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Chess forum by Grandmasters
I won although I was a queen down
Hi ,I played a game which was really interesting ,I was a queen down but I still won the game
link- chess.com/game/live/24125817129
Replies
Wow! Nice job!
So let that be a lesson to all that material isn't everything and needs to be considered against the position as is (dynamic factors, and static if the extra material wasn't so useful).
f3 in the Benko ?
Could not find anything on this in the Benko course. White does play d5 and after b5 plays f3. I just proceeded with the normal Benko set up but I'm unaware if this can be improved on.
Replies
Hi Keven, I guess I would more likely play like in the 4. Qc2 line (Section 5, video # 33. ff.) i.e. 4. ... b4 after 4. f3. In both cases, white prepares for e2-e4, but doing it with f3 white would lose a tempo if a later advance to f4 is wanted. And the pawn blocks the knight from going to f3.
However, it looks like the 4. ... bxc4 and 4. ... g6 are preferred in GM practice. Playing 4. ... g6 (normal Benko style) could transpose to Section 4, video #29 (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. f3 g6).
On the other hand, I don't see why we play 4. ... b4 after 4. Qc2 and why after 4. f3 black does not advance the b-pawn if white does not capture on b5.
Any idea?
Hi Keven
I agree here with Nils, f3 in all transpositions is mostly a loss of a time. I never faced this in a real game as long as I remember and I think it's not working that well for white.
The winners of September, 2021
Hello champions and future champions! Hello ChessMood family!
Thank you all for sharing your games! It was amazing to go through them and we’re really impressed by the way you all are playing!
Here are the winners...
The first prize goes to Le Minh Hoang Huynh for their beautiful checkmate in this game:
https://lichess.org/FE3apUDN/white#41
Yuma Okabe gets the second prize for this fantastic Grand Prix attack in the Pirc Defense:
https://lichess.org/YsDmDbVh/white#39
Aayush Shirodkar gets the 3rd prize for finishing off a beautiful attack after 13.Rxg7+!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/25116124409
The 4th prize goes to Bugayev Vladimir for this speedy finish in the Scotch Game:
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/25997459103
And the 5th prize goes to Ilja Haitin for playing this masterpiece in the Benko Gambit with a nice finishing touch:
https://www.chess.com/emboard?id=8416759
Congratulations to all of you! Thanks everyone for sharing your games! Keep the mood and keep the #COGRO every day.
Super excited to see your games for next month’s contest!
Replies
Thank You so much, Sir!
How I get the Moodcoin prizes, sir?
How to get better at chess for xxxx rating
Found a good series for this on youtube by IM Toth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygec3Nazlzo
Some interesting points at the various levels, and covers the 1900-2100 lichess range where many of the plateau problems start. Worth a watch.
This is (IMO) what the rocket to 2400 rating events should focus more on - the players of that range and their typical mistakes and advice how to fix them, more than the games themselves. Possibly could be done as a timeout/highlight review after the games themselves (probably as a separate summary after a number of events) to prevent losing the flow.
Replies
I like this guy and his videos, too ("Chicas and chicos ...". I got aware of him through the perpetual chess podcast (like I got aware of ChessMood):
https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2021/1/26/episode-211-im-andras-toth
Always take care for the centRE :-)
Lots of good advice in today's stream, thanks.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.e3 ... what do we play? what is our main idea and plans?
Hi everyone, I played against d4 (I was ready to play a Benko gambit, Marozcy structure) recently and my opponent play a move that confused me.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.e3 ... what do we play? what is our main idea and plans?
thanks for the help!!
Replies
Buon giorno Alessio!
Avetik is explaining the plan in the following video from the Benko course, please check it out to find out what we recommend.
Min 2, 15 sec.
https://chessmood.com/course/benko-gambit/episode/45
Hi Alessio,
On top pf previous response I will add that in English course for the black side we cover this pawn structures when white is playing with e3-d4, check that out as well, Good luck :-)
I have a doubt in the Scotch 4...Bb4+ which is in the passive moves section
Hello, I have attached a position below. In that position, 11.Qd2 is recommended by ChessMood. And, in the video about this line, Avetik sir said that 11.c4 is not recommended because 11...d5 complicates the matters. When I checked with the engine, the engine is showing +- after 11...d5! but I don't agree with engine's evaluation as practically it's very complicated lines. But, my doubt is that after 11.Qd2, why can't Black try 11...Re8, my idea behind 11...Re8 is that if we continue normally with 12.c4, Black can play 12...Nxe4 and try to complicate the lines. What I mean is that I think 11.c4 is lesser complicated than 11.Qd2 Re8 12.c4 Nxe4!. Please consider checking this line. Both lines look complicated but 11.Qd2 line looks more complicated. But, people won't usually play this line, so it is not a big issue.
