing a 1700 opponent and I was winning decisively and I lost everything after one blunder, I hung mate in 2

Not asleep yet Ben, give me a few more minutes though

56:08 I felt that. 🤕

You would love lead climbing, there also you can be the best in the world, but one little mix-up like a foot slipping or a hold being worse than you expected, you fall, and you just don't win, end of story. You don't even have a hope that the wall will blunder too and let you back into the game

I have a complete book about games resigned in a won position. Resigning is possible in boxing - throw the towel. Of course, Ignatz von Popele must be Popiel! And Marco - famous editor of the Wiener Schachzeitung - was not "one of the top 100 players in the world" - around 1905 he was one of the top 10 players in the world.

“Sometimes when you win, you actually lose. Sometimes when you lose, you actually win. Sometimes when you win or lose, you actually tie. And sometimes when you tie, you actually win or lose.” - Gloria

"For you guys, weeks later!" No kídding xd

I was really expecting: "today we're going to talk about blundering and resigning. Don't do these. Thanks for watching the lecture"

Sir meri 1700 rating h , 2000 krni g kese kru?

At USATN I relaxed against then-NM Rosen at the end of a long day, so he won. The truth hurts!

It's also really frustrating when you mouse slip

"You watch NBA cause you are brain damage"😂😂😂😂.

what is you opinion on blitz chess? I know it can be fun but does it improve your chess? Is it a valuable training tool?

I thought he was throwing shade at Nakamura until I read the description

I already blundered the resign.

First!!! Also, so much GMFinegold this passed months, most be xmas year :D

"imagine you're driving a car, and your friend says "how are you driving a car, you're 9 years old!" and you're like "well, i dunno." but anyway,

I'm only 1700, but years of chess videos taught me solid openings, tactics, and getting big early advantages... only to blunder it away. Very frustrating. Not from giving away pieces, but from sub-par moves killing my advantage to zero, or worse. Ben's advice "don't blunder".?. Ok, I'll try to remember that.

GM Finegold is very uncompromising in his analysis and instruction. I'm an amateur player but have a had a few encounters with some excellent teachers, like Mitch Fitzko, and I appreciate the direct/harsh instruction. It really comes down to that in any endeavor, scientific analysis, uncompromising approach.

so i got that i shouldn't resign but how to stop making 6 blunders a game

At 52:30 you could be even funnier and put three bishops on the board!

OMG I played a 3+2 blitz right after this, blundered my queen, said f*&% it, I going to stalemate this guy, and bingo, got a draw! Then the next game the guy has me dead in his sights, I played a distraction move...and he resigned! I looked at the chess engine and I still can't figure out why. Since then, I refuse to resign, and have pulled draws out of a number of absolute fire sales to prevent losses and am getting better in general and creeping up the (my admittedly terrible) blitz rankings. I must say, the pure joy of a stalemate against a higher ranked opponent who should have me done is almost better than a checkmate. Of course, the wins are nice, but when it is clear when the ship is sinking, I try to set up a stalemate if I can't find a "ha, you idiot, checkmate" and it is surprisingly possible in blitz.

10:27 lmao fucking lost it

There are a lot of people who would pay to watch Mike Tyson fistfight a teenager. Like, a lot, and a lot of money, just to see that kid get absolutely beaten to a bloody pulp.

Was wesley so really better than nakamura in 2018?

I made the 2nd biggest blunder you can make in chess today. I offered a draw in a winning(+6.0) position. Luckily my opponent declined and he blundered a rook and resigned.

My dad just sent this to my at 11

Some players find offensive when their opponents don´t resign in a much worse position.

Amazing how two top players can both be blind to a rook on a mostly empty board 9:20

I got some games on my channel where I beat some titled players. Beat a 2500 FM and a 2500 IM in bullet. And I'm only 1900.

Ben i love you

Summary: Don't mess up Don't give up

10:25 😂

I made the same mistake at 700s with 2 minutes on the clock😂and I drew the game I could've won

"Who plays very well, but blunders a lot" - like Alex Botez.

I’m watching Ben Finegold now is that wrong 😮

you had me at "new england patriots"

You are a chess GM , but Why are you not a super grandmother? ❤😮

Game 2 is instant karma. You definitely don't resign when faced with a mate in 1, that's poor form.

Those at home, they're blundering watching it... I'm not even making moves and they are blundering! 😂 Just 30 seconds into and I'm crying [like a grandmaster] of laughter! When you are not in a mood or need someone to roast you for "blundering" wherever, just watch Ben's lectures! I started following those lectures because of chess, but got addicted to his unique style of lecturing and humor filled with a dose of sarcasm!

Moral of the story, those of us who love chess and golf are masochists choosing to play games in which blundering can destroy the whole game

"You at home know nothing as usual" I know Ben ... I know... :(

37:43 lol