Chess forum by Grandmasters

Grand Prix Attack main courses?

Dear ChessMood instructors, I am currently watching the “WhiteMood Openings-course”. I like this course very much, but I am looking forward to go deeper into the theory.

In the course Avetik says that the additional theory is explained in the main course. Unfortunately there is no such course as the Grand Prix Attack. Is it because there is no continuation for this line or did I oversee something?

Thank you very much in advance

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It’s worded as the Anti Sicilian Parts 1-5 in the Step by Step Section.

anti-sicialian part-3 problem.

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 in the course you guys covered the move 3…d5 but what happens when black doesn't play d5 and in the Nf6 line, with or without d5, black can just play Ng4 and after h3 Nh6-Nf5 and if g4, then Black plays Nc6-Nd4, trading the f3 knight and our king side is very weak. There is also a possible idea with f5! where if we play g5 then e5, we would just close the kings side and no attack would happen there. What to do in these scenarios? 

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I didn't get the question very well, but in this structures if Black doesn't play with d5, we usually develop with g3-Bg2 - later on playing with h3-g4-Nce2-Ng3.

BlackMood opening - Dutch attack - White castles on the Queen side

I found BlackMood openings easy to learn and very useful for my level of play. I play BlackMood openings whenever I play black, and I am trying to learn all the details of the opening.

I have a question on Episode 7 (Can white castle to the queen side) of Section 11 (Dutch Attack vs normal development).

The question is in relation to the part dealing with white having played Bd3.

Background: According to the episode, white cannot play g4, as after black plays fg4, the Black Rook will be attacking the white Knight. After, black plays Nc3 to take the Bishop, black can win the knight by Bf3.

My question: When the pawn on f5 and knight on e4 are lifted h7 can be taken with check by the B which is on d3 supported by the queen on c2. Will this help white’s attack on our King? (After, Bh7+,if Kf2; Qg6+, Ke7; Qg7+, Ke8. Bg6+, Rf7; Qf7#. If after Bh7+, Kh8, the King will be vulnerable to attack on an open file.). Have I missed something? Advice from GM Avo will be much appreciated.

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please type all the moves or send a photo. This should be the position wher we begin to calculate and have your question

Bg6 is a typical sacrifice, and even if it isn't, g6 and creating weak squares isn't a good thing, Nf6 instead of g6, at the very least we will have enough material for defense to go for a good endgame instead of attacking power

According to the episode we can win a pawn in the following way after the attached position. 1. …,Nxc3; 2. Qxc3, fxg4; 3. Rxg4, Rxf2.

What would happen if white if after Nxc3, white plays bxc3?

I believe, white will have doubled pawns and the B file will be exposed, but a pawn will not be won. 

Also, fxg4 will not be possible as Bxh7 can happen?

Am I correct?

Also, if white plays gxf5, and we reply with exf5, the f5 pawn can be taken by the white Bishop, protected by the Queen. So, we will have to defend the pawn.

Am I correct?

Have I missed something?

French Attack

Hello again, I am right watching the "BlackMood Openings-Course" and enjoying it very much.

But today I noticed the ranking of this course just reaches the 2000 and I wondered why? I thought French attack is for all levels, as said in the course. Also I noticed that there are no additional courses for this opening, which I don't understand, because it should be the favourite opening according to the BlackMood course.

I think it would be ideal that to have a course, where you learn the absolute basics and one where you learn deeper theory. It might be possible, that I just can't see the additional course, because I am not a Pro Member. Nevertheless I thought it would be useful to give this Feedback. Still, thank you for all your effort!

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I think the BlackMood Openings course is the basic course, which gives you all you need to play the French/Dutch repertoire under 2000 rating. For people who are above 2000 and want to play this, I believe an Advanced French course and an Advanced Dutch course are being recorded (I think there was a forum post asking for questions about French and Dutch for the advanced course some time ago)

How to stay motivated?

i just got 1300 On chess.com a week ago. I know It’s not a huge achievement.

i was 1200 before joining chessmood two months ago.

when I won the game, I cried. i have been studying everyday. reviewing my own games. if it took me so much effort to get to 1300, 1400 seems like a mountain to me. The thought of that made me lose motivation, and I actually stopped studying for a week, I also stopped playing as I didnt want to go below 1300 again, which I know I will…

I would like to begin the climb again, perhaps.

how should I stay motivated?

