Chess forum by Grandmasters

Right Mood?

ChessMood talks a lot about right mood right move, and how that will help you. I think this is a smart approach but I am reading "Thinking, Fast and Slow" and in it it says that if you smile or are in a good mood System 1 kicks in. He says something like "System 1 is more intuitive and creative, but it lets down it's guard, is not that vigilant, and does not think that deeply" So in Right Mood-Right Move, doesn't System 1 kick in? And is that good? Or is it bad? Thanks for your help!

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Hello ebk Chess! What it probably means is that you don't want to rush. System 1 is the system that is not focused and will help you make more blunders. Also, it is ok to have fun while your playing. Just don't let that fun distract you from your practice. Also, I'm almost positive that system 1 doesn't get involved because it will make you unfocused, and focus is, in my opinion, is the key to winning a game. I hope you can understand.

Candidate moves or Instinct led?

In https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/play-chess-like-a-firefighter an FM talks about 2 different approaches to how to find a move. How am I supposed to do it? Should I analyze different candidate moves or should I stick to one unless I can prove it wrong?

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what's your rating? I'm sure the answer will differ from 1000 to 1500 to 2000 to 2500+

Can also depend on the time control and the nature of the position.

Analyze different candidate moves so that you can manage your time when playing a game

d4-f5 (not d4-e6), what else should I learn except Staunton?

If I as black do not want to play French, I should play on d4-f5 (not d4-e6), right? (I am e4-e5 player with black and I have also added e4-c5 now, but e4-e6 is not my choice currently). I understand that then I need to learn Staunton gambit (d4-f5 e4). What else should I learn additionally if I start with d4-f6 and not e6 that is not mentioned in the course?

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2.Nc3, 2.Bg5, 2.g4, 2.h3., 2.Qd3 Lots of tricky stuff in there.

Older Player Improving Thinking Process

Background: Learned chess at age 5, but did not play seriously until my first tournament at age 30. Now retired and trying to improve at age 66. Trying to correct two bad thinking habits. (1) Failing to identify my opponents' reasonable responses to my threats (responses that are well within my ability to spot rather than being beyond my tactical ability) and (2) Stopping my calculations too soon (after checks and captures are complete, but missing certain threats at the end). Seeking: Suggestions for study techniques, exercises, etc. to help address the two bad thinking habits. Playing more obviously will help, but I slip back into my bad habits during games with the typical fast internet time controls. I need some way to establish good habits before I try to apply them quickly. Thanks for your suggestions.

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Very interesting question. Here's what I try sometimes: when doing serious solving, I setup the position on a real chess set. This gets me out of that "must move quickly" online mindset. When I think I've solved it I'll write down my solution on a piece of paper, trying very hard to cover a few defensive options. Sometimes, particularly if I'm unsure about things, I'll take a break and come back to it later with a clear mind to see if I've missed something.

Hi Randall , I think the answer is within your post . To improve this , you need to play slower pace game maybe ! And just take more time to spot what your opponent can do and try to see what the position will be after the calculation you made , like 1 more move for each player and not just stopping after you took a pawn on tactics . Is the final position worth winning anything ? My best games , I often delay taking a pawn or even a piece which could ruin my position.

DAILY PUZZLE

Hello Chessmood, I tried to find the solution to today's puzzle. I found the first good move, but then the following moves seemed obvious to me. However, I tried all possible black moves, but none of them worked. Is it a bug? Thank you very much for giving me an answer. Informally,

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The puzzle worked perfectly, plus it was White to move… I just did it and still 5 hours left on the puzzle…😅

It was definitely broken for me earlier too. But worked just now.

I looked at it 4 different times today but only tried to solve it 10 min ago as I was not seeing the solution . I finally got it on my first try but its the first time I have so much trouble with a daily puzzle but still get it right on the first try ! So if it was not working properly at the beginning , I got lucky to have avoided the problem ! 😅

Question in a wolf trade puzzle

Hi chessmood family On the diagram showed , the 2 first moves have been played to ruined the pawn structure ( Bxa4 bxa4] . The continuation is Rxd6 which is fine ( and necessary to get the puzzle solve ) but what about other moves like Ne6 (or even a5 ) ? Is it better to trade another piece quickly to aggrave the pawn weaknesses or the other moves are as good ? In other words , is there a concrete reason to continue with Rxd6 immediately and if not , should this move be removed to get the puzzle right ?

