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Chess forum by Grandmasters
Wish Me Luck!!
😀
Hi guys! Wish me luck for my National U13 tomorrow. So nervous especially cause I am aiming for the gold! I really need all the luck I can get. Hehe
Replies
Believe in yourself, don't be nervous :)… and all the best for your tournament
Good luck, you can do it!!
Good luck 😊
Good Luck Champion - Right Mood - Right move!
No need for the pressure and being nervous, don't think about the results - think about playing your best possible chess in every game!
Smile, keep your back staraight and think!
The best games of August, 2025, and the prizes
Hello ChessMood family, hello champions and future champions!
Welcome to the "Best games of August, 2025" competition.
Under this post, we invite you to post the best games that you will play this month.
The Prize fund is 350K MoodCoins which is equal to 350$.
The 1st prize - 150K
The 2nd prize - 100K
The 3rd prize- 50K
The 4th prize- 30k
The 5th prize- 20k
Good luck with your games and keep the Right Mood!
#ChessMood
#Right Mood - Right Move
P. S.
Here are the winners of July, 2025:
Super Pawn
Ash Pv
Norbert R.
Sarah Chess
Angelo Sifaleras
Replies
Got a near perfect attack with the Scotch tysm!! Chess.com rated 95% accuracy
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141366200162/analysis?move=27
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Nc6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg2 Be6 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. a3 Bd6 9. e3 O-O 10. O-O h6 11. Nb5 a6 12. Nxd6 Qxd6 13. Nh4 Ne7 14. Bd2 b6 15. Rc1 c5 16. Bc3 c4 17. Nf3 Bg4 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 a5 20. a4 Nc6 21. b3 Rac8 22. bxc4 dxc4 23. Bxc6 Qxc6 24. Qc2 Ne4 25. Ra1 Ng5 26. e4 Nxe4 27. h4 g5 28. Rae1 Rfe8 29. Re3 f5 30. hxg5 hxg5 31. f4 g4 32. d5 Qxd5 33. Rd1 Qc5 34. Bd4 Qc6 35. Qh2 Rcd8 36. Qh8+ Kf7 37. Qg7+ Ke6 38. Qf6+ Kd7 39. Bxb6+ Nd6 40. Qxf5+ Re6 41. Qxe6#
Played this in a recent tournament and won it,one of the best SLPs ever
2 daily Blitz games, to see how good my instincts are, this one-almost perfect(cause-no time pressure). A best in month indeed!
MasterZaheem +7
0Inaccuracies
0Mistakes
0Blunders
16Average centipawn loss
98%Accuracy
https://lichess.org/3wquZZU4/white
https://lichess.org/OdwBb44p/black
Very attacking game with an exchange sacrifice
I didn't actually lose this game: in the final position, with around 10 seconds on my clock, my network connection went down. Well, you can imagine my frustration after such a crazy, epic game…
When I played 19.Nxc7+, I knew it could be a blunder and that taking back immedeately on d2 would be much safer, but I couldn't resist the temptation to play it. And my opponent bought my bluff!
Later in the endgame, in huge time trouble, I just blundered my rook, but luckily was still winning thanks to the connected passers.
https://lichess.org/xBoTeUne/white#134
This might be the luckiest save I've had this year:
https://www.chess.com/game/live/141442388338
https://lichess.org/UfWsIyrY/white#47
CM Fariasov vs anonymousperson101: Torre Attack: Classical Defense • lichess.org
Really nice attacking game with 2 brilliant moves against a CM sacrificing a knight 2 times then a bishop that could be taken but will make the position much worse. This was also a blitz game played on lichess
https://lichess.org/DyRwhBZ2/black
https://lichess.org/cnDwDHyO
Goldman strikes gold:
https://lichess.org/FUwgfaaBIhKC
Positional game crowned by tactics:
https://lichess.org/XWij3NcN0quE
The interesting part starts off with 20…Bxg3!, but the best move of the game might be 29…e5! which leaves White without a good response.
https://lichess.org/Tf4NjpWm/black#0
The opening avenger in me is slowly waking up !
