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Chess forum by Grandmasters
Will there still be a monthly option for sign up?
Hello just wondering if there will still be a monthly option for sign up I am not seeing. Thanks
Happy holidays.
Replies
Yes, there is. 😃
You can find it here: https://chessmood.com/become-a-pro#pro-payment
If you look carefully , there is a tab for yearly and one for monthly in the upper part . You just have to click monthly to see the plan
gambito escandinavo
me gustaria un estudio del gambito escandinavo e4-d5 2. exd5 -c6 saludos gran trabajo
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Hello, I don't speak Spanish or whatever is the language this post is on 😀, but as far as I understood you want a study on how to refute the Scandinavian gambit (e4 d5 exd5 c6). I recomend you to check out this course:
Whitemood openings simplified, Section 18: https://chessmood.com/course/whitemood-openings If you are looking for a complete guide against the Scandinavian Gambit, I think there is not a main course on that. Hope this helps
My chess improvement journey: week 2
Hi everyone!
This is the end of week 2 of my chess improvement journey. This week I haven't played much because I wasn't half sick, so I decided not to force myself into playing. However it was still a productive week.
The first major change was I stopped (as I mentioned last week) playing blitz, focusing for now on rapid games to improve. An important thing I've done is making order when I analyze games. I made myself clear about what to look for (real blunders) and how to categorize my mistakes. The result is that now I know where to improve and what are the blunders I make the most. The only challenge is remember to check these things in game, but I think I will hang a sticky note to my pc so I don't get distracted and always remember to check the things (this until I do that unconsciously). If you have other ideas to help me, I'm glad to hear.
Last but not least, a small episode that made me feel good. Yesterday I started study a line in the Caro-Kann, learning ideas and moves. Well, that night I went to the local chess club, and I played that line otb against my friend, which is as strong as me, ending up in a won endgame with 2 pawns up!
Well, that's all for the week, see you next, and keep studying!
Replies
You were right to prioritise your health - if you didn't you could have ended up being more sick and missed more chess!
I also think you were right to stop Blitz and focus on Rapid - learn the moves first, then learn how to make them more quickly. And catching blunders is a vital skill - I'm slowly getting better at it but once I finish the WhiteMood and BlackMood opening courses I'll be taking a look at the BlunderProof course! ;-)
Yes, prioritize health. I had just recently taken a full couple da break from chess, for my health, and my playing. It helps tremendously!
I m glad to read about your journey , few members share details . I think it’s a good motivation for you and the ones following it .
Thank you everyone for reading and support! It means a lot to me
Hi I like to practice the core default chess skills the skills that happen in every game, it makes sense because if it happens in every game I want to be great at it, here's a list of some of these skills i'm trying to master:
1. Calculation Skills
2. Evaluation Skills
3. Tactical Skills all Patterns
4. Checkmating Skills and all Checkmating Patterns
5. Visualization skills
Personally I'm not a fan of memorizing opening theory when the position might not even turn up. It's much more fun for me playing the systems like the london system or Larsen Attack avoiding the opening theory, then spending my time on these core skills and middlegame and endgame practice. Hope this helps thanks
study plan
i have 6 hours in a day . im a 14 year old boy want to be a good chess player
right now my chess.com elo 1600 but idk what should be the study plan for me
and where to get??
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https://chessmood.com/chess-study-plans/for-advanced-players
This should help you!
What would be the best approach to paly against an engine?
While I play against a human opponent whether on the internet or over the board, I can assess him by his ratings and the moves he makes on the board. AND sometimes he may make a mistake or even a blunder that may result in a loss in the game. But the situation may be almost different if there is a computer to make moves against me because if the machine doesn't have any technological issue at hand, it will make no error that is quite a challenging situation because whatever the moves I make I can't win. I have to suffer paramount and no hope of winning remains there.
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You can usually change to level of the computer opponent. On chess.com, there is an entire collection of computer opponents (with estimated rating levels) and personalities (some are aggressive and want to attack, some are defensive). The computer bots can be “dumbed down” so that they are definitely beatable.
Mating Matador Quiz Question
🙂
Does anyone know who played the game in puzzle 31 of the Mating Matador Quiz? Tip the game looks like it was reversed and it was played in 1938
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Koch vs Nowarra - 1938 the game goes slightly different the Queen is not taken on h5 and white forces the same Blackburne mate a few moves later.
