Chess forum by Grandmasters

Theme tournaments

Suggesting again...

Wouldn't it make sense/less organisation work (if the plan is to have one 'every' week) to either add them to the schedule on the Friday the week before, or even easier, to put them all in (or announce the running order on the forum) for the coming month (perhaps skipping the holiday period)? If they have to be cancelled (or the Friday corrections moved) then so be it, but then at least as a participant you know what you've got to study/revise by when. Wednesday (as we are now without the announcement) is a little late when you've got to factor work in as well.

The events are a big value add to the courses, and a differentiator from other sites. Increased notice to prepare will also help boost the numbers playing and more activity will encourage more to subscribe and keep up subscriptions.

Replies

Another suggestion would be to have them every 2 weeks to give plenty of time for learning. The interleaving week could be a 'random' guest tournament such as odds, from certain interesting positions, non-chessmood openings and so on which wouldn't also require a Friday session that week (and also gives a slot should one be postponed).

Besides, I suggest adding daily tournament on chess.com so members with different schedule all can attend. 

Grand Prix theme tournament - Sat 12th Dec

Seen this is now up, so notifying here as there hasn't been an announcement yet.

Start position is from the Anti-Sicilian Nc3 for White course part 1 (but there may be some transpositions to the other parts, I can't remember) - after moves in repertoire 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 or 1. e4 d6 2. Nc3 c5 3. f4

Note for new pro-members, request to get added to the ChessMood team before Saturday as there may not be someone to approve you on the day.

See you Saturday.

Replies

Support

I am a new Promember and would like to download the PGN file for the Benkö Gambit. All the time I only get transferred to the top of Benkö Gambit. No download.

Does anyone know where I could get support to resolve the problem?

Thank you in advance!

Göran

Replies

Seems everyone has the same problem....I talked to the administration and they said we should wait a little bit 

True, few days ago I downloaded some pgn-s from here, I also talked the problem isn't from chessmood, we hope that the problem will be fixed as soon as possible.

Problem has fixed, try again :) 

PGN File Download

HI

I´m a pro member and i can´t download the pgn files of the courses...I tried several browsers...it just didn´t work...

any help?

with regards,

Florian Wenz

Replies

ya I am also facing this same problem

Why? :/  I can download all PGNs

I became pro within this day do there are some restrictions for the first day?

Hi, Try PM to @Karina_Avagyan_. I think she is the one who can help you

1) Yes, downloading PGNs doesn't seem to work. It just refreshes the page. It's worked in the past.

2) I'm not able to add files to posts, not sure if the two are related.

The problem has already fixed, you can download them now :) 

Questions from Crushing d4 Sidelines

Section 1 - Trompowsky Attack, '5. Trying to play against our plans':

In 0:03, what if White tries to prevent ...f5 with e4 (instead of with Qc2)?

In 2:49, what if White responds to ...b4 with Na4 (instead of with Ne2), preventing our ...c5?

Thank you!

Replies

1)      I think c4 is not a good move, it loses a tempo, as e3 was played first, but even more importantly it weakens the white pawn center and Black can later crush this center with a well timed c5

2)      Na4? instead of Ne2 is a mistake, the N on a4 is misplaced here on the rim and cannot really get back into the game. After cxd5!, Bxd5, Nxd5, Rxd5, Bb7 (hitting the rook) and then Rfc8 (hitting the queen) the N on a4 has no moves at all!

1.e4 is weakening of d4 pawn, white never play e4 in such positions....

2.After Na4 we can take on d5 and there isn't Nf4 move in case of Na4. If 16.Bd5 Nd5 17.Rd5 Bb7 black has an advantage. 

studying chess books

sir is there any particular technique that you recommend for studying chess books

Replies

Hi, a game that I find interesting I would copy with comments into one of my chessbase  databases. Same for tactics, strategic and endgame exercises.

I remember more when I write it down. It a bit slow but sometimes less is more.

Hey! 
You should check out this one! 
https://youtu.be/N5Tw1iNDfas 

The great Hungarian-American mathematician Paul Halmos had a recommendation for how to study math books: with a pen and paper, but preferably you'd throw the book away at some point and explore on your own.

For chess, maybe this means that you study it with a board, making the moves, guessing the winner's moves, trying to understand why they make the moves they do.

Moodcoins

Dear Gm Avetik Sir

Being a pro member, the mood coins are of no use as all features are unlocked

And you cannot buy courses which are meant for pro members even if you don't have pro membership

And I have completed almost all the courses of openings part

Then what to do these mood coins

If I continue pro membership, how will it benefit me

This is my humble suggestion that can we buy pro membership with mood coins please?

Hoping for a positive reply

Replies

I too have a question...

The courses which are now ONLY FOR PRO will we be able to buy them with MoodCoin later? or will they be only for PRO?

