[Event "rated rapid game"]

[Site "https://lichess.org/pc5bj9aB"\]

[Date "2026.10.21"]

[Round "-"]

[White "schentler"]

[Black "Magnus_Sralson5666"]

[Result "1-0"]

[GameId "pc5bj9aB"]

[UTCDate "2026.10.21"]

[UTCTime "04:30:41"]

[WhiteElo "1420"]

[BlackElo "1481"]

[WhiteRatingDiff "+22"]

[BlackRatingDiff "-6"]

[Variant "Standard"]

[TimeControl "600+0"]

[ECO "C50"]

[Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation"]

[Termination "Normal"]

[Annotator "lichess.org"]

1. e4 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:09:59] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:09:59] } 3. Bc4 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 0:09:57] } 4. d3 { [%clk 0:09:57] } 4... Bc5 { [%clk 0:09:55] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:09:56] } { C50 Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation } 5... O-O { [%clk 0:09:53] } 6. Be3 { [%clk 0:09:55] } 6... Bxe3 { [%clk 0:09:51] } 7. fxe3 { [%clk 0:09:54] } 7... Na5 { [%clk 0:09:45] } 8. Qe2 { [%clk 0:09:43] } 8... Nxc4 { [%clk 0:09:43] } 9. dxc4 { [%clk 0:09:42] } 9... b6 { [%clk 0:09:12] } 10. Nxe5 { [%clk 0:09:40] } 10... Re8 { [%clk 0:09:08] } 11. Nf3 { [%clk 0:09:27] } 11... Nxe4 { [%clk 0:09:00] } 12. Nxe4 { [%clk 0:09:22] } 12... Rxe4 { [%clk 0:08:59] } 13. O-O-O { [%clk 0:09:21] } 13... Bb7 { [%clk 0:08:57] } 14. h4 { [%clk 0:09:14] } 14... Qf6 { [%clk 0:08:42] } 15. Ng5 { [%clk 0:08:59] } 15... Re5 { [%clk 0:08:28] } 16. Rxd7 { [%clk 0:08:54] } 16... Rae8 { [%clk 0:08:12] } 17. Rhd1 { [%clk 0:08:32] } 17... Rxe3 { [%clk 0:08:08] } 18. Qxe3 { [%clk 0:08:31] } 18... Rxe3 { [%clk 0:08:01] } 19. Rd8+ { [%clk 0:08:29] } 19... Qxd8 { [%clk 0:07:59] } 20. Rxd8+ { [%clk 0:08:28] } 20... Re8 { [%clk 0:07:56] } 21. Rxe8# { [%clk 0:08:27] } { White wins by checkmate. } 1-0

My first brillant but why

I think this one is moderately complex if black plays the correct defense.

The game says it's a checkmate

Brilliant move ? Can you see the consequences.

Fun fact: The only reason I captured white's rook is that I thought it would be an even trade and I was low on time.

So I have been playing a lot of chess in my phone since I started to rekindle my interest in chess. I don’t have a physical chess set (but I plan to buy one next year) nor someone to play with since I’m sort of an introvert and I almost never attend social events outside work and family. I play chess through Lichess and Duolingo and I noticed that when I play against the “computer”, I frequently win, but when I play against a human user, I always lose. In fact, it has been several months since I last beat a human in chess, and since then, I consistently lose against humans, but I would tend to keep winning streaks when I play against the “computer”, which sometimes break on a bad day.

Anyone can explain why is that so? And any advice for me to be able to competitively play against a human, especially that I plan to buy a chess set so I can play real physical chess with a human and improve my chess skills?

I finally learned how to deal with this annoying opening and now I understand why so many people say its fun to play against someone who uses it. It used to frustrate me to no end and it took me so many tries to counter it but now honestly when I see the queen come out it really is nice for me because of how badly their position ends up being. This was a while ago though and I’ve since moved up in elo and yet I still see it every few games at around 900.

My question is, when do people stop this? Again I don’t mind it now that its easy to counter and leads to a worse position for them but I’m just curious how it still works on people enough for it to be worth playing in the 800s/900 range.

Currently I start off by doing about 10-15 minutes of puzzles before starting any games. Then I limit myself to about 3-5 serious rapid games a day, analyzing each game after and taking notes. I currently about 700 elo. I don't play bullet or blitz (maybe every once in a while if I'm super bored. I am also going through the GothamChess slowrun. I will typically watch an episode or part of it before my games, depending on the amount of time I have.

My friend is roughly around 1000 elo ( he frequently bounces up and down, peaked at 1200). I play him in unrated games occasionally and usually get destroyed. He either plays the wayward queen attack with white, or simply e5 and mirrors me as black.

Opening reportoire is simpy the italian when I'm playing with the white pieces, and the french defense with black.

Looking for any advice whether it be tweaking my methodoly, different openings, whatever it may be.

Almost forgot, my birthday is on christmas, which gives me about 66 days.

im lazy does anyone want to put this into a chess analysis

Hi everyone. I’m a chess player (2200 on Chess.com Rapid and Blitz) and I’m starting to explore the idea of helping adults who want to improve but feel like they’ve been stuck for a long time.

Before designing anything, I want to hear from the people actually living this. I’m not selling or offering anything with this post. I just want to understand the problem properly so I don’t build something that doesn’t help.

Who am I looking for? Players who:

• Already know the rules and play regularly (online or at a club).
• Feel like their rating or level hasn’t moved in months or years.
• Are around 1200 on Chess.com / Lichess (up to ~1800 is fine).

It would help a lot if you could share, in the comments or by DM:

1. How long have you been playing, and what’s your approximate rating?
2. How much time per week do you put in, and how do you spend it (games, puzzles, videos, books...)?
3. What have you tried in order to improve, and what worked or didn’t?
4. What frustrates you most right now? (hanging pieces, openings, endgames, time management, confidence, not knowing what to study...)
5. If you could fix ONE thing about your game, what would it be?

If anyone would like to chat for 15-20 minutes by video call or text to tell me more about their situation, I’d be happy to listen (no strings attached, no sales pitch). I’ll also share a summary of what I learn here so it’s useful to everyone.

Thanks in advance. I’ll read everything and reply to every comment.

I have a few slots available, send DM!

Did not expect to mate with my pawn on move 9..

I don't understand 90% of the blunders lichess is calling out. I am supposed to trade down without a material advantage? Or only 1 pawn advantage? Sometimes it recommends sacrificing my knight for a pawn.

Overall should I have just moved all my pieces into his? I just couldn't come up with a solid plan!

What should I study? Or what theme of puzzle should I practice?