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Chess forum by Grandmasters
Any tips for making pgn files?
So I have been entering all the moves of all of the openings in my own chessable course. It has been a lot. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how they make there files. Do you only enter in moves from a few sections of the video? Or every variation from the videos. Is there a better way of doing what I am doing? I wish I had full pgns of the video moves I think I remember them saying you learn better if you make your own files.
Appreciate any answers.
Thanks
Replies
Please refer to the following article to understand how to best work with the pgns and the videos:
https://chessmood.com/blog/the-most-effective-way-to-create-chess-pgn-files
Hi Chiller 4530,
I recommend you do the following for the overall database containing your files in ChessBase.
1. Create a new database for your repertoire.
2. For each line create a game in the database and when you save it put in the main variation in the White name and the Sub variation in the Black name.
3. Add lots of empty games and save -------- in both white and black names. You can drag and drop the order of the games and then use the Fix Sort order function so that your variations are neatly spaced out to make it more readable. It just makes your database more pleasing to the eye and easier to organise. See screenshot.
4. If there are any model games add these underneath within the section so that you can annotate these and understand the positions.
5. Remove the columns you're not interested in. So White, Black, Medals and Notation are all you want to see.
In this way you can make the files as numerous as you like or include all the info in 1 pgn file. You can do this to personal taste but you can include everything you need for the opening together in the same section of the file.
I tend to split it to make the files a little more readable as there will be less indentation of variations.
So what to do within the files themselves?
1. Input all the moves from the videos.
2. At critical moments Avetik or Gabuzyan always explain some ideas. At these points Use the text after move function to put that in your own words so that when you read through the file you don't just see variations but also see some word explanation.
It's much easier to remember lines when you understand them more and the reasons behind moves.
3. At the end of every line use the Insert Diagram function and also use the Text after move to create a short things to do list so you have an idea of the plans of both sides - in words and not just variations.
After all the whole point of the opening is to get you into a position where you can play a nice middlegame and so it is critical you understand the plans from the positions at the end of the lines.
Sometimes it is not necessary because it's just a clear win but definitely do it on every position where the advantage is only clear, slight or the position is equal so that you can play it well.
If you add the plans of both sides to this it will help you spot when your opponent is doing something odd and give you a sense of when you should be looking for just punishment.
4. When you finish then search the megabase or correspondence databases if you have them and search for positions with similar structures. You are unlikely to find the exact positions very often because of the number of novelties in the courses.
But if you get positions with similar pawn structures you can definitely find other plans being used by GMs, what pieces they are tending to exchange etc. It can give you a number of ideas and pointers to steer you in the right direction.
5. Use the Set Medal feature to indicate to yourself how well you've learned the variation, understood the ideas from the videos etc. This means you then have a colour code in the database to quickly see what you need to look at. Or what the next step is in your work on the file. For example, red could mean you still need to input all the variations and from the videos, yellow could mean you need to work on the positions at the end of the lines so you know all the plans and green could mean you've done all that and now just have to remember it :-)
6. And lastly, remember the file is never finished. At several points you will think "What if they play this?". In that case, analyse the position and put in your analysis. Then trim your analysis to just the critical variations so the file doesn't get too huge. Also you will come across lines in other courses and books and you will need to highlight these and know the antidote as they will become more likely to occur in your games.
Another tip is I always put my own analysis in a different colour so I can spot it easily.
And the last tip is that you can have 2 versions of a file. 1 for your work and understanding and a brief summary one for when you need to very quickly go over the file before a tournament game and it only contains enough info to refresh your memory. I put these in a separate database.
I hope that helps. It can be a lot of work but it is enjoyable and you just have to do a little bit every day. Then when you look back after 100 days you can see you've come a long way and hopefully you will understand a lot more of your repertoire.
Cheers and Good luck!
Must Read! "Improvement and comfort zone"
Hey Champions!
This gonna be a long post, but very important!
Are you learning the courses now? Are you going to learn or you have finished already?
In all cases, you may have problems AT FIRST.
MAY HAVE
The thing is when you learn these courses, you learn lots of new stuff, very often you learn some openings that you have never played, you are getting out of COMFORT ZONE.
But we grow only when we are uncomfort.
At first, you may have problems. Don't stop.
One of my students was playing 1.Nf3,g3... all his life. We switched to e4 and to aggressive chess!
He dropped his online rating from 2300 to 2200.
We knew that it would happen, and guess what? After a few weeks, he got 2300 back, and then 2400 and after a month 2500 !!!
I warn you, it may happen. Don't worry and don't come back to your old openings, thinking that it's not working. Play them a lot. After you get in comfort with your new weapons, you will start to crush everyone!
@Jay Garrison, tell your story. The same happened to you, right?
This may happen to anyone of us.
Don't afraid guys, please. The downswing will be just temporary and then it will be a big upswing.
Victor Korchnoi said - "The fastest way to grow in chess is to learn new openings."
You learn new openings, you see lots of new ideas, you get out of comfort zone, you implement those ideas, they become yours... And WooW!!! Now you are much stronger than before.
