Chess forum by Grandmasters

Interactive lesson - The logic of the openings

Hey guys! 
If you have problems with the "Join event" link, here is the link to the lesson. 
https://youtu.be/kLO3DObOG-Y 

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cool

Crazy or Genius?

Very interesting but white opening like this seems extremely dangerous.

https://www.facebook.com/374333479894337/posts/622994801694869/?vh=e&extid=UYynwAw5u6Hx9SYF

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Hi Brad,

Nice game by Marshall, I did not know about this one. It was fun to watch it, but yes, Black did not play the best moves I think...

Some Advices About Weekly Tournaments

Hi GM Avetik.I have some advices about weekly tournaments:

1.Time control should be 5+3

2.Tournaments should be swiss.So we can play chess.In arena tournaments win streak is more important than number of matches won

3.Also 5+3 a little bit long.So tournaments can be start at 9 AM PST time.

4.Number of rounds can be 9

I think tournaments will be more fun if rules are look above.Also you can add more advices at comments

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Agreed!

I live in India and when the tmt starts, It's already like 11:30 PM! I sleep at 10:30 so I can't play... Can you make it like 1-2 hrs earlier and Swiss so that it's not to long?

Where we can find Chess Mood weekly tournament information?

Visualization

Hello everyone

I am practicing visualization from 1 week

I think I can see the board clearly

I have seen 71 move games also with accuracy of 90%

I can also see the diagonals

What step should I take next to improve it?

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I have been playing 1-2 blindfold games daily against Ahbi to help with visualization. Not only am I seeing the whole board and where the pieces are in my head, I am also getting much better at calculating variations accurately even with out seeing the position on the board. 

Questions about new courses or updates

Hi GM Avetik, I have a few questions or suggestions about new courses,updates.

I will not ask about the extension of the course against 1.c4, because you have already answered that it will appear soon. Same as 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 for black in the accelerated dragon variant.
However, I have some suggestions for the further development of chessmood:
1. Course for white against 1.e4 Nc6
2. Course for white against 1.e4 b6
3. Course for black against Bird opening 1.f4.
4. Update in Sicilian defense for black against gambit 1.e4 c5 2.a3 Nc6 3.b4.
5. Update in French defense against variant 1.e4 e6 2.d4 b6 and maybe even against 1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5
6. Scotch Game update against variant 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Ne4. I had one batch in this variant and Stockfish is proposing Nd2 here, I think it would be worth mentioning something like that.

Question 1: Will there be an alternative odds for Black against 1.e4? You mentioned that you played the French defense for a long time so maybe this is an idea?

What do you think?

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Good suggestions on the whole, but I think French is difficult to learn for black as it has many good variatioan for white, classic, Tarasch, advance, Schlechter, black can also play Rubinstein variation and the stuff is way too big to remember. I prefer Sicilian accelerated dragon, sometimes in rapid or blitz play Najdorf and Schevenningen with good results overall.

Against Bird opening I play 1. f4 d5 2. e3 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. b3 Nf6 5. Bb2 g6 fianchetto variation in reversed dutch. Stonewall I believe it is good but does not appeal to my playing style. I recently played the above variation in Bord opening theme on lichess and beat opponents whose rtg was 1900. If 1. f4 d5 2. e3 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 I offer here Bd7 with O-O-O plan.

Against French variations 1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5 and 1. e4 e6 2. d4 b6 I play 1. e4 e6 2. d4 ... 3. Bd3 and then 4. Ne2 and not 4. Nf3 as GM Avetik explained in the courses, with good results overall.

Hi,

Against Bird I play: 1. f4 g6 2. Nf3 d5 3.e3 Bg7 4. Be2 Nh6 5. O-O O-O

or

1. f4 g6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O O-O

Against Wing gambit 2.a3 I play 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 5.Nf3 Nc6

About new openings against 1.e4 I think the philosophy of this site/family is not having a wide choice of openings, but having a few selected openings that allow us to grow our chess. Streams, webinars will focus on these openings. I prefer to be an "expert" in one opening than having shallow knowledge of several openings. So I think it is better to keep updating the current openings with advanced content, commented games, and typical mistakes than introducing new openings. Just my opinion.