Current special offer
Hello all,
I’m an “essential” member with my next yearly payment due in February.
Am i eligible for the “Holiday Special Offer?"
thx
Replies
Hi Scott,
Instead of a public forum, regarding personal membership matters, please get in contact with our Customer Happiness Department and together we will find the best option for everyone. This is the best way:
Names on Russian
How can it be?
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Happy pieces course doubt
Hello everyone
I had a doubt if the course happy pieces had only information on queens and rooks or there is more. I think it was released long back and yet I didn't see any new section. Pls correct me if I am wrong.
Thanks in advance
Replies
😀Yes, this is Avetik's course, hopefully he will restart with the rest of the pieces, but you know… Artists do art when they are inspired and now he focused his inspiration in other courses, but I'm sure that he will come back to this course because it's one of the most appreciated ones… And he knows it… Thanks Pranav for asking… 😅
Thank you for Hints and Solutions Feature!
GM Avetik, I saw the below message (regarding hints and solutions) in your email and was thrilled. Thanks so much for listening to your student feedback and acting on it. I love that you are so customer obsessed. Keep up the great work! – Subbu
Hint & Solution button
We have addressed one of the main requests from our students, to add "hint" and "solution" buttons
to quizzes. Tadaa! It’s there. Check it out!
Replies
We are very glad that you liked it… Always trying to do our best…😀
I agree! Great feature !! Super helpful
Daily chess (correspondence on chess.com)
Apparently Paul Keres was playing hundreds of correspondence games at a time and it really helped him out.
There's obviously been a lot of debate of blitz and bullet and how bullet doen't help with improvement (although GM Amon Hambleton did write an article about his experiences which sort of challenges this - https://saintlouischessclub.org/blog/speed-chess-bad-you), but what about Daily Chess (time control of at least 1 day per move), where you're allowed to consult chess databases and chess books, but no engines and tablebases?
In a way this seems a bit similar to Classical chess, except that you can move pieces around and stuff.
I'm curious about some opinions on how to use Daily Chess to improve.
(Btw, a big Daily Chess tournament with prizes is beginning in a few days on Chess.com - https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-daily-chess-championship-registration)
Replies
We are not very keen on correspondence chess because at the end it becomes a battle between engines and even if they are not allowed, the books and databases until which move are ok? It is not clear but it is very difficult to check any real improvement when only consulting exisiting materials (made with engine help all the way) to play, no matter the memory of the player, etc…
😅We prefer focusing on games played with real long time controls for an overall improvement than correspondence… But if you like it, why not, it is not our preference for sure…😄
Hi Inguh,
If being sure engines are not allowed it can be interesting to play such a game, however I don't think it's very practical as the game will take a lot of time. And in order to train something and gain experience such a long game can be too much time-consuming, I would rather prefer some rapid games like 15+10.
Of course, if you are enjoying the format, you are welcome to do so 🙂
Good luck!
Thoughts on the Trompowsky?
What are your thoughts on the Trompowsky? 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5
Replies
Hello !
I played it many years, what do you want to know ? I choose to change for GM Avetik repertoire who suits my style, and i like his recommandations. But I still love the Trump !
Trompowsky was one of my favorite weapons... But then I stopped because of 2...d5
Today in the morning I recorded a video how to play against Trompowsky for black, need to edit it and will upload it soon.
I played the Tromp with white for almost 20 years. I had chose it because not many knew how to really play well against it. However, I dropped it for the openings taught here.
https://chessmood.com/course/crushing-d4-sidelines/episode/418
Here you have the link to Trompovksy attack :)
Right Mood - Right Move!
The Sideline Course is still great. But I miss after the suggested 2. … d5 the answer 3. Nc3 (transposing to Veresov). It happens regulary and having no repertoire after move 2 is not funny.
Chessmood Membership start date
Im thinking of buying Chessmood Membership for a year, and my current yearly lasts untill Feb 23, and if I now buy the yearly, will it start now, or when my old one is up, the 23rd?
Replies
Hi Armandas,
Regarding personal membership matters, please get in contact with our Customer Happiness Department and they will see what you can do and find the best way for everyone. This is the best way:
https://chessmood.com/contact
Thanks,😃
How to buy a course?
How to buy a course with mood coins (that one that I get when solve the problem)?