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141546538556/review?move=30
french attack against a classical Nc3: https://lichess.org/lfmnveKX/black
A game which was played very actively by me from the opening and evantually I won an exchange after opponent's errors
https://lichess.org/Uy7xLQYl/white#73
Casual game in Exchange Caro-Kan
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 Be7 10. Ne5 Qc8 11. O-O O-O 12. Rae1 Bh5 13. Re3 Bg6 14. Nxg6 hxg6 15. Nf3 Ng4 16. Re2 a6 17. h3 Nf6 18. Ne5 b5 19. Rfe1 Na5 20. Qc2 Nc4 21. a3 Rd8 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Bxg6+ Kf8 24. Rxe6 Bd6 25. Bg5 (25. Rxf6+ gxf6 (25... Kg8 26. Bf7+ Kh8 27. Qg6 Qg4 28. hxg4 Bxf4 29. Qh5+ Bh6 30. Rxh6+ gxh6 31. Qxh6#) 26. Bh6+ Kg8 27. Bf7+ Kh8 (27... Kxf7 28. Qh7#) 28. Bg7+ Kxg7 29. Qg6+ Kh8 (29... Kf8 30. Qg8#) 30. Qh6#) 25... Ne4 26. R1xe4 (26. R6xe4 dxe4 27. Qxe4 Qd7 28. Qf3+ Kg8 29. Qh5) 26... dxe4 27. Qxe4 Qd7 28. Qf3+ (28. Bxd8 Rxd8 29. Qh4 Qxe6 30. Qxd8+) 28... Kg8 29. Re7 Bxe7 (29... Qxe7 30. Bxe7 Bxe7 31. Qf7+ Kh8 32. Qxe7) 30. Bf7+ Kf8 (30... Kh8 31. Qh5#) 31. Be6+ Bf6 (31... Ke8 32. Qf7#) 32. Bxd7 Rxd7 33. Qxa8+
Student game (~1400 vs 1600) in French after learning basic ideas of 3.Bd3 in Garden State Chess League match (board 4)
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Ne2 c5 6. c3 Qb6 7. a3 a5 8. O-O Nc6 9. Bc2 Be7 10. a4 h6 11. Na3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bxa3 13. Rxa3 Nb4 14. Bb1 Qc7 15. f4 Nb6 16. f5 Nc4 17. Rg3 Kf8 18. b3 Nb6 19. f6 gxf6 20. Rxf6 Nd7 21. Bxh6+ Ke8 22. Rxe6+ fxe6 23. Bg6+ Ke7 24. Bg5+ Kf8 25. Qf1+ Nf6 26. Qxf6+ Kg8 27. Bf7+ Qxf7 28. Bh6+ Kh7 29. Qxf7+ Kxh6 30. Qg6#
https://www.chess.com/game/live/141618243124?move=0
Strong Scotch Attack! Missed a small mating idea, but came back strong!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/141650195032
nice when you know the mating patterns
https://www.chess.com/game/live/141682767588
https://www.chess.com/game/live/141689377810
good clean chess without utensils
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141440599692
The computer said I played at a 2000 level, which is much higher than my rating.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141491661444
The computer said I played at a 1900 level, which is much higher than my rating.
Messy Rook and Knight endgame with nice trap at the end
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141748037348/analysis
Demolishing White in one of my favorite lines. Also missed mate in 1 in time trouble, but fortunately no harm was done :)
https://lichess.org/pzAdS1Gm/black#0
do the games need to be of august 2025 only?
https://www.chess.com/game/live/141354577238
I beat a CM with the blackmood prep!
A 1700 tried to pull some Busch-Gass nonsense on me. Maybe he was doing SLP training? Well, it gave me a chance to practice my WWP : )
https://www.chess.com/game/live/141762282930?username=sacmood&move=0
Skak: Hoshaku vs TinaTinzee - 141770469076 - Chess.com
Lovely to see that knight crash the gate at the end.
My top games for the month of August (I've chosen top 3 at the end as coach Gabuzyan instructed)
https://www.chess.com/game/live/149324309353 - titled tuesday crush vs IM
https://www.chess.com/game/live/149325510609 - crazy sac which ended in a draw vs IM
https://www.chess.com/game/142364941006 modern defense Passini attack
The IQP is not always weak…
https://lichess.org/9qqDBAcVCsoo
Apparently 14…Ne4 was also possible.