Replies
Engine is also suggesting some crazy lines after 11.Qd2 Qe7 to get the d5 break. But, I am not asking them as a doubt as it is super hard for humans to find.
SP Sethuraman in his course recommends to play 11.c4 and he refutes 11...d5 in 7 moves.
Hi Sidhart,
Out of my knowloedge Nxe4 you are suggesting after Qd2 is not scary Since white is getting a comfortable game and compensation is not enough.
Where can I test my memorization skills on the 3.Bd3 French line?
I have finished watching the course but I don't know where I can review it. Please help!
Replies
Just play some blitz games in case you did not find a study partner. Take a look at the articles in the blog on finding a study partner and analysing your blitz games.
If you didn't find a sparring partner I can help you tell your username in either lichess,chess.com . It would be a practice for me too
Is there a test?
The best games of August 2021 and the prizes
Hello ChessMood family, hello champions and future champions!
Welcome to the "Best games of August 2021" competition.
Under this post, we invite you to post your best games that you will play this month.
The Prize fund is 350K MoodCoins which is equal to 350$.
The 1st prize - 150K
The 2nd prize - 100K
The 3rd prize- 50K
The 4th Prize- 30k
The 5th Prize- 20k
Good luck with your games and keep the Right Mood!
#ChessMood
#Right Mood - Right Move
P.S
Here are the winners of July:
Abhi
Avinash
004
Paulius
Juknis
Vladimir
Bugayev
IIja
Haitin
Replies
A nice mate after white played 29.Kg2.
CheckCzech vs Green_Keo: Analysis board • lichess.org
Green_Keo vs Mubeenkhan: Analysis board • lichess.org
Nice moves that I saw before playing 11.Bxe7 , also my opponent couldn't take my bishop on d6 (move 15).
almost won against an IM just blundered in time trouble will i be able to show a losing game
Almost a model Caro-Kann game until I blundered the endgame due to time trouble. Ignore the endgame part, that was embarrassing :(
I was playing White.
A nice win
https://lichess.org/fiaOjepmXGoB
perfect mate
https://lichess.org/EMn8mAiQ/white#46
good piece development and mate
https://lichess.org/PaMjTNnWA0uL
positional game
https://lichess.org/h4GBSXgtAcm3
Perfect game!
https://lichess.org/nGPV5sfm/black#46
Good Phalanx,2bishops,and discovered check!
beautiful pieces!
https://lichess.org/JgQCdjvT/white#37
Killed him with Caro Exchange
Full fire on board
https://lichess.org/cgXGYO7i/white
Dominating with bishop pair
perfect game
https://lichess.org/sdxjNnAI/white
Nice Game
https://www.chess.com/game/live/22085978305
Carlsbad Model Game!!
Antisicilian against 2600 FM
https://lichess.org/aEqvII6W/white#105
Playing against f4 on titled tuesday
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/21749468613
https://lichess.org/UIcscPoF/white
Most brilliant game in my life
(Black) Ruy Lopez (lichess.org)
Lovely checkmate in Caro
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/22470541383?tab=report
King Postulate and Queen Sac!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/22473601301
Power of Initiative
https://www.chess.com/game/live/22474189487
I played these games at the World Youth Cup 2021 held online .
I won this game by a queen trap in the opening-
In the second game , I played good positional chess-
share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/share/?p=7JB5U2Yrags0d22b5pImqoSrgcqs+wuP3aCJJG/SF95BjJA02XSsVbNEnVBTifey
Learnt this concept from 45 Practical Methods to Gain Upper Hand in Chess
Technique 4th The ‘bishop cage’ after …Bxc3! b2xc3
I think due to Bc8 concept was not working but I might be wrong but I loved the game. In the end I made some inaccuracies but still I loved the game so much . Played game against opponent's DSB.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/22586444965
Sir,
Where we can see these Games.
Caro kann win . King postulate and also fun positional battle.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/22605659839
Benko
https://lichess.org/qVApfRvL/black#54
Almost perfect scotch
https://lichess.org/f5kUczd9/white#41
https://lichess.org/study/Z4KcORWj/KjoEvlnZ
Great game by Liem.
I sacrificed a rook against engine and won.
