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What does your opponent want?
Their last move had a point.
Half of staying safe is reading the other side. Every time your opponent moves, pause and ask: 'What does that move threaten? What does my opponent want to do next?' Most blunders are simply walking into a threat you never looked for.
In the diagram, Black has just played the bishop to b4, lining it up against your undefended rook on e1. The threat is ...Bxe1, winning the rook next move. Because you asked what Black wanted, you can deal with it now — move the rook, defend it, or block the line — instead of being surprised.
Your opponent makes a move. The first question to ask yourself is:
Answer the question to keep going!