NEW ARTICLE: Chess Time Controls: Which is Best Suited to You?

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coach loved it. I will make a new account on lichess so i will play only training games like this and for the main account I keep my ratings. I am a player who wanna keep both ratings and game. so I will use new account for training 5 min + 3 sec increment time control and old account is just for rating and rare games. Another point is that I can't play freely when i play with my normal account. I feel worried about rating and losing so for that Dummy Account is best and useful for my chess skills.

thanks for the lesson. 

I prefer 15+10

yes, i like g5/3 as you recommended in the article much better than g3.

Can we change chessmood Sunday tournaments from g3 to g5/3? 

Before reading this article, I had no idea which time control suited to me. I used to play mostly blitz and rapid 3 to 15 minutes but without increment. Now I will switch to 3+2, 5+3, and 15+10. 

Thanks for sharing excellent article !!.I learned a lot.  

Very helpful article, thank you coach. The most important part was Dr. Grigoryan's advice, "concentrate on becoming a better chess player, and your rating will follow". It sets the focus on the right thing.

(As for me, I play 15+10, but even that's fast for me.)

Before reading this article I preferred 10+0 time control. Now I am going to try 5+3. I am more concerned about improving my game than I am about just having fun 

I like 5+3 too! 

Can we have this time on our Sunday tournaments?

Okay, it seems many want 5+3 control on Sunday tournaments. 
Let us think about it :) 

Hi Maestro, great article. I've been playing some 5+3 games as you recommend, and I will keep doing that, especially for practicing the chessmood openings. That said, I also quite like 10+0, which I've always believed might help me in OTB rapid tournaments, of which there used to be a lot in my region (i.e. before the coronavirus), usually 30+0, so no increment, meaning that time management becomes more important. What do you think of online 10+0 games? OK or too slow?

Following GM Avetik advice, I have stopped playing 10+0 and 30+0 games. Now I play 5+3 for blitz games and 15+10 for rapid games. I am happy with the change as it allows me to train and improve in winning "winning position" as he recommends

Sir, if our purpose is both improving your game and practicing the new opening reportoire, is it good to play 60+0. 

Is there just one suitable one time control?

I can't play faster than 5 0 and I lose a number of games with 0 inc, so 5 3 is about as slow as I like to play. If people didn't play nonsense at 1 0 I'd play that just to get through a lot of opening lines. Blitz I'm generally looking to practice openings rather than anything too serious and fills odd moments. I will blunder quite a bit at this speed as I'm relying on instant judgements and not always aware of lurking problems. I think Chessmood puts far too much emphasis on blitz.

15 0 is a good speed to practice a bit of thinking, but the game itself doesn't last too long so it can be played once a day (when time allows).

30 0 I don't play online, but is good over the board for a tournament that lasts one day.

45 15, 60 15 are good online time controls for long play

My preference for over the board chess though is 40 moves in 2 hrs, 1 hr finish. I think league speed of 35 moves in 1 hr 15, 15 minutes finish, or 60 10 means players become weak in their endgames.

Hi! 5+3 is not one of the default time controls available on chess.com, so should I switch to 3+2? Or maybe 5+5?

Hi there! Here's my preferred time controls Online play - chess_com or lichess If have 1-1.5 hour for playing session, then I usually go for one 15+10 game to warm up and train my calculation and then the rest 3+2 for opening improvement and just for fun. I analyse after each game what I did wrong in the opening and mostly run built in analysis of chess_com for blunder check. I don't like bullet (completely agree that it harms improvement) and games without increment as it's really annoying to lose on time in completely winning positions (I'm not a fast player :)) and also when low on time it turns into premove scramble which I dont like as well For live OTB play I like both classical 1h30mins+30s with or without added 30mins after 40moves and also rapid play (12+5, 10+5). Though I prefer classical for improvement purpose.

Is 3+0 a good substitute to 5+3 if I don't have much time to spare?It is because I would usually play 10+0 when I have time.

As always, very helpful article. Thank you, Avetik!

Thanks to this article, I learned new things and saw some of my own ideas confirmed. I have been using Classical tempo and I think I will continue this way for a long time from now on. Maybe when I get a little stronger I'll switch to Rapid, but I think it's too early.

I love playing classical, with the time to think and make calculations (and, of course, I still lose! ) But the suggestion of playing lots of blitz/rapid games with the aim of e.g. practising new openings, not worrying about the end result or ratings, is a very good idea. I'll try it!

I don't even know what 5+3 or 3+2 means. Is it 3 minutes for the whole game, plus 2 minutes per move , or what?

And why do the recommended time controls seem to be so fast? I'm used to 40 moves per 2 hours myself.

I want to improve my middlegame, tactics, and stop blundering. I still don''t know what the best time control to play is.