[Event "Blitz 4min+2sec"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.08.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "John"]
[Black "Rated game"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "1529"]
[BlackElo "2300"]
[Annotator "Dell"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qc2 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Ng5 14. O-O-O Nxf3
15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qe2 Nh4 17. Rhg1 Nf5 18. Bg5 Qd7 19. Bf6 Kh8 20. Rxg7 Nxg7
21. Qh5 Rg8 22. Rg1 Qc8 23. Qh6 Qf8 24. Ne2 c5 25. Nf4 Ba5 26. Nh5 Bd2+ 27.
Kxd2 c4 28. Rxg7 Qb4+ 29. Kd1 Qa4+ 30. b3 Raf8 31. Rxh7# 1-0
The power of Initiative
https://www.chess.com/game/live/22854074427
I deviated from the Anish's Najdorf Course when I played Qa5
Knight + Queen
https://www.chess.com/game/live/22864194509
A nice win
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/22784416815
A nice win in today's chessmood tournament on chess.com
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/22869716407
Awesome Tactic
https://www.chess.com/game/live/22953739379
Game from RTU open 2nd round, Magnus sicilian opening
Every time i play this variation of CM Antisicilian i get a very interesting game
https://lichess.org/xN5pZVGV3PoC
A nice win
https://lichess.org/ikTZHpvVgPU1
https://lichess.org/8RPrN76z/black#73
Caro for black 100 % accuracy
https://lichess.org/bSHPmDkt/black#50
French 5 pieces in attack
https://lichess.org/387MjB1D/white#47
Antisicilian attack
https://lichess.org/6HTJNdFC/white#65
https://lichess.org/N9cLM9SJ/black#68
Caro attack
https://lichess.org/LwED6n9Q/white#97
French Defense
https://lichess.org/gdgmGvLs/white#0
Slav Defense
https://lichess.org/aDWjCzJv/black#0
https://www.chess.com/game/live/23266779741
Beating dumb lines!
Never Give Up
https://www.chess.com/game/live/23297449831
CM Antisicilian
https://lichess.org/h62RHARIuWVU
Another CM Anticisilian against 2400 player
https://lichess.org/msUIEvnEYhyZ
Fun scotch against 2400
https://lichess.org/4gIkPS6WImx2
Benko
https://lichess.org/RkyOe3FiDVGe
CM Scotch attack against 2400
https://lichess.org/93eguaBgV0WK
https://lichess.org/GcekViKTBNvT
Antisicilian against 2500+ IM
https://lichess.org/guN0tkfh2LXR
Attack in antisicilian against FM
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/23342986021?tab=report
https://lichess.org/vsQKN7UG/white#73
SLP without a piece against 2500
https://lichess.org/nbaZiyjDpLLM
CM French attack against 2500 player
https://lichess.org/xEiLQRe5l92D
I find it beautiful how i was able to deliver checkmate to my opponent in this game.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/23548232361?tab=analysis
Positional domination in french
Full fire on board. I did not remembered the line well but still it was fun
Win against a CM: https://www.chess.com/game/live/23579502425
Straightforward win against 2100. Nothing flashy but nice bishops at the end: https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/23638279127
French with a queen sac on move 31 that I saw coming on move 25: https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/23589016359
I won against NM on rapid with e4 c5 Nc3!
https://lichess.org/ZXgqeCoa/white
super sacrifice!!!
Sac was not fully justified but still I won
Anyways learning attacking so don't mind mistakes
SLP but confused why a GM have so low elo
https://www.chess.com/game/live/23683798561
Sicilian Defense
https://lichess.org/6eWaYCmY/black#0
Queen's Pawn Game
https://lichess.org/x7wVDJPo/white#0
Sicilian Defense
https://lichess.org/KU8A7a81/white#0
Scotch Game
https://lichess.org/6aq4FgaJ/white#0
Scotch Game
https://lichess.org/QSUvROj2/white#0
Dragon! https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/23746652995?tab=report
Attack!!
https://www.chess.com/game/daily/23773637845
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/3BiNFeiaut
I am really proud of this game because I liked the way I played against a hanging pawn structure and made is vulnerable
https://www.chess.com/game/daily/22851684697
This was my first scotch game after learning from Chessmood
Scotch Game
https://lichess.org/jnOSdxUk/white#0
Sicilian Defense
https://lichess.org/ShtEpEz7/black#0
Hi
Caro attack for black
https://lichess.org/iIDAMFHiONyj
https://chessmicrobase.com/g/x0ysidbf a questionable sacrifice to beat a 1900 (online) rated player
https://chessmicrobase.com/g/6jginaj beating a chess computer in great Tal like fashion !
"a sacrifice that can be declined is not a sacrifice" - Jaylen Lenear
I lost this match on time but it's really a good game.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/24076647277
I won against a 2000 in chess.com I played positionally then i went attacking then i mouseslipped and blundered my queen but i still won the game
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/23897861721?tab=analysis
https://lichess.org/upedQD0MutgA
I have crushed the Sicilian , After seeing game between Stockfish 14 vs Stockfish 14 in you tube
https://www.chess.com/game/live/24160079183
English attack for black
https://lichess.org/sQpwLxHu/black#68
Sorry for posting a little late. In this game, I was White and played the Ba7 idea (Karpov - Unsicker 1-0) which was in Commented Classical Games Course.
Please consider my game as it was played in August.
https://lichess.org/NacFEl8C/black#54
Beautiful game with Black.
