Chess forum by Grandmasters

Accelerated Dragon Question

Hello everyone, I am facing some problems against the Accelerated Dragon,

A sample variation - 1) e4 c5 2) Nf3 Nc6 3) d4 cxd4 4) Nxd4 Bg7

5) Nxc6 bxc6 This was covered in the Rock ‘n’ Rolling with Black course but now White plays 6) Qd4 Which is very unclear how to play after it - as an example 6…Nf6 7) e5 Nd5 8) e6 after which it's unclear how to get a fighting position with Black.

Thanks!

Replies

Hello Pratik, I have found an interesting line against 6. Qd4 move

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Qd4 Nf6 7. e5 Nd5 if 8. e6 Nf6 9. exd7+ Bxd7 (if 9. exf7+ Kxf7 10. Nc3 d5 11. Bf4 Bg7 with Re8, Nd7, e5 plan for black)10. Be2 Bg7 11. 0-0 Bf5 where the position is almost equal, and if after 7. e5 Nd5 there's 8. Nc3 Bg7 9. Nxd5 cxd5 10. Qxd5 Rb8 11. Bc4 e6 12. Qc5 Bb7 where the position is again almost equal. In both cases white maintains a slight advantage (+0.1 and +0.2 respectively). There's also the possibility to play 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Qd4 f6 with Bg7, e6, Nh6, Nf7, 0-0 and d5 plan but I don't prefer it…

qf6 scotch

morning , hope all is well

does anyone have suggestions as to best approach to qf6 in scotch,

not sure whats the best place for pieces…

?Bg4

[Event "8.7.23 nq: druva sookraj vs tristan siewdass game 4 !"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/kVzChyOC/mSxts6zY"]
[Result "*"]
[UTCDate "2023.07.11"]
[UTCTime "08:35:40"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "C45"]
[Opening "Scotch Game"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Druveonecanobe"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qf6 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. Nc3 Nge7 7. Be2 (7. Bg5 Qe6 8. Qd3 h6 9. Be3 Nb4 10. Qd2 Bxe3 11. fxe3 O-O 12. Na4 (12. Nd4 Qe5 13. a3 Na6 14. Nf3 Qe6 15. O-O-O d6 16. Nd4 Qe5)) 7... d6 8. O-O Bd7 9. a3 Nd4 10. Be3 Nxe2+ 11. Qxe2 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 O-O 13. Rad1 Bg4 14. Rd2 Bxf3 15. gxf3 c6 16. f4 Ng6 17. f5 Ne5 18. Qe2 (18. Re2 g5 19. fxg6 Nf3+) 18... b5 (18... Nf3+ 19. Qxf3 Qg5+) 19. f4 Nc4 20. Rd3 Nxb2 21. Rg3 Rfe8 22. Qg4 Nc4 23. e5 dxe5 24. Ne4 Qh6 25. Rh3 Qxh3 26. Qxh3 exf4 27. Rxf4 Rad8 28. f6 g6 29. Qh6 Rd1+ 30. Kf2 Rd2+ 31. Nxd2 Re2+ 32. Kxe2 Nxd2 33. Qg7# *

Replies

Hi Druva this is explained in the Advanced section 4...Tricky moves. On move 7 play Nb5 (instead of Be2) to immediately target c7. If 7..Bb6 then 8.Be3. It's a recurring theme in our Scotch line, when the queen comes out to f6, c7 will be vulnerable.

Alex

A big problem for me

Hi everyone! 

Sorry for another question but this one has been taking down my chess performance by a lot

It is…..

 OVER-STRESS

Recently in my tournaments, this 9-letter word has destroyed my tournaments and  I wanted to know how to fix this problem ASAP. As this problem leads to:

1.  Health Problems
2.  Losing the love for the game
3.  Playing horrible moves and blunders
4.  Unnecessary Pressure of winning

Always Appreciate the reply

Many thanks for replying to my question.