Dear Sir

Could you clarify how moodcoins will be useful for pro members ?

We love your content and it has made significant progress in my games but since I have completed most of the opening courses

I still cannot buy pro courses even if I wish to as they are not purchasable for non pro members

Can we get something out of the moodcoins please,?

I think maybe 50,000 for a piece of chessmood merch

New Course - "The Power of the Bishop Pair"

Hey Champions,

We've uploaded one more course in the "Middlegame mastery section" - "The power of bishop pair."  The two sections are ready and uploaded, the rest are coming very soon.​​

https://chessmood.com/course/bishop-pair-power 

If you have any questions or comments about this course, write them here 

With love,

ChessMood Team

Replies

This course was really good 

Question about Anti-Sicilian course

Hi everyone,

Recently I started to watch Anti-Sicilian for white, so far I like it very much. I have a question about this position, here GM Avetik looks two moves, which are the best and the main moves dxe5 and b6 I guess, however the first move that came to my mind was d5,  idea is to get the position with two bishops against the rook and two double pawns, where I think I more prefer black's position.

What do you think about this?

I didn't watch the advanced section yet, maybe there is something better for white, this position was just interesting for me. I would like to read your opinion.

Replies

I don't know why I couldn't add picture of the position :(

Ιn which section, part, and video?

Join our Team option

Hello ChessMood Team,

I had sent two emails regarding joining your team 

One was one week ago and one was 2 days ago,

I thought that you might be busy so decided to write here in this forum,

The reason I wanted to join your team was I personally was very satisfied with the content you provide and wanted to help lots of players achieve their peak because in this covid period, there is lot of scope for players to choose the wrong direction and invest in wrong courses.

I hope that you will be replying to my forum/mail soon. ([email protected])

Thank you

Replies

They will answer soon...btw which team do you mean?

Chess engine

Hi everyone,

how do you analyze your games? with or without engine and how much do you use the engine during your trainings?

Replies

Without engine first, then again with engine. Not sure what you mean by training, but when I hit a dead end in my opening prep I often check the Engine's opinion, the Engine is also useful as a blunder check.

Another thing, have you ever noticed in winning positions that the Engine's +3.0 evaluation is often much easier to understand and follow than the +6.0  alternative. :D

I do not know how to use chess engines efficiently. Please tell me:

1-How professional chess players use chess Softwares and Engines?  (Fritz, Chessbase, ...)

2-What is the best way to learn them? Do you know any offline or online course? How did you learn it?

Note: Of course software manuals are available to us, but I am not sure reading hundreds of pages would be the best approach.

Always with the engine and I blindly trust everything it shows :D 

I analyze Internet games just with engine. I analyze classical OTB games first with a board and after with engine. 

I like to use engine to check variations in exercises. For example, I try to solve weeekly some exercises from the book "Test Your Chess IQ" by Livshitz using a real board. Very often I find variations that are different from the solution. Then I try to refute them over the board. When I am not able to refute them, I check with an engine. Most of the times, th engine shows me some resource I had missed, although I have also found some mistakes in the book ;-)

I also use engine to check opening variations or to explore new variations but only if I understand the engine suggestion. I like to compare stockfish to Lc0 suggestions.

Great win with a Chessmood opening! Opening question (Grand Prix)

I won a nice game in the Grand Prix, against a strong 2300 player in a Game 30 on-line event! Thank you Chessmood family.

I feel like I had a chance to get a bigger edge out of the opening. 

The game was (I'm not sure how to embed the game into this thread). I was white.

1 e4 c5

2 Nc3 Nc6

3 Bb5    Nd4

4 Nf3 Nxb5

5 Nxb5 a6

6 Nc3  d6

7 d4 cxd4

8 Qxd4     Bg4?! This was a strange move, didn't make sense to me. I thought for a few minutes, I didn't love Bg5 because I thought Qa5 would be annoying.

9 Be3 e6

10. 0-0-0 Nf6

11. e5!? Bxf3 --- I calculated for a bit, and didn't go for the exf6 line, I wasn't sure what to do after e5. 

12. I played gxf3 and got a nice edge. I went on to win, however it was a bit of a time scramble at the end and the game went on for another 50+ moves.

I'll stop there, any feedback / thoughts about how I approached this would be appreciated. 

Replies

I didn't watch the second move Nc6 yet, isn't there an f4 move?

It seems absolutely reasonable what you played.  The exf6 line is very complicated.  You came fine out of the opening 

Engine shows that ef6 is stronger and some complicated line, but I think you made a practical decision, especially if it was a blitz game and didn't have much time to calcualte. Position looks great to me also after gxf3. I would take on f3 too, because I like bishops lol.

A little correction in Scotch Game

I've finished watching the Scotch course and I've practiced it with my sparring-partner many times. Once we played the position from Section 3 video 36, 12...f6 was played I took on g6, my opponent took 13...fe and I lost too fast. 13...fe seems the best move for black and it's a very complicated position I prefer to play with black. My engine shows that we should play 13.h6 instead of taking on g6. What do you think about it? 