I got a game against the Sicilian and my opponent played properly and it was hard to win the game
What should I do? link of the game
https://tornelo.com/chess/orgs/asian-chess-federation/events/western-asia-youth-chess-championships-girls/games/1ad479a7-4bfe-4cfa-84bf-a8d4b2e5c6e3
Replies
As we talked in the stream yesterday, please post the game / position in the forum and we'll see how we can help, otherwise is impossible to see what was wrong...
Hello Sasmi,
I could see that you made at least 3 unnecessary moves that are not the best in the opening and allowed the opponent counter-play. In order to have a better understanding of the positions and the opening, please watch: Section 2 - Anti-Sicilian 2.Nc3, Part 1 (2...d6) of the course:
https://chessmood.com/course/1-starter-course-winning-with-white
And when you have finished and understood the move order and positions that you are going to get, if you still need more instructions, please watch the course:
https://chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-part-1
After that, please go back to your game, check it yourself and post here in this same post, what was wrong with your game. We can comment on that after you have done your homework. I am sure that you will find it out very fast after watching the courses!
Happy learning!!! Enjoy!!!
Classical Attacking Games Question
I am watching Avetik's great course called "Classical Attacking Games". I am watching the seventh video. This is the link: https://chessmood.com/course/classical-attacking-games/episode/2042. At 3:12, I was wondering why not f4. Even though it loses time, it stops black bishop from attacking h2. Thank you for reading (please answer).
Regards, Emils.
Replies
Well, you just have to watch the same video a little more since the move f4 and the corresponding explanation appears in the min 03:33...
Why Can't I Win?
I played an OTB tmt and I lost 3 games (among them are 1 IM and two 2200+ rated players- all were on my favourite board no. 4 ) In the first loss against a 2200+ rated player. It was a Maroczy Bind and the last position was complicated (though it was kind of my winning, or draw these two results seem the only possible because my king was open but still there were less attackers and i had an extra knight) and i blundered mate. The interesting point is that my time trouble started around in the middlegame around 20 secs when my opponent had 10 mins ( time control is 10m+10s) And then i had twenty seconds but my opponent had 30 secs and my position was clearly better! I felt glad now because Maroczy Bind is a tough opening to play for black especially against 2000+ rated players. Any way i lost.
In the second game i was forced to transpose into a Benoni (1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 Nf6 5.d4 0-0 6.d5 (please explain me where I went wrong)) though i must admit that i didn't lose because benoni is bad but i played in a wrong manner. I went for a pawn sacrifice with c4 only to know after that it is applicable only in e4+Nf3+Be2 system
In the third game i was a clear exchange up in the opening against an IM but I messed that one too. I was very happy to think that i will beat atleast one 2000+ rated player but i lost I had such an odd feeling that I was kind of squeezed in the game. After the game I asked him whether he intentionally sacrificed the exchange or not? His answer made me punch a wall. It was a blunder and thanks for giving me the point.
The common things in these games-
-all were played on board no. 4
-i had black in all games
- had time trouble in all games
Can anybody share their experiences with these? How you people have succeeded in overcoming this issue?
Replies
Learning a thinking system, like jeremy silman"s imbalances can help.
In the last game(when you were winning the exchange), you may have got a little overconfident and lost because of that.
Hi Khokan,
What do you think, if you played on a different board could it affect the result? Don't allow this kind of thing has a negative impact on your confidence.
Maybe playing a stronger opponent was a bit mentally difficult and if you check our blog section we have a nice article about this!
I shall admit that I too had similar experiences, although they were not limited to the board nor the color I had played. I have played on the top boards in many tournaments. I had an experience when I had battled hard and lost an equal endgame because of a simple blunder due to time trouble. My opponent lauded me for the defense I had played while I lost my chance for a podium finish in the State Open Championship.
Well, what I have indeed observed in many games, in my own and others is that the more higher rated players are able to better utilize their pieces. I have won many a games where I was down an exchange but managed to create so many complications that my opponent was unable to navigate through them and lost even though he was better.
Stop worrying about the fact that you lost to an IM, because in the end I hate to break it to you, he's an IM and you're not (yet) he has probably, seen through many more games than you have.
I was in a somewhat similar situation you are in. These are the things that my coach told me to do.
#1. Remove your emotion from your losses. Think of it as a game played by your student while you try to analyze the game. --- I noticed that you 'punched' a wall. The less emotional you are about your losses, the more creative you become. (Which would really help you in the long run at the cost of probably a few losses)
#2. Well, I also noticed that you are playing a symmetrical structure against the English. I couldn't deduce it, but I believe you are less of an attacking player and you love to play solidly. The benoni is quite a sharp opening. It's probably not your style which is another reason which adds to why you lost that game. (For me it was the other way around, I had to learn more of positional chess) I suggest you try to improve your attacking skills. I am not asking you to change your repertoire, no... But I believe learning that skill would go a long way.
