Chess forum by Grandmasters

Yanish's Gambit

Hello Chessmood I knew a new lesson for you its Yanish's Gambit for black Hope you will show how we can play with black in Spanish Gambit

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This gambit makes no sense for Chessmood users since we play the Sicilian as Black. The Chessmood GMs work in the lines offered in the repertoire, not random lines or openings... And I hope that you were talking about the "Danish Gambit" because I could not find any reference to the "Yanish Gambit"... ;-)

NEW ARTICLE: Achieve Your Chess Goals Using Warren Buffett’s 5/25 Rule

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I think the bigger lesson is you can't have it all (irrespective of what you are told).

Trying to put numbers of things is artificial, but I would go as far as saying if it's not your focus, you probably won't excel at it. You have to compromise, and sometimes you have to enjoy what you have even though you can't get (significantly) better. That's not to say that if it is your focus you will definitely get better, there are lots of reasons. Nor is there any definition of excel.

In 'Think and Grow Rich' the central message (and I could pretty much save you reading the whole book) is that to get rich you have to have a single focus and Napoleon Hill believed you had to burn all your bridges - no going back to get there - do or die (there is dispute as this being the only factor that some of the big names he investigated also were in the right place at the right time - see Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell). I suppose by the same token that getting rich as your only focus, you miss out in life and ironically have lots of money, but aren't really able to enjoy it so you better be enjoying the business you set up as that becomes your life.

More points and expansions in further replies.

As to excel - what is meant by excel in chess that means a goal is reasonable given the time or amount of focus you can put into it. In Lasker's day you could be WC or a strong 'master' and not just be solely a chess player, there wasn't so much to learn and 'common sense' and study of a few greats could take you a long way. You could also be a 'master' of many other things - the investment of time needed was not as great.

Nowadays, to reach a similar percentile it's a lot harder, and even those who do/did other things often got their big chess rises before going off to do other things (Sadler and Kamsky being good examples, but there are plenty of titled players that work in finance for example as it pays a lot more, yet remain pretty strong players). The reason being that there is tons of theory, lots to learn, the competition is stronger - to get there you need to spend so much more time.

It becomes a career, and sadly for most, chess' payback financially isn't enough to support a life much more than getting by (unless you have a lot of students and are well known, or can make it to the top few in your country or the top 20 or so in the world). It's not worth it for that small chance of being successful chess player.

Thus my focus has to be on my work because that is what pays, and the time that is left gets divided up. Now if someone wants to pay my day rate for me to study chess and become titled I'm all ears ;)

It's also possible that you need to study, play and train a lot consistently in a period when you are growing up because of how the brain organises information. Those that start later or cannot put all this time in, may find an uphill struggle. The article does mention about the 40 year old trying to improve. Just how many 40 year olds that weren't pretty strong when they were younger go on to be GMs. Are there many modern examples? Any modern examples? Can other priorities alone explain it. What about retirees, maybe if lucky at 55 who take up chess, they might have time and resources to spend a lot of time on chess. How many 55 year olds went on to become Grandmasters? We know a few grandmasters were still playing at a high level in their 70s or beyond, so given the number that can retire at 55, have a strong passion for chess, and that chess at grandmaster level is not impossible at 65 to give 10 years to work at it, what explains the lack of retirees that make grandmaster level.

What if it's not just about conflicting priorities (real life syndrome) but it's that younger still growing brains can organise the knowledge better with less effort, where as an older brain is less plastic and also doesn't have so many less developed areas to store all the new knowledge arranged close enough together for it to be effective. An area for study perhaps.

Again I don't think it impossible, just it's harder work and then when you add in the other priorities it becomes unobtainable.

please help me

see when I play with black pieces against 1e4

i usually play C5 Sicilian defense but now i am losing a lot of games with it so what happened i went on to play the Sicilian defense but i mouse slipped and it became c6 caro kann and i went on to play the game and win it so now against e4 i always play c6 caro kann but my heart does not like it. it says play the dargon but my mind says play the caro as i have  very very good rate with it but dragon feels a part of my body but caro also so tell me what should i play if dragon then please send me its theory

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please reply

I don't know actually dragon's theory but you should listen to your heart and study it.

