The tricky Shlechter Variation against French

Hi GM Avetik!

First a big thank for the amazing lines in the course.

In Section 4 - 5. …. Nbd7 Video 4. Nice checkmate we arrived at this position.

It's a winnig position for White but GM Avetik gave us here 15. Nh5 which is a big blunder cause 15. ….. Nf5 equalize and White can do nothing.

I think the correct way to continue should be something with 15. Qf6.

Replies

Yes, you are right, we will take note of this. Thanks!😃

Dealing with black and white sub-variants

Thanks to the wonderful team of chessmood coaches.

I had a request from great professors and prominent and powerful trainers.

Please make educational videos to deal with white sub-forms such as sub-movements. Because these moves are very annoying, especially in blitz, and I can't deal with the complications after that.
1. g4
1. g3
1. b4
1. f4
1. e3
1. a3
1.a4
1. h4
And ........

Please make educational videos for dealing with black sub-forms such as sub-movements. Because these moves are very annoying, especially in blitz, and I can't deal with the complications after that.

  e4 b6

e4 a6

e4 g5

e4 h6

e4 h5

e4 e5
Nf3 Bc5

Many thanks to the esteemed chessmood team

Replies

Catalanhakra,

Don't get me wrong but maybe you should ask your great professors and prominent and powerful trainers to explain you how to deal with this. 😀
Many of the moves are already explained if you had looked at our courses before asking and the ones that we are not comenting is because it is not necessary and knowing basic opening principles will be enough.

Hi I think it's not realistic to expect courses on all these very rare openings. These rare moves violate opening principles. You will meet them only very rarely in serious games.
It is also not practical to spend your limited time trying to learn these moves. It's not a good opportunity cost. I would spend my time learning to play proper openings, middlegame play, tactics etc instead.

Blunder can make your depression

😂

Hi today i play on blitz tour via lichess 7 round 

I have suffer blunder many round and losing .

This is my example my case and feeling during calculation

This game opponent is too low level 

After opponent play Qh4 

I stop and think he can check mate also white just played 2. g3 

black already hanging pieces rook and queen .

My variation on head 

A: 1.g3 … some where move queen 2. Nxh8 white is better a lot

B: i find other idea to make beautiful i want to trap queen and forget opponent checkmate .

So i decide play 1.Bf4 ? too stupid what i do in my life too shame!!

after moving ohhh shit losee

i think most player even GM case like me know the simple idea but find other idea also forget dangerous on a moment .

When i make blunder this is typical my case sometimes i shouting and want to destroy somethings .

How to recovery like this case? , I solved tactic routine or recovery playing a moment ?

Replies

Hello,

Blundering is very common in all of chess and it happens in all levels (yes even GM's blunder). So blundering doesn't mean you are a bad player, and that's why getting angry about it doesn't solve the problem. You rather should think why you made it and try to work on it. Also you don't have to immediatly collapse psychologically, you rather should try to save the game as hard as you can(ok unless you hang mate in wich case you lose).

If you want the chessmood advice on how to reduce blunders or how to recover from one take a look at these articles: https://chessmood.com/blog/stop-blunders-in-chess (how to reduce blunders)

https://chessmood.com/blog/slp-method-how-to-save-lost-positions (How to save a lost position)

Also you can study the courses in wich these topics are analyzed if you have access to them, the Blunderproof course on how to reduce blunders ( https://chessmood.com/course/blunderproof) and the SLP course on how to save a lost position (https://chessmood.com/course/blunderproof)

Hope this helps!

Thanks sir  i done about SLP course and i  tryplay SLP gambit for recovery for recovery mood 

Fine now ^_^

You identified the threat of mate in 1. Mate ends the game, so either your move needs to checkmate, check or prevent the mate (capture an attacker, defend, block, escape).

Aside from the mate, Bg5 would be great winning the queen. It's a pattern I bet you've seen before. The problem is making it on automatic because in some tactical puzzle it was the winning move (and the danger of such puzzles).

The brain is good at automatic association which linked that formation with a trapping move, the weakness is it can't easily see a second (weaker) association. Like an optical puzzle, once you see it one way it's hard to see another. For me the mate in 1 is far stronger than the queen trap.

That's experience I guess. Solving more mating puzzles will help.

