The new course - My Best Games

Replies

I've just realized that in the picture is your face :D

Nice, thank you.

Nice course, really informative I can  see how you think and I can use that way of thinking in my games your annotation was really good to follow along with. Thanks

Anti-sicilian vs Nc6 - first try out in long play

https://lichess.org/QYVvrkeh/white

Interesting game, but was worse for a fair bit of it and blundered at the end as time got low.

I remembered the theory and plan to get to play d4 and Qxd4 at the cost of B for N.

Opponent deviated by playing the dubious 5... Nf6, which 6. e5 is the only move that makes sense.

At move 8, considered c4, overlooking that after Nf4 d4 Ng2 Kf1 the knight is trapped, wasn't so happy with Nc3.

9. bxc3 was wrong, but at that point it's hard to see it. The aim was to either use the open b-file or a4 Ba3. The pawns resembles the Winawer French, but Black has the two bishops, so trying to keep one of them bad. The computer notes dxc3 is better, and while that does give better chances to the bishop, I was worried that Black's two bishops would find that position easier. Any suggestions here on the right way of thinking here?

11. a4 was an attempt to keep the light-squared bishop out of the game, and maybe give Ba3. The computer seems to want to play exd6 and dxc5 and swap queens, but I thought the pawns being on an
open file and the two bishops would be far better for Black.

13. Qc1 was trying to get rid of the bishop, but it wasn't going to work because Bg5 f6 would favour Black. 16. f4 makes the Bishop worse, but what is the alternative. Nd3 (computer suggestion just look s bad here).

21. Nd3 would have equalised,  but I thought the N was needed to defend c2.

28... Bh3 should have cost the opponent the game. I was lucky (didn't see it beforehand that I had Ng2 as a resource).

31. c3 was an outright blunder in low time which loses the game. I need help to arrange my thinking so blunders like this don't happen. With more time I would have consider plans for my opponent. I think the thought process that goes wrong is thinking c3 will have to played without considering what options it gives the opponent (in this case a forced win). 31. Rb1 wins, but I had though Qc7 was okay for Black. However, it now gives Nf4 and Rxf4 is no longer playable.


So to recap, I played the opening well given inexperience, but didn't look further after Nxg2 in the c4 line else I would have played it. Should have played dxc3 rather than bxc3 but didn't see the reasoning behind it at that stage. Finally I need to be able to think in a way that avoids blunders under pressure.

Replies

Chess titled crush?

We all feel attracted to some chess players in our life and we wish that I wish I were married to him or her or make them besties. Do you have any chess crush?

For me, Yes I have but I am super young hehehe. When I was new in chess the first game which I saw was Judit Polgar's and I showed that video to my mom and I said may be one day I will play like her and meet her and we can be great friends and I felt loved. But soon I realized oops she is old. But yeah still my hope is to meet Judit one day because I really love one thing about her. She crushed every top player and proved that if girls want then they can also become strong and beat elites. I wish she will be my future friend!

This was the video which I saw and I felt loved!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ_7UZriJrw

Replies

Ok... How old are you? if you are above 16 then its quite appropriate... But hey, I'm 10 so... Not as of Now!

Chess Meme :)

This is my favorite meme about chess :D I can't get enough every time watching this, it's so funny :D 

Replies

I like it too a lot :D 

Chuck Norris checkmates with only one pawn :)

I just found this :D

Chess memes related to current affairs...

Caro Kann course on Chessbase

For those of you who have Chessbase premium account, there is video on Caro Kann by English GM Nigel Davis. It covers the same exchange variation with 4.Bd3. Each line is described via model games.

https://videos.chessbase.com/Video/nb:cid:UUID:2981b442-1515-4261-aa19-578ff1408b12

This can be a good compliment to your ChessMood Caro Kann course study.

Replies

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, I remembered it. I started working on it before chessmood and got amazing results. Once I joined chessmood I got almost winning positions against caro kann.

Right now I need revision because I feel like I forgot a lot attaCKING ideas.

Online Chess

In which arena do you play online games and tournaments?  How much are your Rapid/Blitz ratings?

I use lichess and chess.com. I play blitz the most and my rating is about 2400 

Replies

I play on lichess. Blitz with a small increment is my preferred time control (3+2), and I'm rated about 2150.

1465 my rating 

Mine is the same as yours :)

I mostly use lichess where I’m between 2100/2150.  I also use chess.com some but I find a lot more people there seem to cheat with engines so I don’t use it as much. 

1.e4-e5 what next?

How many 1.e4 players are here? Which opening do you prefer after e5?

I used to play Ruy Lopez but it is so much boring for me and I'm looking for some alternative 

Replies

wrong place to get an answer, because all you will get is Scotch ;)

Well I played main lines of Ruy Loprz too and it gave me decent results. I also played some italian and anti- berlin but yeah Scotch gave me superb results!

even I played the ruy lopez but switched to scotch because its an attacking opening 

My main opening is the Scotch game. I also build a king's Indian attack through e4 when needed. From black I rarely do play e5, usually I prefer it against lower rated players to outplay them in a positional way.