#3. Do a few mental exercises. I would like to suggest two books in particular that I found really beneficial: Innercise ~ John Aasaraf, Think and Grow Rich ~ Napoleon Hill (The second one is a 100 year old classic; it's not about money at all. It's totally about how to achieve a mindset) I would request you to at least read the second book, even if you can't read the first.
#4. The higher rated players are much better in squeezing out wins in drawn positions than you are. I have crushed many a players in very equalish positions. I would suggest you watch (if possible) the Power Play titled "Squeeze" by Daniel King. Very instructive, really boosted my rating by 100 points. (Not kidding, around 80 actually.)
This is all I could say based on deductions from the things you said in your question. Anything else I say would probably be irrelevant or worse, take you on the wrong path. It would be more helpful for you if you could put in more details about your play the next time you ask a question.
Good Luck to your chess! Want to see you achieve your goals! Bye for now.
may be try changing ur openings coz one doesnt get good results if their openings doesnt suit them
Why?
Why aren't there any tournament with prizes?
Replies
Because things are not so easy always. At this moment, there are no tournaments with prices, maybe in the future they will be back. By the way I deleted your other post about moodcoins since you are already in contact with support trough email. This is a public forum, if you have trouble receiving emails, just write via https://chessmood.com/contact
List of (my) problems to solve
Just a brain dump of the study/play problems I'm trying to solve that don't have satisfying answers so far...
Blunders in 5 3 chess:
Sometimes missing the opponent's mistake because I wasn't looking and why I start missing stuff.
Forgetting to visualise the position if necessary before making moves to blunder check
Time management vs playing bad moves too quickly
Openings:
Being able to replay (part of) a line against a realistic opponent again and again until I understand it
Getting enough experience
Finding how to play the middlegames in specific openings when not enough good examples in the database (and tracking them down in the first place).
Remembering and recall
Studying games:
How many?
Which?
How to gain something from it?
What to be looking for.
Visualisation:
How to do it - very little beyond the obvious and keep at it (akin to the problem (but less understood) of why can't one draw, understand mathematics, speak new foreign languages fluently)
How much skill is required (i.e. how is it being used practically as opposed to blindfold chess)
Thinking process:
Very little good information on it - in the streams it's often mentioned as having good sight of board or intuition, but not (able to be) broken down on how to get it or how to train it during again (the levels of conscious/unconscious (in)competence). Much of the information is very general (study puzzles, studies, games, play a lot, analyse) requiring a lot of time which many people do not have.
Restudy/retaining:
What to note down?
How much to note down?
How much to revise and when.
Time:
How to condense study into 2 hours a day so it can co-exist with work
Replies
Very good questions that I also face. Here are some thoughts:
Blunders in 5 3 chess:
- stop using the engine at all.
- right mood, right moves
- not only train (easy) tactics (pattern recognition) but solve difficult exerercies (e.g. Panchonko book on middlegames or endgame studies)
Openings:
Have at least half of the time budget on practice (and not creating perfect pgn-files)
"Golden rules" on how to use blitz games to learn openings (cf. articles in the blog)
rapid games for a deeper analysis afterward (plan, understanding of the opening)
Studying games - What to be looking for.
- I had this questions regarding classical games and found it helpful to first have some kind of fundament first (in my case Panchenko on middlegame).
Visualisation:
- I have some occasions a week when I walk between 10 and 30 minutes. I try to remember and visualize positions during these walks.
Restudy/retaining:
- This was always my plan to (like the woodpecker method for tactics). I create nice pgn-files with the games covered in the courses and my books (middlegame and endgame, place bookmarks - all with the idea to later revisit these files. But to be honest - I never came to use them. So I now stop doing that (which is really hard for me).
I'll also add my own thoughts to the list - which is current thinking and very subject to change:
>Blunders in 5 3 chess:
> Sometimes missing the opponent's mistake because I wasn't looking and why I start missing stuff.
Loss of focus, particularly when under pressure or low time - I wrote about this before in why do we blunder (or similar). Unfortunately it's a human thing that we aren't built for long periods (even minutes) of focus and with limited attention span slip. Yes it can be trained, but I think it's more about initially going through a manual check process. Also perhaps being realistic that it might have been a horrid blunder, but if the position was also horrid, the better fix might be not to have got into that position in the first place (and diagnose the why there).
> Forgetting to visualise the position if necessary before making moves to blunder check
This is a real question, that do you even need to. Is just checking logically enough. Trying to visualise when it's at times almost impossible to see anything my be counter productive, and better to improve the visualisation ability, or just make sure to 'hallucinate' the moved pieces instead rather than just forgetting.
> Time management vs playing bad moves too quickly
A dilemma. The time management blog article was just too simple and state the obvious. Budgeting time, focus and not wasting time are all obvious, just some positions and levels of experience with a position call for more thought. Moving faster might not help because mistakes made elsewhere would have lead to a loss. The only solution is improvement, unless the trade off wants to be made in playing simpler or rote openings (KIA for example).