I am not going to teach you easy openings, traps, that will give you good results at first, but what then?
So, please, please, please, don't afraid of getting out of comfort Zone. Your results may become worse. But it will be just at first and will be very temporary. After that, its gonna be explosive growth.
Replies
Thanks. I am moving up in Blitz and daily games. Honestly this forum is sufficient to reach up to GM level.
Hello ChessMood Family!
Coach GM Avetik speaks the truth! We learn the most when we stretch out of our comfort zones! Let me tell you what I have experienced in the last 3 months.
When I joined ChessMood, I hadn't played any chess in over a year. I was discouraged and frustrated because I had been stuck around the same rating level (1600 online blitz and 1700 over the board) for over 5 years. I have a library of over 100 chess books, of which I had read all of them. And was making very little, if any, progress.
After a year of not playing, I got an invite to join the ChessMood Facebook page, and while I wasn't playing, I still love the game and tried to stay current in chess events, so I joined the group. After a few months of just reading the posts from time to time, Coach and I started talking about his approach to teaching, and I decided to give it one last chance to improve my game.
I joined the Pro Membership about 3 months ago. I looked at the repertoire and was a little overwhelmed, since I hadn't played any of the recommended openings in over 25 years of competitive chess. But coach told me before I joined, if I follow what he teaches, then I will grow as a chess player, so with out hesitation, I changed my entire repertoire.
And for a month it was a disaster to my ratings... I dropped in online rating to around 1500 and my over the board rating fell by 75 points in 2 tournaments. I will admit I was a little crushed. But coach Avetik reminded me I was learning something new and to keep the right mood, that the results would come!
And come they have! Over the next 6 weeks, my successes were numerous. (You can check out my FaceBook blog for a full account @thechessambassador) My online rating shot up to over 1800, that is 300 rating points from where I had dropped to, in 6 weeks! I still make very obvious mistakes (obvious to coach any way hehe) but I am making much fewer. And my over the board results you ask? Well, I played 4 tournaments in that time span and my record for the 16 games - +10 =2 -4 with 3 of the 4 loses to FIDE Masters rated near 2400 elo. 3 of my Victories were to players over 2000 elo. My rating shot up in 6 weeks to over 1800!
Now let me ask all of you a question. Did you come to ChessMood to get better at chess? If no, that is ok, you have found one of the best and most supportive chess communities ever assembled. But if you have come to improve, you have to ask yourself, can Coach GM Avetik help you? Do you BELIEVE he can help you? If that answer is yes, then you are in the right place! Listen to EVERYTHING he is telling you to do! Sell the farm so to speak! Get out of the comfort zone of the openings you already know (And got you were you are in your game today) and replace them with ChessMood openings! What have you got to lose? A few rating points? No big deal. If you find you can not adjust, you can always go back to your old repertoire!
What ever you decide to do, I wish you luck on your journey, and I am happy to call you family, as every one here at ChessMood is my Brothers and Sisters!
Right Mood - Right Move!
Jay
Curiously, have you ever had a student who made a big leap switching from aggressive to more positional and strategic openings? hehe I imagine this would be more a long-term improvement in results and not so immediate.
Hello! I am Thanadon. My current FIDE is 2240. I work with my coach GM Avetik as well as learning from ChessMood videos. Here I want to share some of my experience.
I am a person who watch chess videos a lot. I see a lot of videos in all the famous sites. I can tell you that ChessMood video course material are very high quality. All the moves provide are real. Not just random playable lines but they try to provide the lines that give you most chance.
I have been follow the ChessMood repertoire and implement it on online and OTB games. I find that in the beginning, it was not comfortable to play new things. Then after practicing for a while, I start to feel my aggressive chess is improve. For instance, I have a good chance to crush 2400-2500 online player now. For my OTB result, I just got +40 rapid elo in by the time I am writing this :)
I believe one of the best way to improve your chess is to learn aggressive openings and get out of your comfort zone. So for a good start for you guys, simply follow ChessMood videos as well as live streams and daily commented games. You will feel the improvement and you won't regret it.
Good Luck.
Very inspirational and chessmood videos are awesome, I increased my knowledge a lot!
But what if the problem of my OTB rating getting lower persists? This is certainly nothing to do with studying, but some other aspects I'm trying to find.
The thing is my OTB rating has dropped from 2260 to 2150 over 3 years and rapid and blitz from around 2200 to barely 2000 at risk of dropping even further in the upcoming tournaments. My collegues are telling me it's not about the rating, but it is!
I'm really frustrated, what am I doing wrong. Please GM Avetik any advice? Thank you.
Chessmood online tournaments
Chessmood online tournaments. Does anyone know when new tournaments with prized are going to be organised?
Replies
Highly recommended: Daily Lesson with a Grandmaster
I love “Daily Lesson with a Grandmaster” (DLWAGM) on YouTube. I watched all 302 episodes and I gave 302 “likes”.