😃

i thouhot online 15+5 no 5+3

Is there a mistake in "Endgame Roadmap - Your compass to navigate in the Endgames"

Dear Chessmood Family, 

On my computer I tried a puzzle on one of the trainings in “Endgame Roadmap - Your compass to navigate in the Endgames”, at the end of the section 3: Win pawns. On puzzle 10 I tried all the moves I could think of, but none were correct so I tested out the position on the engine and it said White was better but the puzzle is for Black. Did I miss something or is the puzzle incorrect?

After Kf7 Rb8

Thank you for your kind input!

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It does look like the puzzle is for White and the solution is 1.Re8 Kf7 2.Rb8 and if Re7 then 3.Kd2 so the white rook goes after Black's queenside pawns while the black rook cannot penetrate.

Thank you :) 
The puzzle has been fixed :) 

Pre-empting a discovered check

Hi all,

In the game that I've linked to below my opponent has just made the move Rd8.  My fear in this scenario was that black would make the move Nb3 - giving a discovered check and enabling the knight to capture my rook on a1.

* None of the king's moves appealed to me

* I considered blocking with Nd2

* I chose Rd3 - this blocks the check and enables a rook exchange (I figured that although I was only marginally ahead in material I did still have a rook and this should give me an advantage in clearing up black's greater pawn numbers)

While reviewing my games I look to see what Stockfish recommends (unless it is one of those crazy 20-move sequences that I'm never going to spot so I ignore them!).  In this scenario it feels that the best move is Nxf2 - capturing black's bishop.  I realise that I lose a pawn this way but surely that is preferable to losing a rook!?

I'd love to hear what move you would make, and why …

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/103897852819?tab=analysis&move=59

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There is a very specific reason why Nxf2 is fine. You correctly foresaw that after …Nb3+  Ke2 …Nxa1 black has won the rook. But in this position White has the stunning Rc3 with the plan of Rc1 to capture the trapped knight! There's nothing black can do to keep the knight, so you come out ahead in material. I don't think I'd see this in a game, especially when avoiding the discovery entirely is so natural.

Good question, but the stalemate saddened me ;)

My Best SLP!!

https://lichess.org/Eu731bOT/white#97

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Lol

Nice one!

https://lichess.org/dOUKEjmb/black#50

Wow, Nice game!!

Not good, but fighting spirit in slp mode: https://lichess.org/NMJ2sV8W/white

Suggestio - puzzles

Suggestion for puzzles: if you make incorrect move do not automatically move to the next puzzle, instead allow to retry. I bet that 95% of users anyway return to the incorrect puzzle and try to solve it.

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We do this on purpose Ink. The reason is to avoid creating the mentality of try and fail and try again. In a chess game, this does not exist!

You only move when you are 100% sure of your move, there is plenty of time. 

If you fail, just go at it another day, or at the end of the puzzles. You are alone with the puzzles, but the try and fail approach is the worst thing that one can do when solving tactics.

Try to develop this mentality of being a 100% sure, when you solve a problem correctly you know it, you can feel it… 
Keep up this good feeling!😄

Issues with chess.com playing platform

Hey ChessMood family, 

I've been observing something for months now, and now I can kind of confirm this hypothesis of mine. 

Below a certain elo on chess.com, it seems not worth playing because almost 50% of the players are using cheats ‘on-and-off’. From my experimentation on new account on chess.com (as a ~1500 elo blitz player), I actually frequently drop games to 700-900 elo players as they play just as good as 1500-1700 elo, or better, but they also play in a weird way that doesn't have a ‘human touch’. When you look at these players' profiles, they have like thousands of games with 50% win rate, but the game I experienced from them definitely does not reflect that. I would report these games I feel were off, and to my surprise, few days later, I would keep getting messages from chess.com that these accounts have been closed and my points have been returned. 

I went back on lichess to play (1900 elo 3+2 blitz) and the games were actually easier and felt like a human player was playing the moves. 

Anyways, I know GM Avetik recommends to play on lichess to begin with, but I liked CC because all the streamers played on it, but I think unless you're also 2200+ elo blitz on CC, probably better to stick to lichess for a less frustrating playing experience. 

Anyone else experienced anything similar? 

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Here's an example of what made me finally realize the severity of the situation. This game here, white's best move was to sac his rook to avoid Rh1#. A 900 elo player did so in 3 seconds (pretty consistent with almost all his moves in the game). Heck, I'm 1500 and I wouldn't have sac my rook that quickly, and so confidently. 
 

Improvement suggestions.

