Chess forum by Grandmasters

Chess Mood courses available on other YouTube channels

I was just searching for a particular chess video at YouTube on the Sicilian Accelerated Dragon & the results returned an entry to a YouTube channel Chesscube, where the ChessMood course on Sicilian Accelerated Dragon & other courses are available. Is this right, ChessMood courses allowed to be accessed from other non ChessMood sites?

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I believe this was the one discovered before and they were looking at getting it taken down. Is this a new occurrence of it?

Avetik or someone from the Chessmood team, if you have problems with this, please reach out to me; I'm working at the company where we protect creator copyrights on YT.

Thanks for the feedback members! Any feedback from Chess Mood admin? My view, is this is not good or right & I would like to know why this site is still making Chess Mood courses freely available, presumably contravening copyright protections & making a mockery of Chess Mood?

Already contacted our technical staff regarding this again. Let's see what we can come up with. 

Faik, thanks for your help too. 😀I think Lily is in contact with you regarding your coaching, maybe she will ask you about this too. 😅

Yes, we opened a compaint in Youtube, long time ago, but so far no news. We will take further steps, thanks!💪

ChessMood courses now streaming on Twitch chess?! How is all ChessMood content available for free to non ChessMood members?

New course: In GM Avrukh's Mind

Champions, today, Grandmaster Boris Avrukh launches his 1st course on ChessMood! 🥳🥳🥳

Yes, it’s the same man who trained world-class players like Kramnik, Caruana, Nakamura and was once part of the world's top 50 players.💪
 

In the course, you’ll step inside his mind as he shares his best games and see: 

✅The thought process and decision-making of a world-class Grandmaster

✅How to play in dynamic positions, use initiative to create an attack, and finish off the game, from a Grandmaster famous for his dynamic play style.

✅GM Avrukh’s battle against world-class opponents like Sakaev, Harikrishna, Rublevsky and much more.
 

Ready to jump inside the mind of Grandmaster Boris Avrukh? You can start watching the brand new course here 👇
https://chessmood.com/course/boris-avrukh-best-games

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Hello, can you please check the privacy settings on the video? I can access the course; however, I can't play videos. Exact message: Sorry Because of its privacy settings, this video cannot be played here. UPDATE: It looks something with my account is off, I can't access any video :) UPDATE 2: Thank you, David Flynn. It's something with my Chrome, as you pointed out, privacy settings. Brave browser is all good for me. Sorry for bothering everyone!

Might be useful to have a guide to the games in the text - that is what is special about each game. For example the first game is a masterclass on having the isolated pawn. This would make it easier to return to games of interest later relating to themes. Same point as well to the classical, attacking and endgame games as well.

I just watched the first game. Fantastic commentary and explanations of a very instructive game.

Lovin this course 👍, watched couple of games and every one has specific theme to learn like in classical ones! Also enjoying down to earth commentary and explaining why certain move was chosen without too many variations. Quality content as usual, thanks CM team and GM Avrukh!

A course that i wish it existed

I had this idea: a course that doesn't talk about how to play chess, but about why play chess. And the answer will not revolve around what scientific literature said in the matter (problem solving, impulse control, bla-bla) but instead it will talk about what chess has in common with other important things we encounter in our life. For example, i believe in a similarity between chess and music: melodies and rhythms are like the "tactical patterns", while the structural elements of the musical composition are the "strategy" Also i see a similarity between learning an opening and learning how to live in our society: you get a lot of instructions but at some point you have to make decisions on your own. Some materials are waterproof because they have a closed pawn structure. Today, in the middle of a crazy tactical combination that started a few years ago, i will play a quiet move that i believe will be the key of success. That quiet move is to stop drinking coffee for two days. I share this here hoping that people enjoy reading and maybe they can add other similarities or give their thoughts about my idea.

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It's interesting. Maybe the thoughts of multiple students could be collated and put into a blog article which later might become something else. With the idea of a beginner's course in the pipeline, encouraging people to try chess would be beneficial. Too many people dismiss chess, and a fair bit of the time it's down to not understanding the pleasure one gets from it (whether competitive, psychology or aesthetic).

Hi, last year I found that great article (and hearing story). What is chess (unfortunately only in German it seems). Perhaps some translators might help. Give it a try Thomas Glavinic (when you click on the link there is a text version) something like craziness with a method https://share.deutschlandradio.de/dlf-audiothek-audio-teilen.html?audio_id=dira_DLF_061b632b may be there is a good translation somewhere .. https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/wahnsinn-mit-methode-versuch-ueber-einen-unfassbaren-sport-100.html enjoy

Feedback on an advance French?