The lessons are a nice mix of strategy, tactics, and endgames. It’s perfect for players in the 1600 to 2200 FIDE range, but weaker and stronger players will also find value in the lessons. What makes this series unique is the narrow focus of each lesson. Example: while classical textbooks will have a chapter about “material imbalance”, DLWAGM has episodes about the exchange sacrifice:
- On a key square (#165)
- Rxc3 (#266 and #267)
- Rxe6 (#268)
- Rxf6 or Rxf3 (#269)
- For the fianchetto bishop (#297)
- After Bh6, Bh8 and Bxf8 (#300)
I am really surprised that DLWAGM does not get more views, but one thing is sure, it’s not because of a lack of quality. Vincent Van Gogh did not get much recognition during his lifetime either, and he is now universally celebrated. I am confident that GM Gabuzyan, GM Grigoryan, and GM Hellsten will get more kudos soon, at least before they pass away, and they totally deserve it! Thank you :)
Replies
Success in numbers of views, likes, money, recognition isn't strongly related to quality.
For example, I suspect if they got a pretty girl (ideally single) to present the videos, the views would go up ten fold, if not a hundred fold, even if she had no creative input at all. Someone famous also would generate a lot of hits. Also adding personality and human elements rather than here is the chess would also increase viewing.
Second if the videos were dumbed down to the 800-1200 level and were longer, and you could just passively watch, and a fan club was built via streaming, they'd get more views.
Finally removing the need to think, and just making them passive and more entertaining would probably retain more of the audience.
None of which would be valuable in terms of chess, but that's how the masses are, they want entertainment, celebrity and to consume most of the time. Hard work is something you are forced to do to survive. It's also why the 'masses' aren't successful in general (and sadly many resentful of those that are).
I'm not sure the (slightly morbid) comparison to art is a correct one, but it won't get the recognition it deserves indeed. That said I don't think the point is tapping the mass market but providing resources to those who want to put in the effort.
Hi guys,
being one of the first regulars with the daily lessons I like to share my thoughts on this topic:
The lessons are great. I typically watch during lunch break at work. And of course I always "like" the lesson and write down my solution in the comments. And sometimes I comment on what others wrote (and/or receive their comments). In the beginning, I also wrote short reviews in the comments, and the ChessMood team gave feedback in the comments, too. Now it looks like the feedback is mainly given through the monthly solution (however there was a short comment to Eric's comment some days ago that made me think - ah, the ChessMood team is still following the comments on the daily lessons).
I felt that this was/is something that could bring together ChessMood Members like the closed tournaments or the streams while which one can interact through the comments.
I was also concerned about the very low number of likes/number of views. Especially because those videos are free and are directed to the general public. I have shared some first ideas on how to attract more potential future PRO Members with the ChessMood team. From my point of view, there is a lot of room for improvement (with no harm to the very high quality of the videos). At the same time, I frequently praise the lessons in both the forum and Facebook group to get more PRO members involved.
Maybe the daily lesson could be more attractive to PRO members if they were linked to the main videos/courses/articles in the blog. Or sorting them by principal topics at the YouTube site might also help to find the right lessons that would perfectly fit the course on is watching (or even an old school excel sheet).
Going a bit beyond the daily lessons, I think it would make a lot of sense if ChessMood regularly polls what PRO members think about certain features and shares their ideas on how to develop ChessMood further. Some weeks/months ago there was some kind of interaction of this kind in the forum with @Chessmood_Odysseus.
Just adding here in the forum what I just commented to the video with the answers for October:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJeQVhzFjY4&t=1174s
I like this concept very much: First, solving a position and writing down the solution in the comments. Then, after some time, revisiting the position through the monthly answers. Here I try to remember what my solution was. Then I open the old video with my comment and finally watch the solution. And - this just comes to my mind, I could add those lessons I did not solve correctly to a private playlist. PS. Another element of making the best use of the Daily lessons is that I not only write the number of the lessons in my weekly schedule of tasks but also write down the topic. By doing so, I can try to remember the ideas/concepts of the lessons watched sometime later. Again - GREAT CONTENT, Thanks a lot.
Is there anything in the courses yet about Benko Gambit sidelines?
Maybe I just missed where the section on Benko Gambit sidelines is. Like for example if they don't push on d5. Or take on B5 after they pushed. I was just wondering if I am not seeing this section or it doesn't exist yet.
Thanks for your answers.
Replies
The winners of October, 2021
Hello ChessMood family!
Thanks for sharing your games. You all have been playing some really strong chess, and we’re happy to see that!
Here’s the prizes list for October month’s contest -
The first prize goes to Huynh Hoang for this near-perfect game, with a nice finish.
https://lichess.org/YPEeT3g7
Valerio Carnicelli takes the second prize for this mind-blowing attacking game. (28.Rd7!)
https://www.chess.com/game/live/29142606935
Ayush Shirodkar takes the third prize for the nice forcing finish in the end.
https://lichess.org/LmR5FtpD/white#20
The fourth prize goes to Vladimir Bugayev for this miniature in Anti-Sicilian. https://lichess.org/wRgAWYNp#33
And the 5th prize goes to Avinash 004, showing how to attack in opposite side castling positions.
https://lichess.org/hqtEQGgN/white
Congratulations to all of you, and thanks once again for sharing your games!