After e5 I usually play the Italian and then the fried liver ... sometimes I play the four knights game too

Chess Books

Working with chess books is very common for chess players! But, buying so many books can be expensive.... so can you guys recommend some kind of Site where we can read chess books for free? 

Replies

You can find a lot books on pdfdrive website.

I really don't recommend to read books for free. 
People spend on average 1 year for writing a book and sharing value. 
They should be paid. 

I think...
Avetik 

Your fav. Chess books?

How many books you studied about chess and can you share list of them? 

Replies

The following books I have studied from the first page to the last one:

 Well @Kevin_D. Becoming a chess Grandmaster before I die is my only goal. Finally after so much pain I found chessmood. So I am learning openings from chessmood and middlegames and endgames from chessmood's recommended books and from other books too which I found attractive and useful.

Reading a book is not a big task. Application of those concepts in our own games matters. I am installing a lot ideas in my mind but I don't say I am applying all of them but I am trying my best and my intuition is slowly but surely improving .

Pro Membership...

Hello Everyone! I Am planning to buy a Pro membership in the next day or two, so I was wondering if there are any PROMO Codes? If yes, plz tell me!

Replies

Hi Skipper. You have a great discount if you sign for six months. Really worth it! 

You did such a great decision! 

Looking forward to seeing you in the team! 

Welcome to the family :)

Scandinavian gambits 2... c6 / 2... e6/e5

I've had 2... c6 played against me a few times in blitz, sometimes with the offer of the b7 pawn as well. It's like a Danish and needs some care. How best to deal with it, since the course doesn't cover this one. Also there are even rarer e6/e5 gambits - are there any tricks here, or is it just a free pawn?

Replies

The answer is pattern recognition. See my reply to this exact query some months ago here:  ----> https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/against-scandinavian-2-c6. 

Fun fact: Did you know that while the Halloween Gambit is considered dubious for White  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4-/+ its cousin is actually considered quite playable for Black 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 Nxe4!? 5.Nxe4 d5. Isn't chess amazing! In the second diagram g3 actually hurts white.

I do play 2...c6 quite often so beware :) Actually I won one rapid OTB tournament two years ago playing only gambits and this variation was in my repertoire. The ide was sacrifice and get out of theory as soon as possible.  If it works in rapid then in blitz it is even more playable.

It's impossible to cover all the moves. 
I know a guy who recommended, against 1.d4, to play 1...Nf6 2.c4 h6 with idea g5! 
He's a respectful IM. 

You can't just analyze everything. 
You need just to play correct chess, using the files you have in your head. 

I also know a GM who have analyzed, how to play against 1.a3 till move 15!! 
This is craziness... 

Your assessments please!

This morning myself and 2 partners (Abhi and Edwin) were analyzing a classic game that ended in the position In the diagram below. 

My question to you: Is white winning? And how do you achieve the victory.

OR Can black find a draw? How would you achieve it?

Please dont use an engine, as this is an exercise for our minds. 

Leave your answers in the comments, and I look forward to seeing them!

With out further ado: Black to move.

Replies

Kf4-Ke3 should work, but I'm not sure 

It's a very complicated and deep example from the game Capablanca - Janowsky, if I remember correct. 

Maybe I'm mistaken with the names, but we have this position in the endgame courses, which now me and Gabuzyan are recording :) 

Stay tuned, we're going to upload now many must-know endgame courses :) 

Capablanca isolated Piece on h7~

Hi, guys I hope you are alright and doing superb in chess. Today  a funny thing happened when I was analizing game 34th of Capablanca's Best Endings with Jay Garrison. We got a position in which Capablanca isolated Bogolyubov's piece on h7 but in our commented classical game he isolated Winter's piece on h2.  In the book, Winter's Capablanca is game 29th. So it's funny that Capablanca isolated two pieces and pieces were bishops, and also opposite bishops and on same side of the board hehehe.

Replies

Queen's Gambit

Did you already watch "Queen's Gambit"? if yes, share your thoughts here...

I just finished it, will lie if I say I am so impressed, but overall I liked it, especially the main actress.

Replies

Not yet. Found no time. My friend Jay watched it.

I'm going to watch it soon, I will share my thoughts later

Disappointed there was no discussion of the Cambridge Springs variation.

I enjoyed watching this series. It was especially fun seeing how they introduced chess terms in a way people who dont play can try to understand. 

It was more then just a chess show. I found myself experiencing the emotional ups and downs as the characters encountered obstacles and were overcoming them. It is well written and produced. I would highly recommend watching it. Even invite those around you who dont play chess, as they will soon find a new understanding of your passion for the game.

According to the ECF, Google searches for 'chess' spiked because of this. Perhaps ChessMood should look to take advantage?