If your heart says that you want to play dragon you must play dragon but if you play dragon bad you must practice ot and after it you will play it well also you can try to play  c6 when you want

Bd3 French-A beautiful missed chance!

Analyzing your own games can often be the hardest thing to do. It's personal and somehow requires more effort. So when I'm done with that I often analyze the games of other players looking for the missed chances. I came across this position from GM Avetik's game on lichess. https://lichess.org/6jegRf37#15 

Definitely worth closer analysis for anyone playing this french. Since Black's King delays castling here as he often does, there is a real chance to play like Mikhail Tal!

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Right, Arrik! :) 
I always download my games and check the missed things. The first one was on 13th move, 13.Ndb5! which I had in my analyses but forgot during the game :) 

An Interesting way to avoid Petroff and get into scotch

1.e4 e5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Nf3, Now the petroff is avoided and if Black plays c5, White can go for c3 and I think White is slightly better here because of piece development. and the theory would be little. I didn't look at 3...Nf6 but I think that would still be good for white after 4.e5

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Now, I checked little bit. It leads to exciting position.

Interesting idea. It also leads to open, gambit like positions in many lines that might not be so suitable for the Petroff playes who prefer strategic battle.

The critical response appears to be 3...Bb4+.

seems like I am not the only one who does not like to see Petroff , I would look for this type of options if there were no course in chessmood for Petroff . Our included course is very deep and I guess good .

Then do you guys think it would be better not to study it thouroughly and look for short cuts ?

@Sidharth_Sreekumar 1.e4 e5 2.d4 is the Center Game. Not the most logical move as White is not yet prepared to recapture on d4 with a minor piece, but I am sure it has Fans - both in the Gambit- and in the Bring Out the Queen on Move 3 community.

2...exd4 is obvious, now if you bring out the knight as you suggested, the antidote is very well known for any e5 player, this is why this move order is not good for White 3.Nf3 Bb4+! If 4.Bd2 Bc5

White might win the pawn back eventually but it will cost him time.

 If 4.c3 dxc3 is natural.

I think that this is the right answer... Now you may trick someone playing Nf6, but I do not believe it is worth even the try. Instead the Petroff course is very good and very well researched, I have very good results with the Petroff, before I always avoided it but now I enjoy it very much!

Modern Maroczy tournament interest?

For the Maroczy tournament we had 7 players. This Saturday will be the Modern Maroczy. I wanted to check (if I went to the length of giving this serious study now, rather than a quick look at the summaries and to wing it), that there is enough interest. This is as it's course many wouldn't have taken because it's optional and was aimed at stronger players.

If I'm to be spending a lot of time, it will be a disappointment if there are only 3 of us for example.

So who is interested?

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Hi David, I have planned to take part. But you are right. There is quite a lot to study for Modern Maroczy. Right now, I have watched the introduction and conclusion of all sections to get a general idea about the line. But I am not too sure whether I will be able to have a deep dive into it until next Saturday. But still, I would participate if nothing unexpected comes in between.

Yes, I'm interested and want to join the tournament. It's a great chance to practise. I couldn't  take part yesterday (Maroczy), but Modern Maroczy I should be able. I try to play Modern Maroczy , but there is a lot to learn

I will always play, I enjoy because this is my way to check my knowledge into practice, I think tematic tournaments is simple the best options for improve.

Thanks a lot for our chmood founder for this oportunities. It will be nice when sometimes some  Big Fish like Avetik will play with us xD

List of Streams?

Hi, is there a link to all chessmood streams?  I'd like to watch about one per day until I've caught up on all of them.

Thanks!

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Hi Anthony

Go to Events and search "stream"

Long, long list :)

Best games of April... working?

