Chess forum by Grandmasters

The best games of December and the prizes

Replies

Hi Chessmood team . i have a suggestion : please share the link of 5 selected games each month , so other users can also find games and enjoy

https://lichess.org/ViX6k31b

No time to breathe for Black :)

Nice won endgame with black

https://www.chess.com/live/game/5866345980

Winning against Sicillian 2...Nc6 when Black allowed to take Bc6

Crushing the Carro Kan in a romantic era playing style. I say this because still I make a lot of inaccuracies and sacrificed half of my army. But in the end I proved that Knights and Queens can make an irresistable attack. All started when I sacrificed my a1 rook. I had calculated almost 10 moves ahead. Really enjoyed the game after move 23!

Saving a completely lost position.

Queen Sacriice and the art of checkmate

Cool Game!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/5869705110

Attack & Attack

https://www.chess.com/game/live/5869840175

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/oLsVMt3A/black#0

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/w9HGzQ4H/white#0

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/tMHc3iC6/white#0

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/GCs9ltui/white#0

Indian Game

https://lichess.org/hXNdzIS4/black#0

https://lichess.org/RrsTKCym

https://lichess.org/SoT0ZhtuM2th

Won a good game with black pieces against higher rated player in 5+3 format,

https://lichess.org/DbWTHoqQxYmp

 Won a interesting match against 2100 rated player with white pieces in 5+3 format,

https://lichess.org/v2xVTkyZWbUK

jiltedbishop vs. Mateojackson | Analysis - Chess.com I had a nice rossolimo game with a sacrifice!

Miniature :)

Beating FM in Caro-Kann. Not without mistakes, but with unusual queen side pawn storm and exchange sacrifice.

A short beautiful game against the Philidor defence. 91,8 accuracy

The fault of being over ambitious against ChessMood openings

Tigran Vartanovich Petrosyan!

https://lichess.org/8xcVrFLk

Chess: FahadRahman vs Kadatskiy_Alexander - 5886029528 - Chess.com

Tactics

https://lichess.org/vNONtyZI#0

Winning with Anti-Sicillian in Bundesliga 2!

Perfect Game!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/5893500655

 Rossolimo Attack

https://lichess.org/hrDzhAjB/black#2

Rossolimo Attack

https://lichess.org/bV1inDkZ/black#0

Rossolimo Attack

https://lichess.org/KxOP5q2z/black#0

https://lichess.org/rIgc6YnN

Well if this is not interesting at all than idk what you call it ???? 

https://lichess.org/ZASyHHYg

Nice Lisitsyn gambit with white against the Dutch Defense

Forgot opening but won by luck

https://lichess.org/2gM576AT#10

Winning with ChessMood openings!

https://lichess.org/emBG84rPnRET

Nice checkmate with minor pieces

Nice checkmate with minor pieces

https://lichess.org/RnTTg7dm

https://lichess.org/Bi11ogOO

Mateojackson vs. Saul_Over | Analysis - Chess.com

https://lichess.org/xeeXTe9M 

Complicate and they will blunder ~Mikhail Tal~

Wonderful checkmate combination: https://lichess.org/sWSKIJCJZGkZ

Attack,Attack & Attack!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/5916332318

 Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/hxvxyo59#4

https://lichess.org/APn5EJMq

https://lichess.org/vFu4TcAv

Attack Against Caro-Kann!Fantastic idea Qc2-Bg6-Qd3-Ng5-Qh3!and checkmate in very strong GM Mustafa Yilmaz Elo 2630!                                                                                                                                                             https://www.chess.com/live/game/5918369704

https://lichess.org/f8QxtRzH

Rook sacrifice with black in Accelerated Dragon

King extraction and checkmate with black

Opposite castling attack in Accelerated Dragon

https://lichess.org/qn3mNTfrlhZM

My opponent played French with 1...e6 and 2...c5. I premoved Bd3 when I saw e6 and I lost d4 pawn but at the end I won the match with a nice attack

French Defense:

https://lichess.org/9JwlLmEf/white#5

Queen's Pawn

https://lichess.org/O86gof8B/black#4

https://lichess.org/X5Nz1wPs

https://lichess.org/XBgz1PaS

Tough fight in Benko

https://lichess.org/shlVTTcF#18

Boom! Win! Win!