Winning win positions from the opening.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141824601842/analysis?move=58
Crushing with chessmood openings
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141824740194/analysis?move=48
Succesful SLP No1
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141749239186/analysis
Succesful SLP No2
https://www.chess.com/game/live/141245086150?move=0
https://www.chess.com/game/141887667856?action=createLiveChallenge
I'm quite proud of this game, I was playing Black and I beat an FM in an English opening that transposed to the Maroczy Bind. I somehow was able to use all the concepts Coach Gabuzyan mentioned, like the TV and Room concepts, b5 pawn break, and pressuring on the open c-file.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141904039398/review?move=50
engine thought i was 2500!
https://www.chess.com/game/141904388928
Absolutely destroying an 2500 player
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/141946995354/review?move=26
https://www.chess.com/game/live/141971541204
Two Brilliant sacrifices into a forced checkmate!
https://lichess.org/CFlZOuzR/black#0
Crushing against English Opening a 2450 blitz player.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142019862454/analysis?move=79
A satisfying win using Blackmood against a KIA, vs a 1750 OTB, 90+30 tournment game:
A very short game that punished the breaking of opening principles.. This was a classical OTB game but ended quickly.
I really enjoyed playing this Sicilian with early 2. …. f4.
https://lichess.org/A1qKmJ1X/black#0.
And destroying The Latvian!
https://lichess.org/DaGK5PWU/white#0.
https://lichess.org/XJgJ51Bz/white#49
solid win vs caro Kahn
my best course
Love the unconventional positions in this relatively new opening:
https://lichess.org/a7OfyyPziueJ
https://lichess.org/48EAnoj1/white#71 He sacrifices the queen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful game from Chessmood Scicilian B4 sacrifice Go Chessmood!!!!!!!!!
Guys, I just played one of the most beautiful attacks of mine in the last few years! The thematic rook sac - 11.Rxf6, then 13.Bxe4 and 17.Qxf6 are like nails in my opponent's coffin. I'm just very happy with this game, so I have to show it for you:
https://lichess.org/pfGrMyJK/white#0
Exploiting the pawn structure leads to a vicious attack:
https://lichess.org/wE5LNAvMesnx
BlackMood French extended bishop swap. Took advantage of opponent's uncertainty as to what to do about the unusual for French pawn structure. White's only mistake up until they cracked at the end was to trade off a defending knight for Black's normally strong dark squared bishop, which only served to lock down the defenses around my king and hasten my attack. I feel this is almost model game quality. Pretty proud. On review, some of the variations on how best to continue the attack given different responses were instructive for me as well. 🙂
https://lichess.org/Ij8M9s2Z/black
I completely destroyed a 2300 rapid chesscom in 22 moves with the Caro-Kann exchange line.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142160388480/analysis?move=42
Crushing an FM with 2500 blitz chesscom in French with Bd3.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142161586412/review
This was my third game after a long break in a classical tournament. After the opening the game went quickly into an Bishop vs Knight endgame. Due to my opponents rash decision he got an unfavourable pawn structure. A few inaccuraries later the opponents bishop was completely trapped. And after some time I could find the winning manouveur, winning a pawn.
By no means did I ‘crush’ or ‘destroy’ my opponent in the game. We got to an seemingly equal but imbalanced endgame. Just small decisions that led to one side getting the upper hand. (Yes there were quicker ways to win. :|)
https://lichess.org/study/O2Co6m2V/nFeIhqj3
Dear Chessmood friends, as I did enjoy looking at some of your games I hope you will enjoy my game too, in case you look at it. Keep on improving! 💪☺️
I misclicked and lost a queen, then managed to SLP my way to a win anyway.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/142174772392
One dutch attack
https://lichess.org/586XGeUe/black
played an unsound gambit and destroyed a 2070
https://lichess.org/GeZHIQO4
i was losing but then managed to slp my way to victory anyways
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142122107676/analysis?move=71
crushing my opponent with tactics
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142193039086/analysis
Absolutely destroy an 2450 blitz chesscom with chessmood openings in 18 moves.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142227253986/analysis?move=34
H4 Novelty!! Crushing Game in Scotch
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142257797288/analysis
😃
https://lichess.org/cIWlavtA Great games with many tactics!
https://lichess.org/OFoAxmvz/black
a brilliant game where i sacrificed a queen and a rook for a great checkmate
one of my best games probably
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142267368762/analysis?move=48
Just an online rapid game. The attack is not sound but the sacrificial finish was nice. https://www.chess.com/game/142289044160
https://www.chess.com/game/live/142290154794
Short game with nice queen trap at the end
https://lichess.org/ZA1sMP9J/black#0
Simply destroying with advance pirc in 22 moves.