Vedant

Replies

Hi Vedant,

Through my chess career I also had difficult days and what helped me personally was taking short breaks, doing what I love and just having good positive days. After that I was feeling refreshed and continued playing chess charged with an energy.
In other words don't get super-exhausted and completely burned-out.

Is the London System Ruined?

I have been playing the London system since March of this year, and it seems like everyone is prepared for it. I have seen quite a few YouTube videos on how to destroy it. Is it too popular right now to be any good? 

Replies

Well, World Champion Ding Liren played the London system in the final and he won… Maybe it's not about the opening… In fact, no one wins out of the opening… Did you check the Opening Principles course? If not I recommend you to go there…😀

French Schlechter 6. ... Be7 7. Nbc3 0-0 8. d5 Na6!? - question

Hi,

like in the title, I have a question about one line in French Schlechter.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3 dxe4 4. Bxe4 Nf6 5. Bf3 c5 6. Ne2 Be7 7. Nbc3 0-0 8. d5 Na6 9. a3 Nc7 10. dxe6 and now comes my question. What if Black will NOT take our queen on d1 and play just 10. … Nxe6? Exchanging queens by 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 brings Black's rook into the game, and going to 11. 0-0 allows Qc7 and next is Rd8, which looks unpleasant to me (it's hard to tell where to put our queen). I will be grateful for answers, especially from GM_Avetik Grigoryan :)

Replies

I asked the big boys to take a look at this line and it may take some time. Still, I had this position not so long ago and I took on d8, the problem is the Bishop on c8 that it is not easy to bring to the game and we can win some time. This was the line played that I would play again without any hesitation: 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. O-O h6 13. Rd1 Rxd1+ 14. Nxd1 ideas to play a4, g3, the knight can go to e3 centralizing the knight, the rook can go to a3 if needed too. Overall an equal position with a very strong light square bishop… 😀

Hello,

I found out that even if white play Qxd8 and black rook goes into the game still the bishop on f3 makes position practically better for white due to strong pressure on the long diagonal.

 As well there is a chance instead of Qxd8 to play 11.0-0 Qc7 12. Re1 and if Rd8 13.Nd5!? - however that will be very concrete and you can investigate it with the engine.

Question on English Opening - Botvinnik pawn structure and playing d5

Can I ask a question about Black in English Opening on the pawn structure (e5-d6-c5) and breaking with d5.

I understand from the course that one of our main objectives is to play d5 to free our position.

Now I find that often in my games my opponent does not control d5 enough.

Example 1: 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O e5 7.d3 Nge7 8.a3 a5 9.e3 O-O 10.Nb5.

Example 2: 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e5 6.d3 d6 7.O-O Nge7 8.Ne1 Be6 9.Nc2

Example 3: 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 d6 6.e3 e5 7.d3 Nge7 8.O-O Be6 9.a3 a5 10.Ne1

In all the games, when I get the chance I will play d5 immediately, as long as I cannot see that tactically I'm blundering something (especially playing d5 opens up the strong Bg2). Is there a general rule on this or is this the correct strategy to play as Black?

Thanks,

Alex

Replies

 Hi Alex

Playing for d5 is always the best unless there is a tactical refutation as for the following reasons:

1. Gives us a Space Advantage
2. Makes our pieces more active
3. We have a very good version of maroczy as white's pieces are crippled

   Now Why other pawn breaks don't work:

   1. f5-g5 sort of attack is not great as white's pawn structure is very solid and attacking it is very difficult and not to forget white can counter on queen if we are toooooo slow
   2. a6-Rb8-b5 is a typical pawn break BUT it is not our main aim we only go for it when we cannot go for b5 break and if both aren't possible check what mistake you made😃

      Vedant

      Hi Alex,
      
      Probably there is no general rule, however if d5 move isn't blundering anything I would almost always play it to get rid of weak pawn on d6 and weak square on d5. You can check out the commented games in the English course to get more practical experience.