https://lichess.org/Xj0mxomhhyhv

Crossed 2300+ rating in lichess rapid! I am so happy today!

https://lichess.org/coSDGRNge3I8

15 Move GP win.

https://lichess.org/UQkqUY8F9HvL

https://lichess.org/1vB4UHHn

Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/0m2h6bch#5

Indian Game

https://lichess.org/AIKVUfcA/black#10

https://lichess.org/Mi8n1cxe

https://lichess.org/ynT1917nFSwU

Happy King + Queen Maneuver with Kd7 and Qg8

https://lichess.org/rVrJL7XNyf3o

https://lichess.org/2cVQE5AH

https://lichess.org/ONkunQf4

Queen sacrifice

https://lichess.org/BoSX7bsRmuIW

I have just been chess mood pro member for just few day and started to learn the carokann course. I am playing in an online tournament (Penang Closed 2020) and successfully Crush Caro-Kann  with chess mood opening. Brilliant two rooks sacrifice with nice finishing. Most important, I would like to thanks chess mood for providing such a nice opening to make me success in this game.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/5946619808

Endgame rook dance!

https://lichess.org/InbYViXk/

https://lichess.org/8gm1fTqjXV9R    

Pirc Defense

https://lichess.org/1BwLQVW3#3

 Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/mc8C60rJ/black#1

Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/7WEMQWNG#0

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/XnqiKzoM#0

Saving a hopeless position while rook down. Ngl it is really unbelievable

Benko Gambit with 11...Qb612. a4

Won the the exchange for a pawn, but immediately gave back the exchange for a deadly attack.

https://lichess.org/Zzq0AVa2D1JS

Queen's Pawn Game

https://lichess.org/aVaz5wm9/black#6

Sicilian Closed

https://www.chess.com/live/game/5965217722

Pirc Defense 

https://www.chess.com/live/game/5964658533

https://lichess.org/JwozzlJr

My Fav Game 

No Counterplay

https://www.chess.com/game/live/5972449257

https://lichess.org/0vIwD3iF

Surprise in the French defense: 7...Qb6!? Didn't find the right continuation, but managed to win after long grinding fight !

https://lichess.org/QirjA3nU

https://www.chess.com/live/game/5868013655

playing black against Bird - getting strong knight vs. bad bishop

Very Nice Game!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/5981849504

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/T8VdBwvX/black#6

 French Defense

https://lichess.org/J4xRybx5/white#7

 Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/L1QwBQDB/white#8

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/in1T4861/black#3

 Caro-Kann Defense

https://lichess.org/azylX4QK/white#5

https://lichess.org/g4e3QJQdx2nC

Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/4oMuKpLD#15

English Opening

https://lichess.org/mlJhVDOX/black#6

Caro-Kann Defense

https://lichess.org/d5Thh4tB#4

Playing in a rare variation of the benoni. Nice tactics and beautiful final combination. 95,8 accuracy only 1 inaccuracy 0 mistakes 0 blunders. I am playing with the black pieces.

This might also serve as a model game for Caro-Kann.  I can add it there if you think it's worthwhile.

https://lichess.org/PQbE2EM885wP

https://lichess.org/lQ1LAIvv/black#60

Training Game with the Nimzo! :) 

Crushing the French defense with style

Sicilian Defense

my game that look special to me

https://lichess.org/Z81Jjinb#0

 Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/Q53fM9JM#0

 Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/KOd10EDZ/black#0

King's Pawn

https://lichess.org/cjGSIJ5x#1

Indian Game

https://lichess.org/HEiww9yg/black

Grand Prix -  1978 vs 2200 1-0

https://lichess.org/EpPdkijt/white#53

https://lichess.org/gIDZmGHR

 Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/5sKotpsT#5

https://lichess.org/fM0OgBs8

https://lichess.org/D6CRRmNhJ6uM 

Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/NPJnp7QP#0

Sicilian Defense:

https://lichess.org/WrOJSRuS/black#0

https://lichess.org/QE4DE40o

Caro-Kann Defense

https://lichess.org/p9tSh3wh/white#0

 French Defense

https://lichess.org/C4cW5AV4/white#0

Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/Jlsn5Ypx#7

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/NcwEEJMh#8

A smooth win in the Chessmood Grand Prix!(Side Line)

A smooth win in the Chessmood Grand Prix!(Side Line)

I posted this game under "Model Games with Chessmood Openings" but I thought this was a good game so I posted it here as well.

