But I'm NOT sandbagging, I naturally lose at rated matches!

I keep getting this message from Lichess even though I have chosen to stop resigning in rated games:

"You have lost a couple games after a few moves. Please note that you MUST try to win every rated game.
Losing rated games on purpose is called "sandbagging" and is not allowed on Lichess.

"Thank you for your understanding."

I've wanted to send a message to Lichess saying I don't do that crap but, well Lichess doesn't accept (personal?) messages! Last thing I want to do is sandbag on rated. I have limited myself to casual games lately because I've been full of questions regarding this and have been at a loss for words. I have gotten better and better at the basics and have beaten the computer a few times!

Could somebody please explain that I am merely trying my best at this thing called chess and that I ain't no cheater? A few pointers at how to win wouldn't hurt! Haha. Thanks.

I hear you. It seems like you sandbag because you move the same piece over and over until you hang it, and then you do the same with another one, and then another one. You're supposed to get all of your pieces out of their starting squares before you attempt any sort of attack; this works best because you will have more available moves to keep attacking once you start.

Broadly speaking you want your games to go like this:

1.- Move a central pawn two squares, placing it in the center of the board.
2.- Put your knights in the third rank, and in the file of their bishop.
3.- Put your bishops either in the fifth or fourth rank of the diagonal they're seeing from their home square. The pawn you moved made way for one, now you're gonna have to make way for the other one.
4.- Move your queen to some square in the second or third rank. Even just one square forward is good enough because what you want is to clear your first rank for the rooks.
5.- Castle your king; almost always kingside.
6.- Place your rooks behind pawns you want to push, files that will open soon, or in files that are already open.

And then you can start attacking the other guy. You can change the order a bit if you have a good reason, and of course if he drops material you grab it, but mostly try to stick to the plan and you'll get better results.

@katmusic2024 said in #1:
> ... Could somebody please explain ...
httpscolon//lichessperiodorg/7cnCQfra How did it come about that, after 1 d3 b6 2 e3 Bb7 3 h3 g6 4 h4 Bg7 5 Rh3 d6 6 Rg3 Be5 7 Rg5 e6 8 Nh3 Bf6, you thought for ~18 seconds and decided to play 9 Rf5 ?
httpscolon//lichessperiodorg/s20L3qku After 1 Nf3 g6 2 Ng5 Bg7 3 e3 d6 4 d3 Nf6, why think for only ~2 seconds and play 5 Qh5 ?
"... Logical Chess [(Batsford edition by Chernev)] ... a collection of 33 games ... is definitely for beginners and players who are just starting to learn about development, weak squares, the centre, standard attacking ideas, and the like. In many ways, it would [be] a wonderful 'first' book (or first 'serious' book, after the ones which teach the rules and elementary mates, for example), and a nice gift for a young player just taking up chess. ..." - IM John Watson (1999)
theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/assorted-recent-books

Thanks guys! I'll keep all that in mind.

Play casually until you ready...losing unrated games... didn't count as sandbagging

I ́d add that you really do seem to throw pieces away for no reason, for instance here:



and here:



You should always look to see if one of your pieces is being attacked after each of your opponent ́s moves, and then either protect it (if it ́s being attacked by a piece of equal or greater value) or move it/block the attack with a protected piece of equal or lesser value to the attacker (if being attacked by a piece of lesser value).

Here the accepted values of the pieces as a rough guide:

Pawn 1
Knight 3
Bishop 3
Rook 5
Queen 9

@katmusic2024 said in #1:
> I've wanted to send a message to Lichess saying I don't do that crap but, well Lichess doesn't accept (personal?) messages!
If you wish to discuss the warnings, you can do so at lichess.org/appeal and select "I want to discuss a warning I received".

I think people are forgetting that everybody was once a beginner

bro try to win more games. And try not to lose . Start learning more and more chess.

- don't play your pieces randomly. your chess pieces have a goal, an objective, a position to defend or attack.

- traditionally, you have to move the pawns first to gain control of the center. controlling the center can be done in two ways: taking the center directly by playing e4 or d4 (with White). the other option which is just as good, is to take control of the center indirectly, by playing c3, c4 or f4 (f3 is not good because it weakens your king) or b3/g3 to set up a fianchetto.

- then, try to connect these pawns and protect them with the knights. use bishops in a more offensive way, access to the diagonal can allow them to control key squares. then, castle your king, at your level, I recommend only on the king side.

you can also practice here

lichess.org/practice

or I can attempt to coach you 100% free, but occasionally, depending on my personal schedule.