However keeping the evaluation you made in your head while you look for moves is practice, and like already said we all make stupid blunders. Treat it as an opportunity to improve rather than something to get angry at.

A blunder check might help, but in blitz there usually isn't the time. However with such threats and pieces pointing at your king, you need to use more time here, and is part of time management. Possibly hints at a longer time control being beneficial.

Hi there, hope you're all safe and sound!

  Your move was not a blunder if that wasn't checkmate in one, your move could be a brilliant move then.

But, have you even tell yourself before making a move on the board: What's opponent next move? or: what will be the opponent's respond?

In the past, I was same as you, I was making a lot of blunders in my games.Then, I asked myself, What should I do to prevent this blunders?

Finally, I found the right answer: "Think well"=>"predict opponent's respond" => “make your move”!

with this tactic, I perfectly focus more on games and prevent more and more my blunders!

Thanks for reading!

A game of firsts

No serious questions in this post.  Just sharing developments in my fledging chess studies 😀

In a game that I played this afternoon I had two firsts - one good, one not so much!  

• Firstly, I got my first ‘Brilliant’ move in the Chess.com post-game analysis .  I'm sure that many of you get loads of these every game but for me this is a major achievement (I'm easily pleased!).  
• Secondly, as a consequence of taking more time to avoid blunders … I ran out of time!  Oh well, I'm sure that I'll get quicker with more experience.

How about you guys and girls?  Any firsts to share?  Or just general commentary on your development?

Replies

Congrats on your first Brilliant move! 🎉  

Even more advanced players don't get Brilliant moves very often, so that's definitely a sign of improvement!  😃

Do you play with an increment (e.g. 10 minutes + 5 seconds for each move), or without (e.g.10 minutes)? I would recommend playing with increment, because you will run out of time less often.

And as you already mentioned, you will get quicker by just playing more games. 😃

Update: I think the problem was tunnel vision

I made a point of visually sweeping the board and taking into account what every single piece was doing and I got back up to 900 from low 800s in the last few hours. 

Think I'm going to write out a list of things to consider before making a move and spend some time playing longer time controls with the list in my hand explicitly running through it before moving anything.

Replies

Sounds more to do with not seeing the right things. In chess you can't see everything, nor totally understand what's going on in many cases. Trying to break into individual components doesn't really help either because they can be combined in many ways. A sweep, list or blunder check can be a crutch to some extent, but it's more pattern recognition that is the issue here (noticing threats or simple tactics). Solving (simple) tactical puzzles will develop this.

The list will eventually become a calculation process, but the main points at your level are:

What did the opponent just do, and what if anything (especially tactical or mating) do they want (trying to answer why or positionally will unlikely be useful at this level).

What are the checks possible.

What are the captures possible.

And if the first two don't lead to anything, what are the threats (to simplify a move that attacks something for now).

Add in a bit of basic knowledge of well covered by the booster courses and you should see progression.

1 Nf3 C5 2 c3 what is the Chessmood way?

Hi Chessmood!

I played against a strange move 2 c3 cause Nb1 knight have problem to develope to c3 and controll d5.

I think black can play many different opening and setup. My question is what will chessmood do against it? What different openings can white and black play? my opponent talked about many different passive setup like Phillidor. 

Replies

against this particular setup I usually play like this: 1.Nf3 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.d4 Qc7 (just to defend the pawn) then develop KID style like g6, Bg7, 0-0, d6 maybe b6, Bb7 depends. I don't think white has very active setup (kinda London style) so there are many ways to play here

Hi Erik,

2.c3 itself is not a dangerous way of playing, you can choose several ideas.
I would recommend to follow opening principles - accordingly develope the pieces and fight for the center.
Setup recommended below by Paulius is very applicable.

The summarize s 2.c3 is not concrete at all and there are various option to continue. Keep the opening principles and fight for the center.