Almost perfect Modern Maroczy bind game.

Almost perfect attack in Caro-Kann chessmood style. Spoiled it a little bit on 23rd. move should've sacrificed a rook.

https://lichess.org/550Hzu8GohS0

my best game in which i found a checkmate in 6 and won the game on lichess!

https://lichess.org/SUvCtbEmYOJj

total domination in positional way 

https://lichess.org/msmA123PzivA

Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/SyUJwHiX#0

https://lichess.org/fY0Qgk69

https://www.chess.com/live/game/6046067272

The Game which helped me to cross 2500 which was my 2020 Goal. Thanks GM Avetik and GM Gabuzyan

I played my best game using a Chessmood opening against a 2485 rated player on lichess during today's Bundesliga tournament. Chigorin would have been proud of my knights!

Any feedback would be appreciated! He mixed up the move order on me, any feedback would be appreciated. 

I was white, the opening was the Grand Prix, 2.. Nc6, with 3. Bb5

Ben_ChessMood vs josepapi: B23 Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional • lichess.org

My game today (CRR vs Golodion 1-0   Sunday 27/12/20)  in the ChessMood lichess arena battle where I beat someone 400 points higher than me!

Crushing the French: https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/6071772996?tab=report

Slow maneuvering chess

https://lichess.org/I73sYkOjflFM

I havent played this line in a very long time, but the final attack was swift and fun!

https://lichess.org/sY5nGJ7h/black#64 beautiful queen trap :D

https://lichess.org/Y2NhiBriEQjw beautiful queen trap 2, but not accurate :D

Sicilian Defence 

https://www.chess.com/live/game/6080904243

https://lichess.org/rhXvLLSDInJR

https://lichess.org/qHCAE9KS2y4F

Wanted to play it as white but accidentally game started for black pieces and I had to play this mess without prep, My opponent lost because of simple blunder.

https://www.chess.com/game/daily/283762150

Another Petrosian style Exchange Sacrifice

Another exchange sac just after my previous game . Well I did three winning exchange sacrifices in a row.

Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/gSjbtA08#0

Lucky rook trap. I did not calculated that but after Kg7 I realized it's rook traP

https://lichess.org/mAdDcOTecHBm

Passive gp I won. Coach explained in typical openings mistakes with GP that never play a4 against a6 because you always have Bd5 and I played like this and won without efforts.

https://lichess.org/1xpkzFvSeKUP

https://lichess.org/zBfGirNg1Cl7

Trapped higher rated opponent's queen using chessmood opening-Sicilian closed.

https://lichess.org/XVimx3HYYlJC

Stalemate-A very interesting game against higher rated player.

 https://lichess.org/aFiLBSHdDKNy

A nice win.

https://lichess.org/MWgnlC7nJBbF

Crushing Alekhine’s Defense 1: https://lichess.org/9o2bt6Pb/white

Crushing Alekhine’s Defense 2: https://lichess.org/P2zkm6er/white

Don’t play careless against Alekhine’s defense: https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/6022258011?tab=report

Playing on the edge in Alekhine’s defense: https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/6009341877?tab=report

Ending the year with a bang! Opponent 2300? No worries! They can be crushed by the Benko too!

Passive Nd5 Queen Trap but yeah I became slow in checkmating him 

https://www.chess.com/live/game/6095221476

Won a short game with Grand Prix Variation against Sicilian Defence Closed

https://www.chess.com/live/game/6084683612

Beated a strong Gm with a little opening trap!

A nice win with the Chessmood Grand Prix!

A convincing win in the symmetrical english!

last day of the year - some mistakes, but nice finish

https://www.chess.com/live/game/6104780690

Caro Kann e6 attack. I purposefully gave the pawn on b2 for attack.

https://lichess.org/qgcwR7o08U VS

Scotch Game 

https://lichess.org/1s3rpHA4#0

Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/grXUz6SM#0

Trapped opponent's queen in the dragon.  Happy new year everyone!

https://lichess.org/493zv4OOwd9l

https://lichess.org/haEXXz0S

Hello Champions and future champions, hello ChessMood Family! 
Happy New Year! 
Hopefully, you'll make all the goals you have for 2021. 