Replies
In some courses, Get lifetime access is shown.
Click on that and choose moodcoins as the mode of payment. If you have the required moodcoins, you can buy the course.
Thank you!
New success story: The One Course that Transformed Anthony's Chess
From struggling with chess books to winning his first-ever tournament, this adult improver transformed his game.
You’ll discover many valuable lessons from his journey, including:
🟢 The one habit he eliminated to increase focus over the board
🟢 How he detached his mind from the final result
🟢 The problem with playing too many blitz games
🟢 The Chessmood course that changed his mindset and more!
Read the full story here:
https://chessmood.com/success-stories/anthony-giles
Replies
The biggest thing I liked in this article is his satisfied face when he was standing after winning the event. I wish him good luck for his future chess events!
Chessmood is superb website especially for adult improvers . Because adults have time issues so chessmood shares all the checked material in video form so even without books anyone can improve!
Super inspiring story ! I’m glad you got good results while working with ChessMood . Congrats !
Nice work and great progress, congrats! I see you're playing the weekender at Hastings on the 6th. Will be gone by then, but both Witcher and I are playing in the masters. If you can get over then, will see you there.
HOW TO GET PGN FROM CHESS MOOD
amazing success story
Caro-Kann Main Line 7.Qd7-12.Bxf3
I have a doubt in the Exchange Caro-Kann variation where black plays main line 7.Qd7 and after some moves, black is playing 12.Bxf3 and after 13.Nxf3, the course does not include 13.Qc7. My opponent played this move and the plan of Ne5-Re3-Rh3 did not work as he simply traded knights and the attack failed. If you can suggest a remedy in this line, that would be great! Thank you
Replies
Hi, have you tried looking into databases to see if this move has already been played?
I know very well the Caro Kann. Did you play the Caro Kann or just facing the Caro Kann?
Can you post all the moves just to be sure of the variation that you mean? 😅 Thanks!
In your given line the e6 move is missing. I guess you've meant the line
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.Nd2 e6
9.Ngf3 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rae1 Bxf3 12.Nxf3 Qc7!?
I think objectively the position is equal but in practical terms white has an edge because black has to go for counterplay on the queenside with the minority attack (rooks to b/c file, pawns b5, a5, b4 ...)
while white plays against the black king due to the control of e5 square and the open lines for all his pieces on the kingside.
However if black finds the right moves there is no standard plan for white how to organize the attack.
Bxf3 followed by Qc7 are certainly good black moves. One white plan could be to get the white queen over to the kingside first, play Ne5 to exchange the knight and then try to open the kingside with the pawns.
For example
13.Qc2 Rab8 14.Ne5 Rfc8 15.Qe2 Nxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7 17.f4 g6 18.h4 b4 19.h5
But again black has many options here to react in a different way and his counterplay on the queenside is also progressing.
This was covered
👇
Question on 7Q Method and the 3 key questions from Tactic Ninja course
Hello ChessMood family,
First, thanks for all the great answers to my questions in the forum so far. They helped a lot to raise my rating. I have another question on the 7Q Method and the 3 key questions from the tactic ninja course. Are you supposed to ask these questions every move otb (except for forced moves and opening prep) because that would be very time-consuming and I cannot do this on every move without getting into time trouble. Do you just do this a lot and gain experience so it comes naturally or do you do it on some moves and not on other moves? Thanks for the help in advance!
Replies
Forwarded from GM_Avetik Grigoryan:
Thank you my friend! Good question! As the pawn structure and the dynamics of the position doesn't change after every move, you don't need to ask those question after every move. Asking when things aren't obvious - this is where you should start with.😀
Create pgn database....
🤔
Hi everybody !
I would like to create a pgn database and export it to a chess friend. Unfortunately when I try to export it from CB17 it's transformed
automatically into CBV format. Anyone has idea(s) solve this problem ?
Thanks to all ; merry christmas and happy new year
Replies
Easy one!
😀Select all the games, right click, output as pgn and that's it…😀
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too!😄
about the SLP course
1)I think that you fotget another case not to resign.
Some techincal endgame that you may know to win against everybody but there is a reason to believe there is a chance that your opponent does not know.
For example even if you know to win KBN vs K it is better not to resign if you are the weaker side because you know that even stronger players than you could fail to win.
2)I think that one way of saving lost positions is not mentioned and it is generating passed pawns.
