100 Strategic Masterpieces (Game 6)

I finished watching Game 6 of the 100 Strategic Masterpieces. This was one of the training positions provided. The solution was Rb5, with the idea of doubling on the b-file to pressure the b7-pawn, but my question is, why specifically Rb5 instead of any other rook move on the b-file. Rb5 does not seem to come with any additional tempo. So, what is the difference between the Rb5 move and other rook moves on the b-file?

Replies

Looks like Rb2 is also doable, but I think Rook and b5 also makes a pressure on the a5 pawn, tha WHite might sometimes capture after trading on c6 in some occasions.

Impractical-French doubt

In french advance the dream variation seems a bit impractical. We use 3 moves to get the bishop to trade and 1 move to recapture so 4 moves, since opponent made a bishop move, we have used 3 moves to move with the pawns, and more is that opponent can develop 2 pieces in the ⅔ moves waiting for c5 to do c3, and then after we recapture opponent can also delay castling as well and develop or manevear 1 more. so now it is our turn and the score is 2.5/6 - 0/6, we cannot develop our bishop easily so we have to move the knights, now notice that if both knights need to be active they need to use up 2 moves each, so knight1 move 1 and white finishes manevar so atleast score 3/6 - 0.5/6 and after knight1 is done it is 3/6 - 1/6 on castle, knight 2 move 1 4/6-1.5/6 at developing queen and then after knight maneavar itl either be 5/6-2/6 or white begins an attack and we dont have pieces to counter atack or atleast defend

Replies

This is all perfectly true and worrisome, if the position is open!

Since the position is of a closed nature, these tempos do not matter all too much, and it is far more important to secure good squares for your pieces and a good pawn structure.

In the given case, our a8 rook is already active and in a great position (it is easily the best rook on the board for the next many moves), our DSB has a nice spot at e7, our kings knight can go to f5 (say h5 - Nh6 - Nf5 if you don't want to block the DSB) and the other knight does well at b6 from where it eyes a4 and c4.

Of course, White has their own plans, and with accurate play is better, but for Black this is truly a dream position. A clear plan, and with some slow maneuvering a possibility for counterattack!

If you don't get the ‘spirit’ of the position (you often don't know how to continue), I would recommend checking out Tigran Petrosian's games in the French to get a better understanding. If you still don't feel comfortable (as I did), you can always switch the Sicilian!

Hope this helps!

You are correctly identifying that this plan is slow, but it works because the French Advance is a Closed Position.

The locked pawns on d5 and e5 act like a wall. Even if White develops pieces faster, they cannot easily break through this wall to attack you immediately.

You are making a strategic trade-off:

The Cost: You lose time (tempi).

The Reward: You eliminate your "Bad Bishop" (your worst piece) and gain space.

Stonewall dutch

Dear cm family, how to handle the move bf4 after bd6?

https://lichess.org/EERbbAu7/black

Replies

Dear Marius,

Here it's possible to capture.
White get's strong center but weaker Kingside - in the future some Rf6 attacking ideas can happen as well. 

Pawn Structures?

Hi,  Is there a ChessMood course that is recommend to gain better understanding on pawn structures? I've been having a lot of difficulty in the middle games and knowing when to push for pawn breaks, when to take in the center, or a variety of different issues related to understanding what the pawn structure is calling for.  I see there is a pawn endgame course, and a number of middle game courses, but not sure which would help give me more guidance on my pawn play.  

I have the Chess Structures Chessable course from GM Rios, but it's quite advanced for my level, I would say.  Looking for something more digestible like other courses on here that is better suited for me.  

Please let me know.  Thank you. 

Garry P. 

Replies

Hey Garry,

We might have a course in the advanced section, but for now you can check the weak pawn section in the silent strategy, as well the pawn moves section.

Racing 1511 to 2000 Part 4....

👍

Hi,

There is an issue with that video of yesterday. When we try to replay it we get  “Racing from 2005 to 2700.”

Many thanks to ChessMood team  to solve that problem !

Replies

Hey there,

Should already been fixed :-) 

Racing from 200 to 2700 todays event 1/17

Hello 

The event recording from today, 1/17 that is posted is not for 2000-2700, is from a 1500 event. 

Can someone post/update the recording from Saturday 1/17 to the correct youtube recording? I came in late and would like to review the recording. 