Thanks for the games, you have posted! 
It's great to see your growth. 

The 1st prize goes to K H - https://lichess.org/lQ1LAIvv/black#60   
The 2nd prize goes to Michael Larsen - https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/6071772996 
The 3rd prize goes to Kourosh A - https://lichess.org/BoSX7bsRmuIW    
The 4th prize goes to Wenstin - https://www.chess.com/live/game/5946619808 
The 5th prize goes to Aayush Shirodkar - https://www.chess.com/game/live/5869705110    

Thanks, everyone for the games! 
See you in January! 

My game entry, I beat someone 400 points rating higher than me & I still didn't win a prize?!

Now all I can do is move on & see if I can better this (I'm sure I can), so :- Right Mood, Right Move. Happy chess & best wishes all!

Download

Can you do something like: download the whole course in full HD at once?

Replies

Then you could cancel your paid membership!

Hi Pavol,

I think the courses are meant to be watched online, not downloaded

Dear Pavol, 
I would love to provide everything for free. 
However in that case, the ChessMood would not exist. 
We would not be able, to pay technical team, support team and Grandmasters, for creating the courses. 

And we would not be able to bring 2700+ Grandmasters to ChessMood, which we're doing now. 

If we provide, the option to download, then the reasons for the subscription will be lost. 
Hopefully, it makes sense. 

If, as you say, you like the webinars better, here's some good news: they can be downloaded. I believe Youtube provides offline save option to premium members.

Modern Maroczy Part 49 4:23~

At this moment, it was said that 13.f4 will hang the e4 pawn. However, after Ne4 or Bg7 white again wins a piece with Qd4. 

Fortunately SF found this amusing tactic(move 16) after 13.... e5 14. fe (back away will cause white to lose e pawn for real) Ne4 15. Ne4 Be4 16. ed Bc2!? and white has trouble holding the bishop on d4.

Replies

Alekhine Defense

Replies

Is the Alekhine Defense course more difficult than other courses?

After the game ..

Both images made my day but the 4 pawns attack is also a very interesting variation. Take a look at Bronstein's game with the 4 pawns. 

Draft file

Can someone explain to me how to use the draft file? 

Replies

I might be able to, but I am not sure what a draft file is. Do you have a link for a more direct description? Or can you elaborate what it is? I am wondering if you are calling it something else from what I am use to.

SVESHNIKOV via Sicilian 4-knights move order- Good or Bad?

Hi Chessmood friends,

Some Sveshnikov players use the Sicilian 4-knights move order to avoid Rossolimo:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3  e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5  8.Bg5

Early e6,  gives Black better chances vs Closed Sicilian and Grand Prix attack etc.

Question: Is there any theoretical problem with 2.- e6 ? Is it safe for Black?

Replies

It is a pretty safe method of transposing but you might have to study a few other lines unrelated to the Sveshnikov like 4... Nf6 5.Bd3 or 4... Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3/6.Nxc6.

Guess the Move software

First the intoduction.  I am a strong beliver that (classical) game should be studied in great detail. One should understand the moves, store the paterns in the memory, not just remember the moves. Studying one game for the whole day brings more benefits than studying ten games.

There are some really nice games in the ChessMood courses, especially in the middle games section. What I like, is to first  download the raw pgn file of the game and run through it by myself guessing the moves and thinking how would I play in a certain position.

For this reason I was looking for a software that has such feature. There are some websites like Chess Tempo and Chess Games that offer it, but you have to subscribe/pay.

Then I found a free to download software: fredm (google.com). It allows you to do exactly that I have just described. You can choose the side (White or Black) and then you guess the moves in the game. For each move it records: your move, engine preffred move and the move that was played. It also gives you a score of your guesssing.

Has anybody used such software or perhaps something similar?

What do you think about this method of learning the games?

Replies

I think its the best method of studying games myself.