See you soon in next month’s contest.
Till then, keep the mood and keep crushing!
Replies
Thank you so much Sir!
The best games of October, 2021, and the prizes
Hello ChessMood family, hello champions and future champions!
Welcome to the "Best games of October 2021" competition.
Under this post, we invite you to post the best games that you will play this month.
The Prize fund is 350K Moodcoins which is equal to 350$.
The 1st prize - 150K
The 2nd prize - 100K
The 3rd prize- 50K
The 4th Prize- 30k
The 5th Prize- 20k
Good luck with your games and keep the Right Mood!
#ChessMood
#Right Mood - Right Move
P.S
Here are the winners of September:
Le Minh Hoang Huynh
Yuma Okabe
Aayush Shirodkar
Bugayev Vladimir
Ilja Haitin
Replies
Nice Knight Sac!
https://lichess.org/LmR5FtpD/white
https://lichess.org/AhVGjaN2aJ8E
Sac win!
I beat an FM who tried using the Alapin :) I was playing Black.
https://lichess.org/yAX5jv9U/white#23
https://lichess.org/hqtEQGgN/white#47 Attack
https://lichess.org/jNpsNlPj/black#70 King activation in endgame
https://lichess.org/oYAiOQu6/black#32 Typical Rb2 Dragon Sacrifice
very positional good game!
https://lichess.org/TeMDo8xA
logical game!
https://lichess.org/hRjnyCFD/black#45
tactical game!
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/27063672095?tab=analysis
Mate in the end looks beautiful
https://lichess.org/CXqChk17/white#72
Scotch thematic pawn storm
https://lichess.org/gzPNl5Fc/white#71
https://www.chess.com/game/live/27082858107
Scotch Game. I was white. https://www.chess.com/live#a=166328
4 Knights game, nice strategic attack https://www.chess.com/live#g=27106834763
Failed maroczy (CM rep) https://www.chess.com/live#g=27277846947
nice queen hunt, interesting unpinning Qf8 idea https://lichess.org/m7udEQHY9QWn
bishop opening against not concentrated FM https://www.chess.com/game/live/29179775495
another sleepy FM this time me in modern https://www.chess.com/game/live/29180497685
nice attack in Carlsen sicilian var https://www.chess.com/game/live/29181084789
https://lichess.org/D4UgGd4k#39 I am White in this game. [SidharthSree]
https://lichess.org/qoVeMI5a/black I am Black in this game. [SidharthSree]
https://lichess.org/iHUEC9RMXxE8
This weekend I scored the fastest win over GM in classical chess in my life so far! (Swedish club championship 2021)
Antisicilian attack
https://lichess.org/xUUq9lh2/white#55
full slp
https://lichess.org/qpRJjDkE2zkG
Quick Win!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/27328223825
Benko against 2500 FM full of mistakes, but the end looks cool
https://lichess.org/EwwYI0ZI/black#1
https://www.chess.com/game/live/27592217381
Beautiful mate!
https://lichess.org/MQPb9rRR/black
CM Scotch against 2500
https://lichess.org/yEnrFCu2INGZ
Quick Antisicilian attack
https://lichess.org/owzDjMhB/white#0
Using the French Chess Mood idea of b5 followed by a4 and Na3 in the following game
https://lichess.org/Ejbo3mTthN3L
Using the Benko Gambit ideas from the Chess Mood course to destroy the centre and dominate the light squares
https://lichess.org/fLNtyOIbJi9q
Using the Scotch Endgame idea from the Chess Mood course where you liquidate into a pawn ending using a Kingside pawn majority, whilst Black's Queenside pawn majority is neutralized by a4 and c4
https://lichess.org/e6ulG38ZbZWB
Squeezing in Antisicilian
https://lichess.org/BvxYUXhk/white#51
Following the strategy given in the Colorado Gambit course. A couple of inaccuracies but nothing too serious.
https://lichess.org/tRAVFrvs0SnV
Lots happening all at once...
CM English for black in action
https://lichess.org/cqJ7RlOtgHek
time out,but very beautiful attack!!
https://lichess.org/fjYrmOQu/white#37
perfect game!!
https://lichess.org/mkgbkAJ4/white#14
Total domination on board.
https://lichess.org/pSYBR6VROOGX
Knight sacrifice for attack
https://lichess.org/wRgAWYNpE3VW
A very nice positional game: https://lichess.org/p9iu1Hdq6sYz
A very nice attacking game: https://lichess.org/gMVdPo2A/white#103
SidharthSree is my username in both games.
3 min Blitz game. After taking a little break from chess, I came back to chessmood to study the Scotch and Caro Kann.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/27895762009
Funny slp game
https://lichess.org/ZTT12XKvPQPo
Hello everyone,
I played an unbelievable blitz game and I won from a drawish position
https://lichess.org/Ma1MrkL0p1qN
The power of CM opening
https://lichess.org/nL3D18zLuD0E
Trojan horse attack
https://lichess.org/VlXM1smyOFC2
This is got a little of everything
King murch!!
https://lichess.org/uLpT04D2/white#66
Typical antisicilian attack
https://lichess.org/9xWhYbAempJV
Scotch attack
https://lichess.org/EhHan6ZZ/white#59
positional perfect game!