https://lichess.org/MVKQCjPV/white#49
Destroying an 2400 in 17 moves with Grand Prix Attack
https://lichess.org/aJwoqyAn/white#7
i played the SLP gambit and won with practical moves
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142351098654/analysis
destroying with the grand prix
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142352208560/analysis
Nothing spectacular, just perfectly illustrates the ideas of our chessmood variation.
https://lichess.org/GITnDddH/white#0
Sicilian Accelerated Dragon Crushing with “The Super Re8!”
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142367258762/analysis
https://www.chess.com/game/live/142370461942
caro crusher my best course
A Nice game against a Sicilian with 2. …. Nc6.
https://lichess.org/nurZMTsu/white#0.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/39nvA5CWox
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/4sN4e5dSKx
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/7pmd3b2x6
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/52myR8EQLE
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/58PnuAsczS
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/aNdSdU6fg
In the last game, I give credit to my opponent for doing his best to play SLP. See the nasty trap he laid on move 67. White to move:
a great game where i won a piece and did wwp
https://lichess.org/09avhu9v/black
After a break of 2 months due to summer outdoor activities a first serious game again in the Grand Prix. The computer gives many other lines after the opening to win the game but I could not find any serious mistake.
Just a nice middle game position from the opening!
https://lichess.org/9hQIkt5B/white#0
King in the center leads to trouble:
https://lichess.org/sOnp1xvNJF2q
mac cutcheon gambit in the french attack:
https://lichess.org/SmixugXG/black
Philidor, letting black get in trouble on his own
https://lichess.org/NtY3UKjL/white#51
https://lichess.org/bvmyciGF/black
Dutch attack
when is the Dutch update coming out?
https://lichess.org/0beIcsru/white
Quick victory against a 2300 rated
https://lichess.org/Abt3drjs/black
A nice game, I missed clear winning chances in time pressure in winning positions :) , but at last I won the game
destroying with the french and converting the advantage
https://lichess.org/N9zHSoSk/black
i got 95 percent accuracy and 17 average centipawn loss.
https://lichess.org/vOnUnWi7/black
im back to comment! After thinking of the title of this competition i only put the game i found more attaractive, and after a while-i found it!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/142514242298
My opponent was brilliant(literaly) if it werent for the blunder and those tiny mistakes
https://lichess.org/oZMoRMkguJto benko
https://lichess.org/NSooxEGH
A good game with a beautiful mate
https://lichess.org/2eHqiu6S/white#45
Blitz game with a little tactic at the end. Could this be another chessmood student? https://www.chess.com/game/142535991558
punished random play in the opening and went on a well executed attack
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142558003178/analysis
https://lichess.org/jPFjiE4k/black Destroying the board with an attack
A caro kan with a standard model case mate.
https://lichess.org/jruIoKrf/white
Got a bit lucky when opponent got greedy
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142568210596/review
Grand Prix attack, OTB in a 90+30 tournament, against a 200pt higher rated player. Oh so close - learned a lot about myself, and about finding checkmates under time pressure 🤦♂️ 🚑😄
Unconventional opening with some mating matador ideas
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142576539050/review
https://www.chess.com/game/live/142578380354
Hello everyone,
Here is Scotch win over 2306 in corresponce so it not a blitz game! Enjoy. THank you Chessmood family and Coach Gabu!
https://lichess.org/nbL2ujJihSpO
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "guiu3243"]
[Black "sicilianlover32"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[WhiteElo "999"]
[BlackElo "1038"]
[Termination "sicilianlover32 won on time"]
[ECO "B30"]
[EndTime "17:47:21 GMT+0000"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/142605400612?move=51"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 e6 4. O-O d5 5. exd5 exd5 6. Re1+ Be7 7. Bb5 Nf6 8.
Bxc6+ bxc6 9. d4 O-O 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Nc3 Bg4 12. Qd3 Qb6 13. Nd1 Rfe8 14.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 15. Ne3 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nh5 17. Bd2 Qxb2 18. Bc3 Qb6 19. Ng4 Nf4 20.
