Guide 5 of 6

Seven beginner mistakes (and how to fix them)

Everyone makes the same mistakes when they start. The good news is that each one has a simple fix, and fixing even two or three of them will win you many more games.

1. Forgetting the diagonals

Rows and columns are easy to see; diagonals are not. Many games are lost to a diagonal five that was building in plain sight. Fix: after each opponent move, trace both diagonals through it with your eyes before you play.

2. Blocking too late

Waiting until your opponent has four is too late if it is an open four. Fix: block open threes, not just fours. A three with both ends free is already a real threat.

3. Blocking everything

The opposite mistake: answering every pair of marks. Each unnecessary block is a free move for your opponent. Fix: only block real threats (fours, open threes, broken threes and forks), and build the rest of the time.

4. Not seeing broken shapes

X X _ X is as dangerous as X X X. Fix: read lines as groups of five crossings and count the marks inside them, gaps included.

A broken diagonal three that is easy to miss. The gap (green) is the key square for both players.

5. Playing far from the action

A mark placed far away from all the others usually does nothing for several moves. Fix: stay within one or two crossings of the existing marks unless you have a clear plan.

6. Attacking without counting

Starting an attack while your opponent has a four ready often ends with them making five during your attack. Fix: before any attack, check that your opponent has no four and no open three left unanswered.

7. Playing too fast

In timed games, it is tempting to move instantly. Most blunders happen in the first second after the opponent’s move. Fix: take one breath and run the four questions from our defence guide. You can also switch on “Confirm each move” in the settings, so every move needs a second tap.

Practise without pressure

The computer opponents on Mòpyon.net range from Carlo, who is just learning, to Brizz, who almost never loses. Playing the weaker ones while you work on these habits, then reviewing your games with the coach, is the fastest way to improve.