Hello guys 

My Name is Vedant
I am from India
I am 13 years old
I have a FIDE rating of 1814 (a bit stuck after my massive +272 in one tmt)
Lichess rating of 2350(present) and 2417(Peak) as I fluctuate a lot these days. the reason is I play online blitz like 3+2 for fun
Joined as a Pro Member in June 2023

Openings: My White openings are interesting. Most of them are Chessmood recommended 
With Black, I play Chessmood lines except d4 where I play KID

Strength: I can grind equal endgames and I like playing with imbalance. My calculation is good for my level 

Weakness: In a position with no imbalance I usually go to create imbalances and more often than not it is wrong. I often miss my opponent's resources which leads to me creating a bad plan (as seen in the first game when I missed g3!). 

Psychology: In tournaments whenever I lose a crucial round I lose my motivation for the next rounds which result in the whole tmt being ruined and I often get overexcited while am winning in the game

Time management: It is pretty ok, I usually have a 5-10 min advantage on the clock or at worst I am down 5-10 mins on the clock than my opponent
What I am working on: I am also working on this book by Dvoretsky, recognising my opponent's resources these days to improve my alertness for my rival's ideas
To train my openings I usually play with my training partner. I am also trying to learn some classics from the 100 Strategic Games course

At present,  I have quite some knowledge about classics or Instructive ideas/plans played by the masters

The amount am working: But all this only makes my training up to 3 hrs while I can put more work hours in.

Why I wrote this post: I am just clueless about how I should improve and what resources I should work on

Some of my games so you can get a better idea of how I play

https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=5183424

https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=5183142

https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=4926871

Looking forward to all the suggestions
Vedant

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How and where to practice endgames??

I can often practice my opening and middlegame online, but oftentimes, the games would not go to the endgames, and if it does, my brain would be fried enough because of the middlegame😅😅😅
So any tips?

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Hi Berney, 
On some simple endgames, you can find and practice them with endgame tablebases (lomonosov, nalimov,etc)
for more info about these tablebases, look here: https://www.chess.com/blog/Rocky64/adventures-with-endgame-tablebases 
Alternatively, and what i do is play with sparring partners! You can find them on the forum or request one.

How to find an opening I do not know in the courses?

Hi co-students,
I am training Scotch as White and French/Dutch as Black so far. I am a beginner.

Today I was playing my first tournament and was confronted with the following as white:

1e4 d5 then I played 2 exd5 Nf6.
How could I find this opening in the courses to learn about this response 1 ….d5 more.
Thank you for your feedback.

Joachim

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Hi Joachim,

The 1. e4 d5 opening is the Scandinavian opening.  You can learn more about this in section 7 of the WhiteMood opening course 

https://chessmood.com/course/whitemood-openings

Tactic Ninja - some more errors

I wrote a few in the comment to a comment from previous post, but it doesn't seem to be read yet, so I'll post 'em all here.

 Skewer - 8. Test, 1st puzzle in quiz. It is unsolvable.

 Discovered Check 5. Training, problem 2, there are actually 3 answers. Seeing as in the videos Avetik focuses on the position rather than strictly on the theme, this needs to be addressed.

Double Attack 4. Training, problem 1. I think the …f5 fork doesn't work if White plays, say, Rgf4.

Double Attack 4. Training, problem 3. If Black replies …Rg5 they are threatening to skewer OUR knight.

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Also Double Attack 4. Training, problem 5. There is no tactic, looks like an error trying from Black's view.

Dear Inguh,😄

Thank you very much for your help. We already took note of your previous posts and it will be fixed when possible. Please do not start new threats with the same problems because it can be confusing. 
In fact, could you please use the dedicated thread for problems issues_
https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-channel/puzzle-fixing
This is the right thread to post technical problems related to puzzles. Then it is easy to keep track of it. Kampsahapnida!
💪

Hi Kim :) 
Thanks for letting us know.

Double Attack 4. Training, problem 1 - anyway we will take on e4

Double Attack 4. Training, problem 3 - Fixed

Double Attack 4. Training, problem 5 - Fixed

Discovered Check 5. yep, the Queen must be on d1, Fixed!

 Skewer - 8. Bxc5 is the solution

Pregame tourney prep

I have to imagine there's an article about this, but I want the public's opinion. What do you do to mentally prepare in the half hour before a chess game? Puzzles? Opening prep? Clear mind of chess altogether? Got a big weekend tourney tomorrow, wish me luck!

-Jake

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😀

Honestly, I try to relax before each game, maybe drink some water… Maybe also do some puzzles to get your mistakes in there, and don't stress too much about it.. Good Luck!

try reading these : 

https://chessmood.com/blog/grandmaster-tips-the-right-way-to-prepare-for-the-chess-game

https://chessmood.com/blog/how-to-win-chess-tournaments-7-key-principles

https://chessmood.com/blog/the-right-way-to-prepare-for-a-chess-tournament

there are some useful tips on preparing for games and also for preparing for the entire tournament

good luck!

Mistake in the France defence for white

Section 1

We got the following position and it was recommended to play, Bg6, which is lost after N:e5. According to the engine, correct move should be Qg6

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How should I spend the money??