Best game Nov

[Event "Rated Blitz game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/CNYq6eOn"]
[Date "2023.11.02"]
[White "yars995"]
[Black "TheIvke"]
[Result "1-0"]
[UTCDate "2023.11.02"]
[UTCTime "19:20:47"]
[WhiteElo "1960"]
[BlackElo "1942"]
[WhiteRatingDiff "+5"]
[BlackRatingDiff "-5"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[TimeControl "180+0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation, Rubinstein Variation"]
[Termination "Normal"]
[Annotator "lichess.org"]

1. e4 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 1... c6 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 2. d4 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 3. exd5 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 3... cxd5 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 4. Bd3 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 5. c3 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 5... Nc6 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 6. Bf4 { [%clk 0:02:56] } { B13 Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation, Rubinstein Variation } 6... e6 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 7. Qe2 { [%clk 0:02:51] } 7... Bd6 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 8. Bxd6 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 8... Qxd6 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 9. Nf3 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 9... O-O { [%clk 0:02:56] } 10. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:02:48] } 10... Re8 { [%clk 0:02:55] } 11. Ne5 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 11... Qc7 { [%clk 0:02:48] } 12. f4 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 12... Nxe5 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 13. fxe5 { [%clk 0:02:45] } 13... Nd7 { [%clk 0:02:35] } 14. O-O { [%clk 0:02:43] } 14... Rf8 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 15. Rf3 { [%clk 0:02:42] } 15... Qb6 { [%clk 0:02:32] } 16. b3 { [%clk 0:02:38] } 16... Qc7 { [%clk 0:02:30] } 17. Rh3 { [%clk 0:02:36] } 17... h6 { [%clk 0:02:23] } 18. Qg4 { [%clk 0:02:30] } 18... f6 { [%clk 0:02:18] } 19. Rxh6 { [%clk 0:02:25] } 19... fxe5 { [%clk 0:02:11] } 20. Bh7+ { [%clk 0:02:23] } 20... Kf7 { [%clk 0:02:10] } 21. Qg6+ { [%clk 0:02:22] } 21... Ke7 { [%clk 0:02:09] } 22. Qxg7+ { [%clk 0:02:22] } 22... Rf7 { [%clk 0:02:05] } 23. Qg5+ { [%clk 0:02:20] } 23... Nf6 { [%clk 0:02:02] } 24. Rf1 { [%clk 0:02:12] } 24... exd4 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 25. Rhxf6 { [%clk 0:02:09] } 25... Rxf6 { [%clk 0:01:47] } 26. Qxf6+ { [%clk 0:02:07] } 26... Kd6 { [%clk 0:01:46] } 27. Bg6 { [%clk 0:01:56] } 27... Qxc3 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 28. Qf8+ { [%clk 0:01:50] } 28... Kc6 { [%clk 0:01:32] } 29. Be8+ { [%clk 0:01:47] } 29... Kb6 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 30. Qd6+ { [%clk 0:01:42] } 30... Ka5 { [%clk 0:01:26] } 31. b4+ { [%clk 0:01:38] } 31... Qxb4 { [%clk 0:01:24] } 32. Nb3+ { [%clk 0:01:37] } 32... Qxb3 { [%clk 0:01:20] } 33. axb3 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 33... b6 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 34. Ra1# { [%clk 0:01:33] } { White wins by checkmate. } 1-0

Replies

Hi Joseph,

I think you are looking for this thread:

https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/the-best-games-of-november-2023-and-the-prizes

I found this explanation of chess.com accuracy here: https://support.chess.com/article/1135-what-is-accuracy-in-analysis-how-is-it-measured

“Your Accuracy is a measurement of how closely you played to what the computer has determined to be the best possible play against your opponent's specific moves. The closer you are to 100, the closer you are to 'perfect' play, as determined by the engine.” 

Having a very different accuracy on games is not very rare. Some games have very complicated positions, while some games have very simple ones. If your opponent just does protect their pieces and you take them, you also often get a higher accuracy. So your accuracy doesn’t really represent your playing strength 😃. 

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90067235301

Put pressure on my opponent in the opening till he finally cracked and I got to play a beautiful move!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90080973263

Got a better position with a monster Knight! Caused my opponent to make a mistake and converted the ending well for the most part!

I trapped my opponents queen in the center of the board and then went on to win on time while still having a very big advantage.

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

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90084087943

The tricky Schlechter strikes again!
My 2300 rated opponent fell for the best trap in the entire variation!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90084535211

After an opening fumble, never let go of the advantage!

https://lichess.org/nJzEJB5q/black#3

My First Rapid Game with the French Attack. I played not that great in the opening but I played a nice rook sacrifice at the end.