Replies

Question about one line in French

In 8. The Trickiest Line of French Defense Section 4 Video 22. When black reply with 14...Nf8, isn't 15.Nh5 a mistake which allow Black to reply with 15...Nf5, where the best for white is hopping for draw. According to my engine, the best will be 15.Qf6 which give white a huge advantage. Correct me if I am wrong, thank you very much. 

Replies

You are right! I checked it with the engine too and also I've changed it in my pgn file.

Thanks for sharing it with us. There are some small mistakes like this in the courses, would be great if everyone shares what they've found and we can discover and learn them together.

Rossolimo Stats

After 3... g6 - both players >= 2400 - source Mega Database 2018 (up to Oct 2017)
(num games, white win %, total ratings, average rating for the player who made that move)
Excludes transpositions and a small number of 'unloadable' games. Note these stats have not been rigorously tested, so there is the possibility of errors.

current position
 ├─Bxc6 (54 65.7% 54 2543)
 │  ├─dxc6 (36 73.6% 36 2573)
 │  │  ├─d3 (29 69.0% 29 2533) Bg7 (29 69.0% 29 2582)
 │  │  │  ├─h3 (27 68.5% 27 2536)
 │  │  │  │  ├─Nf6 (16 65.6% 16 2561) Nc3 (16 65.6% 16 2517)
 │  │  │  │  │  ├─Nd7 (8 87.5% 8 2554)
 │  │  │  │  │  ├─O-O (7 50.0% 7 2569)
 │  │  │  │  │  └─b6 (1 0.0% 1 2574)
 │  │  │  │  ├─b6 (7 64.3% 7 2648)
 │  │  │  │  │  ├─O-O (4 75.0% 4 2581) e5 (4 75.0% 4 2662)
 │  │  │  │  │  ├─a3 (2 75.0% 2 2660) a5 (2 75.0% 2 2715)
 │  │  │  │  │  └─Nc3 (1 0.0% 1 2450) e5 (1 0.0% 1 2455)
 │  │  │  │  ├─Nh6 (2 100.0% 2 2617)
 │  │  │  │  │  ├─O-O (1 100.0% 1 2551) b6 (1 100.0% 1 2668)
 │  │  │  │  │  └─Nc3 (1 100.0% 1 2471) b6 (1 100.0% 1 2567)
 │  │  │  │  └─e5 (2 75.0% 2 2509)
 │  │  │  │     ├─Nc3 (1 50.0% 1 2487)
 │  │  │  │     └─Be3 (1 100.0% 1 2583) b6 (1 100.0% 1 2582)
 │  │  │  ├─O-O (1 100.0% 1 2591) Nh6 (1 100.0% 1 2613) h3 (1 100.0% 1 2591) b6 (1 100.0% 1 2613)
 │  │  │  └─Nc3 (1 50.0% 1 2409) Bg4 (1 50.0% 1 2506) h3 (1 50.0% 1 2409) Bxf3 (1 50.0% 1 2506)
 │  │  ├─h3 (5 90.0% 5 2427)
 │  │  │  ├─Bg7 (4 87.5% 4 2563) d3 (4 87.5% 4 2433)
 │  │  │  │  ├─Nf6 (3 83.3% 3 2606)
 │  │  │  │  │  ├─Nc3 (2 100.0% 2 2459)
 │  │  │  │  │  │  ├─O-O (1 100.0% 1 2607)
 │  │  │  │  │  │  └─Nd7 (1 100.0% 1 2606)