> Openings:
> Being able to replay (part of) a line against a realistic opponent again and again until I understand it
Other than having several training opponents my rating than are very pliant to my whims, the only solution is the engine. If you're going to play a repertoire of openings some are going to get played more than others and not when you want. Looking at engine solutions here, particularly with more human-like computers, but not something I've made strong breakthroughs in.
> Getting enough experience
Same issue.
>
Finding how to play the middlegames in specific openings when not
enough good examples in the database (and tracking them down in the
first place).
A real problem, and perhaps is a problem in playing a repertoire rather than playing what is popular and you learn by absorbing what the top guys are doing. The problem is the top guy's openings are now mostly inappropriate for non-master players, so study from older periods is the only way, even if lines are 'refuted'.
> Remembering and recall
I'm working on the notes based approach, but I did notices that it's also a process of active/passive learning. Ginger GM recently had a stream on openings improvements in 1975, and the Nc3 benko came up where Alburt got a bit of a kicking as Bf4 and Bc4 were discovered. This helped to reinforce that we capture on b5 and have to play g5 later, rather than try to play the position as the mainline which is what I think I was tending towards.
Studying games:
> How many?
Unanswered by anyone
> Which?
Masters, the problem is how many of each and also what things focus on. In my greatest predecessors, the period before Steinitz has 9 games, which is very little to dedicated to Anderssen and Morphy in particular. Nor is there much given to what we learned from Philidor and how for example we would use his ideas say on both sides of the hippo where appropriate supported pawn pushes is part of the play. Even say the also recommend Reti's masters of the chessboard, it seems to race through showing the highlights and often the same famous games (which themselves came out of other games and experience). You are almost left as having to go read through l'analyse (which is like pulling teeth with the notation) and trying to figure out where he's wrong, or accept all the things which are now incorrect. Even going to more reliable sources, Lasker and Nimzowitsch are wrong on several occasions and caught in their own dogma which allowed them to play good chess in their time, but now would be refuted out of hand. You need to be able to sort through what is good and what is now wrong (and why).
> How to gain something from it?
Study each game once in detail and never go back, find a set of games and learn them by heart and try to play like the masters that produced them? Take notes, learn from the notes, revisit later?
> What to be looking for.
Spending time learning the various lines of the king's gambit (Predecessors and many old texts) is pretty pointless. Yes there are some nice traps and bits which are worth knowing as well as trying to understand the material vs development balance, but coupled with bad analysis or computer(-like) analysis or just game fragment highlights makes it very difficult. Again this is the problem of learning by absorbing vs learning by focusing on something specific.
Visualisation:
> How to do it - very little beyond the obvious and keep at it (akin to
the problem (but less understood) of why can't one draw, understand
mathematics, speak new foreign languages fluently)
I'm very poor at it, because I'm not a visual thinking, I'm a logical thinker. Much of the training is little more than know the colour of squares, diagonals, exercises in head. As soon as it gets into the middlegame with less simple structures, or endgames with many possibility for long range pieces, it becomes almost impossible without memorising piece locations - which isn't really visualising.
> How much skill is required (i.e. how is it being used practically as opposed to blindfold chess)
Even simple question like, is it possible to become a master without being able to visualise isn't really answered. If visualisation is a skill that some players need to have, but others don't then I should focus more on the logical aspect where I am stronger. However it's unclear whether lack of visualisation is an almost definite roadblock to becoming strong as would be not being able to logically evaluate a problem including all possible edge cases be almost insurmountable roadblock to becoming a programmer.
Thinking process:
>
Very little good information on it - in the streams it's often
mentioned as having good sight of board or intuition, but not (able to
be) broken down on how to get it or how to train it during again (the
levels of conscious/unconscious (in)competence). Much of the information
is very general (study puzzles, studies, games, play a lot, analyse)
requiring a lot of time which many people do not have.
There are a few sources out there, I've yet to encounter one for a blitz speed game. There is mention about blunder checks, looking at the opponent's move, positional and tactical evaluations (of various complexities), but there isn't really a just do this for an sub-2000 player playing blitz. An maybe the real answer for blitz is it needs to be internalised from doing the process with longer time controls so it's unconscious by then.
Restudy/retaining:
> What to note down?
I suggest new ideas, interesting ideas, things you missed, critical moments, things you must know.
> How much to note down?
Keep it simple and short. Less is more which decreases review time and focuses just on what you want to recall.
> How much to revise and when.
Just that which doesn't seem internalised (avoid focusing on what you do know), regular intervals / spaced learning if possible. Don't be afraid to discard that which has become useless or internalised to keep it manageable.
Again the real answer might be note very little down and absorb it all by active learning over a lot of time.