Hello, I wanted to publish one of my games under the above mentioned topic, but I cannot see it. Is there some problem and could you please solve it? Thank you a lot!

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Or, please just ask your senior programmer Jor to come back to his computer ASAP. :)

Martin, for me it is working. Could you try it again?

I have made a fix , I could see page 3 is loading .

Files uploaded by Vladimir Bugayev  was for some reason was breaking the content , although one of the pgn he uploaded looked to me perfectly fine and really cool game . I will upload that pgn for him in that section again since otherwise no one can see his game . One thing that can help is while you guys are uploading pgn or image file try not use very large descriptive name with lots of different characters in the file , I feel sometime its breaking due to some ( obviously they are valid , not arguing that ) file characters . Till I find actual root cause thats how you can help me . Sorry for all the trouble you guys have faced with such trivial things .

Best time to study courses?

I just opened ChessMood Caro Kann course to revisit it & re_study(?) it, but quickly realised a problem. I started too late tonight, close to midnight & i agreed with my wife to get to bed & sleep before midnight! So, my plan now, is to try coach Avetik's start early work ethic & get up early & do 1 hour on this course before breakfast & the rest of the day! I need to schedule my study!

Who likes study late at night (past midnight)? & who likes early morning study & anyone else in the middle?! ;-) Happy ChessMood course study all!

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Well, it all depends on timings. For a person like me who is focused on improving his skills and have no responsibilities and issue. I work almost whole day. I work well on puzzles in morning and other books in daytime and openings ay night. I only focus on plans and ideas. Rest I can find over board.  Night is perfect time for openings because we dont need to dive deeper in openings. For below 2000 we must focus on middlegames and little endgames is enough.

Openings: Plans and ideas and typical model games.

Middlegames: CM Classical games and a lot books.

Tactics: A lot tactics books.

Endgames: 100 endgames you must know and silman's Endgame Manual. I know on we recommend coach recommended the book on theoretical endgame but that endgame book is so tough even for 2000 elo players. 

Hi Richard,

I would say it works individually for everyone. Up to me, I guess morning sessions may be easier, as we just woke up and so on, but I know many guys doing it at night and feeling well about it)

Almost model game in Stafford Gambit...

...but turned into embarrassment showcasing my lack of knowledge of K+B vs K endgames :(

https://lichess.org/sJTMHIoP

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early Ne5 in the Scotch

It's no big deal bur out of interest as I've had this several times recently what is best after :--

e4:e5-- Nf3 :Nc6 -- d4 :exd4  --- Nxd4 then Ne5 ? 

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Can we go f4 as a response and if Ng6 then just Nc3 and black has knight on g6 and we already have f4 in for a ready made attack. With nornal plans of Qe2,Be3 0-0-0?

SLP

https://lichess1.org/game/export/gif/black/ksMdNCUz.gif

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10 h3 (and 10 f3) in the Maroczy with e4

Both moves aren't covered and are favoured by the computer. I played against 10. h3 tonight and drew, though there were blunders and chances for both sides to win. Opponent is 2100 (and also maintainer of TWIC - ironically [or purposely!] seems to have kept himself mostly out of the databases!), so a draw isn't too bad a result.

Suggestions of how to play against both would be useful (given the tournament is coming this weekend)

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Found reference to this thread:
https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/new-trendy-line-in-the-maroczy

Does go to show though that under 2200 it's not such a problem as there were mistakes to take advantage of, and not just a one way street.

Classical Endgames - Amazing course

I just started with the Classical Endgames course, and I'm just completely blown away. After watching 3 games I feel this is the absolutely most instructive chess material I've ever encountered. It's simply outstanding! Thank you, CM team! Guys - if anyone of you like me have postponed watching this material - don't! It's really great stuff there. 

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Thanks for sharing ...

Have you seen the other endgame videos? 

Is it better to start with the classical endgame course or the pawn endgame course? 

What rating level are these courses made for? 

Starter course openings ... Is there more coming?