 │  │  │  │  │  └─Nbd2 (1 50.0% 1 2401) O-O (1 50.0% 1 2606)
 │  │  │  │  └─b6 (1 100.0% 1 2435) a4 (1 100.0% 1 2413) a5 (1 100.0% 1 2435)
 │  │  │  └─e5 (1 100.0% 1 2517) d3 (1 100.0% 1 2404) f6 (1 100.0% 1 2517) Be3 (1 100.0% 1 2404) Nh6 (1 100.0% 1 2517)
 │  │  ├─O-O (1 100.0% 1 2426) Bg7 (1 100.0% 1 2454) Nc3 (1 100.0% 1 2426) Nf6 (1 100.0% 1 2454) d3 (1 100.0% 1 2426) O-O (1 100.0% 1 2454)
 │  │  └─Nc3 (1 100.0% 1 2660) Bg7 (1 100.0% 1 2506) d3 (1 100.0% 1 2660) b6 (1 100.0% 1 2506) Be3 (1 100.0% 1 2660) e5 (1 100.0% 1 2506)
 │  └─bxc6 (18 50.0% 18 2592)
 │     ├─O-O (16 56.3% 16 2591) Bg7 (16 56.3% 16 2596)
 │     │  ├─Re1 (12 54.2% 12 2586)
 │     │  │  ├─Nh6 (6 33.3% 6 2598)
 │     │  │  │  ├─c3 (5 40.0% 5 2595) O-O (5 40.0% 5 2620)
 │     │  │  │  └─d3 (1 0.0% 1 2627) O-O (1 0.0% 1 2487)
 │     │  │  ├─Nf6 (3 66.7% 3 2623)
 │     │  │  │  ├─e5 (2 50.0% 2 2625) Nd5 (2 50.0% 2 2657)
 │     │  │  │  └─c3 (1 100.0% 1 2607) O-O (1 100.0% 1 2556)
 │     │  │  ├─d6 (2 75.0% 2 2565) h3 (2 75.0% 2 2539) Nh6 (2 75.0% 2 2565)
 │     │  │  └─e5 (1 100.0% 1 2627) b4 (1 100.0% 1 2497) cxb4 (1 100.0% 1 2627)
 │     │  ├─c3 (3 83.3% 3 2591) Nh6 (3 83.3% 3 2621) d4 (3 83.3% 3 2591)
 │     │  │  ├─Qb6 (2 75.0% 2 2572)
 │     │  │  └─cxd4 (1 100.0% 1 2721)
 │     │  └─d3 (1 0.0% 1 2657) d6 (1 0.0% 1 2460) Nbd2 (1 0.0% 1 2657) e5 (1 0.0% 1 2460)
 │     ├─Nc3 (1 0.0% 1 2438) Bg7 (1 0.0% 1 2405) O-O (1 0.0% 1 2438) d6 (1 0.0% 1 2405) d3 (1 0.0% 1 2438) Rb8 (1 0.0% 1 2405)
 │     └─d4 (1 0.0% 1 2744) Bg7 (1 0.0% 1 2709) O-O (1 0.0% 1 2744) cxd4 (1 0.0% 1 2709) Nxd4 (1 0.0% 1 2744) e5 (1 0.0% 1 2709)
 ├─O-O (35 51.4% 35 2525) Bg7 (35 51.4% 35 2528)
 │  ├─Re1 (20 50.0% 20 2511)
 │  │  ├─Nf6 (12 50.0% 12 2499)
 │  │  │  ├─e5 (8 43.8% 8 2508) Nd5 (8 43.8% 8 2496) Nc3 (8 43.8% 8 2508) Nc7 (8 43.8% 8 2496)
 │  │  │  ├─Bxc6 (2 100.0% 2 2431) dxc6 (2 100.0% 2 2464)
 │  │  │  │  ├─d3 (1 100.0% 1 2427) O-O (1 100.0% 1 2486)
 │  │  │  │  └─h3 (1 100.0% 1 2436) O-O (1 100.0% 1 2442)
 │  │  │  ├─c3 (1 0.0% 1 2480) O-O (1 0.0% 1 2441) d4 (1 0.0% 1 2480) d5 (1 0.0% 1 2441)
 │  │  │  └─d3 (1 50.0% 1 2667) O-O (1 50.0% 1 2656) h3 (1 50.0% 1 2667) Qb6 (1 50.0% 1 2656)
 │  │  ├─e5 (7 57.1% 7 2496)
 │  │  │  ├─Bxc6 (3 50.0% 3 2485) dxc6 (3 50.0% 3 2489) d3 (3 50.0% 3 2485)
 │  │  │  │  ├─Qe7 (2 50.0% 2 2473)
 │  │  │  │  └─Ne7 (1 50.0% 1 2520)
