Chess forum by Grandmasters

When a 1550 player defeats a WIM

First defeat a player with 2421 rating, now a WIM! I'm a master capybara! rs
All thanks to GM Avetic and his insane attack lessons!
Opponents see my rating and ignore that my stinger is deadly!
https://lichess.org/rHYj1yxt8MbB 

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Very Good Game

Yes, i am aware that i was lucky in this victory. I will follow your guidance!
Winnig is fun, but no ilusions!

NEW WAY TO WIN MOODCOINS

As I watched sections in many courses, I have a suggestion that I believe ChessMood administration takes into consideration as per the following:

1) The Test section in all courses shall be in such a way to enable the "student" to submit answers and win points.

2) Each quiz in the test shall have timing, let's say 1min or 30seconds, etc... in order to help the person taking the quiz to enhance and quicken his thinking.

3) After completing the test, the "student" shall receive a score; accordingly, this score shall be converted into Moodcoins.

Hence, this will make the courses more interesting and challenging and force the "students" to get encouraged to watch more courses.

The video of the solution of the quiz section shall be available to the "student" after he finishes the quiz.

What do you think?

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Pretty Interesting Idea 

DAILY PUZZLE OF JANUARY 1, 2022

Dears;

I have tried to solve the daily puzzle of January 1, 2022 and the correct way to solve it is to promote the f-pawn to Knight. However, the system is giving "error - try again" when I promote the f-pawn to Bishop while I cannot see any error.

In both cases, the ending with a Knight and Bishop or double bishop will be won for the white; hence the system shall not give "error - try again" when the f-pawn is promoted to a bishop.

Do you second me?

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If you had a light-squared B  a n d  a dark-squared B, then the ending would be won, but please look at the puzzle again and you will se why only promoting into a N is correct ... ;-)

Important missing line in 4...Bc5, 8...Nd4 Scotch

I just faced this line in an online game and would appreciate if it was covered.

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https://chessmood.com/course/scotch-game/episode/1983

Scotch game question!!

sir i have a question about the scotch game...i find hard to react in 6th move Qf6 move..in section 2 of scoth game...1. e4-e5 2. Nf3-Nc6 3. d4-exd4 4. Nxd4-Bc5 5.Nb3-Bb6 6.Nc3-Qf6....

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Hi Jay

I think Qe2 and then we just transpose into the other lines after d6 or Nge7... we also have Nd5 options,  along with h4, Bg5 ideas.

Hope this helps

Hello Jay, according to my analysis, Mik is right, but the whole line goes like this: 7. Qe2 Nge7   8. h4 h6  9. Be3 d6 10. 0-0-0 Bd7  11. g3 0-0-0  12. Bxb6 axb6  maintaining a slight +0,2 advantage and switching to the queenside. Hope this helps!

I just play Qe2, Be3 and long castle reaching normal positions. Remember that when the knight goes to e7 we use to play f4.

Na5 .v. Bb5 ? Sicilian

Hi -- Sure I saw some comments on this in another thread but cannot find it.  Just played a game where my opponent played this move. Hence  e4 c5: Nc3 Nc6 : Bb5 Na5 . Ideas ? 

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Just be ready to enter a favorable Open Sicilian effectively a tempo up.

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and the entire ChessMood family a happy and prosperous new year!! :-D

Few ways to Improve in chess.

I'm stuck in 1800 lichess rating. What should I do?

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Work hard. No magic pill sorry 

I would recommend to read Chess Strategy for Club Players by Herman Grooten. I'm sure you will jump to 2000 after this read :-)

If you are a PRO Member, you should watch all the Commented Classical Games etc. If not, you should watch the videos available on the Chessmood's Youtube Channel.

There are also lots of interesting articles in the Blog section of the site, you should read some of them and apply the tips, make your daily chess routine etc.

Good luck & Happy holidays :-)

Below 2000 on lichess games are lost due to tactical ability.

https://chessmood.com/blog/which-chess-openings-books-courses-to-learn

GM Harikrishna's Antidote to our Anti-Sicilian Setup

The title of the thread says it all and I was unable to find any real White advantage after Harikrishna's idea of 9...g6!?, which I think is a novelty. Hopefully, the ChessMood team will be able to do better than I did:

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How about 7.Nd5!? idea (instead of 7.b3) which was analysed in Gawain Jones book "Coffeehouse chess 2021"? Does Harikrishna mention it?

I played OTB classical game with 7.Nd5 this summer vs IM and got good position as white

After 9...g6 10.Nd5! 10...Bg7 11.Nf6 Bf6 12.e5 gives white easier game. 
I went deeper, but we didn't create this repertoire showing how to get advantage for White by playing 1.e4 :) :) 
If anyone could do so, would get a noble prize :) 
Our repertoire is super practical. Please don't forget it. 
Merry Christmas :) 

When a 1500 uses a Mortal Gambit!

https://lichess.org/sek7TZGP

é assim que eu trato caras com somente 2409 de rating!???? is how I treat guys with only 2409 rating!????
I ended my opponent's dream of becoming a GM! Thanks GM Avetik!