Qf5 Bxf2+ 21. Kh1 Ng6 22. Rf1 Bd4 23. Bd2 Nh4 24. Qg5 Ng6 25. f4 h6 26. Qf5 Nh4
27. Qh5 Ng6 28. f5 Ne5 29. Nxh6+ gxh6 30. Bxh6 Qd8 31. f6 Ng6 0-1 played as white in the opening I did well but fumbled a bit towards the end.
Hello champions!
How are you?
Thank you so much for sharing your best games this month.
It was a real pleasure to go through them! Not only did you score some beautiful wins, but we also found many instructive moments and ideas along the way.
And now… on to the prizes!
1st Prize: En Prise With Ease
A fantastic game full of typical ideas!
From sacrificing a pawn to keep the attack going, to using the fantastic idea of the King in the center, and then bringing the rest of your pieces into play, this was an attacking model game.
Very well done!
https://lichess.org/Ij8M9s2Z/black
2nd Prize: Super Pawn
You crushed the Caro-Cann!
The pieces jumped into the attack, and the game ended before Black could even breathe.
A true example of a powerful flank attack!
Very good!
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/142160388480/analysis?move=32
3rd Prize: James L.
You played against the King in the center like a pro!
With a pawn sacrifice and the Queen invasion, the pressure was too much.
A clean and powerful win.
Fantastic job!
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/39nvA5CWox/analysis
4th Prize: Johannes G.
A classic Knight vs Bishop endgame!
You took full advantage of your opponent’s fixed weak pawns. Switching sides and keeping the pressure, you finally cracked their defense.
Great endgame grinding!
https://lichess.org/study/O2Co6m2V/nFeIhqj3
5th Prize: Ilias Belhadj
You crushed the Latvian gambit!
With the monster pawn on d5, you secured the powerful e6-square for your Knight. While your opponent was stuck and passive, you activated all your pieces, and eventually destroyed their King!
Very impressive!
https://lichess.org/DaGK5PWU/white
Congratulations to all the winners!
And thank you once again to everyone who shared their games.
Keep playing, keep learning, and see you in next month’s contest!
Really proud of calculating this in a blitz game
Link to game: rookiewoo vs. piedraven | Analysis - Chess.com
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Ne2 d6 5. a3 Bg4 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bg5 Qd7 8. Bxf6
gxf6 9. Nbc3 O-O-O 10. Nd5 Kb8 11. Nxf6 Qc8 12. b4 Bd4 13. Nxg4 Rdg8 14. Nf6 Rg7
15. b5 Ne7 16. Nxd4 exd4 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Qd8 19. c4 Qg5 20. g3 h5 21. Qc2
h4 22. c5 h3 23. f3 dxc5 24. Qxc5 Rc8 25. Qxd4 Rcg8 26. f4 Qg4 27. a4 Qe2 28.
Rf2 Rxg3+ 29. hxg3 Rxg3+ 30. Kh2 Rg2+ 31. Rxg2 Qxg2# 0-1
Replies
d4 openings
Hi, I'm curious if you'll be making a course for white for 1.d4 at some point as an alternative.
Replies
Honestly, I would be happy if we get a d4 course considering that most of the Chessmood team is very sufficient in d4.
But it would completely destroy the single reason they made and keep supporting e4: It makes sense pedagogically with the curriculum.
e4 is more dynamic and therefore the positions that arise in e4 tend to be more different on average than d4, and experience with multiple positiions tend to make better players, even if the rating don't say so.
But idk, sometimes i just want to play my first 5 moves already premoved. Would like to have that d4 course focus on aggressiveness though.
I think benko is the reason that d4 is kept low, and because its mostly going for locked and draw positions. If you are in a high level and youre opponent has practised for your every e4 move, then i think it might have been useful to had learned d4, just to suprise him. plus i think it would be a lot of complexness as the opening would be quick(predecided)
Fixmood with updated Benko course
When I play the new move from the updated Benko Course Fixmood marks it as an error. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Qc2 and 4…bxc4 is marked as an error with the suggestion of 4…b4.
Replies
Dear Pim,
Thanks for the information.
I redirected your inquiry to our technical department, and we will get back to you with the answer :-)
Video Sound
Recently on Chessmood courses, the audio defaults to mute. So for each section I have to unmute. Is there a setting I can make to default to unmute?
Replies
Dear Barney,
I did send your inquiry to our technical team.
Hi Barney!