Hi,

I am a new PRO Member ordering, and wondering if the Starter course opening epertoire will eventually be expanded and be a complete starter repertoire for Black and White for players like myself who are under 1500 ELO?

Also, I have read that many strong players and coaches recommend starting with classical openings for learning ... as Black, are the Benko Gambit and Accelerated Dragon good for me to start with at my level (around 1100 OTB in all time controls) rather than QGD and 1.e4 e5? 

I have no personal or stylistic preference and spend most of my time studying tactics (around 1800 level on chess dot com ), but would like to play and learn more from games rather than just puzzles, and learn with the good consistent starter openings you recommend.

Thank you

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Another approach is to do the main courses, but try to absorb ideas rather than moves (maybe limit to 3 moves after the last position you know for example). As well as dip in after games to see what you could have / should have played and engine check the opening you did play to try to understand the difference (if inferior). Most of the games at that level (ignoring blunders which also happen at an alarming rate) will be won by tactics and endgame skill and a worse position is often countered by setting problems for (and continuing to press) the opponent who will then go on and blunder at some point almost guaranteed.

Hi Bahram, I would say the most important is to start with openings that are solid and have a good reputation. So you can be sure that spending time on them deepens your chess understanding. And you will not have to change them when your opponents get stronger. So let's look at the main openings by ChessMood for White:

1. e4 e5 - The Scotch. Very classical and even played by Kasparov. However, the h4-line is quite modern and advanced. So in the case of 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 you might switch to the Scotch four nights with 5. Nc3 (this is covered by Yusupov and Sielecki).

1. e4 c5 - Sicilian. A difficult one. I used to play the Smith-Morra Gambit before starting with ChessMood's Anti-Sicilian. This is a really hard stuff because Black has so many options and move orders. However the same is true if you were to play the more classical Open Sicilian. And the White's moves in the Open Sicilian might seem more natural and easy. However, one or two inaccuracies, and you get checkmated. 

1. e4 c6 - exchange variation. I will not say that playing this (for an advantage) is easy. But White's development comes very naturally and the plans are not too difficult to grasp. I would say - a very good choice to start with.

1. e4 e6 - French. 3. Bd3 is a sideline. However, it is a natural move. And in any case, Black will try to attack your central pawns and things can easily get very difficult. The alternative would be the exchange variation suggest by Sielecki (Yusupov covers the advance variation 3. e4-e5 which is not too easy).

So, now let us look for the Black side:

1. e4 c5 - Sicilian - I have not much experience for that on the Black side (I reply 1. ... e5). The advantage is that you will face 1. ... c5 a lot when playing 1. e4. 

1. d4 Nf6 going for the Benko Gambit. Well, even Kasparov covers this opening in his book on modern developments in the 70s and comes to the solution that it is a playable one. Black plays for a win. Following Yusupov a started learning the very classical QGD. Before that, I played the Grunfeld. I think it makes a lot of sense to spend some time on the classical QGD. And then to decide - do I want to play an opening that more or less guarantees me an equal game (but not more), or shall I fight for a win from the very first move. Playing the QGD in a classical and rated OTB game was absolutely fine for me. I focused a lot to be stay concentrated over a long time and to be patient. But in Blitz and Rapid, I had no fun playing QGD. And since we are no professionals, we not to have fun. Playing the Benko is a bit like playing an accelerated Grunfeld. I really like it.

Hey Bahram! 
Right, we're going to have starter course for Black as well. 
For white one will be expanded. 

But it doesn't mean they will be different openings. 
Our choice of openings, is that they're classical, easy to learn and help to improve with your growth. 
For example Benko, will help to understand activity of the pieces, half open lines etc...  

Just go with them. 
And about tactics, don't overdo it. 
Please read the following article: https://chessmood.com/blog/the-myth-about-chess-tactics-and-solving-chess-puzzles 

Thanks everyone ... all good point. I simply don't have the time to go through the full openings course, so I eagerly await the starter course.  I might start with the pawn endgame videos first, then the other endgames videos.