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Hey, Eric

For me usually when I reach a new milestone I feel even more motivated than before to study and improve. But I get why you would think this way. I am thinking the problem might be burn out where you studied too much  and now don’t feel like doing anything. But, after a week of rest you should be good to come back to working on courses, and as for fear of dropping rating chessmood has two great blogs which I will post down here.

Blogs -

https://chessmood.com/blog/detachment

 https://chessmood.com/blog/the-rating-obsession-ruining-your-progress

Hey Guys,

Pawn Bishop shared the good links!
Rating is a number - stay tuned on your growth :-)

Exchange French Bb5 by white

Hi, Im not sure what to do after e4 e6 d4 d5 exd5 dxe5 Nc3 Nc6 Bb5. i dont know how to react as i can’t with the normal bd6 Qd7 setup in the french attack video as Bd6 hangs d5 pawn. Do I castle kingside or queenside here? Thank you all for any suggestion!

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If possible I would like to bring this question back to life. I've been crushed several times by this pin like an idiot :)

The videos mention Be2 or Be3 as the most popular responses by beginners, but actually what I see from other fellow beginners is that ALWAYS if a knight can be pinned, they will pin it (even with funny consequences in the grand prix attack against the Sicilian). 

So what happens to me all the time is 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 (they play like against e5) 3.exd5 exd5 4. d4 and now, if I play Nc6 their next move is ALWAYS Bb5. 

Should I provoke the exchange, castle short, and keep my bishop pair, or should I delay Nc6 until they moved their light square bishop, so as to avoid this pin?

Thanks! 

Same question here!

BlackMood for ~2000 USCF

Hi, I was wondering if the BlackMood openings are good for the 1800-2000 USCF elo range as I'm not sure if they go into enough depth? I'm looking to switch from the Sicilian Dragon to push to 2000 and I want to choose the French over the Accelerated Dragon as I also want to try the Dutch and not have to watch multiple courses to master the opening as that's a very major time investment. Thank you!

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Anime Puzzle I Spotted in Tactic Ninja!

Hello ChessMood family,

I was watching Classroom of the Elite and spotted a chess puzzle that's literally the same as one from Tactic Ninja (puzzle 20), White to move!

I've attached two screenshots.

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Tactics Ninja test

I don't know where to put this but I just came across a puzzle (#35/777) where the answer didn't make sense to me. I checked it with the engine and I don't think the continuation offered in the puzzle is a mistake. Is there somewhere to report errors like this? 

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what's the answer? 

I see Nxb5 following Bxd5 with Rook trap but that doesn'seem to be the answer

Road To NM

Hello, Coach Gabu 

I am 2000 rated OTB right now and I want to cross 2200 to achieve my NM title. I started chessmood when I was 1700 OTB and 2000 online and then I increased to 2000 OTB and 2300 online. Here is my plan to get there.

Watch rating booster courses at 1.5-2x speed.

Review opening at the end of each month(I already watched all opening courses)

Watch middlegame mastery section.

When I look at Coach Gabu”s Blog “How being rich almost killed my career“ - He shows that in April 2009 he was 2110 and by the end of November 2010 he crossed 2300. So how did you do it coach can you please share and if there is anything you can advice or change from what you did what would it be.

Is there any suggestions you would add or make to help me get there faster and more effectiver because I am trying to become NM by May or June. Thank you.

Sincerely, Pawn

Replies

What I was doing is pretty much the same study plan you have got, watching the courses = learning good chess concepts in different situations, and watching an enormous amount of how strong players execute the ideas = 300 commented games, or in Grandmaster Mind sections.

Chess Stalker v3.0 - Free opponent preparation tool

🥰

Hey everyone, 

I'm David, a solo developer from Spain. I built Chess Stalker to help players prepare against specific opponents - and I wanted to share it with this community.

What does it do?

Enter any username (Lichess, Chess.com, or FIDE) and get a full scouting report:

- Opening repertoire with exploitable weaknesses
- Psychological profile (tilt tendency, time management, resignation patterns)
- Traps they use AND traps they fall for
- "Stalker Score" rating their strengths/weaknesses

What's new in v3.0:

- Twin Bot: Practice against a bot that plays your opponent's REAL openings. It pulls from their actual games and mimics their style. Perfect for tournament prep.
- Self-Analysis: Turn the mirror on yourself. Find your own weaknesses before your opponents do.
- FIDE OTB Database: 11 million classical games indexed
- In-browser Stockfish: Analyze any position instantly
- 10 languages supported

Some stats:

- 76,000+ analyses completed
- Zero advertising - 100% organic growth

Is it free?