 │  │  │  ├─c3 (3 50.0% 3 2539) Nge7 (3 50.0% 3 2532)
 │  │  │  │  ├─a3 (2 50.0% 2 2512) O-O (2 50.0% 2 2527)
 │  │  │  │  └─d4 (1 50.0% 1 2592) cxd4 (1 50.0% 1 2542)
 │  │  │  └─d3 (1 100.0% 1 2437) Nge7 (1 100.0% 1 2409) c3 (1 100.0% 1 2437) O-O (1 100.0% 1 2409)
 │  │  └─Nd4 (1 0.0% 1 2500) Nxd4 (1 0.0% 1 2638) cxd4 (1 0.0% 1 2500) c3 (1 0.0% 1 2638) a6 (1 0.0% 1 2500)
 │  ├─c3 (12 45.8% 12 2566) Nf6 (12 45.8% 12 2584)
 │  │  ├─d4 (4 37.5% 4 2642)
 │  │  │  ├─cxd4 (3 16.7% 3 2643) cxd4 (3 16.7% 3 2608)
 │  │  │  │  ├─a6 (1 0.0% 1 2523)
 │  │  │  │  ├─Nxe4 (1 0.0% 1 2703)
 │  │  │  │  └─d5 (1 50.0% 1 2703)
 │  │  │  └─a6 (1 100.0% 1 2703) Ba4 (1 100.0% 1 2744) cxd4 (1 100.0% 1 2703)
 │  │  ├─Re1 (3 50.0% 3 2496) O-O (3 50.0% 3 2542)
 │  │  │  ├─d4 (1 50.0% 1 2437) cxd4 (1 50.0% 1 2608)
 │  │  │  ├─h3 (1 100.0% 1 2468) Qb6 (1 100.0% 1 2524)
 │  │  │  └─e5 (1 0.0% 1 2584) Nd5 (1 0.0% 1 2495)
 │  │  ├─e5 (2 25.0% 2 2521) Nd5 (2 25.0% 2 2524) d4 (2 25.0% 2 2521) cxd4 (2 25.0% 2 2524)
 │  │  ├─Qa4 (1 100.0% 1 2660) O-O (1 100.0% 1 2721) d4 (1 100.0% 1 2660) cxd4 (1 100.0% 1 2721)
 │  │  ├─Qe2 (1 0.0% 1 2432) O-O (1 0.0% 1 2428) Rd1 (1 0.0% 1 2432) Qb6 (1 0.0% 1 2428)
 │  │  └─d3 (1 100.0% 1 2607) O-O (1 100.0% 1 2557) Be3 (1 100.0% 1 2607) b6 (1 100.0% 1 2557)
 │  └─Bxc6 (3 83.3% 3 2457) dxc6 (3 83.3% 3 2509)
 │     ├─d3 (2 100.0% 2 2475)
 │     │  ├─b6 (1 100.0% 1 2554) Nbd2 (1 100.0% 1 2429) e5 (1 100.0% 1 2554)
 │     │  └─Nf6 (1 100.0% 1 2536) h3 (1 100.0% 1 2521) Nd7 (1 100.0% 1 2536)
 │     └─h3 (1 50.0% 1 2422) Nf6 (1 50.0% 1 2439) Nc3 (1 50.0% 1 2422) O-O (1 50.0% 1 2439)
 ├─c3 (4 75.0% 4 2592)
 │  ├─Nf6 (3 83.3% 3 2667)
 │  │  ├─Qe2 (2 100.0% 2 2523) Bg7 (2 100.0% 2 2660) O-O (2 100.0% 2 2523) O-O (2 100.0% 2 2660) Rd1 (2 100.0% 2 2523)
 │  │  │  ├─Qc7 (1 100.0% 1 2660)
 │  │  │  └─d5 (1 100.0% 1 2660)
 │  │  └─e5 (1 50.0% 1 2632) Nd5 (1 50.0% 1 2683) d4 (1 50.0% 1 2632) cxd4 (1 50.0% 1 2683) O-O (1 50.0% 1 2632) Bg7 (1 50.0% 1 2683)
 │  └─a6 (1 50.0% 1 2493) Bxc6 (1 50.0% 1 2691) dxc6 (1 50.0% 1 2493) d4 (1 50.0% 1 2691) cxd4 (1 50.0% 1 2493) cxd4 (1 50.0% 1 2691) Bg7 (1 50.0% 1 2493)
 └─Nc3 (1 0.0% 1 2562) Bg7 (1 0.0% 1 2443) h3 (1 0.0% 1 2562) Nd4 (1 0.0% 1 2443) Nxd4 (1 0.0% 1 2562) cxd4 (1 0.0% 1 2443) Ne2 (1 0.0% 1 2562) Nf6 (1 0.0% 1 2443)