Thanks for your help. Thanks Coach Gabu!

Replies

Hello Henry,

I noticed the same. Thank you for the message.

https://chessmood.com/event/racing-from-2005-2700-3

Thanks for helping Marius :-) 

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: 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.

Hi!How i can find right coach for me if forum not available now? I've already had 3-4 coaches during my career,and none of them suited me.

French Attack line I am facing

I am occasionally facing a structure (achieved by a variety of orders) that makes the attack hard. I have actually won these games, but my solution is less than ideal - I basically accept a closed positional game and I happen to have come out ahead on these games, but think they could have gone either way.

Here is one of the opening that leads to this structure:

1. e4 e6

2. Nf3 d5
3. e5 Bd7
4. c3 a6

5. b4 Bb5

6. d4

here I took Bxf1, which made him take with the King and things were ok. But this is just one order where the basic structure has been formed by white, with pawns on d4, c3, b4. on another game the bishop was moved and he castled, then I took the bishop.

I understand c3 is a backwards pawn that creates a target later in the game, but it seems to also shut down c5 before I make it. So my games are becoming slow positional games where i am focused on c3.

Thoughts?

Replies

Dear Paul,

The c3-b4 setup stops our c5 ideas in general - we can try sometimes to play with b6-c5, as well as bring the Knight to f5 and play with h5 moves to keep the Knight safe, it depends a lot on what White will also do.

Blackmood step by step

Chessmood step by step black mood openings…… WHen are these coming out with french attack and dutch attack

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New success story: Becoming an FM with Just 1 Hour of Daily Training

Do you feel stuck at a rating? So did Sandro Safar.

But with just 1 hour a day, he broke past his rating plateau and achieved his life goal—the FM title!
Congratulations Sandro!🎉

What was his routine like? What changes did he make?

Read the full story here:
https://chessmood.com/success-stories/sandro-safar

Replies

Congratulations Master!

I definetly want to follow your steps.

Thanks for sharing your story.  

Very inspiring success story Sandro! Congratulations!! 

😁

hi sandro congratulations ....
greetings from a humble chess player

Great achievement brother 

Congratulations Sandro! A very inspiring story!

Congrats Sandro! Very inspiring story. Question: what time control(s) were your rapid games? Chess.com or Lichess.org? How did you choose your puzzles for warm-up? Thank you.

Jeff (Chessmood lifetime subscriber)

Congratulations Friend! Who knew just 1 hour training can make you FM.
Did you mention rapid as in Lichess, upto about 20 mins or chess.com upto daily?
Childish question: If 1 hour of training made you FM, then 1.30-2.00 hours could make you A WORLD CHAMPION GM right?
I definitely want to be a strong player like you! Hope I do. But I have to wait😆. 

This all is amazing! Congratulations, Sandro! Well-deserved :)

Strategic Masterpieces Game 5

I watched Game 5 of the Strategic Masterpieces today, and I have a question for one of the moves. In the position attached, Black played dxc4 and opened the d-file for White. However, my question is, what happens if Black plays something else and keeps the d-file closed? For example, they play a move like Rc8? What would be the plan?

Replies

Dear Teddi, in the position the pawn is on c3, so dxc4 is impossible. Can you please post the correct position? 
Thank you :-)

Caro kann defense

In caro kann after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3

The move Bd3 is played so that black cannot play Bf5.

My first question is that after 4. Bd3 Nf6 black can play Bg4 next. Should white prevent this by playing 5. h3 move?

My second question is that some black player plays g6 followed by Bf5. Should white prevent this by a move like Qc2?

Replies

These replies are both in advanced course (https://chessmood.com/course/caro-kann-defence), but here is a short summary for you:

After 4… Nf6, play in the same manner you would as against 4… Nc6:

4… Nf6 5.c3 Bg4 6.Qb3 and if Black goes for Qc8/d7 this will just transpose.

If Black plays 6… Qc7 (preventing Bf4), I like to play 7.Ne2 followed by Bf4. Blacks best reply is 7… Bxe2 8.Bxe2, but this is a pleasant position for us.

After some g6 setups, i would recommend you play in the normal way again (No Qc2 moves for now). When black plays Bf5, it is usually good to respond with Ne5 (or if your knight is already there that is also great) and recapture with the knight on d3 (Bxd3 nxd3). In this pawn structure, the d3 square is really, really (really) good for the knight, so despite exchanging your good bishop, this is still a very nice position.