Looking at my blitz games I saved many lost positions by this.
I think that I save lost positions in this way more often relative to saving lost positions by some mate attack.
first example:
https://lichess.org/5ctab3Vh7wNb
I was a piece down for a pawn but won in the endgame thanks to my passed pawns.
second example
https://lichess.org/4SUieSTdYW13
I played 51.Nf4 that was the best practical chance in a lost position and of course did not go to a lost pawn endgame by capturing the rook.
The passed pawn later made a fork so I won the game
Third example:
https://lichess.org/E985FlhWJ7iW
I had a clearly lost endgame but pushed my passed pawn forward and in the final position that my opponent lost on time objectively he had no more than a draw.
4th example
https://lichess.org/SsH32cMjFtc0
I had a lost rook endgame but planned to get a passed pawn.
My opponent promoted first but I promoted with check and forced mate but mate was not the original plan.
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misleading lines in the starter course white mood opening
I had a game that started 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 e6 when my opponent got a better position out of the opening.
The stater course recommend exactly this line for white in section 5 part 4 after 40 seconds(the queen joins the attack) when it does not mention e6 but only d6 so I looked at the more advanced course to see how to continue and found that in the anti-sicilian part 2 the suggestion is to play 3.Bb5 and not 3.f4
I do not like the fact that the starter line is not a subset of the more advanced course and I expect some basic course to include less lines but to include the same lines. Note that my opponent who played with black has a fide rating of 1616 and I got a draw inspite of the bad position because I am the better player.with a very bad game(only after the game I understood that black saved a tempo by not playing d6 and playing immediately d5).
Here is my OTB game(not for fide rating but for local chess israeli rating)
https://lichess.org/P2ZUnhBU#59
After 9…Na5 I felt the position is very bad and thought for a long time.
I did not like a3 Nxb3 when I cannot open the a file and I was afraid that if I do not play a3 my bishop may get trapped after c4 Ba4 and after some minutes of thinking I thought that I found a good solution and played 10.exd5 with the idea that I win a pawn after exd5 11.Nxd5 and in case of 10…Nxb3 axb3 I could at least open the a file.
I was surprised that the engine does not like white's position after 10…Nxb3 11.axb3 and prefer Bd2 when it seems that I can save the bishop.
In the game 12…Qxd5 gives advantage for black inspite being a pawn down(typical mistake of me to stop calculation too early when after some minutes of thinking I see that I win material) but my opponent played 12…Re8 that is worse. I did a mistake here when I played 13.Qd2 too quickly thinking it is forced because did not like to get into a pin with 13.Be4 and only few seconds after playing it I noticed that 13.Be4 f5 14.Bd5+ was an interesting option but of course did not calculate it because it was not relevant for the game after I missed it(the engine say 13.Be4 equalize when 13…Bf5 is the best for black).
14…Re2 was winning based on the engine(I considered 14…Re2 during the game but did not see the win of black after 15.Rf2 because I did not think 15…Bd4 that trade black's good bishop is a good idea for black).
The best for me was 17.Ne5 but I did not like to give back a pawn and I also did not like the opponent to trade at e1 because of the possible line c3 Rxe1 Qxe1 Qxd3. I was also afraid from the threat Bd4+ when both Nxd4 Rxe1+ win and Kh1 Qxf3 are winning and I need to play Kf1 that I do not like.
My opponent offered a draw with the move 23…Qxf4 that I rejected because I hoped to win the endgame because I am the better player but had to force a perpetual check because my opponent did not want to go for an endgame.
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After Na5, taking on d5 as you did is not a very good move. You can develop with Bd2 or play e5 closing the Bishop, typical of these structures. This way you would have a good structure and position.
😅We told you on another post why we offer one simplified repertoire and one more complete and the reason here is the same one. 😀
If you are a more experienced player by all means study the advanced one, but please don't blame us for not winning games because of the opening. This is clearly not the case…
You need to have a better feeling for the resulting positions and also I would recommend you to stop trusting elo differences. Everyone nowadays is underrated and everyone wants to win, having this feeling of being better than your opponent during a game can be very bad for your results.
So, keep on playing and studying, you started to play our repertoire very recently. Now in that line that already happened in your games, if I were you, I would study the advanced course and be completely prepared for the next time.
Good luck Uri and keep on fighting with good mood always!😀