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Nice one, it does not happen often that you can defeat a 2400 with such rating difference. Well done Irair!

excuse me

i am not a pro member but still i can see pro member forums

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Thanks @Lebuta_Dampty for the info, but can I ask if you can see the contents of the posts? Because a normal user can see the titles of the posts but not the contents. Thanks in advance!

Looking for Training Partner

Good day! Hi, guys.I am Yong Zhun from Malaysia and my lichess blitz rating is 2334,rapid is 2266.     

I would like to find a traning partner. Pls help me thanks!

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i am interested

Hello, my name is Jean-Pierre Singher.

If you are looking for a training partner, I might be available. I am from Canada eastern time zone.

My rating is close to 2100 in tournament games with 1 hour and 30 minutes + 30 seconds.

Let me know if ok for you.

I am interested as well. My blitz is well over 2200 and my rapid is 2300 on lichess. I am from US Central Time Zone.

Let me know if you are interested.

By the way, you can also post at what time can you train and time zone, what kind of training would you like to do in order to find someone, your age, availability, etc... The more detailed the information provided, the easier will be to find someone....

Hello guys, I am yongzhun and 15 years old from Malaysia and my time zone is GMT+8. I can train with you anytime if u re free. I will use zoom as our platform.And our training consist studies opening, middlegame and endgame together. Hope can find a suitable partner for me. Thanks!

Question about Daily Lesson with a GM 351

https://youtu.be/lHUnNYvvJEw

At 6:08, i.e. https://imgur.com/a/PFUrFfp, instead of the given 1...Kxg2, why not 1...Kf4 2.Kd5 (2.Bc2 Kg3) 2...Ba7 etc.? Black aims to swap g4 for e4, getting a passed pawn of their own, and White can't protect both pawns with the Bishop. 

I thought this also draws. Can someone tell me what am I missing?

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You could enter the position on the lichess analysis board and click the book icon. This opens the tablebases. You can also turn on the engine and explore your idea to understand why it doesn't work.

This position as GM Hovhannes shows is just lost for Black, no matter if you play Bxg2 or Kf4 as you suggest. The extra pawn on the a file is decisive. For example you mentioned a possible variation: In case of 1...Kf4 White will play 2.Kd5 you said 2...Ba7 but this a big blunder due to Bxg4 and after Black takes the Bishop, Kxe5 will be impossible for White. Black can never get a passed pawn on their own if White plays correctly.

Is it a good idea to play more than one opening to improve?

Is it a good idea to play more than one opening to improve? This would expose oneself to different types of positions, different pawn structures, plans etc. (e.g. 1. ..c6 differs considerably from 1. c5).
Would this improve my middle games strength, or should I rather aim to stick with only one opening and become an expert in this one opening only, understanding the intricacies of this opening extremely well?

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Hello :)

I've read some interesting posts about this subject a few weeks ago on another platform.

Here is the link: https://www.chessable.com/discussion/thread/507784/openings-span-classhighlightdepth-orspan-breadth-/

An interesting fact is that the interesting answers come from a strong player who is part of the Chessmood Family :D

Happy holidays!

imho. i myself like to change my opening after 50-60 rapid game, so i can get the "Feel" of some opening. and then focus to learn deeply to the opening that more "my style". So I  have a depth understanding for some opening  with Black or White, and some moderate knowledge to others opening.

Blocking tactic - 2 forms

The blocking tactic name is being reused for two different sorts of tactical operations.

The first is a block where a mobile unit, a pawn cannot advance because something is in the way and it captures a different way. There was a tactical book 'Alekhine's Block' which gave examples of of such tactics (whether Alekhine was the first remembered to play this, write about it, or the most famous who knows).

The second is preventing the escape of a piece, here the king (although encircling other pieces ought to be considered the same idea) which is a very different manoeuvre, and perhaps in warfare would be called pinning down (probably not a good name for chess because of the confusion), but I don't think blocking is good either. Encirclement or preventing escape is perhaps better.

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Encirclement is being used at chess.com in the puzzles section, as well as in lichess.org. 

Scotch 4.. Bc5 variation with 6.. Nge7 and 7.. a7-a5

I just encountered the following:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. d4 exd4

4. Nxd4 Bc5

5. Nb3 Bb6

6. Nc3 Nge7

7. Qe2 a5!?

It appears this move actually playable. How do we best counter it?