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/90115171093?tab=review&move=24
i went for a quick attack in the grand prix and my opponent did not reacted well with 10…h5 ?? It was almost over after fxg6 !!( +6 )  Leaving my Bc4 unprotected but after taking it , it’s mate in 4 ! My most successful quick attack with that opening ! 

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90140941281

After getting an almost lose position in the opening, I recover well to launch a massive attack!

https://lichess.org/WLw1cto7/white#61

My first time playing this line of the Sicilian, I am sure I made some mistakes but I am super happy with the mating attack at the end. I would not have seen this before but the Chessmood tactics and mating matador courses are “opening my eyes”.

https://lichess.org/znqnS1hvdboS

The Sicilian destroyed in 16 moves in a 15 minute rapid game. The killer move was 15 0-0-0

https://www.chess.com/live/game/90248474007

Crushing my opponent in 20 moves with three brilliant moves, sacrificing a knight, a rook and a bishop. 

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/87144561835?tab=review

My opponent didn't have enough time to counterstrike on the otherside which led to a devastating attack on the opponent's king

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90318559915

A good game with an even better ending. especially liked the Re7! distraction tactic and h4! completely paralysing his king!

One of my best bullet games:

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/90268299135?tab=review

Well, my opponent was not very strong but made me happy the accuracy which I played, some 93% for a 5+3 blitz. I am also not strong at all in blitz as you can see in my ratings. I believe I should play more but always I find another more interesting, for me, to do. 

Is not the pure Scotch but its gambit. I learnt the game following Morphy and the result is that even if I don't want to, I am a gambiteer.

 https://www.chess.com/game/live/90097832555

My opponent thought he had a tactic but I found a way to save the game and get a crushing attack. this was a 30+20 game

https://lichess.org/jhZGrGj3

Nxe4!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/90415131317

Played this in an OTB tournament last weekend.

My opponent blundered a pawn and I wait until I have a chance to get a bigger advantage. This was a 30+20 classical game

https://lichess.org/8aQxM948#91

My opponent just has one mistake missing a pawn blunder. 30+20 game
https://lichess.org/Trdxczye

Lots of running by the opponents king….

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90448244303

Using the Chessmood line against the Caro Kann:

https://lichess.org/U58upxlk

https://lichess.org/Mpm4Dmwi/black

Positional game where I outplayed my opponent.

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90578317699

I know, I know not the greatest example of tactics or attack. Missed several oportunities during the game but you have to admit, The end is Beautiful!

Bd7!!!! Completely crushing the spirits of my opponent!
Definitely one of the best moves played in my entire chess career

going for a mate in 10 with Rh8 when you can play for mate in 2 :-)

https://www.chess.com/live/game/90583846609

A daily in the Caro-Kann exchange with 4.Bd3. We both scored surprisingly high but his last move blundered a Knight so he resigned. 

https://www.chess.com/game/daily/569001831

https://www.chess.com/live/game/90598740461

sicilian

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90613877387

Scotch game prepared by Avetik :-)….won in 13 moves .

A nice game played in the Anti Sicilian with white: https://lichess.org/9TtF8RHsdEoA 😃😃😃

https://lichess.org/J6Jpx2jn/white

A brilliant queen trap in the anti Sicilian!!!!.It really shows how vicious the line is!!.no mistakes no blunders.Absolutely smashed my opponent in 20 moves with 94% accuracy.  

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90754138863

My NM opponent plays recklessly and gets punished! He tried some tricks but I evaded all of them successfully!

Scotch. Missed a quicker win with 24.Qh8, but still good attack

https://www.chess.com/live/game/90760197733

Punishing dubious play against the Sicilian with a really clean win.

https://lichess.org/fD8ITI6A/white#48

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90808147175

My love Benko Gambit

https://lichess.org/study/tiqODXZC/uWlaYP6T and https://lichess.org/study/tiqODXZC/cMXa6NDT

I blundered once (22.Qc7) but my opponent missed it and I played a beautiful attacking combination with Rxc4(!!) and Bxe4.