Time:
> How to condense study into 2 hours a day so it can co-exist with work
The problem. It was wonderful to hear of the eat, drink and sleep chess improvement in the recent interview, that just isn't practical except for up and coming budding world champions and the retired.
what is your opinion about the Novikova variation
What is your opinion about the Novikova variation
1 e4-e6 2 d4-d5 3Nd2-Nc6 4 Nf3 g5
Replies
Looks like a mouse slip. :)
Hi Franck,
I think it's not a great line for black as after Bb5 white get's the e5 square for the knight. We will not close the position with the e5 move as g5 is weakening opponents' kingside pawn structure.
White can castle and start a game through central lines probably with an exd5 move at a good spot.
Shouldn't this be a good Benko?
Lately there has been a recent trend at the highest level to play the following line, primarily as an Anti Grunfeld weapon it would seem [1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.h4] But I'm left wondering why this doesn't simply allow a promising transposition to the Benko Gambit after [3...c5 4.d5 b5!]
What am I missing?
Replies
The differences are in a normal benko the black pawn is on g7 and the white pawn is on h2 in this variation 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 but in this variation, the pawns structure is a little different in this variation 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. h4 c5 4. d5 b5 so white may at sometimes try kingside attack like e3-Be2-h5 These are the main differences white gets some play in the kingside in this variation
So are you saying that the inclusion of 3.h4 is more useful than the inclusion of 2...g6.
yes Kevin D
That's an interesting assessment especially when one considers that in most games the pawn just sits on h4, and if it does advance any further, it is usually much later in the game. Meanwhile in the Benko we will follow up with g6 in 99% of the cases anyway.
I suspect that if the move-order with 3.h4 becomes truly popular, we will see Black countering in Benko style more and more. :)
Any more doubts in this kevin d??
Hi Kevin,
To be honest I think that including h5 and g6 moves favors to black and I have a feeling it's a nice version of Benko. Would prefer to play it for the black side at least :-)
Positional hierarchy
Hi all pro members,
The "tactical hierarchy" is pretty obvious. Queens are worth more than bishops so if you are deciding to take a queen or bishop and all other things are equal Take the queen. Which rook to take if forked usually the active one. My question is there a hierarchy for positional moves? So how do you know if control of a square or a knight out post is more important?
Thanks,
Marc
Replies
Hi Marc,
The question is interesting but up to my opinion, it strictly depends on the position. If it's a game with opposite side castles I will pay attention to the fastest attacking and aggressive moves. If pawn endgame, then who is promoting first, or if position when the opponent has a bad bishop how to prevent it from activity and million examples like this. In general, I would recommend evaluating the position, understand your ideas and motives. Only then figure out what is becoming the priority.
https://chessmood.com/blog/evaluate-chess-position this is a great article by GM @Noël_Studer and it can be helpful in this sense.
Very weak player
I am a very weak player who loves the game and wants desperately to improve. I've been studying tactics woth a tutor who recommended this forum to me (unfortunately I messed up and he didn't get the commission) and I feel as though my tactical ability has improved, but my actual playing is - terrible. I keep blundering, I have gaps in my knowledge of the opening. I've been trying to learn the Scotch opening here, but am struggling because the presenter talks very fast and the moves keep flying by on sidelines. When Ive actually had a chance to work out what he's saying the content makes good sense - he explains very well, but I'm worried that I am too weak to follow the full course if it's all going to be so swiftly presented.
Are all of the courses spoken at speed, and am I likely to improve my comprehension? Sometimes I feel very encouraged because my puzzle score has improved significantly since I started having lessons, but my online fide just keeps plummeting.
Replies
Hi Mary, welcome to the ChessMood family. Yes, coach Avetic is quite energetic and enthusiastic about what he is presenting in his videos. And quite fast, too. When I tried to follow his advice on how the study/memorize the openings - I more or less failed. And I won't call me a weak player (of course this is matter of perspective and some other PRO members will laugh out loud when they read this). So, I also have to pause the videos, go back - pause again etc
I think it might help a lot if there were an article on the openings, too - @Chessmood_Odysseus. In that way one will have a basic idea of what the opening is about (I like the introductions and reviews in the course a lot. But I am more a guy who grew up with books and a board. So watching videos to learn is not in my DNA).
By the way, did you have a look at the articles in the blog? They are really great!
And maybe try a course presented by coach Gabuzyan. He speaks a bit slower and gives you a bit more time to grasp the content. My favourite course is the happy pieces one.
Or try out this new series that started yesterday:
https://chessmood.com/event/rocket-to-2400-with-chessmood-openings
At least at the beginning it should be very instructive to see what mistakes weaker players make and how to win. And you will see the ChessMood openings in real games (especially used against players of lower level).
If cannot follow the event live - this is not a major deal. But try to do so.
It really helps to improve to feel the ChessMood spirit in such events!