Bxc6 (54 65.7% 54 2543)
O-O (35 51.4% 35 2525)
c3 (4 75.0% 4 2592)
Nc3 (1 0.0% 1 2562)

Found 94.

Replies

Abhi- Mr Arrogant right?

Note: Post is full of anger but deep respect to those who know me and who knows who I am  and deep respect to coach who always helped me but I just wanna ask some questions to those who think I am arrogant.

I heard recently from my friend that sometimes my posts looks like I am arrogant and self-centered. I felt shocked. I also feel like idk why a lot people think that  selfish and self centered and a guy who like to show off?  

I am arrogant because I post daily in chessmood?

I am arrogant because I talk a lot about chess because I have burning desire to improve?

 I am arrogant because I care for all those players who ask me to help them?

I am arrogant because I post a lot what I studied daily?

I am arrogant because I post a lot games saying I crushed sicilians using Grand Prix? Just because I wanna share 1000s of people the right path so they join Chessmood and learn from coach.

Tell me why any of you think from inside that I am arrogant?

I am arrogant because in past I said I work 10 hrs a day and I wanna make it 18 like I did in 2017. In 2017 I met my second coach and I went to his home and I worked with him 2 months and from a pure beginner I crushed almost everyone in below 1600 section. I gained 120 elo and got 1303 to 1465 in my second rated event of my life. He worked not only on my basics but also he drove 4 times in a month on weekend for 2 hrs so I can play with his friends and   I will have idea how below 1600 players think so when I play in real life I will have playing experience. He also worked on my physical strength and we walked daily 2 hrs in morning and an hr at night.

Well I am inspired from Bobby Fischer's movie "Pawn Sacrifice" in which at some point young fischer said he is working 18 hrs a day so he can be world champ. Here as  a beginner I work daily 8- 10 hrs so I can be 2000 in one year. So what's problem ? You think I am doing show off then tell me I will give you contact number of my mentor. Call him and ask him at what time abhi was sleeping and how much I worked as beginner there. You will realize not all are fake.  I think it's achievable to work 18 hrs a day if you do it like 5-6 hrs then improve your stamina and then reach 18 hrs a day. In my culture we can work like that if we chant God's spells. 

Now tell me why any of you think I am arrogant??????????? 

Is my hard work annoy you? Is my burning desire to improve chess hurt your ego that you have no potential to work like I am doing as beginner?  If you can't work then work on yourself instead of making comments or making statement on anyone without even knowing who I am. What you guys know about me? What you guys know about my past? What you guys know who motivate me to work ? how many of you guys know that from the age of 16 I wanted to become a chess master but my family did not understoof how chess works and my dad make fun of me when I lost so I only took less lessons and I also found very bad mentors in the beginning who never helped me and in 2017 when I found a nice mentor then my parents said work on computers and get a job and I had to leave chess studies to make them happy. I found a wrong computer institute which also taught me so rubbish computers and I worked on computers skills by my own again but in the end due to lack of money (because dad lost his job ) I left computers too. Then I was forced to prepare for govt. jobs and I only liked chess but now I am again on wrong track which I knew. Now in 2020 when there is no chance of getting government job then I started to work on chess and in march 2020 I was like beginner again but then I worked a lot and with the help of coach avetik I am playing min like 1800 FIDE now in less than a year. I am working with two 1900 elo players one from India and one from US and I am working with two 1600+ players One from US and one from India.  How many of you know my "Why"? 

You guys know nothing but still you guys bother me by calling me arrogant. 

Those who have so low thinking like that no matter master or beginner can kindly text me and then I will prove who I am. An arrogant guy or just a guy who love chess so much that I sleep with chess books. 

Well, I don't do react on most of the things but life taught me one thing. If anyone is nice with you then you have to do everything for them and those who try to hurt you then you have to kill them mentally and then leave them for forever. I don't believe in ignore people. I believe in kill them mentally. It took 20 mins of my life in writing this post but it helped me to get rid out of my anger and I hope it can be a proof that I am just a chess addict and I wanna become a Grandmaster. Some people speak but never work I speak after I work. I am improving slowly but surely and my all partners feel that and including coach. I am slow not intelligent and you can say an ordinary fellow but I wanna work to become an extraordinary guy. I don't wanna impress whole world. I wanna be satisfied with my own work. Right now I am nothing in chess but soon I will be something. 

Replies

In the pics I am sharing the message of my friend. He misjudged me but never said to me in past. I am glad he talked to me and he changed his judgement. I am glad he thinks I am not arrogant.

Now, I am done proving myself. If after reading all this any of you think I am arrogant then go to mental hospital. Because your IQ is less than room temperature. 

I am just a chess lover and a guy who loves to help everyone in chess and learn from experts and motivate those who are lost.

From what I've seen you post over the last month, I don't see you as arrogant. Arrogance is projecting your self-importance above that of others, or dismissing others' points of view in a condescending way because you know better. The first I would say you don't, the second is a bit of a tight rope, but a lot of people haven't got their **** together, and while there is an art of hearing what you say and agreeing to disagree or follow your own path, I don't believe you should take anyone's word for anything. Most people haven't got success and are just repeating something else they heard somewhere. Sometimes mentioning here's what I'm doing and what successes I have can make others jealous too - I fell into that trap once when I was trying to inspire, not project look how great I am - to be fair a number of those people that took offence had their own issues - misery loves company. I tend not to make too much of a fuss about my successes for that very reason, but in the end of the day if you have success and others want to despise you rather than learn from you, they can enjoy their own misery. A large proportion of people sadly would prefer others to come down to their level rather than strive to improve their own lot.

I do think the "I'm not posting because people aren't giving back" could have come across the wrong way. While I understand exactly the frustration unequal contribution gives, that's just how people are. Sometimes you have to just give without any expectation of return, or just get on looking after yourself and those who are close, but I've already said my bit there. That's not arrogant though.