Nice attack in the Scotch Game.
pieces are working!!
https://lichess.org/ONzw6aHX/white#0
Exchange sacrifice!
https://lichess.org/88ip9eJw/black
A nice win
https://lichess.org/NU7d1vS7oOCE
https://www.chess.com/game/live/28318234123
https://lichess.org/OsTNJADo/white#51
I've been in a massive slump for the past month or so, so i haven't been playing much, but did manage this one just now
https://lichess.org/RI5tPbLyQSgS
Decisive attack with black in the Rossolimo.
super sacrifice!!
https://lichess.org/fVkyeAY4/white
All pieces are working!
https://lichess.org/nMcF3usV/black#43
Monsters bishops
https://lichess.org/WS6jSjJ1B5E8
Inspired from the plan which I mentioned downwards with the pic. I tried this same plan with reverse colour.
https://lichess.org/HP2dxsadiBgw
The Dvoretsky-Tukmakov Plan
In one of his Chess24 lectures, Jan Gustafsson recalls a training session of the German national team, in which Mark Dvoretsky asked the players to find "the only way for White to play for an advantage" in the following position (or something similar, as Gustafsson couldn't be sure of the exact placement of the pieces). After much consideration and deliberation, none of the players found Dvoretsky's solution, which was:
Intending to carry out a minority attack with Rb1 (or even QbI) and b2-b4. I searched through Dvoretsky's books but was unable to find anything similar to this position, so I can only guess where he found that particular idea.
https://lichess.org/7dI8XL5p/white#0 A knight sac then my other knight comes back and i win
A wonderful game My id is MadrasMagician
Attacking game against a GM
https://www.chess.com/game/live/29008265937
move 28
https://www.chess.com/game/live/29142606935
Positional win over GM Dennis Wagner in g3 Maroczy from Titled Tuesday.
Perfect game!
https://lichess.org/RNedZUSQ/white#24
CM Antisicilian against2500 FM from last Titled Tuesday
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/29011241741?tab=review
Benko against WGM
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/29010635221
CM Antisicilian trap works against 2400+ IM in Titled Tuesday
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/29008266249
Positional Pawn sacrifice!
https://lichess.org/tXfT0A3U/black#44
https://lichess.org/cVmBY6S2/white#0 A nice knight sacrifice to win the game
I am white here
https://lichess.org/JDSrvd5n/black#0
A nice exchange sacrifice to win the game
I am black here
Perfect!!
https://lichess.org/hOGHwYVv/white#49
Rook lift!
https://lichess.org/oBnroRVD/white#44
https://lichess.org/h63cL7w5/
Question in Alekhine
I am playing a match tomorrow against a opponent who always goes. 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5. Any Ideas for me? I can't find it in the course.
A quick help would be super!
Replies
In this position I like to follow Negi's advice since we don't have yet this line in the Chessmood repertoire.
After dxe5, we recapture with the knight and there are several variations than can follow up, ...g6 being the most popular one. Against ..g6 he proposes Bc4. And this is the explanation copied from the book for you, if you follow the plan, you will get a good middlegame:
This is an interesting variation. It is tempting to dismiss Black's position as passive and simply worse, but the plans aren't completely trivial for White, and Black's position remains extremely solid. This line has been surprisingly popular in engine and correspondence games; the main explanation seems to be that even though the engines generally assess the position as slightly better for White, they seem to underestimate how solid Black is and often, the engine's overenthusiastic suggestions lead to weakening moves such as c2-c4, and/or exchanging pieces and as long as Black can maintain his solidity, such occurrences should only make his life easier. Instead, White has to adopt a more patient strategy, which essentially involves restraining pawn breaks such as ...c5 and ...e5, while refusing to create any weaknesses (as would occur after c2-c4, for instance) and avoiding minor-piece exchanges, unless Black wants to trade his lightsquared bishop for a knight. While there are some concrete lines that are important, I will generally put more of an emphasis on ideas and plans. Black has many different options and move orders, but the ideas and general evaluation should stay consistent throughout. Some of the main ideas to keep in mind are: 1) Avoid advancing a pawn to c4. I think it is possible to do so in many situations, and the computer often recommends it but as a rule of thumb, I would avoid it unless it offers a tangible benefit. Because Black's position is so solid, it doesn't help White to be too aggressive. Instead, we should look to restrict Black's play and slowly improve our position. Once the pawn arrives on c4, Black has some targets too, and I don't like that commitment. 2) Initially we will develop the bishop to c4, putting pressure on the d5-knight in order to prevent an early ...c5. However, once White has developed and castled, the ...c5 plan is less bothersome, so usually I prefer to bring the bishop back to f1 (after Re1). Obviously Bb3 is a reasonable option too, but it gives Black a number of options to harass the light-squared bishop â including not only ...a5-a4, but also ...Be6 followed by ...Nc7, offering an exchange. If we allow the lightsquared bishops to be exchanged, it clearly contradicts the strategy mentioned above, involving the avoidance of unnecessary exchanges. 3) Often, Black might just wait around for White to do something. After developing with Bc4, 0-0, c2-c3, Re1, Bf1, Nbd2 and deploying the knight to somewhere like b3, c4 or e4, what is White supposed to do next? One useful idea seems to be Bg5. The bishop is quite annoying for Black on that square, as ...h6 weakens Black's kingside, and otherwise White has ideas like Qd2 and Bh6, or Bh4-g3 (to prevent ...e5 for instance), or even a pawn advance with h4-h5, depending on the situation. Let me clarify that even though exchanges tend to make Black's life easier, an exception can be made for exchanging the dark-squared bishops, as it creates clear weaknesses on Black's kingside.