It's on video, so you can pause it every now and then to think about it. There is no rush to get through all the material, plus I think if you are describing yourself as a weak player, and I would say this is true for sub-1500, you don't need to appreciate so much of the openings videos. Games are won and lost by blunders, usually big ones, at that level, that you can just play chess, stay alert to avoid making a blunder yourself, and just wait for the blunder to happen. As long as you stay out of sharp lines (this doesn't mean play passive, playing controlled aggressive setting problems for the opening is more likely to get them to blunder), and where memories and experience playing them over and over again count more than finding reasonable moves, any reasonable opening will do.
Just review the opening videos bit by bit (skip a lot of stuff, particularly later moves and focus more on the first few moves, critical moves and the model games), don't worry about taking in everything or too much at once, get yourself a training partner or play against a weak human-like computer (maia1 - 1100, maia5 - 1500 on lichess) starting from positions you want to train in, and gradually build up the repertoire. After you play, review the game and then go to the videos to learn more about the line you played.
I suspect the problem you have with the videos is not one of speed, but one of too much unfamiliar material you don't yet have the facilities to digest. The openings videos (except the beginners one) were intended for 1500 and above.
Hello Mary,
Welcome to ChessMood!
First of all no need to lose confidence :-)
If you are feeling that learning the whole opening course is difficult try to do the first 5-10 beginning moves and get playable positions.
In order to play better, we offer different middlegame courses. I will recommend you to start from happy pieces and cover the others as well. This will make you stronger and help to understand openings.
And I have good news for you. In the very near future we are going to have a lot of new material for beginner level, in the very very near future!
The winners of August, 2021
Hello champions and future champions! Hello ChessMood family!
Thank you all for sharing your games. It’s great to see you play some really strong chess! Keeping crushing the same way!
Moving on to the prizes,
The first prize goes to Jaylen Lenear for his Tal-like approach to finish the game.
https://chessmicrobase.com/microbases/15045/games/1155806?token=6jginaj
The second prize goes to Vladimir Bugayev for the way he conducted a crushing attack in the Anti-Sicilian!
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/23342986021?tab=report
The third prize goes to Yuma Okabe for brilliantly handling the initiative after 11...Nxe4! and converting it into a win.
https://lichess.org/nGPV5sfm/black#25
The 4th prize goes to Karl Strohmaier for this brilliant attack in the Accelerated Dragon.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/23746652995?tab=report
The 5th prize goes to Paul Alejandro Cardones for the picturesque 16.Nce4#!
Congratulations to all of you, and thank you once again everybody for sharing your games!
Keep crushing, and keep the #COGRO
See you soon for next month’s contest.
Replies
Thank you chessmood :D
Theme tournament - Scotch Steinitz System (4... Qh4) on lichess
I finally found a theme tournament of interest on lichess today (https://lichess.org/5BwojSsYYGcb) and played in the 3 0 (there was also 1 0, 3 2 and 10 0 but that was overkill). I was essaying the 5. Nb5 Chessmood suggestion as White. I finished 17th of 503, and at one point I was leading the tournament. Sadly the 0 inc got to me a few games.
Nb5 is a very good line, but I have a little bit of a gripe of the course, that the few moves that give Black a game (despite inferior play) are not covered with perhaps some model games to best get into the middlegame. Too much is placed on it being a dodgy YouTube move and looking at solely at serious refutations rather than giving it some respect. It's bad, but it's not refuted by Nb5 and some players will accept a slightly worse position against someone who knows what they are doing if they also win against many opponents on tricks. Luckily many opponents just fell into the bad lines, especially as they would be more familiar with Nc3 if they played it at all.
Some more 'respectable' lines that need correct handling to keep advantage and should have been mentioned:
5... Bb4+ instead of Bc5
7... a6 before Bf4 can be played where 8. N1c3 is correct and maybe 9. Nd4 depending on what Black plays (e.g. after Qe8) which gives White a huge if not winning initiative
5... Qd8 - yes a wasteful retreat, but the king hasn't had to move, so White must play correctly e.g. 6. Bf4 e.g. Bb4+ 7. c3 Ba5 8. N1a3 (or 7. N1c3, a3, b4) to keep the advantage
Replies
The cycle is repeating in 4 hours time on lichess (7pm UTC) if you want to practice this variation.
French line, 3. .. c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Bg4
Hi everyone,
In the French Bd3 line (chessmood course) 3. .. c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Bg4; what do we play? this move (Bg4) isn't in the theory and I don't understand why it's not played. Opponent pin our N and slow down our plans to attack!
Replies
I would do the "normal" moves: 0-0 and if Nf6 Re1+ followed by exc5 and Nbd2. It looks like black lost a tempo this way (Be7 and then Bxc5).
Hi Alessio,
I was going to reply the same way as Nils did. Castle and a check from e1 seems to be an attractive option.