From my own experience and how I can relate, I find people difficult, and I know people find me difficult. Particular as I cause great frustration in that I can articulate a point well and cover all the bases so it's hard countering (or so I'm told). Sometimes being confident in one's own views particularly when they are backed up with experience and challenge others' beliefs cause conflict and the other person's defence mechanism is to become upset or shun.  I'm also a person you come to for a solution, not empathy, so unless you're saying that you need empathy rather than a solution I'm a natural problem solver. That can also upset some people though who were looking or validation it's okay to feel the way they do and are (or think they are) capable of solving their own problems. That's just me, but I can empathise that someone calling you arrogant might be a defence mechanism rather than a truly held belief, particularly if they don't know you well. But as I look back, some of those who I had trouble with also had their own problems, particularly those that were looking to belittle. There are some people out there who you'll just never get on with. Even those rare people who seem to get on with everyone, are often projecting a image that isn't themselves, and sometimes deeply unhappy too. I've seen plenty of such fakes.

While I understand how hurtful it can be, try not to let it get to you. You can only be happy being who you are, not others' expectations of how they'd like you to be.

Certainly I (and I'm sure a quite a number of people) are impressed with the effort you are putting into your chess study.

It is a fact that whatever people say about you reveals more about them than about you.

Putting this aside, not posting in the forums, will hurt you more than it hurts me or somebody else. Why is that? 

Lately, I posted a question asking to find a draw in a rook and pawn ending. I already knew the answer (it's easy to check nowadays with the computer). Nobody answered. After two days I posted the answer. Nobody commented. After a few days Avetik commented. That was nice. 

However, even if nobody would commented or answered, my goal was already acheieved. I wanted to put the position deep into my memory and by writing it down and posting it to the forum was for me a way to remember it easier.

It is true I could do it only in my chessbase file, but it would be less fun. I also noticed, since I am doing some teaching in my local chess club, that just preparing for lectures and giving a lecture often brings me more benefits than to those who have attended. So the one who gives receives the most anyway.

P.S. - No matter who you are, there are only 64 squares on the chessboard.

It sounds like you are feeling pretty angry, and I am sorry to hear that.  I wonder if some of this anger could be related to something other than  people here on the forum.  Sometimes in the past I have felt like people were judging me, but in reality other people have their own things going on in their lives, they probably don't realize how you are feeling.  

Just because one person thinks something, does not mean everyone things the same thing.  

I hope you feel better soon.  I think reaching out to people and helping them might be a better way to connect with people rather than accusing them of things.  

Your friend,

Courtney

Hi ! 

Don't listen to people, there will always be someone (s) that does not like us ... that is life!!
Don't be affected by that.

From my side I can say that we have trained together once, and that I did not feel that you were arrogant but very motivated! That is not a bad thing. I have to say that I am really jealouse because I wish I could spend as much time as you training! 

Keep the good work and effort, results will come with time! 

Pablo
 

Hi Abhi

Remember where you are! Here you are in Chess Mood!

"Right Mood Right Move"

Remember that. No one is the best chess player without self control. Trying to improve at chess is excellent-well done! Trying to improve in life is even better!

I know you get it and I know you were hurt, but you can make this make you stronger! Be positive toward all things good & bad! Go for it!

With lots of love & best wishes to you, from your Chess Mood brother!

My advice will be: Stop being so emotional !

Daily puzzles

Are they hard for you? How often do you solve them wrong?

Replies

Well, most of he time I solve them if I am fully focused but if it's beyond 2000 level then hard to guess ideas!!!

My percentage of solving the puzzles in the first try is around 85%. The rest I mostly manage to solve in the following tries. However, there were at least one or two that I couldn't solve at all.

In any case I find the puzzles really fun and useful for practicing calculations and getting to know some unusual patters.

I barely ever get them, but I've solved a few and am up to 7500 moodcoin.

Usually I solve them, but there are some that I make mistakes.

Generally they are not so hard.But sometimes there are really hard puzzles that took me 10 minutes to think.And I am failing rarely.

Smith Morra Gambit - What's the truth?

Hello ChessMood family, I have a question for you to ponder that has been on my mind recently, and now that GM Jaacob Aagaard (CEO of Quality Chess Publishing and one of the editors of Mayhem in The Morra) has joined our ranks, I thought that now would be as good a time as any to pose it. The question is how should we correctly evaluate the Morra Gambit, is it good for White, is it good for Black or should we simply consider it dynamically equal.

In my earlier days as a chessplayer I always figured with a bit of knowledge and accurate play Black should be able to snatch this pawn and emerge with an advantage. Now after years have past and my experience has grown I am not sure anymore if my previous conviction still holds true. Much ink has been spilt on this Gambit both for and against and still the chess world has been unable to settle on a definitive determination. 

I have posed the Morra question to many GM's over the years and most of them have opined it's a very dangerous gambit but probably incorrect, not a very satisfying answer for me who was hoping for something a bit more concrete. Then the following encounter happended, Morra Guru IM Marc Esserman with the White pieces was paired against none other than Vishy Anand in Gibraltar 2016 and the 'Gambit World' watched and waited with bated breathe to see whether Anand would venture the Sicilian and more importantly would Esserman dare essay his signature system.