Essential

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• 1-1 bonus call with a Grandmaster (Value=$150)
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Pro

You save $120

$79/mo

$948 / year

Let's go

30-day money-back guarantee

• Access to all 500+ hours of courses and weekly updates (value = $15,000)
• Downloadable PGNs & homework
• Access to all 10,000+ quizzes
• Access to all live training
• Access to all group lessons
• Access to the “Pro members” channel on the forum
• Access to the PRO Members’ community
• Access to “Play vs Grandmaster” events
• 1-1 bonus call with a Grandmaster (Value=$150)
• Deeply personalized study plan
   

I am considering of bying one of the Pro Members, but it's a bit expensive. Is there anyone that can help me to consider what to bye?

All the best, Kingston.

Replies

Hi there,

Only you know your financial situation and how keen you are to improve your chess skills.  I'm afraid that nobody else can really help you to make this decision.

You could start off with the Essential subscription and see how things go - I'm sure you could upgrade to Pro at a later date if you decided that you wanted to.

Error on Quiz Tactic Ninja 21-Promotion

This puzzle is meant to be played with white, not black.

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Yes! But before Nb7- this is the move to be found.

Doubt in the anti-Sicilian

Hello, I am not a pro member but I have a question about the courses, and it is against the Sicilian defense on the line with d6 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.d3 Nf6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe1 Bg4 9.f5 Bxf3 10.Rxf3 Nd4 11.Rh3 e6 !

Nxc2 but what happens against e6 , I played this position recently in an OTB tournament and in the game I thought it was a bad move because I did not know it but when I got home I saw the position with the engine and it turns out that it is equal ! Please wait for answers and thank you very much for providing such a high quality material, greetings from Cuba.

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Hi,

you will find the answer in this video:

https://chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-part-1/episode/758

partner

hello, I am beginer around 900 rapid chess.com.

looking for training partner / scotch game & french defense // chessmood opening course…

Time zone: france

Thanks..

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Hi,

Your best bet is to re-post this message in the dedicated thread for Study/Sparring partners here: https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/studysparring-partner-1362

How Often Should I Play Chess Games?

😨

I am trying to get to 2000 FIDE in the end of this year(I am now 1583 Fide), I wanted to practice playing on Lichess. I wanted all your help to suggest how many minutes/hours to play on Lichess and analzing my games.

All the best,Kingston.

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There is no magic formula on how often you have to play ro reach FIDE 2000. This totally depends on how much free time you have per week for chess. But it is important that you not only play, but also study chess (and of course vice versa), there should be a balance between playing and studying. Please see the "Chess Improvement Roadmap for 1,500-2,000 rated players" at https://chessmood.com/chess-study-plans/for-advanced-players

Small quiz bug

🙂

From the excellent “Defend With Honor”, Blockade section, Double Block video course, Avetik's game .

Out of the two quizzes, seems like the first one will not accept the correct answer while the similar second will.

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NEW ARTICLE: Analyzing Blitz Chess Games: Why? And How to Do it!

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What an article! 

Agree completely but not bullet games. As a senior 5+3 is enough :)

Excellent Article !!

Great article.  I've never looked at my blitz games before but I will start now!    

I remember I used to play 3 min on Chesscube, save the instructive ones on Chessbase, analyze them, noting the big mistakes (tactical or strategical), saving the games to my phone, and looking at them from time to time. 

It really helped in winning my next tournament!

Hi, I am wondering How do i go about the Golden Rule and Anlayzing my Blitz Games? Do I play my 9 games an then I do start analyzing them, or do I start doing it as soon as I finish a game? Then What about if I follow the advice of taking a 15 minute break betwewen two 9 rounds? Should I analyze the first 9 games before moving on?

Hi everyone! Excelent article! The concepto of unconcius competence, etc, were very interesting. I'd start using them in my next Blitz analisys! Congrats GM and lets keep all cogrowing!

wow i will start doing it now

🤩

This is awesame! I am going to do it right now!!!!!

When to change from Blackmood to Sicilian??

Hey all, 
Since the Blackmood openings teach french, while the main courses go in-depth on the sicilian (and other stuff), at what level should i change my repetoire?
I'm not too worried about the whitemood stuff, since they are just simplified versions of the main courses (maybe except alekhine)

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In general CM recommends for students below a rating of about 2000 to go through the Simplified ChessMood openings which are the WhiteMood and BlackMood courses (just have a look at the recommended study plans).

But if you are not too far away from this level and you are interested in certain variations of the main courses (e.g. the Sicilian), you certainly can get involved in these main lines a little earlier, at least when you have done the most important basic courses like tactics ninja, mating matador, must-know endgame theory U2000 and other rating booster courses.

Maybe there were another cource after you go c5 and i know some people will play c3, you better analyse that.

All the best, Kingston.