Super-Sharp Advance variation

Hello! What do you think about the super-sharp Advance variation of the Caro-Kahn? After 1.e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3? What are white’s typical moves here?

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theoretically it seems to be perfectly fine for black, practically it is dangerous for both. If you are good in tactics, and analyse the arazing positions, than go for it

It is the most aggressive line in Caro-Kann, advance variation.

Aggressive players, including Anand, Shirov, and Kasparov have played it, not because it gives advantage to White; These aggressive players search fish in muddy water.  Caro-Kann is very sound and reliable. This line is dangerous for both sides. If you play it against a well prepared strong defensive Caro-Kann player, you are taking a lot of risk! In most cases Black ends up with better pawn structure.

Some continuations for White: (Black is OK in all of them)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 c5 7.Be3 h5 8.dxc5 hxg4 9.Nd4 Nh6

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 c5 7.h4 h5 8.Nf4 Bh7 9.Nxh5 Nc6 10.dxc5 Bxc5

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 c5 7.h4 h5 8.Nf4 Bh7 9.g5 cxd4

Suggestion for Webinars

Due to a demanding job, I cannot attend most of live events, but I like to watch the recordings in the evenings. It is a pity, because I miss the interactive part that is very important, but I will go straight to the point:

Currently, we have:

- Insightful Chessmood selected opening courses with continuous updates

- Invaluable Classic games analyzed by a GM in depth

- Unique "Happy pieces" positional course

- Step by Step Endgame Course (in inception, but growing )

- Streams with the Chessmood opening played by a GM

- Webinars to review common mistakes in the openings

- Great Interactive lessons with GM

- Simul games with GM

- Other events

MY SUGGESTION:

During the Streams of blitz games (for example, the "From 1600 to 2400" series), I feel I miss a lot of things that are happening in the games and the GM has no time to explain it properly. However, the blitz game included in the Advanced section of the Rossolimo course (Ma3eledonia vs Avetik) is superbly analyzed and commented and it has seemed really interesting and instructive to me.

My suggestion would be to create a periodic webinar where GM Avetik analyzes and comments in depth the more interesting games played by him with Chessmood Openings.

Just my two pence ;-)

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Hey Sergio! 
Thank you very much for all good words and suggestion. 
I have thought about that and I think you'll like my ideas. 
After each course, I'm going to add 2 section. Model games - where I'm going to comment the most instructive games played by me, you, any of our ChessMood Family members. 

And the section "Typical mistakes" where I'm going to show typical mistakes that our team is doing. 
How's that? :) 

Can you guess it? :)

We just launched a new course :) 
Can you guess the name without watching in chessmood.com/courses ? :) 

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Left to right:Paul Morphy, Mikhail Tal,Alexander Alekhine

benko gambit

hi in the karpov-salov game of the mainline of benko gambit,salov played Bd4 to prevent Ne3 followed by Nc4 but what if we play Ra4 and stopping Ne3 by attacking e4 pawn and when white plays f3 to defend it we play Bd4.... Can anyone help pls

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cant you just throw this line in an engine?

Hey Sharan, you are a PRO Member right? 
The main channel questions I may miss, so please post in the PRO Members channel. 
And please add screenshots of the question or send a video link and mention the moment. 

Tactics from day 1 of FIDE olympiad

Hello,
I am FM Nikhil Dixit,
I and my friend started a website called https://chessarticle.com/ where we post new articles and book reviews. already we have published more than 28 articles. we publish articles every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. 

here is our latest article link in which we have selected tactics from FIDE olympiad day 1 - https://bit.ly/3aRDrHR   
I hope you will like this if you like then share and subscribe to our newsletter, thank you!

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Cool! 

Benko gambit

Hi sir , when are u going to release other advanced section videos for benko gambit and what about 4. A4 and nd2 lines??

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Sharan, I'm rerecording now the full course, adding lots of new interesting stuff. 
Against Nd2 and a4, I recommend to play b4. Check it out the last webinars. 

Guess the move

Today, during analyzing the game of my student, which was played in the Olympiad, we reached to this funny position. Guess what was White's last move :) 

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Nh8 threatening mate? 

Nh8 threatening mate by Neg6

Nexg6# or Nhxg6# !!