Yes, completely free. A PRO version is coming soon with advanced features like unlimited PGN exports and auto-generated anti-repertoires.

I'd love to hear your feedback. What features would make this more useful for your preparation?

David
https://chessstalker.com

Replies

Hey this is really great!  I've been waiting for one of the Chessmood tools to do something like this – show me the places frequently leave repertoire so I can study those lines again (Fixmood sort of does this but only game by game, no pattern analysis, and also for me has stopped altogether since July!)

Its awsome, just a few bugs and problems i found
1. In fide it doesnt show the games of local fide players and some country flags are wrong.
2. In lichess and chesscom it doesnt give a dropdown to select user. personally i would also like it to search with real name if user has also mentioned. also could you mention that hothead and goat even in fide?

great otherwise

It would be cool ifwe could see opening weaknesses for both sides like Nakamura mentioned in his video.

Is it possible to have a function about most common “Tabiya” reaching from games played?

few more bugs i found and improvements which could be done.
1. The progression bar gets full before all games were collected. also some games were ommited
2. In the resignation analysis part I noticed that my resignation level is just about 15% but it says resigns early! And stability isn't 41-60 average, and 61-80 consistent and 81-100 perfect or strong or something? it says 70% average. 50% is unstable?!!?
3.Also perhaps an access to all games?
4.Still local players' games aren't available in FIDE even some 1800s.
5. Comments to players in fide would be helpful, like pheonix etc.
6. In fide in the dropdown if i select a player it should stalk.
7. Also show the recent openings of player seperately.
8. when recommending recomend scotch game to play once not twice because of bc5 line or something or sicilian b00 b001 no use words like main line and grandprix. and make sure every opening has atleast 10 games.
9.also what is this it was at the bottom after opening was finished-Fin de la línea

No hay más datos en esta variante

1 partida encontrada

thats all for now

hello David, how do you calculate the attack, defense, time, and mental stats ?

Happy birthday chessmood!

wow i did not know that chessmood was eight years old! the journey must've been amazing  ❤️

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Opening addiction

Hi Coach,

I’ve noticed I spend most of my study time on openings because I enjoy them and they feel structured. But my middlegame, endgame, and especially tactical skills are weaker. I’m around 1900 on Chess.com, yet my calculation and visualization don’t feel strong enough.

I think I’m staying in my comfort zone with openings instead of fixing my real weaknesses.

How can I psychologically shift my training focus toward the areas that actually improve my level?

Replies

Dear friend,

Opening is just a little piece of the game, and stronger players will outplay you if you don't improve the other aspects of the game.
I became a GM with a very average repertoire, but better chess skills. On the website, we offer multiple courses on middlegame and endgame topics. Just reduce the time you spend on the openings, and watch the courses on other topics for your level.

Sorry for being straight, but being only an opening guy is not the way to be a good player; you need to get stronger in every direction.
 

against 1.f4 with the advanced repertoire?

Hello,

what is recommended against 1.f4 with the advanced repertoire?

Many thanks and best regards

Replies

1. f4 - Bird Opening doubt - Chess forum by Grandmasters

I play online the HorseFly Defense agaist 1.f4 (you can search in youtube or other sources). I like it a lot, not very expected but interesting.

1.f4 Nh6!

Cheers,

My game (I lose) - Dutch Attack vs Colle-Zukertork

1. Nf3 e6 2. d4 f5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Be2 b6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bb2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2 Ne4 9. Nxe4 fxe4 10. Nd2 d6 11. c4 Bf6 12. Qc2 d5 13. Rac1 c6 14. f3 Bg5 15. fxe4 Bxe3+ 16. Kh1 Nd7 17. Rxf8+ Nxf8 18. Rf1 Ng6 19. exd5 cxd5 20. Bd3 Qg5 21. Nf3 Qh5 22. Bxg6 hxg6 23. Qe2 Bf4 24. Qxe6+ Kh7 25. Qf7 1-0

My opponent with White has 2060 FIDE elo. Myself with Black, 1850 FIDE.

Normal development till 10…d6?! by Black. Dubious move, I think. I have to do something against my e4 pawn (maybe Qe8 - Qg6, thematic in the Dutch), but I realized it very late. d5 in one go would be better, of course. And even that, the maveuvre Be2-Bg4 attacking e6 weak is very annoying.