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/90589725877?tab=review&move=59

https://lichess.org/9PgYGV6o/black#48

Nice win in the Dutch stonewall, a few sacs thrown in to get a winning attack

https://lichess.org/2lkrgfIk#59

pretty nice game

https://lichess.org/QzG31pTi

made a mistake with c4, my opponent could play nxd4

https://lichess.org/dUd8Je2I/black

Fresh french attack

https://lichess.org/dhbWsrXV/white#1

SLP for the win

https://lichess.org/KR9smgVw/black

Massaging the sicilian

https://www.chess.com/live/game/91298333807

Fast win on the chessclub thanks to the ChessMood course Caro-Kann

GP sicilian good opening prep

https://lichess.org/S0zaJ5fTeeHE

Scotch Qh4

https://www.chess.com/live/game/91392549239

Attacking with the French! https://lichess.org/jjcs6jTkM9Vx

https://lichess.org/study/zKxQfRFq/1avn9sKo

https://lichess.org/toYv2FAPMFJo

A Dutch Stonewall where I slowly build up pressure on the queenside until my opponent finally cracks and lashes out

Very nice win in the French Attack!: https://lichess.org/nNV8HfdP 😀😀😀

Anti sicilian p. 2, good e5 pawn. 

https://lichess.org/rowYWE8v/white#57

Dutch attack

https://lichess.org/Xbc28IpI/black#62

Have a good we cm family.

https://www.chess.com/game/live/91557046357

very quick game :)

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/91561170299?tab=review&move=50

Quick win , with sacrificing a queen.

Chess4Life_1979 vs Adlet25: Bishop's Opening: Vienna Hybrid • lichess.org

A beautiful attack on the uncastled king starting with the exchange sacrifice on move 11 and then finishing the game with another exchange sacrifice on move 20.

https://www.chess.com/game/daily/564714905

Epic game that involved a knight sacrifice and pinning down opponent's king, knight, bishop and queen with only a queen and rook and forcing his resignation :)

An amazing attack Chess: M4T30J4CKS0N vs Pokicelol5 - 91160899467 - Chess.com

https://www.chess.com/live/game/91706988575

https://lichess.org/Gibtk7Xo/black#7

Good week to all.

Attacking with the French Exchange Variation! https://lichess.org/aZTs4VWF/black 😃

I think I made some mistakes and I played very aggressive to compensate Vs a 2100-Elo.

https://lichess.org/GcJF6BnV#19

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/92144443025?tab=review

https://www.chess.com/game/live/91903227589

Manage Your Favourite Games (chessbase.com)

https://lichess.org/VNzZd7YY/black#0.

https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/3hFnxkdDHx

https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=4964553

https://lichess.org/r0CLbXqu/white

Rook and bishop sac: white
https://lichess.org/y0ubrkQO8pEV

https://lichess.org/tl8A3fTj/black

Strange fork..
black

https://lichess.org/WcgIa4XH/white

Insane rook sac and king walk white

An intense battle:

Chess: Nintza vs johnnyweck53 - 92496147693 - Chess.com

 https://lichess1.org/game/export/gif/white/V4Pp3QvP.gif?theme=wood3&piece=merida

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/92499745843?tab=review&move=22

https://lichess.org/yu3Wv6ya/black

rook,bishop,pawn sacrfice: black

https://lichess.org/Tgi7Vw9O/black

satisfying win: exchange up black

A nice attack against Caro-Kann !

https://www.chess.com/game/live/92508670459

squeezing of the black queenside
https://lichess.org/7edXVepn/white#0

white

Caro-Kann exchange, Qb6, endgame 91.8% accuracy: https://www.chess.com/game/live/92508673683

A checkmate pattern I learnt from the Mating Matador course!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/92512872001

Another Exchange Caro-Kann - this time I didn't play h3 :)

https://www.chess.com/game/live/92529056471

No Inaccuracies ,no mistakes and no blunders .I became the tactic ninja that I had to become.when the opportunity arrived I immediately spotted the tactical opportunities that were there and after that execution is easy .

https://lichess.org/TAwlQfWn/white

Hello champions! 

How are you all doing today?

Thank you for sharing your games. It was a pleasure to go through them and see you applying the things you’re learning. 