      Good luck!

Sicilian Nc3 e6 Line Question

Hello!

Copying and pasting my original question to the PRO channel as requested. Original text below:

I am writing this to request a review of the recommended line:

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 e6
3. f4 d5
4. Nf3 d4
5. Bb5+ Bd7
6. Bxd7+ Qxd7
7. Ne5 Qd8
8. Ne2

In this position, most of Black's options were covered. However, the move f6 is not covered and gives White practical problems to solve. The engine evaluates the position as approximately equal, but I am not able to come up with a good plan for White.

After 8…f6 9. Nf3, Black can play d3. If instead White plays Nd3, which is the engine line, the position is very unpleasant to play for White after either Nc6 or c4. Can you post a video recommending a plan for White? I have looked at positions after playing 8. Nb5, but the knight eventually gets sidelined on a3 and Black gets a lot of counterplay while White is wasting tempi with the knight.

Thank you in advance!

Joel Gargus

Replies

After f6 I believe that Ng4 is fine, we already created a weakness on f. Julio Granda always says: Never is too soon to move the f pawn. Here it already moved. Then we will play d3. If Black plays d3, we can just take and if Qxd3 Nf2. We will castle, play Nc3, and have a good healthy position with central control. We have more development too, very playable with usual plans. 

Nothing major with this variation. 

Hi Goel, 

I checked and after f6 - both Ng4 and Nd3 are leading to practical positions to play. F6 in general weakens light squares and that can be used in the future. If you want to advance in the variations further you can work with the engine.
My personal preference is Nd3 followed by Nf2-pawn d3 and potential ideas on the Kingside.

Scotch 4.. Ne4?

Hi!

I was looking but I can't find any plan on how to play the Scotch Mieses variation with 4.. Ne4? I found a game where Fabi played Qe4, other GMs played the position differently, but I was wondering if there is a Chessmood recommendation?

Replies

😅Please Claudio, write the moves because your question makes no sense with 4…Ne4… 😅

Stuck

I have been playing chess for about 14 years. I was young when I started and mostly worked on endgames and some tactics. This year I have started working on openings, but despite all of this, I am only rated 1000-1100 on Chess.com. I keep seeing people talking about how they got to 1500 in a few months or maybe even a year. Am I studying the wrong way? 

Replies

Possibly you are not doing it in one of the best ways. We suggest that you take a look at the Study plan and follow it through, stick with ONE plan and keep working on it. Switching openings, and approaches does not provide results. At 1000 you do not need to work on openings per se. Please check the plan and if you put the time and the effort you will improve for sure, no matter your age. 😀

Here is the plan:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NyVJXCzrN6LoiJGZgUhkEeS5almcQbH8JzE2jJETBYA/edit

https://www.chess.com/events/2023-champions-chess-tour-aimchess-rapid-division-3/results

If anyone wants to join me cheering him on :) 

Replies

Help Finding Content

Hello!

I'm having difficulty locating certain topics in the main courses. In the basic Whitemood and Blackmood opening courses, it's mentioned that there are main courses which have sample games of each of the openings. I am having trouble finding the sample games as well as at least one of the main course openings.

Specifically, I am having trouble locating the main course for the French Attack from Black's perspective. There are quite a few Sicilian variations as Black, but I am wanting to see more content on the French Attack as Black beyond the basic course and look over some sample games. Has the French Attack been replaced by the Sicilian as the recommended opening against e4? If not, can you help me locate the main course for the French Attack as Black?

Thank you!

Joel Gargus

Replies

The Blackmood openings is the latest course on openings. First we only had the Sicilian but we decided to add the French for a starter repertoire. We are working on a complete advanced repertoire and it will be published in the near future but no dates available yet.

😅

asking questions here?

Hi 

I study Ninja tactics right now. I have questions, observations - where do I place them?