Special thanks to Abhi Yadav and the forum

Last week I played a game were I won against a 2413 in blitz, but the funny thing is that it was thanks to this forum and thanks to @Abhi Yadav. About a year ago, he posted one game were he explained us that there was a fantastic move on the move 5 of a variation in our Sicilian with white with 2...Nc6 Bb5.

He posted the example and I was very surprised and somehow I remembered very good the variation that he explained and I also continued the line a bit because this variation happened to me once and I messed up about 5 months ago.

Now after winning this game I tried to find the post but I had no success. Anyways, this is the first time that I win with this variation, and I hope that many of you will do to if this happens to you. @Abhi Yadav, if you can find the post that you posted in the past, please let us know!

I am pasting the game and take a look at the moves 7 and 8! the rest can be played differently and I even missed one mate... but the Qh5 and a4 are this type of moves that Avetik would say: This is a cheater... No, sensei... @Abhi Yadav, showed it to us...

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Wow Edo! Thank you Chessmood Forum and Abhi!

Hi Edo, that you a lot for your input. 4...Qb6 is indeed a dubious move, and the way to exploit it is perhaps not so straightforward if you see it on the board for the first time.

This weekend I played a blitz tournament on europe-echecs.com. I scored three wins in the first 3 rounds and then I got to play two GMs. I drawed the first and lost to the second. I am telling this because in the second game I lost the I got an early surpise 4...Nf6

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nf3 Nf6!? 5.e5 Nxb5

When my opponent played 4...Nf6 I spent some time and played 5.e5 thinking that he will have to retreat back to g8. After his next move I realized that he will be able to go to d5 if I take the Knight on b5. 

I played 6.exf6 , which unfortunately gives black advantage.

6.exf6 Nxc3 7.fxg7 Bxg7 8.dxc3 h6 9.O-O d6 and Black has a Bishop pair in an open position.

Later I looked into the theory and after:

6.Nxb5 Nd5 7.Ng5 we get quite a funny position. I am attaching the screenshot, where quite a few games where played, among those these two:

Caruana - Carlsen 1-0 https://lichess.org/d8jFc67C 

Grishchuk - Korobov 1-0 https://lichess.org/ZouhmLo2 

So 4...Nf6 can be a surpise weapon in some games. Happy analyzing.

I think i deleted my many useful posts from chessmood in past because people were not interested and looks quiet. I don't like to help quiet people sometimes. But thanks for mentioning me. I respect your appreciation

I played this over board but I did not found Qh5 I think and still I won that game. may be it's in my database

An early e5 & d5 in the Grand Prix

My student played the attached game and run across an early deviation in the Grand Prix. I checked it with Fritz, and the the line appears good and there are no similar games in the database. So I have to come to a higher source for a real suggestion on how to handle it. Comments in the game are mine to my student and a few evaluations from Fritz.

I would appreciate any thoughts.

- Murrel

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Hi Murrel,

3...e5 is terribly weakening d5 square.

After 4.f4 you are right d5 is already complicated.

I will have 2 suggestions. Either take on e5 and after nxe5 play nf3 with a logical development in future of bishop to c4 and short castle or to play in a gambit style with 4.Nf3 sacrifice the pawn and after Exf4 play bc4 followed by castle.

Benko Gambit - 4. b3 or 4. Bg5

I would love to hear the recommendations of the CM GM team about the following deviation in the Benko:

4. b3 - do we take on c4 here or should be play b4 similar to the recommendations against 4. Qc2? Furhtermore, should black here play e5?

4. Bg5 - here d5 as against the Trompowsky is of course not relevant. Should we play 4.. Ne4, or just go for regular Benko moves and "risk" that after g6 white takes on f6?

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For lines, which are not yet covered in the ChessMood courses, I use other sources. Here is what In have in my files. 