Hello, I did my best to analyze a game in the French advance I played poorly (as black) to understand where I went wrong. I hope some stronger players will take a look and give me some feedback! It was a 5+3 game on lichess, I am rated ~1600 there in blitz now. I have attempted to attach my analysis as PGN, first time posting (new to CM) so please understand if I made a mistake with the upload.

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Hi Pete, welcome to the family! 
I checked your opening in this game and you need to develop your pieces faster.

h6 is not necessary, if the Bishops are traded in such a closed position is not a big deal. Also Nf5 should be played earlier instead of c6 because no one is attacking your b5 pawn, no need to defend it yet. Give priority to pieces development, that would be my main advice. 

You should: 1) Develop your pieces, not pawns 2) General strategy - In French f6 (attacking center and pawn chain) sometimes is a good option for black, but after playing 9...h6 you would never have an option to play f6. Bg5 should not be a problem. 3) Very concrete - maybe there was an option to play early b4 (b4 cb Bb4) at some point as pawn on a3 is pinned

translate

is it possible to translate the video on this site into Russian

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The videos are in English as it is this website. We are very sorry but at the moment it is not economically possible to translate this site and videos to other languages.😅

Thank you for your understanding.

Question about a solution in Tactic Ninja

Hi All I have a quick question / point about a solution in this course (I'm new to the courses so on earlier stuff to make sure my foundation is good although I'm an adult returner to chess. In section 3, video 5 'Pin & Skewer', at 0:43 the solution shows to play a skewer with Rc1. Although the solution leads to a crushing position, Black can choose to keep the queen and lose the bishop. I have spotted a way to definitely win the queen and still have a winning position. If White played Rxc4+, the queen will be won after any King move, or if Qxc4, then White follows with skewer Rf1, followed by Qxf1, Qxf1+ Any thoughts? Have I got this right? Regardless of this, loving the courses so far ?♟️

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We ara happy to know that you like the course. In this case, this is another solution to this concrete position assuming that you meant 1.Rxf4+.  You would finish the position with one Queen against one Bishop. The way Avetik is showing in the video you just get a free Bishop with check which is more than winning too, but it is a sample to illustrate the skewer theme. Good that you found another way.?

Idea for chess merchandise

I just came out with the idea of an ornament that i think every chess player would love to have in their living room or in their study room. It consists in a chessboard in which there is already a position. Not a random one, but one in which a windmill is possible. All pieces are fixed, except the pieces involved in the windmill: the attacking pieces and the king being attacked. On one side of the chessboard there is a crank: by turning it, the pieces moves, showing the windmill pattern.

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Why hasn't chessmood hired an engineer to design this item and start production?

A good counter to our French Attack?

Faced this in a classical OTB game: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. exd5 Bb4 7. Bc4 7. Bc4 looks like an engine first line and seems very strong. Do we lose the pawn sacrifice without much compensation from here?

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Just by looking at this position, you can keep developing normally, Bc4 is not so good, we will win tempi with speedy development. There are 2 options, you can castle right away or just take on d5, then the Bishop will have to move again and we will win time, which is more important than a pawn that we were also giving away anyways. Of course, again, if you are playing this position engine vs engine you are never going to be satisfied. This is a first opening for starting right and develop your initiative and sense of attack. 😅

Spammy emails from ChessMood "affiliates"

Maybe I'm overthinking this, but the "chessmood" price increase has brought out a bunch of spammy affiliates blasting out emails. What is worse is that the emails "disguise" the fact that they are affiliates and pretend like they don't get a cut of people purchasing chessmood memberships. I didn't think you could be an affiliate if all you do is blast out emails. (or at least other chess-related affiliate programs say you can't simply "promote" on email blasts). At least in the United States, an "affiliate disclosure" is mandatory, and anytime an "affiliate link" is promoted, it must be stated that it is an affiliate link and the promoter is getting paid. #rantover If ChessMood admins feel this post isn't necessary, feel free to remove it.

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Hi Benjamin, 
please use the  
https://chessmood.com/contact

page and send us a bit more info if possible regarding the emails that you are receiving.

If you prefer, you can also send an email to [email protected]

and explain the case providing us names and we will be able to look into it.   
Thanks!😀

1-1 Simul

Does it look like the issues will get solved?

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I would also like to watch simul ...

I do not know if you are referring to the troubles that Chess.com is experiencing lately that affected our previous event there, but this time it will be in Lichess.

Here’s how it will work: 

The GM will simultaneously play and stream against up to 10-20 PRO members at the same time.