Beating Sicialian Nc6 Rossolimo lines

In the introduction, it mentions that non-Nd4 moves g6/e6/d6 end up in a better Rossolimo for White after d3 f4 Nf3. However, there is no guide to show what the plan is in these lines is, so that the advantage can be used. I imagine a lot of players (weaker especially) aren't going to play Nd4. Is it possible to have some model games added?

Replies

Hey David! 
We're going to add addition sections and model games here, as was done in the Scotch game course. 

The Multitasking King

Hello ChessMood family!
A position from the course "Pawn Endgames." White to move. Can White manage to make a draw? 

Replies

I believe it is a draw. 1.Kc8 Kc6 2.Kb8 Kb5 3.Kb7 Kxa5 4.Kc6 and the White king is the the square to catch the h-pawn.

Music for playing chess?

Hey everyone! I was curious if people have specific “playing chess” playlists on Spotify? Like similar to like a work out playlist for the gym do you have stuff you specifically like to listen to while you’re playing? I have a few different moods I can be in but sometimes I don’t want anything with any lyrics and I’ll listen to the Amelie soundtrack. Other times more hip hop or like classic rock. But I’m thinking about making a chess playing playlist and thought I’d see if others do this! Just curious

Replies

Well, I like to hear few songs during I play and they are enough for me. I can hear them almost all day.

1. Love you for thousands years by Christina Perri. 

2.   Never Say Goodbye by Bon Jovi. (can make me cry ,I hear it when  I miss USA)

3. Who do you think you are by Christina Perri.

4. I think I am in Love Again ( I love this song so much )

I love these  songs and I love some more but I can hear them whole day. Huh, I am boring guy. 

Well, I think yesterday I got older :D an active and energetic girl became a classic. I listened to very active songs, rap, techno, etc., but yesterday I found out that I really love the cello, and since yesterday till now I listen to Hauser and am in love with it.

I like to listen to Eric Clapton, specially BB King/Eric Clapton's Riding with the king

Bruce Springsteen is my favourite. 
I also like Amy MacDonald. 

Sometimes I need something like this - https://youtu.be/gbVpNqiR0YA 

Playing against the Smith-Morra gambit

I'm rated in the 1500s lichess classical and the response I get to 1.e4 c5 second-most (after 2.Nf3) is 2.d4.  I don't see anything in the video courses addressing this.  If I missed it please provide the link, otherwise, what's the chessmood response? 

There are plenty of people who (like IM Esserman) think this is a playable response to the Sicilian.  I like playing it, too. :)

Replies

There is another good option for white, second move playing Nc3. Did you check it out?

You are asking about 1.e4 c5 2.d4, what should Black do? I didn't find it either, but I think the course "Sicilian sidelines" is not finished yet, I guess it will be there soon.

While you are waiting for Avetik you could take a look here -----> https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/against-smith-morra-gambit

Sicilian players should respect but also welcome the Morra, you just need the right mindset and some decent prep to navigate the typical pitfalls and then you're all set to face the future with confidence. :-)

Jim, we just play 3...Nf6 transferring to Alapin, which was covered in the course. 

My anti sicilian 2...Nc6 question

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.f4 d5 7.Nf3 Bxc3 8.bxc3 dxe4 9. dxe4 Qxd1 10.Kxd1 I have bad pawn structure in this game. Is there any other lines or suggestions than the move 7.Nf3?

Replies

It's a great endgame, cause opponent's bishop is very limited! 
You can play Be3 attacking the c5. 
If plays c4, his bishop becomes even bad. 

You can also play with f4,Nge2. 

Studying classical games

Hello everybody!

Hope everyone is doing well. I was wondering if you have any tips/strategies to approach the study of classical games. The 3 courses are amazing (Commented Classical Games, Classical Attacking Games, Instructional Classical Endgames) and I'm enjoying them greatly but sometimes I feel I don't quite know what to do with them afterwards, I watch the videos and I do pause when requested and try to think of the answer for myself, but I'm wondering if you guys have a strategy to sort of process the content of a game.

Do you try to play the game afterwards move by move or something like that? Do you try to memorize positions? Do you try to analyze the game *before* watching the video? I found that to be helpful when I'm reading a book, but I tried that with the courses and I think watching the video directly is more useful since there are questions to answer and the key positions are so clearly identified. Anyway, any tips/ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and have a good one!

Replies

Watching commented games helps to develop your positional understanding, you don't need to remember them and do something with them. Just watch them with big concentration and the ideas will be stuck in your mind automatically 

Thanks Hugo! 
The main purpose of watching many such games is to install in our minds many-many ideas. 
We'll not remember all of them, but our unconscious mind will. 

If you always pause the video and thing, as is offered in the courses - you're already doing great. 
Later you'll need to pass this quiz: https://chessmood.com/quiz/commented-classical-games 

If you can make it- you had lots of value from the course! 

There will be quizzes for the other two courses as well.

Avetik