By the way if you know if your opponent will play g6, or c6 or whatever, let me know... Maybe I can help on time
Have you asked the team when the course will be updated?
I had the same problem but I tried to solve it watching some game about Carlsen and other GM (lichess database).
Look some idea and follow them implementing your PNG file!For example, I like after -third common response-5...Nd7 6 Nf3 (keeping the N and taking space with c4).
Video Deflection square defender
Video Deflection square defender.
Hi!
In video with deflection you said you win the Queen better you mate him about 2 min 20 sec.
Anyway good videos. Best regards Erik
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Yes, this is true, still a Queen down is also a good advantage :-) It can be also a technique to check your attention used by Avetik too... We'll have to ask, in any case, thanks for informing us...
5.e3 e6 in the Benko Gambit
I just played a classical game and game went: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3 e6 6.dxe6 fxe6 7.Nc3 d5 8.Nf3 Bd6 and after a 17 mins think, my opponent played 9.e4.
This took me totally by surprise and I couldn't find a good continuation. I played 9...dxe4 10.Ng5 0-0 and lost the game.
At home I gave the position after 9.e4 to the engine and every line is +/-.
What are your thoughts about this? Is this 9.e4 the refutation of this 5...e6 line?
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I don’t like 8…Bd6?! too much because of 9.e4! (threatening
e5), as you mention (then Black should go back to e7 rather than playing 9…dxe4?!).
Therefore, to me 8…Be7 seems a little better, but still W is more than okay.
The 5.e3 variation looks innocent, but it is a tough nut to
crack for Black!
How to read my great predesscors part 2
Hi I have my great predecessors part 2 how to read the book and how to understand the games and how to extract the ideas from it I also have python strategy book by Tigran Petrosian How to read this book also
It could be very nice if i get some help
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A nice finish!
Not sure I played well here, but ended with a nice attack!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3698034736
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ignore this mesg pls... checking image upload
test
Tactics Ninja course - pin feedback
Having reviewed the pin section, I have the following feedback.
Missing aspects of the pin which probably should have been discussed:
Functional motives rather than solely geometic ones - 'a pinned piece is a paralysed piece' that is it loses it power to defend. There is one example where a forking square is no longer protected because of a pin
Breaking the pin
Which pieces can be pinned - when looking for pins (and skewers and forks) it's worth noting that rooks are vulnerable from the diagonals, bishops from the files/ranks, knights from all directions, pawns all directions except diagonally 1 square forward where they capture (and of course kings can't be pinned since they are the most valuable).
Also to note that the pinning exceptions to the above queen, rooks on the file/rank, bishops on the diagonal, pawns diagonally one square forward can be 'pinned' this way, if it means that capturing the pinning piece would give some other compensation. This may be covered in other sections though since decoy/deflection may be the final motive.
A diagram based handout would be useful, such as the 5x5 boards in Blokh's book, where the themes can be quickly drilled, perhaps as a warm-up exercise.
The examples and test are too easy, except for those unfamiliar with the material. There should be a test with harder examples, as well as a number of examples where the tactic doesn't work, in that case to say why - real chess is also about correctly discarding tactics which do not work.
Also examples from a few model games where it's not all so simple, but the pin plays a part, should be included. This also would help understand how the tactic forms rather than just looking for it puzzle fashion. That would add value for the higher rated player. It's possible to make these sections optional for the lower rated.
Based on this one section alone, I would say the course is for below 1200 Elo. Certainly I was aware of all of this below that rating due to one or two beginners books: the white Faber one's name I can't remember, but the Seirawan Winning Chess Tactics should be appropriate as well. Also Farnsworth's Predator at the Chessboard 1 and 2 is very accessible. It's true that higher rated players do miss tactics especially in blitz, but this is not down to not knowing the themes.
I would suggest the books Chess Tactics for Advanced Players and Understanding Chess Tactics are more the template needed for the above 1200 category. Perhaps it would be better to focus on this as a lower level course and have a more advanced one bringing in calculation, attack, the link with strategy, formation of tactics, model games, endgame tactical themes, ... aimed at the 1500-2000+ category.
On the positive side, the explanations were really good and clear.
Let's see how it goes.
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I agree that the first sections are easy however, I do think it will be getting harder and harder and that is outlined in the introduction.