The time format of the games will be 10 minutes with 5 seconds increment on each move. 

The games will be hosted on lichess.org and in order to take part, you'll need to do the following:

1. Create a nickname on Lichess which ends with _ChessMood. For example - John_ChessMood or Amelie_ChessMood. This is so that when you challenge us, we recognize that you’re a ChessMood member. 
    
2. Join the ChessMood PRO team on Lichess here: https://lichess.org/team/chessmood-pro
    
3. Five minutes before the event is due to begin, go to the ChessMood website and JOIN THE LINK to our YouTube stream. 
   https://chessmood.com/event/simul-game-grandmaster-vs-pro-members-01-31
    
4. Within the YouTube live chatbox, we’ll send a link that you can use to join the simul. 
    
5. Click on the link and send us a game challenge.

P.S Come early! While we’d love to play all of our students, it’s impossible for us to play with everyone, so challenges are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please forgive us if you’re unable to take part but hopefully, you understand the difficulty in organizing events like these.

Hope to see you very soon. Come prepared for a great game! 

Scotch 8.h4 h6

I have watched most of the videos on Scotch 8.h4 and the lines seem very interesting, especially with the very complex 8...f6 variations, some of which I can't wait to try out in some online games 😀 . However, I would like to ask a question regarding the 8...h6 line, where 9.c4 Ba6 10.g3 was recommended. I'm wondering if Black could play 10...0-0-0 here, with the idea to follow it up with Re8, g5 etc. , possibly with f5 to attack on the kingside. If White plays h5 to close the kingside, I'm worried that the pawn might become weak in some situations. Are there any recommendations regarding how to play against this potential idea from Black?

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I think this was in the course somewhere, after Black's 0-0-0, we too play long castle. b3, Bb2, Nd2 and 0-0-0 is the plan.

This is one of the possible variations that I had in my file.

Scotch h4 is ny my opion the craziest and most complictaed variats" insane". After 8..f6 9. c4 Ba6 10.g3 I would prefer 10.Rh3!? but still e.g 0-0-0. 11 Ra3 Nb4 12. Ra4 :) Qh4 13. Be3 with compensation but this is madness.) ok 10.g3 0-0-0 and no games in database.. 11. Bg2 Re8 12. 0-0 g5! black has great attack as well. But there is one game by strong GM Gabuzyan he cleverly firstly played 9. g3 d6 10. c4 Nb6 11.e:d etc Pan American Intercollegiate-chT

Hey!

Interesting Quesiton, 
As ChessMood Odysseus says there are options to go for the long side. The thing is Black King on c8 is permanently weak. And Ba6 with Nb6 are limited by white b3-c4 pawns. 

Sorry about the late reply, I completely forgot about this post 😅. Thanks so much to ChessMood Odysseus and GM Gabuzyan, I like the idea to following Black in going to the queenside :) .

Thank you!

Thanks to all the Grandmasters and especially GM Avetik, who did an incredibly generous and selfless thing yesterday... opening and unlocking All courses. * I told over a dozen chess players - ranging from beginners to National Masters about this promotion. Everyone who visited ChessMood yesterday got a glimpse of the outstanding level of chess Instruction. This should translate into chess players signing up and joining one of the member options. I hope that GM Avetik had a wonderful and happy birthday!

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Thanks Dan, we appreciate your kind words!😀

Must-Know Endgame Theory U2000

Hi, I just looked at the "Must-know Endgame Theory U2000" course, which is currently unlocked. In Section 4 - Rook vs Pawn, Episode 4 - How to use the Rook, GM Gabuzyan shows how to stop the black pawn with the white rook from behind. However, it seems to me that in the sequence of moves, Black's king could step in front of his pawn instead of moving beside it as shown in the video. If Black does not go ...f3 with their pawn, but instead goes ...Kf3, how would White win then? Thanks for your answer.

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Yes, Kf3 looks like an example of shouldering by black and secures the draw. It seems the example should be fixed.

Yes, there may be some mistake here and there😅, we are all human, thanks for reporting it. We will update it when possible.😀

Hi Peter, 

Thanks for the note. Instead of of Rf8 immediately should have started with White King's march closer to the pawn.
Will fix this inaccuracy!

e4 vs d4 - classic discussion!

Hi ChessMood family, So we know the CM repertoire is around e4 for white, and as GM Avetik says, it's for better chess growth (reaching GM faster). I'm curious what is the ChessMood reason for why d4 is used so much in top level tournaments? Thanks in advance for the answers!

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I feel that playing e4 or d4 depends on the style of the player. If a GM has attacking style, he/she may play e4. And if a GM has positional style, he/she may play d4.