Maybe the plan with Ne4 in this particular position is not as good. 8…c5 never was in my candidate moves (I was only focused on playing Ne4-d6-Nbd7 and so on). Another options are using the Stonewall formation. 

I hope some comments about that :)

Thanks in advance

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 @ Xavi XXX 

Maybe you can play 6..Ne4 exemple move 7 0-0 Be7 8 c4 0-0 it will transpose to a standard Tabiya.

See videos here and also GM Neiksans Boot Camp #45 - Nimzo Dutch - YouTube

If you like to Play Dutch it is important have ideas from Leningrad Dutch, Stonewall Dutch, Classical Dutch, Nimzo Dutch, Christmas tree variation of Dutch.

The Event Advanced Dutch here on chessmood is very good.

I can recomend you to become pro member.

Take your chess to a higher level and support this excellent site.

@ hungryfoxg

Thank you i like different Dutch variation but very difficult to analyse. I like to play Dutch but i do not know enough about position after move 10.

The middlegame position in every variation of different Dutch is a big adventure.

Not so easy for either black or white. It is important to find heroes in every line like GM Simon Williams in classical Dutch, GM Arthur Neiksans and of course GM Hikaru Nakamura, Gm Malaniuk in Leningrad variation, GM Richard Rapport in Stonewall.

Many of the lines i see computer have difficult to validate positions i can just see it is okey for black to play Dutch.

Maybe that is enough to know and just play thru alot of good games?

I want to understand ideas and patterns. I think it is important to watch commented games and try to understand different setups and moveorders.

To find out Tabiyas. 

ChessMood h4 Scotch

Hi everyone, 

I am planning on playing the h4 scotch line OTB happening in a few weeks. I am however still relatively new to this line and I have never really played it before OTB (although a few times online). Is there any general advice that I can use to determine during the game where the pieces go or to find the right plan? Or do I have to know each and every single line and have a lot of experience to be successful?

Thanks

Replies

Depends on how many weeks if 1 week than stick to old openings if 2 weeks play a lot and put the opening into practice and feel the positions. Check out the streams and model game courses.

Hey there,

This line is quite interesting but complicated, and I would advise practicing it really well before testing in the important tournaments.

When is g4/g5 a good move?

I have been watching commented classical middlegames, and in some positions, g4 was considered a bad move as it weakened the king and some squares (like in Game 9 of 100 strategic masterpieces attached below), whereas in other positions it is completely fine (like in Game 11 also attached below)

I just played a game, where apparently going g4 to get rid of the pin was one of the best moves. 

I understand that it all depends on the position, but I can't tell when g4/g5 is fine or not. What are some things to evaluate? Any courses on ChessMood that can help me to learn about this in more detail?

Replies

Dear Teddy,

These middlegame structures are out of our opening repertoire, and unfortunately, I will struggle to give you the right recommendations.
You are welcome to ask the questions regarding our repertoire, and middlegame plans :-) 

Hey Teddy,

There is no universal position where there is just one method to think of position. Just like in math there can't be one method to use for every equation. Same is in chess. So, in the third position, when I was thinking of g4 to me the first thoughts were h6 is played so nh4 is a good follow up attacking the bishop threating to ruin blacks pawn structure and after he retreats, the knight lands on f5 so beautifully. So for me i liked that position and I would play g4. Now i evaluated the sequence but now I have to evaluate inn my head the position after nf5 which I provided below and it speaks for itself how good it is. 

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/4M6YHTV3Jn/analysis

Benki Gambit How to get to the mainline position?

Step by Step Section 1 mianline.

All the video starts in the middle. How to get to the position shown in the video.

Did I miss anythings?

Thank you!

Replies

Dear Joshua,

Here is the sequence of the moves 

 

Opening for black simplified

how to play against d4 e6 c4 Bb4+ Bd2 Bxd2+ Nxd2 f5 e4.

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After d4 e6 c4 play f5, not Bb4 right away :-)

Alternatives to h4 in scotch

Hello, Chessmood team

Me and my chessmood sparring partner both are facing tough time in this h4 line. I read in one of the blogs that Gabuzyan has an alternative which may possibly be added to the course. Can I get a bit more information on this -

https://chessmood.com/blog/how-to-win-chess-tournaments-7-key-principles

Replies

I have also tried playing these lines in several games, and it's very interesting.
But at the moment we don't have this option in our repertoire, and you can investigate further :-)