I have just finished section 3 and in part 7. The puzzle there is already, a considerable increase in diffculty. I probably spent way too long looking at it before I found the correct idea (about 10 mins or so) but then tactically I am on the weaker side. However, overall I hover around 2000-2100 rating so not like I am total patzer (just a little bit).
I think the course needs a base and also some appeal to players of all levels. No point just having 1800+ level info because the level of players at chessmood will vary a lot (though I expect it to be a little higher than the average say chess.com person).
This course is very well thought with a lot of work behind. It is not expected to be difficult for a 2100+ like you David, it is meant for everyone from 800 to 2000. What it is difficult is to explain everything in a easy way like Avetik does, this is why this course will be the favourite one of our promembers. We all keep blundering, we all miss tactical chances...
With this course we are strenghtening the tactical awareness for everyone, we will make sure that all the concepts are learnt and understood in the best way possible. Then from here, we will COntinue GROwing... We are always trying to do the best for all of our dear promembers, as the song says: You are always on OUR mind...
And remember: One section per day with full concentration, otherwise it will defeat the learning process!
The skewer section was better - I think pins are so important and can be quite subtle in tactics that more could have been made of it. Nice to see some interlinking of the ideas here. Maybe a pin 2 section later. The skewers were a little bit more challenging - maybe 1400 level (it's very difficult to put ratings on anything, but seeing forcing moves and consequences of actions on the next move would be sufficient), this is coming on nicely.
I do however do take exception that the more challenging puzzle would be difficult to some IMs (even with 10 seconds on the clock), given the forced nature. Any chance you could disclose the handles of these IMs as I'd be happy to hoover up all their rating points :-) Maybe in a real game if they were being lazy or the clock was a real factor, but say it's a puzzle and I'd expect quick solutions. It was a very pretty study though and a good reminder that a piece is only as strong/safe as the environment it operates in.
Perhaps it could have again mentioned more on getting out of a skewer (it did at one point mention a rook move which could defend if only the square wasn't guarded). Perhaps the more important one is the skewer of the two knights, that they can co-defend if there are two diagonal squares between, or if adjacent (unless they are in the corner of the long diagonal), along the rank and file it's a little bit more obvious that 1 or 3 squares in between allow a defence. One thing with pattern recognition is that you still have to check the tactic works, and there is a huge temptation (because of how our brains work) to associate patterns of pieces with winning material without considering the wider picture. Also the skewer of the two bishops as they cannot co-defend is also a common theme and once that must be looked out for.
Onwards to the next section.
It seems our senior programmer Jor left his computer.
Hi tech team,
I tried to upload 2 pgn's to the thread named "f4 move in benko" and now I'm getting that annoying error message that reads "It seems our senior programmer Jor left his computer...." etc etc. It wasn't my intention to break the thread, I thought the issues with uploading pgn files had been resolved. :)
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I suggest we chain him to it... the only way to be sure.
I see. I believe that there is only one pgn allowed per post. Maybe that is the reason of the crash. (That should not happen in the first place, no matter how many pgns do you upload) That said I will tell Jor and Liana about this and hopefully we will recover the thread.
test image
Any recomendations action?
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3 dxe4 4. Bxe4 Nf6 5. Bf3 c5 6. Ne2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbc3 Nc6 9. Be3 Qa5
How to do with White against this move. I can not find any videos about this? Can you help me please.
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Ok, I reached this kind of position with Avetik on March. In this variation, we do not castle king side so fast. We try to play a timed d5 right away wenever we can. For example, after 5...Be7 6.Ne2 c5, we play Nbc3. If then Black castles we play d5 right away! We can reach this via 5...Be7 6.Ne2 0-0, we play Nbc3 and then with c5 we get the same position and we play d5!. I reached this exact position a couple of times too after analysing it with him.
With 8.d5 exd5 and 9. Nxd5, now we have the d5 square and c5 can be a weakness while our pawn structure is very good.
I hope this helps!
French defense / Bd3 : best response to Bb4 + Bd7 move in main line
Hi,
I am studying the Bd3 variation in the French. In the main line, 3 .. de, after 9. .. Bb4 and 10. Ndb5, there is the move 10. .. Bd7.
The video course mentions that this move will be covered in the advanced section, but I did not see it there.
In my game I played 11. a3 but after some exchanges Black's light-coloured bishop went to c6 and created a lot of unpleasant pressure on the main diagonal.
I looked at alternatives such as 11. Qd4 but they did not look entirely convincing either.
Any ideas?
thanks!
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11.Qd4! seems to be the better move compared to 11.a3, as it develops another piece and also kind of forces Black to play Bxc3+.
By the way, chessmood also gives 11.Qd4 in the draft pgn-file
New Chessmood Office
Saw the Chessbase India interview showcasing the new office. Very nice. I guess a relief not being in the centre and hearing the trams passing and the hospital admissions in the background of the videos (not that it was a problem for the viewer anyway).
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Thank you David! It is indeed a nice play to work at... Hopefully one day you will come and visit us!
Best tournament performance so far
Scored 3/5 at the Hull 4NCL International Open with a 2194 rating performance
https://chess-results.com/tnr585619.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=ENG&snr=46
Definitely a large portion of that is down to Chessmood. Thanks guys.