Chessbase has this feature where the rest of the notation is hidden

You can even do it with just a book and board and cover the moves up with a piece of card.

I love the Guess The Move program from Fred Mellender. It works very well and it visually shows you what move you did, what the engine "best" was, and the text move. You can save positions to a PGN/CB review file, but while I have saved them to it, I haven't opened it, I think it wouldn't be very organized. So when I for example went over Rubinstein-Duras 1911 game, I just took screen shots whenever I found something interesting or unexpected for later study (screenshots attached).

It's much less opinionated than ChessBase, which sometimes says "CLEARLY white is winning" and I have no idea why :)

Guess the move if done properly is just as good as using a live board. I use lichess studies though. All you have to do is upload the PGN and then turn on interactive learning. If you're the creator you have to press the test button or you will see the answers when you are doing the homework.

On that: I believe the best way to learn is to hold the pieces in your hands. So using a board either to look at the pgns or to do your suggestion is always the best way to do it. If you are doing the guess the move, or as I call it from chess life "Solitaire chess". You should put a timer on. Probably best is a 120 min clock, or if you want to practice the new FIDE time controls 90 30. However this is a great idea.

Openings PGN Homework

Hi guys!

So I have been working on something for a while now, and it's not even remotely complete. However, I thought it was a good idea to use the PGN's as a homework assignment as suggested IN the PGN's. I have been doing this in a private lichess study. I have done enough work that I feel I can enlist some people who are hard working to help me complete it. I think I will accept maybe three or four people. The people that assist me with this can clone the study when it is done and even separate them into smaller studies if it makes it easier to digest. The point of this is to have a way for us to study together and get to know each other while assisting in getting us PGN's that can help us better understand the material presented.

I only want serious people who will help me edit this consistently at least weekly, recommended every other day, and preferably daily. I have done a lot of work so far, I completed the Alekhine one today because I noticed the Alekhine one didn't have a PGN. I also will see if I can do another one I find that may not have a PGN. This is full pro analysis so pro members only.

I may accept more than 3-4 if they really want in and convince me they will work on it often. I believe I am about 30% complete with the entire opening repertoire. A lot of it is entering moves and then double checking validity within completed moves by learning along with the videos. If you would like to you can contact me here. Tell me your lichess handle and expected activity. Please no trolling by coming in and messing up the PGN standard. I am merely putting in the suggested continuations with no analysis. I believe in the idea of this homework and will take it seriously. So trolling is immediate expelling. If you are inactive for more than a week I reserve the right to dismiss you. If no one accepts this, then it is like the chicken who baked a cake. I will eat it all.:-) I hope we work together on this soon.

Replies

How did this game end?

Unfortunately, I was on the losing side of this game (against 2610 GM), but it should not discount the fact that white wrapped it up in a pretty neat way. 

Replies

I think White won.

31.Ng6+ Kh7 (31...Nxg6 2.Qxg6 with a mate on g8 to follow) 32.Nxf8+ Kh8 (there is at minimum draw with repetition) 33.Qg6!! (threat of a mate on h6) 33...Nxg6 34.hxg6 Rxf1+ 35.Bxf1 Ne6 36. Nxe6 Qxe6 37.g7 Kh7 38.g8Q#

Wow, that's a cool one :) 1.Qg8+ Nxg8 2.Ng6+ Kh7 3.Nxf8+ Kh8 4.Ng6+ Kh7 5.f8N#

Wow, wow, wow!!!!! 
Did he play it? 

This is a nice idea to make a composition :) 

very beautiful ending!!!

Starting out with Modern Benoni

Hi everyone and GM Avetik.

I have played modern Benoni for few years. I really love the imbalance in position of Benoni and I really enjoy sacrificing pawns or exchange for initiative and some long term positional advantage. I still remember I play the Benoni against former woman world champion GM Zhu Chen in a simul exhibition and success hold till the last to walk out of the playing hall. I was inspired by the game and I plan to make Benoni my main weapon. I have played quiet a number of Benoni Defense in my classical games and I faced some troubles with some theoretical line. Therefore, I would like to seek for suggestion about books, video course or methods for me to start learning seriously about the Benoni defense.