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.b3 e6 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 a6 7.bxa6 Ne4 8.Bb2 c4 9.a3 Nxa6

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bf4 Qa5+ 6.Nd2 g5 7.Be3 bxc4 8.Qc2 f5

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bf4 Qa5+ 6.Nd2 g5 7.Be5 Rg8 8.Nf3 Nxd2 9.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 10.Nxd2 d6 11.Bg3 Bg7

These are quite sharp lines. Avetik, if you are reading this, could you please give your opinion?  

We discussed this briefly with the CM team and against Bg5, we have a couple of good and simple options. The first one is just go b4 followed by g6 with our habitual play. The second one would be to play g6 in the 4th move, again trying to reach similar positions. Bg5 is not a good move against this structure, and we need to use the time wisely.

As for 4.b3, there are 2 options, ...bxc4 and bxc4 with a very good structure. c4 is occupied by a pawn, usually this square in benoni like structures is used for a knight, here is is not possible.

The second option would be go g6, Bb2 and Bg7, with familiar structures too. It all depends on your taste, but try to work with familiar structures not memorized lines as much as possible...

Hello Yair,

My opinion is that after b3 case black can be taking on c4 and open up the b file, so the bishop on b2 in the future will be bothered by Rb8 move.

And after 4.Bg5 g6 5.Bxf6 is not dangerous as bishop located on g7 will become powerful with f5 move in future.

A Doubt in the Commented Classical Games

In this position Coach asked to pause the video and think I thought about an interesting idea. The move played in the game is 12.Bg4. The Move I thought is Nb5 (This idea came to my mind from the Daily Lesson of Knight Raid - Thanks!) with idea Na7. Below I am giving the pgn of my analysis.

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Rating Progress

Champions, how many rating points have you raised since joining ChessMood? 
Offline or online. 

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In Chess.com 2185-2502 and In Lichess from 2200-2428[Highest Being 2474]

2000 to 2200 in chess.com and around 150+ rating in lichess

chess.com:2519->2760

c24: N/A (only used to spectate tournaments)

lichess.org: 2402-> 2585(only playing quarantine league; mostly used for storing studies)

FIDE: +79 since Jan 2021

Lichess: 1900-2400

Chess.com: 1800-2200(I don't play much there)

Those were the rapid ones. For the blitz ones, I'm only playing the Bundesligas, so I didn't increase much. My tactics rating is 2500 on lichess and close to 2800 on chess.com

I have gained approx. 450 blitz rating points online - almost 400 rating points in rapid online - 140 rating points USCF OTB, but was halted because we coulnd't play for the last year or so, and I think will increase a lot more now that tournaments are starting up again.

chess.com 1900 to 2100 but not playing there a lot due to interface.

lichess.org  2000 to 2200 highest went 2284 but right now above 2250. Hoping to reach 2300 soon.

I am not offline rated. But I think before chessmood I would have 1200 and now 1750. Online. Bullet +200 (1960), Blitz +400 (1930), Rapid +420 (1921), Classical + 330 (1850). I have been a chessmood member for 1,5 years. 

In the 2 weeks since joining I've gone from 2102->2225 in blitz on Lichess and it is climbing every day.  My puzzle rating has also increased from 2470 to 2580.  Can't wait to see how it affects my OTB rating when that starts up again.  Hope it continues as I learn more lines and do more courses.  I'm delighted!

Around 300 pts on chess.com to around 1900 at 5+0 and hard to say on lichess.

I was up to around 2150 on my old account it got banned for cheating though I didn't, after I did well in a bundesliga tournament and beat a few 2300 players. I even made some big blunders in those games also. I blame chessmood openings! My old account which I went back to is around 2050 but I stopped playing there so much. Though I do prefer 5+3 which is what I am playing on there.

I was 1700 in lichess for many years. A year after joining Chessmood I am 2100, that makes it 400 points. Over the board I won 85% of the games played since November and I am enjoying chess more than ever! I could never have imagined this before, playing the same openings and watching and learning the streams makes the difference!!!