Moving on to the prizes now…

The first prize goes to Manolis Kouk. You played a fearless attacking game! 13.Nxg5 and 16.Rxe7 sacrifices were well-timed and the finish with the Max Lange mate was very good! Nicely done!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90248474007

The 2nd prize goes to Mateo Jackson for playing a fine attacking game! We really liked how you got all the pieces into the attack before crushing Black’s position with Rxg7! Well done!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/91160899467

Wim van Denderen takes the 3rd place. You played a great game in the Caro-Kann exchange. The quiet Qc1 was such a nice move to make. Then the sacrifice with Bh6 and the final finish was a treat to watch!

https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/share/?
p=Cb4xNRiffusMJsZZJ8NYBmRUyzaODp/l5w7H5PeyY0HHbt4lB6kVqIdJ4SrfqMjs

Regis H takes the 4th prize. You showed courage to launch a pawn storm with g4-g5 in a same-side casting position. Also, it was nice to see how you didn’t panic even after the opponent’s Queenside counterplay. Good finish too! Well played!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/90583846609

The 5th prize goes to Ovi Sacasan. In a locked position where your opponent had a bad pawn structure, you made all your pieces happy - Nc5, Ba6, Rf8. Then at the right time, you destroyed the opponent’s position with 29…Bxc4! and were rewarded nicely in the end. Well done!

https://lichess.org/ccATf85X/black#67

Congratulations to all of you. And thank you everyone for sharing your games.

Celebrate the wins and let’s keep the Cogro!

See you in the next month’s contest.

This french is a good one: https://lichess.org/LgbLRrVp/white#97

Nice french https://lichess.org/LgbLRrVp/white#97

Nice french attack

https://lichess.org/8ym1DGOa/black#126

Hellllllp I've got blunderitis

I have been constantly tilted on and off lately. I get huge drops in ability that happen completely independently of anything I'm doing such as sleep or nutrition. It frustrates the tar out of me because I know HOW to play properly - things such as scanning for checks and captures - but sometimes I'm just so hazy and forget every skill and make umpteen blunders.

Do I have a neurological problem? Perhaps I should get checked out but on the other hand ‘I keep dropping 100 elo points’ hardly counts as a medical problem. 

Replies

I think it must be contagious!  There have been a number of threads on this topic recently so you are not alone 😀

Have you read Avo's article here?: https://chessmood.com/blog/stop-blunders-in-chess

A common issue for many (and I've certainly been guilty of this) is that we get tunnel vision and become so focused on the cunning plan that we have conceived that we pay insufficient attention to our opponent's plan.  Each time our opponent makes a move we need to ask ‘Why?’ before we return to implementing our cunning plan.

Recently, I've shot up in rating very quickly, and I think it is due to adding tactical puzzles to my training regime. I recently read Avetik's blog post on Improving Chess Tactics: https://chessmood.com/blog/improve-chess-tactics and he recommended Chess ART-6 software for training tactical puzzles. I bought that and started with the beginner program that had me just solving hundreds of mate-in-one, winning exchanges and winning piece type puzzles. All very simple stuff, but it has dramatically increased my tactical vision. Now that the basic patterns are better trained, it is much easier for me to understand and see the more complicated stuff, and it has had a huge impact on my games, allowing me to actually recognize my opponent's mistakes. I feel like doing the puzzles locked in the tactical theory I was learning from Tactics Ninja and brought everything together.

Anyway, just want to share. I'm excited about reaching the next level of my game, and feel like I have a clear path to get there. The next goal is rating of 1800! Here we go!

Replies

That's great news indeed Jarred!😁 
We love that you are telling us your experience! thank you very much!!!!

Yes, keep practicing your tactics and at this level it will make a big difference. 

By the way, some concepts more advanced in the tactic ninja course can be trained as a tactical theme in CTART. After a while when you will solve more complicated puzzles, then go to the concepts that you struggle more (decoy as an exemple) and practice them one at a time… Suddenly you will see the same themes appearing in your games very often… It's good that you are opening your tactical vision, chess can only get funnier!!!! Way to go Jarred!!!😃And remember, always Good mood!

Jared, congratulations! 
It's really cool that you achieve your goals and don't compare with others. 
Comparison is the thief of joy, as Roosevelt noticed. 

Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring others!  

About tactics:
We're in the process of adding thousands of training examples into Tactic Ninja courses, which will be divided into 2 levels.
That should help a lot! 

Good luck, and keep updating us on how it goes! 