Replies

😀Well, you can create a post for each question in order to make it simple. Put the name of the course and a good description and we will try to help. Since you are a PRO member, post it in the PRO channel please.  😃

Question in Rosseli - Rubinstein, 1st game in Classical Endgames course

In this position, …Rxh4 is given, but it seems White can just reply Bf4, thus isn't …g3 a better move?

Replies

Hi Inguh, 

As long as my tactical vision doesn't betray me after Bf4 there is g3 move cutting the connection of Bishop and Knight and most probably winning a piece.  To see this Kind of ideas better I highly recommend working on Tactic Ninja course, here is the link https://chessmood.com/course/tactic-ninja

Good luck.

Won a game using Endgame Roadmap

Hi guys! Well, I know I am probably the weakest player here, but even so, I am improving. Here's a game I won applying principles from the Endgame Roadmap. I apologise if the notation is scruffy or confusing, I'm partially sighted, so editing is hard. However, as you can see, the endgame course informed my choices in the middle game - I realised if I could build up a pawn majority I could use it later. And the I was able to make strategic choices about how to proceed when he offered an exchange, and knew to push in the actual endgame. After I did my analysis I looked at it with a computer and didn't understand a thing, so again, sorry. I feel like a kid offering a stick drawing, but still - I am proud of it, so here I am, putting it on the fridge. 

[Event "Rated Classical game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/acAaop8u"]
[Date "2023.07.06"]
[White "Runner5"]
[Black "pshsebass"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1197"]
[BlackElo "1160"]
[TimeControl "1800+0"]
[Termination "Normal"]
[UTCDate "2023.07.07"]
[UTCTime "09:28:32"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "C41"]
[Opening "Philidor Defense"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Runner5"]

