What is Blunder in chess?
A move that throws away material or the game, usually for nothing.
Blunders are the single biggest reason beginners lose. They almost always come from not checking what the opponent's last move threatened, not from a lack of calculation skill.
Spot blunder in your own games
Free. Chess2EZ finds the patterns you keep missing and explains each in plain English.
Analyze my games →More chess terms
- ForkOne piece attacking two or more enemy pieces at the same time.
- PinA piece can't move because doing so would expose a more valuable piece behind it.
- SkewerLike a pin in reverse: a valuable piece is attacked and must move, exposing a piece behind it.
- Discovered attackMoving one piece unveils an attack from another piece behind it.
- Double checkTwo pieces give check at the same time via a discovered attack.
- ZugzwangA position where any move you make worsens your position.