Article: How to Find the Right Chess Coach | Ultimate Guide

Replies

Well I prefer to choose Kramnik and Peter.  But if he wants to learn how to play mindblowing moves in time trouble then Grischuk is best in the world. 

My fav. Coach lists includes.

1. Coach Avetik.

2. Coach Gabuzyan

3. Anonymous my teammate mentor hehehe.  

For Question 1, I would say Svidler!

1. I would love to have a world champion who has already achieved the title as my coach like kramnik or anand etc

2. to be honest i have never had "coaches", chessmood is the first place where am meeting strong trainers like GM Avetik 

Ans 1 ) Leko

I really like the article and have just filled out the form for finding a coach.

The sentence that gives (for me) the most important point is:

Therefore you want to work with your coach on things that you couldn’t have done alone!"

What does this mean for me being an "Adult Improver" (wife and two kids, full-time job, 49 years old, FIDE ELO around 200): 

I do know "how to study" and I have a general idea of drawing a study plan that fits my needs and framework conditions.

I do have the ability to focus and work hard for my goals. But sometimes I do need a kind of external "push". Taking part in the closed tournaments and webinar is an important "push" for me as I can see how fellow PRO-members improve and compete for our coaches's praise.  And do want to beat Tom soon :-)

I have a limited ability to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses or to put it differently my understanding/knowledge and the ability to apply it in a practical game. Therefore, I can not put together the best possible study plan and cannot adjust it as early as possible. I guess this would be the main field of work for my coach.

Hello!

Do you have any suggestion on how a chess coach like myself who has a full-time job unrelated to chess, but loves the game and loves to coach, can improve his skills as a coach? 

I really liked the article and have will fill out the form for finding a coach.

to answer the 2 questions:

1...Caruana?

2...since in the article you wrote to think big...then 1 Magnus Carlsen 2 Garry Kasparov (he was born 13th aprile if I'm not wrong, like me...but that's all we have in common I suppose :) :) :) ) 3Judith Polgar

Question 1, Svidler Maybe, he seems like a good coach .  I applied for the google form.  when should i expect to get a reply?

Question 1: doubtless Peter Svidler

Question 2: My #1 although I know is unaffordable, would be Jacob Aagaard, I have read many of his books and he was an attacking player.

My #2 Vladimir Akopian. Must be expensive but he was in the Botvinnik-Kasparov and he won everything under 20. So too much talent and light disposition to fuel it all. I think now he is composing Studies

My #3 there is draw here. Paco Vallejo because beside his rating he is spanish best player of all time and I am from Barcelona-Catalonia (Spain). Paco is from Mallorca. The other guy is A.Volokotin, I read his book (exercises) Perfect Your Chess and I read recently in an interview to promote his serial about Decision Making in Chess, he mentioned Perfect Your Chess as a very good book.

I also have a look at lichess.org and chess.com coaches (basically there are the same guys) and called my attention a 25 y.o. active GM who wants to coach, with a rating +2650, the azeri Nihat Abasov. He doesn't publish his fee, only tell to contact for an agreement. But reading your article I doubt so young he is an experience coach and probably he just wants to improve his finance.

Thanks for your time

Is the form still here ? (for finding a coach ) I can't find it.

Very good blog and well worth reading. A few years ago a parent during the British Championships expressed her horror to me at a titled player offering coaching between rounds of 75 dollars an hour only to find 9 other juniors being coached at the same time. And all the titled player did was set one problem to one and move on to the next with a similar problem. She said to me that most parents did not realise this and saw it as child minding ! On the positive side the advice on doing your research is key. I knew what I wanted was a player stronger than me but not a GM and approached an old school IM who had helped Jonathan Hawkins become a GM and was turned down which I fully respected.

Thank you for this incredibly helpful article!!!!!!!!! Could you please post a/the form for finding a coach?

hello, Thank you very much for sharing all this precious information.

I mostly play online so I don't have any suggestion or information from coplayers about theirs coaches e.t.c. I have visitited lichess coaches and just got lost. 

I would love to fill the form that you talked about in the article but I can't find it .

Thanks again.

French Tarrasch, how to push pawn to e5

Hello ChessMood friends and coachs ! I have a question regarding the French Tarrasch, Guimard defense (3. … Cc6) when white plays the 4. Cgf3 variation.