1. e4 { [%clk 0:30:00] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:30:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:29:58] } 2... d6 { [%clk 0:29:51] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:29:35] } 3... Nc6 { Here I want to keep the tension in the middle instead of exchanging everything off or pushing the pawn. } { [%clk 0:29:36] } 4. Bb5 { I wanted, ideally, to damage his pawn structure on the queen side. But the main point of the pin was to prevent him from taking the d pawn thus relieving the tension in the centre of the board. He could have taken with his e pawn } { [%clk 0:28:48] } 4... Bd7 { [%clk 0:29:30] } 5. Bxc6 { [%clk 0:28:18] } 5... Bxc6 { [%clk 0:29:27] } 6. Nc3 { Again, trying to keep the tension in the middle of the board. I don't want to push and allow him the diagonal. That would lock the centre but prevent OO. and slow down development. } { [%clk 0:28:13] } 6... Nf6 { He's looking to unblock the centre another way, and I want castle before things get messy. } { [%clk 0:29:21] } 7. O-O { [%clk 0:24:30] } 7... Nxe4 { [%clk 0:28:50] } 8. Nxe4 { [%clk 0:24:24] } 8... Bxe4 { [%clk 0:28:44] } 9. Re1 { Here I want to push him to exchange bishop for knight so he doesn't retain the advantage of the Bishop pair. He can't take the d pawn yet, because if the pin on his bishop. He needs to take my knight as otherwise he loses the Bishop to the rook for no compensation. } { [%clk 0:24:09] } 9... Bxf3 { [%clk 0:28:29] } 10. Qxf3 { [%clk 0:24:03] } 10... Be7 { [%clk 0:28:19] } 11. dxe5 { [%clk 0:22:09] } 11... dxe5 { [%clk 0:28:17] } 12. Rd1 { I considered Rxe5, but attacking his queen was more aggressive and slows down his attempt at castling. } { [%clk 0:22:00] } 12... Bd6 { [%clk 0:27:42] } 13. Qxb7 { THIS is where The Endgame Roadmap came to my rescue. I was a little worried that I was being materialistic and pawn grabbing, but thought if I could get a pawn side majority it would help in the end game. } { [%clk 0:16:41] } 13... O-O { [%clk 0:27:33] } 14. b3 { Decided to fianchetto and put pressure on e5, hoping to move my queen to that diagonal putting pressure on the king. } { [%clk 0:14:24] } 14... Rb8 { [%clk 0:27:13] } 15. Qxa7 { Another free pawn, again helping me build a queenside pawn majority. } { [%clk 0:13:58] } 15... e4 { He saw the threat to his pawn and pushed it. } { [%clk 0:26:10] } 16. Bb2 { I continue with the plan anyway, as Queen d4 still puts pressure on his e pawn and points a bishop queen battery at his king. The d file is also good for my queen and rook to control. Edited to add: The computer suggested Qa4 is better. If he had chased me with his rook I would have picked up the d pawn. Anything else? } { [%clk 0:13:24] } 16... Ra8 { [%clk 0:24:36] } 17. Qd4 { [%clk 0:13:12] } 17... f6 { Preventing mate in one, but weakening his castle. } { [%clk 0:24:12] } 18. Qxe4 { I'm now two pawns up with a queen side majority, so simplifying is in my favour. } { [%clk 0:12:45] } 18... Qe7 { And now I have an endgame plan: trade off so my two pawn advantage becomes more powerful, infiltrate to his side and pick up any pieces - and whenever possible just push my extra pawns. } { [%clk 0:23:07] } 19. Qxe7 { [%clk 0:11:33] } 19... Bxe7 { [%clk 0:23:05] } 20. Rd7 { Infiltration and threatening to win an extra pawn. } { [%clk 0:11:08] } 20... Bd6 { Pawn and bishop protect each other, so I can take neither, but my plan is clear - run a pawn down to queen her. } { [%clk 0:22:42] } 21. a4 { [%clk 0:11:03] } 21... Rfd8 { [%clk 0:22:34] } 22. Rxd8+ { Again, don't worry about exchanging pieces: simplify when possible and push. } { [%clk 0:10:42] } 22... Rxd8 { [%clk 0:22:34] } 23. g3 { Creating luft for my king. I pushed g3 rather than another flight square, because it gives me g2 as an exit point and access to the black squares, so his bishop can't see me. } { [%clk 0:10:10] } 23... Be5 { [%clk 0:22:27] } 24. Bxe5 { Again, more than happy to simplify. } { [%clk 0:09:36] } 24... fxe5 { [%clk 0:22:27] } 25. a5 { [%clk 0:09:24] } 25... Rd2 { He's obviously trying to infiltrate, but he should have activated his king. I am not worried about his rook on the second rank as he has nobody to back him up. I am just going to run with my protected a pawn. Promotion is now unstoppable. } { [%clk 0:22:25] } 26. a6 { [%clk 0:09:20] } 26... Rxc2 { [%clk 0:22:22] } 27. a7 { [%clk 0:09:19] } 27... e4 { [%clk 0:22:05] } 28. a8=Q+ { [%clk 0:09:16] } 28... Kf7 { [%clk 0:22:04] } 29. Qxe4 { 1-0 Black resigns. } { [%clk 0:09:04] } 1-0

Replies

Sorry, I just got i could share the link instead. https://lichess.org/study/Jwo2GW8n

Transposition to Sicilian

Dear all, 

My question is regarding the best way to play after the following as white player: 

1-e4 e6 2-d4 c5 which transposes to a Sicilian where we already have pushed our d-pawn, and hence can't play the thought anti-sicilian from the course. Should we still continue with the anti-sicilian idea of Nc3 from the whitemood courses? I would appreciate your help here. 

Thanks in advanced and best regards, 

Armin 

Replies

Please Armin, check the following thread:

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-channel/against-french-1-e4-e6-2-d4-c5

https://chessmood.com/event/webinar-time-management

Check the old events, several of them are on this topic, like:

https://chessmood.com/event/stream-how-to-spend-time-wisely-3

https://chessmood.com/event/stream-how-to-spend-time-wisely-2