* although also a notable shout out to ChesssCoach Andras' Amateurs Mind series on YouTube (Decision making and assessment, Exploring Calculation Techniques, and How to Get Better at Chess rating series) - certainly a course suggestion for Chessmood 'How to get better for x rating level' course where each section is a different rating band displaying and fixing the typical problems at that level.
Takeaways from my performance (for players around the 1900 level):
Opening study and a good/complete repertoire for your rating helps a lot - the game I lost in round 3 was where I forgot our response to Nc2 in the Maroczy - a5 and chasing the knight with Nb4 didn't work out.
Think during the opponent's time - not just what you'd like to do (which often ends in daydreaming and waiting), but if you were them, what would you play
Always be looking to improve the position of pieces - round 2 game
When out of the book, play on chess principals above thematic opening moves - i.e. don't neglect the centre, development, king safety etc just because you've 'remembered' some other line in the opening that does just that (unless you can concretely justify it)
Avoid 'diagnostic' thinking (I didn't play that because he would have got something I didn't like the look of) - justify it with analysis or at least a holistic look of the whole position to see if that 'advantage' really is all that.
Can you go one move deeper, change the order, or add something? If some idea doesn't work out is there a counter, intermediate move, or a move order which does make it work, and then keep going (can your opponent stop it).
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Very nice @David_Flynn! Very good to hear this, it makes all of us happy! Next time 4/5 and tournament performance of 2250, COGRO! Nice one!!!
Thank you Chessmood!
I really am happy with my membership to Chessmood! I am watching the Tactics Ninja Course. The section on the Upcoming Defender is very interesting and it was framed in a new way that I had not heard before. There is such a positive vibe in the whole course— it really is something fun.
I have to admit that I did not really know a whole lot about ChessMood before becoming a Pro member— but the value is in the weekly gatherings (solving tactics with GM Gabyzyan and his other group activities—rating ladder climb etc) as well as the online videos.
Just thought I would start my day with a bit of gratitude here. I am on Chessable and Chess.com as well. I really do think all three have something to offer. I used the PGN files from here to make a private Chessable course for myself.
After the last few weeks— it really is clear that you get a whole lot of value for the membership here.
Thanks. Peter
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Many thanks @Peter_Gee for your encouraging words and feedback!
We try to provide the best content for growing and becoming a better player, if you have doubts there is a forum.
The only thing that we cannot do for you (yet) is to insert directly our courses to your brain... :-) In the meanwhile we are trying to find the best way to explain them, until a "Matrix" related solution can be found and we will be able to upload them to our promembers brains , Keanu Reaves style... -"I know kung fu (I know chess)"
Keep learning, keep growing and keep working with us... COGRO (Continuous growth) and your rating will keep raising...
@Peter_Gee By the way, could you be so kind to paste this nice post as a review in the Tactic Ninja course? That would help us a lot.
You just need to copy the text and paste it in the review box in https://chessmood.com/course/tactic-ninja
Thanks in advance!
Thanks, Peter!
You made my day! :)
The commented games are excellent!
I would like to let GMs Grigoryan and Gabuzyan, as well as the entire Chessmood team, know that the commented games are outstanding! I recently finished the 100 classical games as well as I have been through all of the commented attacking games and commented endgames. The detail and explanation of complex middlegame positions have improved my chess, there is no doubt about it, I am looking at positions differently and it is because of you guys! You really have an excellent high quality product, please keep up the amazing work.
I appreciate that you continue to add games, please never end this! I usually start my morning off with one of the commented games while I enjoy a cup of coffee, it is a great way to start the day, I am immediately brought into the right kind of chess mood that sets the stage for further studies. I am looking forward to soon starting my second review of the games. Thank you Chessmood!
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Thanks a lot @Leslie_Smith for your kind and mood lifting words!!!!
This is the second post today where our promembers congratulate us for our job, we are all blushing a bit... Thank you!
Do not worry, we will continue with the games. In fact, every game is checked after the first recording by 4 different people with different chess ratings, from GMs to beginners, and we all add our feedback, then we do a meeting to evaluate what is really adding value to the game explanation or if it is just non essential and re record again the parts needed or sometimes the whole game... This last month we started checking and working on our English more than ever with a professional and hopefully you will feel it from now on...
We do care about providing the best explanations for learning the concepts needed to grow as a chess player, and I would highly recommend to follow the streams, specially the Calculation workhsop with Gabuzyan on Saturday will help a lot to improve tactics awareness...
Chessmood Classical Games are awesome, big thanks to the team! I'm around game 62 atm, watching 1 per day and trying to absorb the ideas. The other courses which I found great is Gabuzyan's mind (finished) and also happy pieces, which I'm studying atm.
Wow :)
It's so cool to get such feedback!
Thank you very much!
Yeah, of course, we'll never stop these :)
Also, guys, would appreciate very much, if you write reviews under courses.
About streams, we've prepared something cool, which we'll launch soon.
We'll notify you through email :)
Right Mood - Right Move
CoGro!