I was recently outplayed in a french tournament against fide 1900 player because i was not able to find the correct way to push e5 which appears to be the goal according to the course. Here is the line : 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Be2 f6 7. exf6 Qxf6 and i was willing to push e5 but my opponent played 8. Nf1 and i found myself in trouble because pushing e5 would let d5 undefended ! game continued with 8. … Bd6 9. Ne3 0-0 10. 0-0 and i just tried 10. … Ne7 11. Ng4 Qg6 12. h3 c6 but i never could push e5… Instead it is my opponent who took the e5 square and later won the game :-(

My question is : How can i deal with the position after this 8. Nf1 move (or any moves against e5 push) ? what is the best plan and strategy for black here ? 

Many thks and keep the Good Mood since this site is a jewel !!

Replies

Hi Haik, the move 10…Ne7 is not my preference, I would play 10…Qg6 first to prevent Ng4 and freeing the square for the N on d7. Then there are many advanced variations and many moves like 11.b3, or Bd3, or maybe the main line that would be c4. You should check the databases and see how Black plays from here, but the main thing to remember is Qg6 and Nf6… Let's see if the next time you will remember this.

Studying Middle Games and Endgames.

How do I remember middle games and endgame position, and ideas?

Replies

Practice makes perfect, but a good way is to keep track of the positions that you like the most.
As a practical way, the ideas, positions that you move, can be added to a Lichess study as an easy option.

This way all the positions that you think are worth remembering you will have them in one place.
You can create different studies. For example I have one for my mistakes in the games, where I add all the mistakes that I do and the correct move and practice them from time to time playing the right move, of course.
💪Also I have studies on endgames that I review from time to time, or also good ideas in the middlegames that surprised me, this way you can check them from time to time and you will keep track of them too.😀

Missing moodcoin

I didn't get today's mood coin after completing puzzle 

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Are you sure you found the correct answer? I found it and received the moodcoins! 

Yes, we did not have any problem with this feature, it worked normally. You need to find the right solution, not just completing the puzzle… 😀

London question - d4 Nc6

Hi all,

I've just played my second game experimenting with the London opening.  I opened with the usual d4 and black's response was Nc6.

As I saw it, the main options were as follows:

1. Attack the knight with d4 to d5.  This maintains tempo but the opponent is unlikely to allow the knight to be taken and I end up with an undefended pawn completely isolated.
2. I add further protection to the d4 pawn (it is already protected by my queen, of course) with Nf3, e2 to e3, or c2 to c3.  None of these seem terrible and all allow me to continue with the London opening.
3. I continue with the planned Bf4.  This also continues with the London opening and leaves the queen to protect the d4 pawn.

Reviewing the game now I see that Stockfish's preferred options (with not much between them are:

1. d5
2. e4
3. Nf3

Questions:

1.  I'll be honest, I didn't even consider the e4 option.  Is the rationale for this simply that it allows us to take control of the centre?
2. What would your move have been, and why? 

Replies

Apologies for the formatting.  When I type the reply it looks perfect but when I post the reply it doesn't look the same (for example, the numbering disappears) - what am I doing wrong?   

In that position, going with Bf4 and the London System is completely fine.

However, I want to give you some advice.

At your level, I would recommend not focusing too much on openings already 😁.

This is what I did to get to 1000 elo:

Watch the Opening Principles ( https://chessmood.com/course/opening-principles ) course and just  play logical moves (after watching the course you will be able to make them).

Remember you should spend just 2.5% of your time studying openings, the most import thing at your level is playing and learning tactics.

Good luck improving! 😃

P.S. Chessmood recommends to play 1.e4 instead of 1.d4.

1.d4 leads to more closed positions, while 1.e4 leads to more open positions where you can apply your knowledge of Opening Principles and Tactics.

Czech Pirc Defense

Dear Chessmood Team;

Although your site provides repertoires for white and black, this is the second time I find another opening (previous one was French Schlechter variation) where Chessmood provides an opening from the white side while not covering the black side.

“Counter the Czech Pirc” - this is a very good course but It is essential to provide the black side of this opening as Chessmood provides repertoires for both sides.

Would you take this idea of mine into consideration?

Replies

Hi,

the French Schlechter is there for both sides, since we play the French as black.

Czech Pirc isn't recommended for black here, so we only need it for the white side.