Hello Kyle, this is an often question on e4-d4 dilemma. It not only depends on the style of a player, but also on on his level. Most players under 1500 often watch streams ore some courses online and they feel that the one option is "the best". On the other hand, you need to get used to a plethora of positions to get better in your opening play to get to a higher level. I play for exampe 80% of times e4, but against certain opponents on practice games I also play d4, c4, or even Nf3 as a first move. In that way I reached 1800+ rating on chess.com and 2000+ on lichess.org. On the presence of d4 in high rated tournaments, I wanted to mention that top players nowadays aren't just "positional", or "attacking". They are kind of universal. Look at Carlsen's game for example. Chess is a multidimensional game; it needs different appproaches on each topic. What do you think?

At the top level I suspect the Berlin Defence is the main reason 1.e4 isn't played more often.

1.d4 is a classic chess opening, offering a large range of excellent openings (eg Queen's Gambits, Indian defences etc etc) with great play available for both sides, so it is a hugely popular opening (quite rightly imho), very suitable for high level play, but also playable at all levels. It is slower and less immediately attacking than 1.e4 if you want to compare it against other opening moves and it comes down to personal preference as to what suits your style, if you wish to take one as a favourite for you or not (eg GM Bobby Fischer "1.e4-best by test!"). Many players today are pretty much universal & are happy to play all openings. If you have time to learn that much, good luck to you! NB "it ain't just what you play as an opening, but it is also the way that you play it, that gets results!" Enjoy ;-)

Opinion on e4: 1) If you choose Ruy Lopez, then you can get Berlin defense 2) In general e4 are more forcing, there are a lot of precise moves to be made. For instance, sicilian can be very agressive and both sides should make a lot of precise moves Not sure, maybe for this reason GMs often choose to play not-e4, to get more positional type chess where you can try to overplay your opponent and not his memory.

PRO membership

I just finished watching the video discussing the results of the survey that was emailed out. In it it was discussed that you may not need the PRO membership if you don't use the features included. So I went and looked at the PRO features. One is a personalized study plan. What is that? How is it done? Allen

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You book your 1:1 call with a GM and in it they give you suggestions on what to study. I think it's available to anyone with *annual* PRO membership.

Could someone please post the video link? I didn't get it, perhaps because I unsubscribed from the mailing list.

To be honest I do not see yet much benefit of having PRO. I had 1 to 1 call, but in general I could live without it. Otherwise I am using only "watch courses" from chessmood.

Section 4 - Forks

I just finished section 4 - forks of the tactical ninja course. Did my previous mentors teach me wrong? For me the fork with bishop, rook and queen are double attacks and not forks. Or did I miss a vital point in the explanation?

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I think the ChessMood definition is fairly widely accepted. That is, you can fork with any piece. All forks are also double attacks of course, but not all double attacks are forks.

Chessmood recomendation against Phillidor with 3 f5

Hi! What is the chessmood recomendation against Phillidor with 3 f5? 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 f5 I face that move sometimes in blitz and I guess it is more like a surprise than a good variation when they weak there kingsposition. They seems to be afraid to play Latvian gambit 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 f5 cause of 3 Nxe5 and play this instead cause d6 protect e5. How ever it is always good to have a easy line against it and save time on clock.

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The ChessMood recommendation is 4.Bc4! See https://chessmood.com/course/philidor-defense/episode/1180

help finding a lesson

I watched a lesson where after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 then 3. Nxe5 is done. I can't find that now. Where in the lessons is it located? Thank you Allen

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It's covered in opening principals video 27.

Change in price and payment method

Hi Chessmood team, will I be able to change the payment method after the pricing change and keeping the actual price plan? My subscription renew in June. For example if a few days before the renewal I decide to pay via another card, will I keep the plan at the actual price or will I have to subscribe with the new pricing? Thanks

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Francesco, please use the  
https://chessmood.com/contact

page for this kind of private questions regarding payments and such.

If you prefer, you can also send an email to [email protected]

and explain your case. (Just copying the above text will be enough.) 
Thanks!

Stats

I am 4 months into my membership and I am seeing good improvements in my game. I have always struggled with playing black so I have been spending a lot of time in the Blackmood opening section. Well, now I am winning significantly more black games than white. Time to spend more with Whitemood openings 👍 Allen

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That's very nice to hear! Keep on working and keep on improving!!!! 😀

I feel the same! I always struggled with the black pieces but thanks to the blackmood simplified openings, I've been scoring some nice points! Glad to hear of your success, keep up the good work!