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a4 would be my initial reaction its quite typical when black pushes a5

 We could also go bg5 instead of Qe2, though I prefer Qe2 and a4 in response. Maybe Be3 first and if a4 by black take on b6 followed by Nb5 threatening some nasty checks on d6 if black takes the piece.

I have also faced this abnormal 7. ... a5 variation, and the best continuation according to my opinioin is the following: 8. Be3 Bxe3  9. Qxe3 a4  10. Nd4 a3  11. b3 0-0  12. Nxc6 Nxc6 (+0.4 advantage) orelse    8. Be3 a4  9. Bxb6 axb3  10. Be3 bxa2  11. Bd2 0-0  12. Bc4 d6 (+0,3 advantage). Anyway this may not be the best solution but I would be glad if this was helpful for you. 

Scotch game continuation with c5 after Qd4 (knight exchange)

Hi All,

New member here, was just going through the scotch opening theory in detail and didn't find the continuation for the move c5 after Qd4 (exchange knight and queen occupy the centre). It appears a good move as its supported by bishop and the only continuations I could figure out are exchange queens after Qe5+ or move the Queen back to Qd1. Can someone please help me on this ?

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Could you post the exact line? If its the one I think you mean, c5 is a awful move.

It chronically weakens d5 Square and leaves the d6 pawn on a half open file unsupported., why would your only options be to go Qe5+ or Qd1. Whats wrong with qd3, followed by be3, Nc3,0-0-0. Putting huge pressure on the d6 pawn and we just have much better version of the other passive lines. g4/h4/g5/h5 etc are all in our plans and we develop really quickly.

Scotch via 2.d4 / Danish ?!

1) Would it be a reasonable idea to try to play into the Scotch via 2.d4, exd4 3.Nf3, at least on a level under 2000 ELO?
An advantage would be to significally reduce the amount of opening theory one has to learn by avoiding openings like the Philidor, Petroff and the “abracadabra gambits”, the disadvantage that comes to mind is that Black cannot only reply with 3…Nc6 (transposing directly into Scotch), but Black could also play 3…Bb4+ or 3…Bc5 or 3…d6.

2) Or maybe only trying to play into the Scotch via 2.d4, exd4 3.Nf3,  i f  one knows that an opponent usually plays the Philidor, the Petroff or an “abracadabra gambit”?

3) Any suggestions on some lines and ideas against the above mentioned 3…Bb4+ or 3…Bc5 or 3…d6?

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Thanks for your feedback, Akiba.
I think it would still be great to hear coach Avetik’s on this as the author of the “Scotch Opening” course, as the practical advantage of significally reducing the amount of opening theory one has to learn is clearly there, while still transposing into our loved Scotch opening most of the times. So valuable time could be freed up for spending even more wisely on e.g. middlegame courses.

Or what exactly would be the big disadvantage of having to deal with 3...Bc5 or 3...Bb4+ in my line given above that would negate this advantage ?
(3...d6 is no problem, as it directly transposes into a Philidor line)

Chessmood Odysseus, maybe you could ask coach Avetik for his thoughts?

The Trompowsky Coverage

I posted essentially the same below question sometime back on this forum but never received an answer, so I'm trying my luck once more. You can ignore the 2...g6 part of the below query if you wish, my question relates more specifically to the structure arising after b3 followed by c4.  :-)

Adapted from the chessable forum

Seasons Greetings Gawain,

I'm truly enjoying every minute of your fresh take on the 2...g6 Tromp, it seems like an extremely efficient way for KID and Grunfeld players alike to deal with this always annoying and popular White system.

I observed too that noted Tromp specialist himself Andreikin has also employed 2...g6 recently, which is a good theoretical sign. Be that as it may though, I was wondering how you propose we treat the structure when White prepares the c4 push with b3. Below are two illustrative examples of what White is trying to achieve, and this is the approach recommended by GM Antoaneta, Stefanova in her (Non-Chessable) Trompowsky course:

Georgiev,Ki (2680) - Horvath,Ad1 (2495) [D00]

22nd ECU Club Cup Feugen AUT (4), 11.10.2006

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.e3 c6 5.g3 Bd6 6.Bg2 0-0 7.Ne2 Be6 8.0-0 Nd7 9.Qd3 f5 10.b3 Nf6 11.c4 Qd7 12.Nbc3 Rac8 13.c5 Bc7 14.b4 h5 15.h4 Rfe8 16.Nf4 Bxf4 17.exf4 Ne4 18.Ne2 b5 19.a4 a6 20.f3 Nf6 21.Ra3 Qb7 22.Qd2 Ra8 23.Rfa1 Reb8 24.Bf1 Ne8 25.Nc1 Nc7 26.Nd3 f6 27.Be2 Qc8 28.Nc1 Bd7 29.Bd3 Qf8 30.Ne2 Qe8 31.Kf2 g6 32.Nc3 Kg7 33.Nd1 Be6 34.Ne3 Qd7 35.Qc2 Rh8 36.axb5 axb5 37.Ra7 Rxa7 38.Rxa7 Ra8 39.Rxa8 Nxa8 40.g4 hxg4 41.fxg4 Qc7 42.Ng2 fxg4 43.Bxg6 Qa7 44.f5 Bf7 45.Qe2 Bxg6 46.Qxg4 Qa2+ 47.Kg3 1-0