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Dear Denis, 

I believe you are mentioned the wrong squares for the pieces, could you please improve the annotations, so I can better understand the question and reply?

Thanks.

What do you think of this gambit?

Hello. I've been preparing this last days to face the English opening since my knowledge of the theory was near to null. My main document was the draft and the course by GM Gabuzyan, but my friend, FM Van der Mechelen suggested a new gambit that goes this way: 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4!? 4. Ng5 c6 5.Nxe4 Nxe4 6. Nxe4 d5 7.Ng3 h5 (to push h4 and so on) I will like some expertise opinion. I told FM that as a Sicilian and Benoni player I will go c5 but this gambit should be tested online blitz/rapid and also is very difficult to see an English player go Nf3 before playing g3-Bg2. 🤔

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That's the Adhiban Gambit pioneered by GM Adhiban Baskaran from India. I've played it online a bit - definitely a fun opening. As you say if you're playing 1...e5 against the English then you'd better be prepared for g3 on move 2 or 3. But some players do bring both knights out first. Here's Pragg winning with the Adhiban Gambit against Aronian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpctdMp9STA

Consolidate Ninja tactics?

Hello everyone, I am a green player (1130 rapid ...) and enjoying this course a lot! Just a question: in addition to "playing games" what is the advice in order to consolidate the "Ninja tactics" courses? would like to try more quiz based on those, I heard there is some downloadable material somewhere, is this correct? Clearly one could just take aimed quizzes on lichess or chess.com, but I wonder if there is some better choice, more directly related to this course. Thanks!

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Hi LuRe,

Well, there is the quizz with the 777 positions in the course page but no downloable material is available. Did you do the quizz several times?😀

You can even just repeat the entire course a few times. Or, if rewatching the videos is too tedious, repeat all the internal quizzes.

Consolidation is done by doing, and keeping skills fresh by practice. I'm don't (nor do I suspect many others) go through a tactical list when we play, we just spot things. Simple tactical puzzles and blunders are usually seen instantly without any thought.

When i go to: https://chessmood.com/course/tactic-ninja there is a floating box, at the bottom of which is a button that will send you to the 777 quiz questions.

Hello, In the following article, at the end, ct-art is mentionned. Probably a tool interesting for you. https://chessmood.com/blog/improve-chess-tactics

French attack , 3.e5 Bd7 4.c4 ?!

I just got that as white and I took on c4 . Bxc4 Bc6 Nf3 . It the white mood line , white play 4.Nf3 after Bd7 and we continue a6 but in my game with c4 played first , i was not sure what was best continuation. If I play a6 , we transpose but is there a better answer with the move order white just did ? In my game , I went for h6 ( with the idea of Ne7 ) but my follow up was not efficient and I got a worse position .. the engine suggested Bxf3 but I would prefer keeping the Bc6 and after Qxf3 Qxd4 , complications can occurs..

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I cant edit my first post .. so I will make corrections in this second post.. 1.e4e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bd7 4.c4 dxc4 5. Bxc4 Bc6 6. Nf3 . In the black opening line , white play 4.Nf3 after Bd7 and we continue a6 but in my game with c4 played first , i was not sure what was best continuation. If I play 6.. a6 , we transpose but is there a better answer with the move order white just did ? In my game , I went for h6 ( with the idea of preventing Bg5 after Ne7 ) but my follow up was not efficient and I got a worse position .. the engine suggested Bxf3 but I would prefer keeping the Bc6 and after Qxf3 Qxd4 , complications can occurs..

Hi Denis,

As you mentioned a6 just transposes and that's the least we can get.

But I believe it can be better to go Nd7-Nb6 faster. Lately Ne7-Qd7 and make the ideas recommended in the course. In many positions lately, we may avoid playing a6, which will give Black a good tempo and faster attack.

Good luck.

