Best place for solving tactics

Hey Champions! 
Where do you solve tactics? 
Do you know any platform, where you can find tactics based on topics? 

Chess.com has it, but it's messy, the positions are classified in wrong topics very often. 

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The best I know is CT-Art. It is not free but costs less than 10 euros for Android IIRC. I it is well worth the investment IMHO

I know chessmood and other mentors suggests Chesstempo. For me I love books. I love to solve books because I feel more motivated and happy whenever I solve any chess book on tactics. I also choose those books which take positions from a real game instead of computer positions. 

After my basics I solved a book called The Complete Chess Workout and after that I solved 3 Russian books written names were in Russian so I do not know the names and now currently I am working on woodpecker method for my pattern and tactics training and after this book I will choose domination in chess endgames for calculation training. Max 2-3 studies I will try to solve from the book.

I have used CT Art, chess.com, chessable and various books.

Of these I prefer chessable (effectively books put into a computerised testing format) and I think it is for tactics that chessable is very good. I am less keen on the format for studying other things but the fact you can repeatedly drill the same tactics on chessable and do ones you get wrong more often appeals to me and I found that doing 1,000 checkmates helped my recognition of these patterns.

For books I would recommend Chess Tactics from Scratch (Weteschnik) for understanding tactics. I presumed it was a beginner book until I saw Naroditsky say he really rated it.

The above is more for quickfire tactics. For harder ones I know Naroditsky and an IM friend of mine both recommend Chess Tempo.

Obviously all the above is after solving the chessmood daily puzzle.

Thanks guys, for your answers. 
Now our team is checking various platforms, and at the end we'll recommend you, which are the bests. 

I solve tactics on chesstempo platform as you suggested in a blog.

A setup against Caro kann

Coach if you find time then check out the game I am sharing in the bottom and show us ideas against the plan a6 Ra7 which black chose in the game. I felt that it was passive but the way black explained the ideas in video was also instructive so I am curious to know the weakness in his plan. As you know Black player is also an experienced mentor like you so it will be great to know the weakness in his sidelines. He is not recommending to play this as black.

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1612896

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Hi Abhi! That's interesting.
With big respect to Seirawan, I don't think it's a good idea. 
Ra7 is far from everything. He played against non rated player and outplayed him. 
However White had different options to get a strong attack. 
For example on 13.Bg5! with next f4!  

Also after 6...a6 white could play for example 7.h3!? keeping the opponent's bishop on c8. 

My score was always +ve against caro kann by using caro ex but after I saw your course it's more than positive. I am doing superb against carokann or I can say I am winning most games but if I lose it's just because of some mistakes by me.

Beginners Openings?

What openings are good for pure beginners. Let's say  a student is working on basics checkmates and going to play a tournament then what is useful opening for him to play. Also imagine he knows basics of openings too.like center control etc.

All suggestions are useful because soon I am going to give private lessons to beginners and below 1500 players.

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With white pieces Colle system is ideal choice.

Against e4 Giuoco Piano is a good choice.

Against d4 King indian defence is a good choice.

Here, Comfortability with opening is also pretty important.

Abhi, we've talked about this topic a lot during the webinars. 
Our openings are very good for beginners too. 

WHY? 

A beginner should play very active chess. It's must to develop active play skills. 

I see, Amit offered Cole. 
While Cole is a very solid and White wouldn't get checkmate in 10 moves even if they play aginst a GM, systems like Cole are very bad for beginners, as the future growth will be slower. 

To summarize 1.e4! for White, Sicilian for Black! 
Against d4, there are many good options. I still believe that Benko is the best.  

Note: Many chessplayers and even GMs say that the best openings are the openings they play. This is not objective. 
However the openings I'm recommending they were never in main opening repertoire, but it's so obvious that one for improving his chess skills should play this openings, that from scratch I started analyze 1.e4! 

One hundred people, one hundred opinions. 
I just share mine, the rest- up to you. 

Eric Rosen vs ChessMood openings :)

Eric Rosen faces Ra4 during his live stream :)
If he knew that he plays against my student and that this move is covered in our ChessMood Courses ????

https://chessmood.com/course/10-crushing-the-scandinavian

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I haven't watched the Scandinavian course yet because I chose Philidor yet the players of my level 1700-1800 choose it as black, and especially Larsen variation.

@GM_Avetik_Grigoryan

That's very odd as Rosen posted the following Video in 2018 recommending 7.Rxa4! for White!, so he was definitely already aware of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IBDe-f_PCc&feature=youtu.be&t=1411

Perhaps he forgot about it or just wanted to see if his opponent was aware of it. Do you have the link for the stream in your Screenshot, it would be interesting to hear what he says about it. 

Any danger of overtraining?

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You can play classical chess online and I would recommend this to get some feedback into your play. It also will help with motivation for your training as most of us are competitive.

If you are doing lots of training sometimes you may need a break for a few days or a week periodically to enable you to come back fresh (as with any job).

Interest is different from commitment. Check out the article: The Golden rule how to go up with online chess.

Krystof! Good question. 
Well you should not train, when your body doesn't want or it is very tired. 

And at the same time you should play in order to develop your playing skills. 
To understand chess and play chess are very different. 
Try some online blitz games or friendly games. 