Nexg6 or Nhxg6

Yeah, was Nf7-Nh8! :) 

Anti Sicilian Part 1

Hello GM Avetik

There is some problem with one of your recommended variations in anti sicilian course . here it is :

1.e4 c5 2.Cc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Cf3 Fg7 5.Fc4 Cc6 6.0-0 Cf6 7.d3 0-0 8.De1 e6 9.e5 Ce8 10 Fe3 b6

so here . What if black plays 10.....d5 instead of b6 ????

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If C=Knight, D= Queen and F= bishop 1st how the bishop can come to f3 from c4? and 2nd F means both Bishop and Rook? Because I know russian characters K=Knight, C= bishop, Λ=rook, Φ=queen, Kρ= king. Please clarify the symbols and then I think I can help.

If you mean 10. Be3 d5 then a playable variation occurs after 11. Bxc5 dxc4 12. dxc4 Ne7 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. Ba3 a6 15. Qf2 f6 16. Bd6 Qd8 17. Ba3   the Knight on e7 is pinned and you have a very easy game. English symblos kNight, Bishop, Rook, Queen. Correct me if I am wrong sonewhere. 

We can play Bishop to b3, then follow with c3,d4 and set a rock-solid center.After that we will focus on a kingside attack without an open centre and queenside.We can practice that line if you want, on chess.com

Hey Javad. In the adv. section, I recommend Bb5 move instead of Be3. 

Which is better?

Should we play Maroczy Bind or Modern Maroczy Bind as black

If we play 1st, we have to leave the 2nd and vice versa

Both are equally interesting

What to do?

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play some games. and then decide, what kind of position do you prefer

I prefer modern Maroczy bind, as 1 pair of knights are exchanged in the very opening and I have less space disadvantage with black, then applying TVC and solving all my problems. And I also know how to punish my opponent's mistakes from the commented games with Maroczy bind structure.

Devansh, you should play Maroczy first, understand the positions, the structure. 
Then would be good idea to switch to Modern Maroczy.

Accerelated Dragon

E4 c5

Nf3 nc6

D4 cxd4

Nxd4 g6

Nc3 Bg7

Be3 nf6

Nxc6 bxc6 

E5 Ng8

F4 Nh6

Qd2 was main line but what to do after Qf3

My engine is showing d5 as equal but soon the evaluation is changing

How to play

Please guide

Thank you

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I would play:

10.Qf3 0-0

11.0-0-0 d5 (threatening Bg4)

and then my plan would be f6 freeing the Bg7 bishop, Nf5 and attack his king the usual way: Qa5, Rb8... In fact, 12...Qa5 should probably be the next move, in order to exit the pin of the rook in d1 and  avoid Bc4.

Hey even i feel d5 is nice as suggested by engine if u see we have ideas of Bg4 and after all blacks main objective in most sicilian lines is playing d5 also called as sicillian break i feel Qf3 misplaces whites queen????

Devansh, no need to go so deep. Qf3 it's a very rare move. 
And really after d5 Black is fine. Then f6 as Sergio offered. 
Additionally Black has ideas Rb8,Qa5. 
White king might be in a danger soon. 

Sicillian accelerated dragon

Hi i have a doubt in the knight takes c6 and e5 line when we go back to g8 and he plays f4 we get nice game after nh6 but what if he doesnt play f4 and instead plays Bd4 with idea of e6

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It's covered in the course

The Rossolimo - White's early 0-0 and a3,b4 plan

Hey champions! 

I've added around 1-hour material in the "Nightmare of Rossolimo" course. 
https://chessmood.com/course/nightmare-of-rossolimo 
​
Both are adv. sections, but this one I absolutely recommend to watch. 
There are included model games, and after watching these sections, you'll have a much better understanding of the Rossolimo positions. 

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I have just watched the new content and updated my PGN. It is advanced indeed. I have had to watch some videos twice, but it is highly instructive and has allowed me to understand the Rossolimo more deeply.

There is a big difference between "learning" an opening and understand it in depth. I believe that when you learn the best lines of a opening by heart, you are just learning an opening, that you will forget if you do not play it often or you will mess the variations.