Caro-Kann Headache

Hi Chessmood team! Recently in my state selections, I played our Caro Kann Exchange poison I got the following position: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. Nd2 e6 9. Ngf3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. O-O Bxf3 12. Nxf3 O-O 13. Rae1 Qc7 As far as I am concerned Qc7 isn't covered and I was on my own so I continued with Ne5 Nxe5 de5 Nd7 Qc2 g6 my opponent built a complete fortress and I went on to lose as a result of overpressing in a drawn position. Thanks for the reply in advance Regards Amit

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Hi Chessmood team! Is something wrong with my question? Or the team accidentally overlooked my question? If there is something wrong with my question I am sorry. But please let me know why this question was unanswered when other posts are replied to with average Chessmood lightning speed. Regards Amit

Amit, not all questions are answered with lightning speed. Depends on the difficulty, some variations we need to talk with the team, check some lines, reach a conclusion, etc. There are many lines possible but we need to decide a good line and we cannot do this every day, we meet, talk, decide and we reply according to our schedules. Please be a bit more patient... 😅

Hi Amit,

After Qc7 you can go for Qc2-Qe2 which brings the Queen closer and also makes difficult the main b5 idea for the opponent.
After you can try to play on Kingside g3-h4 or another advancing option. That of course depends on the opponent's strategies as well.

Good luck.

Benko g3-line

Hi guys, I am currently working a bit on the Benko Gambit lately. I found a mistake in following suggestion in g3-line: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nf3 g6 8.g3 Bg7 9.Bg2 O-O 10.O-O Nbd7 11.Qc2 Qa5 12.b3! seems to be playable for white still. Here apparently 12... Nxd5 is not good since 13.Nxd5 Bxa1 14.Bd2! drives the Queen back to d8 for example and then 15.Rxa1 leaving White a bishop and knight for the rook. The engine gives a big plus for white there. What is the best continuation for black after 12. b3? Rfb8 like in the normal plan but then White plays Bd2 or even Bb2 which seems annoying! Any suggestions?

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Hi SIgma,

There are possible moves like Rfb8, c4, or Bb7. We are planning to re-record and update the Benko course, of course with fixation of all possible mistakes.

Good luck.

New/updated Benko course: request and observation

I have a request for the new Benko course that Gabuzyan is about to record ( maybe recording has already started already): Please include a section about move orders. Even if it is a short section, I think it would be very valuable to examine the various move orders including 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 and any other move order tricks and subtleties. Perhaps also a brief note about 1.Nf3 for example. Also, I noticed the "Upcoming Updates" Benko video recommended the e6 line against the Pawn Return variation (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 e6!). Nice recommendation thanks - I tried it out recently and scored a nice win over a 2300 player on chess.com. However I noticed one small issue: if we enter the Benko from a different order such as 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5 5.cxb5 a6 6.b6 now the e6 move doesn't really make sense because we have already played g6. So it seems we need to learn another line vs b6, either immediate Qxb6 or Nbd7 as covered by Avetik. So the question becomes: should we learn two lines vs b6, for example e6 and Qxb6? Or should we just focus on a single line that can be used in all situations such as Qxb6?

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Hi Peter,

We will discuss the improvement ideas you suggested, and may possibly include some more options.

About the b6 line, both is fine. You can just learn the options without e6 move, or have 2 different options prepared.

Good luck!

Thank you

Just wanted to post something to thank both of you guys, you teached me so much during only 1 month, i can see my improvement in all the aspects of the game, thank you for your work.👍

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How to defeat High-Rated Players 1200-1999

Right now I am playing a tournament in Madurai ,India and This round I got a 1300 Rated player and I need to defeat my opponent can anyone help me please Note: My FIDE rating is 1125

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That's not a high rated opponent, although Indian ratings are usually much lower. Second it's not some magic trick to beat someone, you need to put the study time in. Winning is usually is a combination of more experience, better tactics, more endgame knowledge, but more opening position understanding and better technique. At this stage the best you can do is go in with a good mindset and if possible prepare for your opponent (look on any databases you have to what they play and make sure you remember what you learned before). Play confidently, and you might win. But it's a learning process and you have to learn to get better which will mean some defeats on the way as well as the victories. Good luck.

"Pause the video and think!" Pause and think, and evaluate your options and possible threats before every move!