Replies

Hey Wenstin! 
Modern Benoni is my love! :) 
I love this opening! However, it's very complicated, and it's concepts are complicated - where to go to the kingside, when to the queenside, where to exchange the bishops, where to go with b5, when f5. 

However, if you're 2200+ , it might work good. 
I would recommend to check out Marin's Modern Benoni. It's a good one. 
Also ,GM Ivan Ivanisevic has a very interesting book. It's not really Modern Benoni. It's delayed Benoni. 
But there are lots of very-very interesting stuff. 

The Marshall Gambit in the Semi-Slav: Good or Bad?

Hi Chessmood friends,

To avoid the boring and Darwish Exchange Slav, some Semi-Slav players use the triangle move order (d5+e6+c6) to reach the Semi-Slav. Therefore, The Marshall Gambit in the Semi-Slav Defense cannot be avoided:

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 

My Question: Is it bad for Black? Is it a dynamic equality?

Replies

It's too dangerous for black, I recommend to escape this line. I used to start with e6 and c6 too but then I stopped playing it because of e4. Nobody plays this among strong players

Kourosh, this is one of the most complicated lines in the theory :) 
It seems that in the modern theory Black survives, but they should have a better memory than the computer has :)))) 

French exf6 question making e6 pawn weak

This game played by me https://lichess.org/zo9LVhTB

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Ne2 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.a3 Rb8 8.0-0 Be7 9.f4 (to play f4-f5 Ng3 Qg4 to start attack on kingside which was told by GM Avetik in French Webinar) 9...f5. In the game, I thought 10.exf6 would be good for me cuz I create a weakness on e6 pawn and having e5 square for my strongpoint but when I check with my engine it shows equal. In the game I can make any progress to attack the e6 pawn weakness and ended in a draw. Then I checked with my engine, it says I should play b2-b4 to gain space on queenside. My question, is exf6 good move or not. If not what is the better option for white to play after 9...f5?

Replies

I am not sure what will be the best response after f5, but I think even after exf6 you got a very nice position after few moves, unfortunately you could not convert well, but I got mad when I saw in which position you took the draw :) why you didn't continue the game? I think there's still a lot of chances to win, just keep the Queens and annoy him :)

Hey Chong! 
Ususally after f5, when you take on f6, you get a slight edge. 
However more problematic is when you don't touch it. 
In your game, I would play b4! 
And if at some point he goes 0-0, then g4 will start a checkmating attack! 

Usually f5 moves in french, lives them without counterplay... 

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 course question

Hi ! ChessMood Pro Members. When someone plays 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 with me and in all black course was suggested to play Nc6 so it can tranposes to the maroczy, dragon, rossolismo. But when I am playing with Nc6 with ChessMood Promember there is 3.Bb5 (which was covered in Anti Sicilian part 2). My question is, will there be courses how to play against 3.Bb5 movein anti-sicilian for black?

Replies

I believe it's work in progress.

In a webinar or stream, it was mentioned, I believe, that the best line for black is  3.-Nd4 4.Nf3 -e6 5.0-0, -a6 6. Bd3 - Nc6 . You can find this line in the advanced course

Hey Chong! 
It's already recorded. We're going to edit and upload it soon. 

Can you find it?

ChessMood Family????

After each online session, I recommend to download your just played games and briefly check them out, mostly paying attention to the opening part (check if you have done all correctly) and check the blunders.

 The same I do, after each session. Here is a very nice move I missed playing with Black. Can you find it?

Replies

The most obvious move 1...f4 doesn't seem to work. 2.Bxf4 Rxf4 (2...Bxd4 3.Qxd4 Rxf4 4.Qxd5) 3.Qxf4 Bxd4? 4.Rc8+ Kf7 5.Rc7 

What about 1...g5! 2.Bxg5 e3! (3.Bxe3 f4) 3.Bxe7 exd2 4.Rd1 Re1+ 

or 1...g5! 2.g3  Bh6 3.Rxd5 f4

ChessMood endgame tournament

I would like to practice also the endgame courses that we're able to watch. Is it possible to create an endgame tournament as well? :)

Replies

That sounds good! Maybe we can alternate every Saturday. For example, one Saturday we do an opening tournament and one Saturday we do a "Rook Endgames" Tournament so we can practice both.

