National Master Dan Heisman is a name that is synonymous with excellence in chess coaching and teaching. Dan authors the award-winning Novice Nook column (winner of three Chess Journalists of America "Best Instruction" awards), aimed at improving adults, for chesscafe.com that are clearly written and offer very practical advice and tips on how to improve your game . In the new Improve Your Chess series, Dan provides instruction by reviewing amateur games played on ICC and showing where the players went wrong and how to improve.

Today's show: Black equalizes in the opening and then White gives Black some tactical chances. Having missed them, Black insists on a superficial plan and ends up losing a piece. Instead of playing slowly and carefully, White gives Black completely unnecessary counterplay. Then Black erroneously sacrifices a further exchange but, instead of taking the rook, White plays quickly and seems to assume a mate that wasn't there. Then an endgame is entered where White has some advantage but Black again blunders a piece through a removal of the guard. White, however, tries a more difficult removal of the guard which does not work. Both sides end up promoting into a queen and two pawns vs queen and pawn endgame. Black errs in getting out of checks, but White misses the win. Finally White agrees to a drawn king and pawn endgame which Black, finally, does get the draw.

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