Thanks for your question. In some cases, if you're using Safari or Mozilla Firefox, those browsers may have autoplay restrictions that cause videos to start muted, or even prevent the next video from playing automatically.
You can adjust your browser’s autoplay settings to allow sound by default, and that should fix the issue.
If you'd like help with how to change those settings, feel free to let me know — happy to guide you! 😊
Could be helpful...
Hello Chessmood, I was preparing for a tournament, but felt some fear. What if I draw too much, what if i win games and lose the ones which are really worth, have I prepared properly, did i miss something and etc. I was wondering if you could publish an article relating to keeping the mindset properly and how to overcome doubt and fear.
Thank You!
Replies
It would be good to have an article like that, if possible.
Lowering your expectation might work to reduce pressure. This may be achieved with easier goals.
For example:
Make your goal instead of: Win the tounament
To: Make all games interresting
I hope that helps.
🙂
I think you should take one game at a time… before every game have the mindset that you have to play your best game
I think the most important thing to remember is that mistakes will always happen: Every now and then you'll draw or lose a game you should have won, and every now and then you will miss something or your opponent will do something you didn't expect. Just make sure you give it your all and do the best you can, and try to enjoy playing (after all, you do this because you enjoy playing chess, right? 😉). Then you have nothing to regret. Also - though it's hard - remember that chess is “just a game”, no matter how competitive or ambitious we are: life goes on whether we win or lose. I recently played the worst tournament of my life, not winning a single game, scoring 1/7 and losing 80 rating points, but life goes on and I managed to get over it, analyze and move on.
What to do in French with white if the opponent e5 instead of 0-0 ?
What to do if the opponent plays e5 ?
Replies
Hey Pawn Bishop,
After 11…e5, one of the possible options is Nf5, and if Black takes recapture with the Queen.
Now the pawn on e5 is hanging, as well as some light squares are weakened.
Week-Long Losing Streak
Dear Chessmoodians,
I only tend to play two or three 15+10 online games per day and have been doing well with them for months. But, suddenly, I've lost my touch. I started blundering regularly, where I would only do that rarely before. I am not so much getting outplayed, but am almost single-handedly losing my games. Has this happened to you? How did you fix it?
I'm thinking to keep playing one or two games per day with no expectations just to keep in touch with chess and focus on my physical health. Get my sleep back in order (it has become irregular of late) and get my body moving. Does anyone have any other suggestions on what else could help? Should I walk away from chess altogether for a week or two?
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Here is what worked for me from my personal experience.
First of all, you have to understand that these things happen. Magnus Carlson during his record-breaking undeafeted classical run (which went for over 100 games!) suffered a ”meltdown” in blitz around the middle of said run. (My source here is the book Magnus Carlsons 60 Memorable Games)
After being on such a run (Magnus’ or yours) often what tends to happen is you lose your sense of danger (i.e. You may play more aggressively for the win and don’t sense when the position becomes worse), something similar happened to Fischer in his 1971 match with Petrosian (See game 2). https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044714
Here also, you may be at a peak rating and are simply playing stronger opponents.
Now for the ‘fix’: I would highly reccomend taking a week off from chess. Limit yourself to daily puzzles and news articles if you must, but no studying, no games, etc. Towards the end of this week, start doing some tactics. This worked well for me, and after some time I was back to ‘normal’.
Anyways I hope this helps, and that all the anecdotes weren’t too boring!
I tried to play blindfold chess, it worked, i began overthinking the board and had to hex-check for blunders and had a good result.
Nice clean annihilation
Black CAN defend this but that requires throwing their bishop down the toilet
1. e4 c6 2. Bc4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bb3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. O-O e6 7. d4 Nf6 8. Bg5
Bd6 9. Qd3 O-O 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Be7 12. c3 a5 13. Nd2 a4 14. Bc2 b5 15. Qd3
Rb8 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Qxh7# 1-0
link: https://www.chess.com/game/142128156810
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That's Nice. Thank you for sharing this site.
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Rb8 is a blunder, i think g6 would be good.
Chess.com Puzzle Algo Change
Recently Chess.com changed it's algorithm for puzzles. Previously, you got puzzles pretty close to your rating, within say 200 pts. So if you're 2000, you'd get a puzzle between 1800 and 2200.
