I’ve coached thousands of chess students, and one question comes up again and again:

“Why am I still not improving?”

Many players are putting in effort. They play games, solve puzzles, watch chess videos, and try to learn new ideas. But often, the real problem is not a lack of effort. It is that the same bad chess habits keep appearing in their games over and over again.

And if you don’t notice these habits, playing another thousand games can simply reinforce the same mistakes.

In this video, I show you 10 common chess habits that quietly sabotage your progress. Some happen when you are attacking. Others appear when you are under pressure, deciding whether to trade, or trying to figure out what to do next.

You’ll learn how to recognize bad chess habits in your own games, avoid mistakes when attacking and find clearer plans in difficult positions to make better decisions under pressure. Follow these to fix recurring mistakes that keep you stuck:

• Don’t play tired or tilted. If you already have 3 losses in a row, stop playing
• When attacking, follow Lasker’s Rule: “If you see a good move, Look for a better one.”
• Do not let enemy pieces into your territory
• Drive enemy pieces out of your territory
• To take is a mistake. Unmotivated exchanges only help your opponent
• Don’t accept sacrifices automatically
• Don’t know what to do? Don’t push side pawns
• Improve your least active piece
• Do not attack with a lone warrior
• Before you move, check your opponent’s CCTV check, captures and threats

The good news is that you don’t need to fix everything at once. Correcting even one or two repeated mistakes can make a noticeable difference in your games.

How to Fix Bad Chess Habits Video Lesson

Below, you can find the examples and games shown in the video:

Pair these tips with pattern recognition. Browse the Chess Tactics Lesson Guide. Access lessons on tactical motifs, patterns and combinations across all phases of the game.

These tips will surely help you improve your chess if you learn how to apply them. If you like to get a structured program that can help bring you to the level of 2000 Elo and beyond, we have assembled courses into a bundle that will help you achieve this goal. Check out our Boost Your ELO to 2000 Bundle.

Individually, the courses included here are valued at $486. But if you purchase them as a course bundle, then you can get them for only $197. That’s nearly a 60% discount!!