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Most endgame mistakes are not calculation errors. They’re pattern failures. Beginners often reach winning endgames and still draw or lose because they don’t recognize the position in front of them. Endgames repeat. If you know the patterns, you know what to do. Here are 6 endgame patterns that decide the majority of beginner games , along with the simple plan for each. The examples are interactive . Click the arrows at the bottom of each embedded window or use the arrow keys

Most beginner games aren’t decided by deep strategy. They’re decided by missed tactics and failure to capture free pieces. Tactics are short combinations that create immediate advantages, like winning material or delivering check. If you can recognize a handful of common tactical patterns, the game slows down, opportunities become clearer, and you start converting positions that used to slip away.

Most beginners think strong openings come from memorizing lines. But what happens when you don't remember the next move, or you haven't studied the opening before? Good openings come from understanding what your pieces are trying to do . When you follow principles, you naturally find solid moves even without knowing theory. If you focus on ideas instead of exact move orders, you will reach playable middlegames far more often. This is how real improvement happens. For beginne

Most players rush through puzzles, guess moves, and wonder why their tactics never improve. After solving over 42,000 puzzles on Chess.com, I built an 8-step system that trains real calculation, sharpens pattern recognition, and actually transfers to your games. This guide breaks down how to evaluate positions, identify tactical motifs, calculate forcing lines, avoid common traps, and study solutions the right way — so your blunders start turning into brilliancies.