With the change they randomly give you any puzzle rating. If you're 2000, you can see a sequence looking like this 700, 2400, 1365, 1820, 354, 1900, etc.
I have noticed something when I look at my history. I often take more time on an easier puzzle than a hard one. Just today, I starred at a 861 puzzle for over 5 minutes until I realized the solution. The next puzzle was 3000 and I solved it in 12 seconds. That's crazy, but what does it tell me.
I'm curious if the GMs could shed some light on how puzzles are scored. Does this mean anything, can we use this algorithm to push our studies further somehow. Here are links to the two puzzles today:
Easy: https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1082026
Hard: https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/2038604
KT
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Dear Kory,
I looked at the puzzles.
The easy one is really super easy, but the hard one was super easy as well, just a few forcing moves. This puzzle's rating evaluations are not really objective, and no need to focus or rely on the rating written nearby - just use them to train your tactics.
This is one out of many times, where I am seeing puzzles with a totally unmatchable rating-difficulty level.
Silent Strategy and 7Q Method
Hello! GM Gabu
Is the silent strategy and 7Q method course related or how do they both help each other to make it easier to understand. Thank you!
Sincerely, Pawnbishop
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Hey Pawn Bishop,
It would be nice to watch Silent Strategy before the 7Q method, because in the second one, GM Avo explains through which questions to understand the plans, and the knowledge of Silent Strategy will be very helpful.
New podcast with Sagar Shah: Why Magnus Carlsen is the #1 Player in the World
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Some nice new graphics for my chess.com alt
Looooove this skin
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Benko Gambit 6: b3 option white
Hello,
I played this game recently and in a lot of other benko games I face this 6. b3 move. I have placed the game below for reference. Can you please explain the ideas and plans for black. I face lot of trouble in it.
The game: https://www.chess.com/game/live/142169936882?move=0
Thank You So MUCH!!!!
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It's a move given in some very old books, before better ways of dealing with the queenside pressure were found. Normal play is fine.
In this game on move number 6 I liked both c4 and e6 options for Black, playing in the center and on the Queenside.
D4 Sidelines (Anti-Colle variation)
Hello, Coach Gabu
In the d4-sidelines course london system, Jobava line, and trompowsky was covered. But how do we play as black against Anti-Colle variation.
Sincerely, Pawn
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Hi Pawn Bishop,
We are going to have more additions to 1.d4 sidelines.
Transpositions D4-sidelines
Hi,
When playing black against d4 I face lot of sidelines and at times find it hard to understand the transpositions like maybe it goes from London to Jobava. From trompowsy to something else. Please, a explation would help a lot.
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Hi Pawn Bishop,
This question is not clear to be honest, if you can clarify I will be able to help.
Master games analysis in chess training
I have recently been perfecting my chess training plan and wanted to know whether it is OK to include more than one classical game/In Grandmasters mind game into my chess training if I want to get a deep understanding of the core ideas in each game.
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Dear Andrew,
Include a maximum of 2 per day - watching too many can be overwhelming, while in this case, you can focus and learn key ideas and concepts introduced in the games.
What do we play as black against the Bird opening?
Hello
I played in a tournament this weekend and the 1st game was against an expert and he played f4. He played it the entire tournament against other players as well. Can someone help me what to play as black against opening move f4 the Bird opening?
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We play 1…c5, or 1…Nf6 followed by 2…c5 if you prefer.
Dear Henry,
As Chess Player mentioned below we can continue with c5 - and now building our setups with Nc6-g6-Bg7 that should eventually transpose to one of our opening lines.
Hello again Coach and everyone in Chessmood family,
I thought I saw a little segment on the Bird opening in one of our courses. Do you remember which one?
A question about the Scotch Game
I just started the Scotch Game but when it came to the first section, I was a bit confused about Game 1 or Video number 2. In 6:17, what comes next or what is the plan after Bxc5 then Be6+?
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After this trade you:
- created doubled isolated pawns which are obviously weakness
- entered an opposite colour bishop middlegame scenario which favours the side who is attacking in the current moment(which ,luckily, happens to be white)
- Thanks to point 2 you weaken white squares around the enemy king because no enemy piece can control them in return
- You get a monster bishop on e6 which cannot be challenged by another minor piece. Now your plan is not to trade your pieces and attack the monarch: put your rooks on the e-file, consider f4-f5 pushes and bring the queen closer to action.