However when you are able to understand the opening deeply, you are not just learning an opening, you are improving your overall chess. Moreover, you will remember  the variations better or even if you forget them, you will be able to come up with a good plan.

As far as I have seen,  Chessmood opening courses are superb in making you understand openings, not just remembering lines.

Thank you GM Avetik and the rest of the team.

Accelerated Dragon 10.Qd2

In Section 3-> 10.Qd2, minute 1:04, after 14.Be3 d4 we are supposed to win a piece. However Stockfish has found resource 0-0-0! pinning our d4 pawn to our Queen so we cannot take the bishop

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Ah,,, Right :) 
Then Bh6 instead of d4 :) 

Najdorf Course

Will there be new parts added to the najdorf course?

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I doubt it. My understanding is that a decision was made to remove the Najdorf course and focus on the Accelerated Dragon course.

Stockfish on Steroids

If I read this right, Stockfish now has a NN version.  (That means it's now LC0-like).  There has been no update to normal Stockfish for a while now and it appears all the work is now on the NN.  When they tested it, instead of normal +2.3 rating point improvements, they got something like +90  !!!   

https://abrok.eu/stockfish/?page=3 

*******************BEGIN CUT/PASTE********************

Author: nodchip
Date: Thu Aug 6 16:37:45 2020 +0200
Timestamp: 1596724665

Add NNUE evaluation

This patch ports the efficiently updatable neural network (NNUE) evaluation to Stockfish.

Both the NNUE and the classical evaluations are available, and can be used to
assign a value to a position that is later used in alpha-beta (PVS) search to find the
best move. The classical evaluation computes this value as a function of various chess
concepts, handcrafted by experts, tested and tuned using fishtest. The NNUE evaluation
computes this value with a neural network based on basic inputs. The network is optimized
and trained on the evalutions of millions of positions at moderate search depth.

The NNUE evaluation was first introduced in shogi, and ported to Stockfish afterward.
It can be evaluated efficiently on CPUs, and exploits the fact that only parts
of the neural network need to be updated after a typical chess move.
[The nodchip repository](https://github.com/nodchip/Stockfish) provides additional
tools to train and develop the NNUE networks.

This patch is the result of contributions of various authors, from various communities,
including: nodchip, ynasu87, yaneurao (initial port and NNUE authors), domschl, FireFather,
rqs, xXH4CKST3RXx, tttak, zz4032, joergoster, mstembera, nguyenpham, erbsenzaehler,
dorzechowski, and vondele.

This new evaluation needed various changes to fishtest and the corresponding infrastructure,
for which tomtor, ppigazzini, noobpwnftw, daylen, and vondele are gratefully acknowledged.

The first networks have been provided by gekkehenker and sergiovieri, with the latter
net (nn-97f742aaefcd.nnue) being the current default.

The evaluation function can be selected at run time with the `Use NNUE` (true/false) UCI option,
provided the `EvalFile` option points the the network file (depending on the GUI, with full path).

The performance of the NNUE evaluation relative to the classical evaluation depends somewhat on
the hardware, and is expected to improve quickly, but is currently on > 80 Elo on fishtest:

60000 @ 10+0.1 th 1
https://tests.stockfishchess.org/tests/view/5f28fe6ea5abc164f05e4c4c
ELO: 92.77 +-2.1 (95%) LOS: 100.0%
Total: 60000 W: 24193 L: 8543 D: 27264 Elo +92.77
Ptnml(0-2): 609, 3850, 9708, 10948, 4885

40000 @ 20+0.2 th 8
https://tests.stockfishchess.org/tests/view/5f290229a5abc164f05e4c58
ELO: 89.47 +-2.0 (95%) LOS: 100.0%
Total: 40000 W: 12756 L: 2677 D: 24567 Elo +89.47
Ptnml(0-2): 74, 1583, 8550, 7776, 2017

*************END OF CUT/PASTE*************

Right now it is being tested on https://tcec-chess.com/#/    and it is tearing up the field.  Get ready to switch over to $1400 video cards, but there is a new sheriff in town and it is taking names and kicking butts.  

Note this timeframe.  Chess engines just took a giant leap.  Aug 2020.

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Interesting, especially that it can run efficiently on CPUs despite being NN-based. Thanks for sharing.