I hope this helps, and if you have any more questions, let me know!

Opening questions

Hello dear ChessMood Team,

My name is Mustafa Alnajmi, and I am an approximately 1850 FIDE rated player.

For most of my chess life, I played 1.b3 (Nimzo–Larsen Attack) as White. Recently, I decided to switch to 1.e4, mainly because the ChessMood courses are excellent, practical, and very convincing.

As Black, I have always played the Caro–Kann Defense against 1.e4.

While building my new White repertoire against the Caro–Kann, I noticed something interesting:
the specific Caro–Kann line that I play as Black is not covered in the ChessMood 1.e4 vs Caro–Kann course. After studying the position more deeply, I even found that my Black setup might be quite solid against the recommended White plans (I am not claiming an advantage for Black).

So here is the funny part 😄
I actually need help as White when facing my own Caro–Kann line.

I will write the exact variation I play as Black below, and I would really appreciate guidance on:

how White should approach this position,

what plans or ideas White can use to fight for an advantage,

or whether a different setup is recommended.

Thanks a lot for your time and for the amazing work you do!

Here is the variation recommened in the course
 

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. Nd2 e6 9. Ngf3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rae1 Bxf3 13. Nxf3 Nd7 14. Re3 Rfe8 15. Rfe1 Nf8 16. Qd1 *

And here is what in my reportoire as black agianst this line.
If 12.Rae1.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. c3 Bg4 6. Qb3 Qd7 7. Bf4 Nc6 8. Nd2 e6 9. Ngf3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rae1 Bxf3 13. Nxf3 Rfb8 14. Re3 b5 15. Rfe1 b4 16. Qd1 bxc3 17. bxc3 Rb2.

Your help is so much appreciated

Replies

I think rather than re3 I would play with ne5 and let's say same plan with b5 I would play a3 and then when a5 i can get queen back to c2 now if black pushes b4 after capturing the knight is hanging is he takes our knight it is a fork if they don't take and take on d4 simply qc3 and we have strong position. I honestly think it's a nice lines for black but playable for both sides with a slight advantage for white.

Sounds like the question is resolved?

Feedback

I watch the very usefull videos of important historic games, but I encounter rare but serious mistakes in the comment. I would like to give feedback, so you might repair these rare mistakes, to not confuse your students. How can I do that?

Replies

Hi, Dear Vincent, 

If you are sure you found a mistake, we would love to hear about that and take it into consideration to fixate.
You can post the screenshot of the game and add your note so we can check it.
Thanks for being concerned :-) 

Result for Mr. Avetik

As you asked in the reply for my review in black mood here is the details
youth finals 2025
day1: game 1white(1477 fide)-opponent(-) win
game2black(1477)-opponent(1667 i think) loss-12 or so
day 2: game 3white(1477 fide)-opponent(-) win
game 4black(1477 fide)-opponent(- but blitz format topper) win
game 5white(1477 fide)-opponent(1590 or less) loss -14 or so total -26.2
day 3: game6black(1477 fide)-opponent(-) win
game 7white(1477 fide)-opponent(1550 or so) win +25 total -1.2
day 4:black(1477 fide)-opponent(1600) draw +8-10 or so total-+7-8
white(1477 fide)-opponent(1532 AFM-my first rated opponent and first rated player i ever beat he had been training seriously hard since he lost to me when i was unrated) in a play for win decline draw (because i was playing for a chance to play with foreigners) and take risk for the win i put aside a draw and went for a risky attack and lost the game -15 i think

Replies

when I have an error

I am working on section 2 of Ninja tactics. Ihave a a few-not many- errors on the training positions. I see that I can retry to get a correct answer and I have done that. But I thought that the website stored my errors for  me somewhere so that I could review those positions later. Was my thoought incorrect, or can someone tell me how to navigate to the area that in fact does store my errors? thanks

Replies

If you click on your profile icon on the top right of the screen and select “Profile”, you will go to your profile page with a list of options on the left. Select “AI coach”, and you will find a couple of AI tools. Your mistakes will be saved in the “BugZone”, and you can remove them from there by solving the puzzles again.