Stefanova,Antoaneta (2478) - Peptan,Corina Isabela (2439) [D00]

EU-ch (Women) 5th Dresden (9), 30.03.2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.e3 c6 5.g3 Bd6 6.Bg2 0-0 7.Ne2 f5 8.0-0 Nd7 9.b3 Nf6 10.c4 Be6 11.Qd3 a6 12.c5 Bc7 13.b4 b5 14.cxb6 Bd6 15.b7 Ra7 16.a3 Qb6 17.Nbc3 Rxb7 18.Rfc1 Rc8 19.Na4 Qa7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Rxc5 Nd7 22.Rc3 Nb6 23.Rac1 Bd7 24.Qc2 Rbb8 25.Nf4 g6 26.Bf1 a5 27.Nd3 Nc4 28.Nc5 axb4 29.axb4 Rxb4 30.Bxc4 dxc4 31.Rxc4 Rxc4 32.Qxc4 Be8 33.Nd3 Kg7 34.Qc3 f6 35.d5 Bf7 36.dxc6 Bd5 37.Nb4 Bf3 38.Qd4 Qe7 39.h3 h5 40.Kh2 Rd8 41.Qc3 h4 42.c7 Rc8 43.Qc5 Qd7 44.gxh4 Qd2 45.Kg3 Bb7 46.Qe7+ Kh6 47.Qc5 Qd7 48.Qb6 Ba8 49.Qxf6 Qd2 50.Qg5+ Kg7 51.Qe7+ Kh6 52.Qc5 Qe2 53.Nd5 Qd3 54.Nb6 f4+ 55.Kh2 Qd2 56.Kg1 Re8 57.c8Q fxe3 58.Qg5+ 1-0

Any insights you can offer on how best to counter White's plan of gradual queenside expansion would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, Fantastic job on Part 2, and as expected it was certainly well worth the wait!

N.B. - I copied and pasted the above from the chessable forum rather than attempt to locate my original post here. Looking forward to a reply this time around.

Thanks in advance.

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I don't have an answer of course, but I always enjoy your posts and I look forward to the GMs reply :) 

Hi @Kevin_D I will ask Avetik to be sure but in this variation we play h5 and we do not castle short, we delay castle, in the 2 games that you posted they all castled allowing b3, c4. In this case we start the attack sooner with h5, before the b3, c4 plan. Correct me if I am wrong but this is what I have in the Chessmood database of the course.

By the way, you posted your question regarding this 2 years ago, I found the thread, I was not here at the time to remind Avetik... (Last question of the post https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/thoughts-on-the-trompowsky)

Thanks Odysseus, I was thinking about the structure more in general terms but have come to the conclusion that if White plays this way it is best met by energetic play on the Kingside, still I would love to hear what the ChessMood team has to say about it. 

Happy holidays,

Kevin, D :-)

Titled Tuesday / Arena Kings

Hello everyone :)

I wanted to know if Chessmood Grandmasters already planned (or did in the past) streams while playing Chessmood openings during Titled Tuesday or Arena Kings?

Have a nice day :)

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There used to be streams for the online Bundesliga.

No, they do not have the time to play blitz much :-). We make them work hard preparing and analyzing the contents of the courses... ;-)

1.d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 question

In this variation (Veresov? I am uncertain) as black I know we likely play 2...d5 here, but after Bf4 I am unclear how to approach this. Normally I see 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 d5, as in the course about Jobava line, but since here I already have d5 and not g6 I am not quite sure.  

Does anyone have a preferred set up, or is this in the material somewhere that I missed? I appreciate the feedback! 

Matt

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I will ask our GMs about this.

Hi Matt,

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 I would go g6 and basically this is transpo to the course, but imo difference is also that very annoying line for white 3..e6 could be played here as well (as an extra), with ideas Bb4, Nbd7 and c5 using unfortunate Nc3 development.

Of course there's an additional option of 3.Bg5 (Veresov), I dont think this was covered yet, so will be interesting to see what CM GMs suggest.

Btw I used to play this as white in blitz/rapid (learned from GingerGM courses) and this 3..e6 move he mentions as being one of the best for black, so that's that.

Hi Matt,

In my opinion we can go d5 and get a transposition to the other line, or if white goes with Bg5 now, their Knight on c3 is not staying really well. It's in front of the c pawn and white will not really be able to fight well for the center.