Biggest Blunders in Classical (April 2025)
This article explores the most instructive blunders made by over-the-board players rated above 2250 – mostly grandmasters – in classical tournaments during April 2025. These aren’t casual mistakes or online slips, but serious oversights in real games, with clocks ticking and scoresheets in hand. They didn’t happen in bullet or blitz, but often after hours of complex play, where fatigue, time trouble, or overconfidence took their toll. These aren’t beginner mistakes – and this article doesn’t aim to ridicule – but rather to highlight how demanding practical chess truly is, and what patterns we should all learn to recognize.After selecting the best and entertaining classical games of April – check out that article here – this time we’re looking at something completely different: the most surprising and painful blunders from the very same month. Different angle, same goal – to learn from the rich (and sometimes cruel) world of practical chess.
#7 Watch that diagonal! (2441 rated player)
BLACK TO MOVE. What would you play?
Rdb6?? was played
#6 King exposed, counterplay ignored (2601 rated player)
BLACK TO MOVE. What would you play?
exd5? was played
#5 How well do you know rook endgames? (2302 rated player - GM)
WHITE TO MOVE. What would you play?
Kg2?? was played
#4 Eyes on the pawn endgame! (2576 rated player)
WHITE TO MOVE. What would you play?
Re1?? was played
#3 Theory’s fine, but moves matter! (2484 rated player)
BLACK TO MOVE. What would you play?
Bg4?? was played
#2 Pin alert (2563 rated player)
BLACK TO MOVE. What would you play?
Rxd4?? was played
#1 Enhance your tactical awareness (players rated 2323 and 2399 - GM)
BLACK TO MOVE. What would you play?
Rb1?? was played
You can check blunders and your solution HERE
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