Anand is still considered one of the best theoretically prepared players of our generation and when he played 1...c5 and Esserman unafraid plowed forward with 2.d4?!?!? the World half expected, including me, to be finally treated to the refutation of this irksome Gambit, instead we got 2...cxd4 3.c3 Nf6 and the World gave a collective sigh. Long story short Anand eventually got a worse position and was fortunate to hold the draw against his IM opponent, and thus granted a psychological victory to Morra aficionados everywhere. Reflecting on all this afterwards I concluded that The Morra is not met at GM level all that often, far less Elite GM level, so this could explain Anand's reluctance to enter its labyrinth against the World's foremost expert, still it also suggests there is no consensus on what the best line is against this Morra enigma even at GM level.  

So I ask again, what's the truth: Good; Bad; Dynamically Equal; or something else altogether.

Replies

I read Esserman's book and gave it a try out as White and also to beat it as Black. Unfortunately Esserman misses a few key lines where Black gets at least equality despite some nice wins. It's a great book to see some amazing attacks in the pawn structure and a demonstration of using open lines in an attack against a muddled Black position, but as a bulletproof repertoire it's not.

I would personally put the opening in the same category as the Kings Gambit, good for lower level and blitz, but aside from a few diehards cannot see it gaining any traction over 2000 at long play where White against a prepared Black opponent may be fighting for a draw.

Perhaps the labyrinth comment is the spot on one. In the end it's a lot of work for both sides and a lot of risk and avoiding it all together makes sense when diverting with Nf6 is a lot less risky and probably the best play against c3.

How much does Black need the win, and do you feel lucky?

Before the 8th Round Anand already knew he cannot win anything. It was a very bad tournament for him. Look at results:

http://chess-results.com/tnr202897.aspx?lan=1&art=4&wi=821&zeilen=99999

So, most probably he was not fighting for a win with black pieces against Morra gambit at 8th round; Even with 0.5 points more he had no chance to get anything from that tournament. The safest way to play against Morra Gambit is what Anand played: entering Alapin Sicilian with Black,  which is  drawish, safe, and easy to play. Why wasting energy for nothing??

On the other side of the board, Morra Gambit is not the best way to win against Sicilian with White. It is OK for a draw, but in some double edged positions Black can go for a win. 

Sum up:

1-With Black the safest way to get an equal position is heading for Alapin, (what Anand did in his game)

2- If we want to play for a win with Black, there are better variations: You can find one of them at Chessable course: Anti-Anti-Sicilians by FM Kamil Plichta

3- White is doing OK in ALL lines, if he is satisfied with a draw. Morra Gambit is still alive, but much less effective at high level / pro chess comparing to open sicilians

Well, I don't know for whom it is good or bad, and although I don't play it for white and haven't studied the lines, I have crushed it around 8 times with a mix of a Dragon and Schevenningen Setup.

Hi Kevin

The truth about a non classical chess opening?!

You already know that truth, whether it is concrete enough for you or not, is another question.

The Smith-Morra opening is a gambit opening and so a non completely classical opening and so as we all know it therefore is a risky opening for White to play! Period-end story!

Good players can play non classical openings and win. GM T Miles beat Karpov with 1.a3 opening. GM Nakamura has beaten GM's with the Bongcloud opening. IM M Essermann beat GM van Wely with the Smith Morra, as you rightly point out IM M Esserman is an expert in the Smith Morra opening.

So how concrete an answer is this concrete answer for you?! Get the electron microscope out to examine the detail of concrete and you will still find it is concrete and the same applies to microscope analysis of the Smith Morra..it is and ever shall be a gambit opening, which carries an element of risk! I now hope, clearly knowing this chess home truth, helps you! Best wishes Right Mood Right Move COGRO Chess Mood bro!

Webinar PIRC tournament coverage

This seems to have disappeared from the events list. Has it been postponed?

Replies

@GM_Avetik_Grigoryan

So the answer (as emailed) is there weren't enough games (or maybe mistakes!) at this point and so will be combined with the modern pirc in a future webinar.

Kind of worked out as well as I had a meeting, so wouldn't have been able to make it.

So does this mean that the next tournament after Saturday's Rossolimo will be the Modern Pirc then?

NEW COURSE - Bishop vs Pawn

Hey, champions and future champions! 

Have you watched the last course Rook vs Pawn? 
If no, you should speed up to catch up. 
We uploaded one more full course - Bishop vs Pawn. 
As always - only MUST-KNOW positions and endgames.

https://chessmood.com/course/endgame-bishop-vs-pawn 

Enjoy

With best wishes,
ChessMood team 

P.S If you have any questions related to the course, feel free to post here. 

Replies