I'm in the Lichess4545 league and we're playing through "100 Endgames You Must Know".  Perhaps we could play through the Chessmood endgame course positions over a series of weeks here.  The Lichess4545 league pairs players and we play both sides of a few positions.  I don't know how it would work here, but I'm learning a lot over there.

Wonderfull idea for the endgame tournament (Avetik please take notice).

I think we can do it without Lichess4545 (I am also a member there). Chessmood could prepare a normal Lichess tournament with a starting position.

And if this is not done, we could do it ourselves :)

I propose that you put here in a reply the prefered day and hour for the ending tournament.

Nice idea! Rook and Pawn Endgames seem specially hard for me. The idea is easy to grasp, but not the execution, so it is very important to practise 

Yeah, the problem is, from exactly what position to play? :) 

Surprise in the French Defense 7...Qb6!?

At first I though this was a bad move as it was not covered in the course. Later I checked the engine and my response was not a good one as I was worse after couple fo moves.

Somehow I managed to fight back and won in the end.

Full game has been posted on the page 5 in the best December games: The best games of December and the prizes - ChessMood

Replies

Ohh that was a nice game, I liked it.

I don't think this Qb6 can be a good move, because, if he takes on b2, then you're gonna be so ahead in development. I will definitely play for white in that position, and if he doesn't want to take on b2 then the Queen doesn't stays good on b6, because our bishop looks at her :D

Robert, after 7...Qb6 you just to 8.Nbc3. 
if 8...Qb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.0-0 with initiative. For example 10...Be7 11.Nb5 Qa5 12.Bf4! 
or 10...Qa5 11.dc5

If 8...cd4 9.Nd4 Bc5 10.Bc6! bc 11.0-0 with Na4 - Black has problems. If 11...Qc7 then Ne6. 

Is there a course for beating 1.Nf3 as black?

This is not covered yet, correct? 

Replies

The best advice to be able to stick to our chessmood openings would be to play 1…c5. Then you are ready to play our accelerated dragon lines after 2.e4, Nc6 …
Or after 2.c4 you play 2…g6, transposing into the English, as recommended by coach Hovhannes Gabuzyan, and after 2.g3 you also play 2…g6, 3.Bg2, Bg7, so that you can transpose into the English again after 4. c4, Nc6 … or after 4.O-O, Nc6, c4 …

Hi Kevin!

After 1. Nf3 as @Didi_Mayer mentioned we are playing with c5. So if e4 it transposes to Sicilian which we are happy to see. If white is trying systems with c4 then you can watch the course of English and will know what to do. As well Maroczy bind is covering another part of white possibilities. And if white is just playing some random setups with g3 you can build positions as we are doing in the English course as well using similar structures.

Scotch 4...Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb4+

5...Bb4+ is the most frequent move after 5...Bb6 and is recommended by GM Mikhalchishin in his "A practical repertoire against the Scotch" video course. How should we respond?

Replies

5…Bb4+ is weaker than 5…Bb6 and White gets a good position after 6.c3, Be7, f4, d6, Bd3, Nf6, O-O. White has a strong center and some space advantage.

as I remember we don't have that move in the course right?

Hey! 
Good questions. 
There are different ways here. 
I've added on my list, will try to add material in the next month. 

Crushing d4 Sidelines Course

The pgn file is not quite right. There are 2 'Trampowsky' System and 1 London System and 0 Jobava System, like this:

https://imgur.com/a/rJYLdZF

Replies

Oh, right. Sorry about that. 
And thanks for saying. 

Commented Classic Games Course

I hate to be a cheerleader but this course is a must for every chess player under 2200, just for the ideas alone.  Each game is presented quickly enough that you don’t get bored but goes deep enough so you understand the strategy and tactics and also how the great player deviates from what lesser players might do in the same position.  

Cheers to the GM Avetik who created it.  

Replies

Exactly! I also like this course so much.

Hey Tom, thank you very much! 
Have you started to watch the Attacking games and Endgames? 
I think you should love them too :) 

P.S 
Tom, may I ask you to copy your words and paste into the "review" part of the courses? :) 
https://chessmood.com/course/chess-classical-games