Thanks for helping, Dylan :-) 

Anti-Sicilian part 2

Dear Coach,

In the Anti-Sicilian course part 2 this move e6 isn't covered and I really dislike 6:o-o with nc6 and b3 do you have another way of playing which black is uncomfortable in. Please tell me like 4-5 moves after this and the plans and ideas. Thank you so much!

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/HW9JKihtz/analysis?move=9

Replies

Can you please clarify the question? It's for White or for Black?

Fen

does the website provide the Fen for the different positions-for example I am working on Ninja tactics section 2-is there a way to access the Fen of any of those training positions?

Replies

Hey Ronald,

That would be a good addition here (right-clicking on any diagram and getting the FEN).

I’m putting together a pdf with fens and pictures of the positions to help me get through the first few layers of the simplified openings here on CM.

There is a service out there (costs money, of course) that recognizes most diagrams and can even link positions to historical games.

Try doing a web search asking for an app that can recognize chess diagrams and return the fen. i don’t get any commision and i forget the name of it, but i’m thinking i should try to get back to it.

Also, at the bottom of the drop-down menus for most (all?) courses here there are pdfs with lots of good information.

Tell you what … this place (ChessMood) is a gold mine.

Pirc/ Modern Defense Opening Doubt

I have a few questions regarding the Pirc/Modern Defense. 

1. Please let me know when the courses on modern defense will be completed. Also, please add a few model games for modern defense in the lines: 1. e4 g6, 2. d4 Bg7, 3. Nc3 c6, 4. h3 d6, 5. a4—I understand it is similar to the Philidor defense setup, but there the Black's DSB was on e7, and here it is developed to g7, putting pressure in the center. Since the modern defense is a bit complicated, some more explanation could be useful. 
2. How are we continuing after  1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 Nc6 &  1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 Nbd7.
3. How are we continuing after  1. e4 g6 2. d4 c6

If it takes time to complete the course, at least please explain a few ideas for White in this exact setup with Black's DSB on g7 (referring to point 1), and if you could, please share the link to a model game (if any) played by the Chess mood family.

Also, give a brief explanation on how we are continuing after black plays the sidelines (referring to points 2 and 3, and if I missed any, please mention that too). Because the Modern/Pirc is a tricky opening, and they have options to change the move order and trick us into a position outside our chess mood repertoire. 

It would be really helpful if you could provide a brief explanation on how we are continuing until the course is prepared, so meanwhile I can try to work on it by myself until then. 

Replies

Hi Aswin,

We are planning, in general, to have additions to the opening lines that are missed. I will struggle to provide advice where it's not covered, as it's not yet decided where we go in the future courses.

If this is that urgent for you, you can try to follow the games of stronger players in those positions - that's what I usually do.

Opening Doubt in Scotch game

Hi chessmood family! 

In Scotch Opening: 

(a) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bb4+ 5. c3 Bc5 6. Be3 Qf6 (In the course, only 6. ...Bb6 is mentioned with the model game of IM Torosyan but after 6. ...Qf6, aren't we transposing to 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3, Another mainline in the Scotch opening, which we don't play?   Yes, he wasted a tempos with ...Bb4-c5 and it is should to play here. Is this tempo worth it? How should white continue? Please let me know, or please add a section in the Scotch explaining how to deal with this situation.

(b) Also, please expand on the 4...Nf6-8.h4 a5 line with some additional theory/model games because I think that is recommended by some coaches/authors. 

In the course after 8.h4 a5 9. c4 Ba6, is mentioned. But many courses suggest 9…Nb6 as an extra option. 

What is the best way for white to continue here?

Replies

(a) - https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/3dSGbWkH8r/analysis?move=19

I love this position with f4 it feels like a sort of Sicilian style and we are making use of black poorly deveoloped pieces maybe in future we will play nc2 and trade off bishops, and continue by putting our rook on f3 and Manuvering the other knight to f1 through d2 and then have a strong mass of pieces on the kingside and start a attack slowly with a careful pawn push. It feels like white is doing awesome and for black it looks so weird even though engine gives white slight advantage for me personally it looks like plus 2.

(b) - I also face trouble 

Hey there,

In the mainline, we have made our choice, and if you want to investigate the other option further, you are welcome.

Regarding 9…Nb6 move, White can play with h5 - sometimes h6 ideas. If Ba6 then b3. If a4 than there are several moves for White - Nd2, Nc3, h6. Those are practical, playable positions for both sides, and you can dive much deeper as you want.