It's very important not to afraid from competition. 
Here is a very good video, recently sent by one of my friends 
Check it out. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94MBVD_tZeU      

Interactive Lesson on "The art of exchanging the Bishops"

Incredible lesson on identifying and trying to get rid of bad bishops https://youtu.be/9W3NHXrs43Y. Didn't even know it existed until today morning. Thank you coach for these lessons

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cool. Enjoy the lessons!

Cool to hear that! 
Thanks, Hunan! 

How to study endgames - efficiently and effectively?

How to study endgames - efficiently and effectively?

When will chessmood post endgames material? 

Thank you.

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If you are below 2000 then my idea will work well for you. I do not know how to answer if you are above 2000. So let me start.

In case of endgames Chessmood will post courses soon this is what coach told me, So, I am also waiting for the material but in this mean time if you want to work alone then I suggest you to work from the book called Silman's Endgame Manual. The good thing about this book is that it covers topics by rating level. For example if you are below 1600 it will show you lucena, Philidor positions and vancura too. So by this way you will slowly learn theoretical endgames and slowly slowly this book will become difficult and make your level to 2000 in theoretical endgames. 

In case of practical endgames I like the book called  Capablanca's Best Chess Endings by Irving Chernev. This book will not only help you in practical endgames but also improve your positional play. So that's all I suggest you.

Another nice point is that if you are below 2000 then as statistics shows that most games are decided in the middle game at below 2000 level so I think working on Chessmood openings, classical games sections from chessmood and other sources such as books on world champs or videos, tactical pattern training from woodpecker method book or any other method which you like, only knowing basics of endgames which silman will show you, daily 2-3 Endgame Studies from Kasparian's book can make you 2000 in an year or may be less depends on your burning desire.

Good luck!

"100 endgames you must know" by Jesus De Villa is very good for a range of levels.

I like Jonathan Hawkins "Amateur to IM" book as well (probably for 1700+)

I know Chessmood recommend it but I was very disappointed with Chernev's Capablanca book and gave my copy away.

I think drilling mainstream positions with a training partner is a good way of training these.

Hey Heri! 
Nice questions. 
We are working now on the endgame courses, and soon we'll upload. 
Today we're going to publish a great article written by GM Hovhannisyan about learning of endgames, and at the end of the article, there will be something cool. 

Alekhine Section 4 4...Bg4

In this variation, after 5. Be2 e6 6. 0-0 Be7 7. c4 Nb6 8. h3 Bh5 9. Nc3 0-0 10. Be3 Nc6?! 11. exd6 cxd6 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5, what exactly should White play after 13...Bxf3? Now, after 14...Bxf3, the c4 pawn is hanging!?

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Ramon, you can take Bb6 first! 
Bro, please post Alekhine related question in the topic of Alekhine Defense, 

Benko Problem!

I was seeing the lines of Benko and found THIS : 

In the video you said that Ne1 is double attack but now I saw my lines carefully and saw that there is a Rook on e6! There is just Rxe1 and white is winning!

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But after Rc2 Rf4 gf4 Nf4 and black is just winning the endgame.

By the way it was already pointed out!! I just now saw that! 

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/some-questions-about-benko-gambit

True! This course will be soon restructured and the mistakes will be fixed. 

Secret Power of Pawns!

it's so useful if anyone comment the useful and educational games in the bottom. I studied this game from a video today and in the resulting endgame I laughed because black had 8 pawns on the board and white's rook was stuck on f1 square. I won't say oh! opening was fine but the middle game and converting passed pawns into win and double rook sac was super educational. In short I can say strategical ideas are super useful. For example. We all know 2 connected pawns on the sixth rank are more powerful than rook but in this game we see this idea in practical sense. 

Try to watch it anywhere and share your thoughts.It's so rare to see 8 pawns in the endgame on GM level hehehe.

Eduard Gufeld vs Lubomir Kavalek 1962.

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Anti-Sicilian Part 3 Question

Recently, in the Anti-Sicilian,  people have been playing e6 first, followed by a6. The moves are like this:

1.e4 c5

2.Nc3 e6

3.f4 a6

And my question is if we keep continuing with our Part 4 plan, he can play d5 since Nh3-Nf4 is not possible since our f-pawn is there. Is there a plan to play against this particular move order?

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It can work, but in this position it would be also useful to learn how to play against the Kan variation.

Yeah Sriram, this is a good way to play for Black. We'll play the same way we were doing against 2...a6, playing Nh3. We'll not have Nf4 option, but still we have initiative and it's very easy to play for White. 
I had this position a lot during the streams. 

Question on Maroczy Bind

In the video 9.Nb3 Qh5 10.Nd5 in the second 1:57 after black can play 12... Ne4 because after 13.g4 black has 13... Qe5 move and black is slight better

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Kevin, can you please, in future post with Screenshot or video link? 
If we are speaking about the same position, after 14.Re1 black loses the knight. 

The best chess cartoon

https://vimeo.com/314770216 

Is there any better cartoon about chess? :) 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kweN7VLx-JE

Hi!

Here are some funny chess videos and a chess history video. Enjoy!

/Kim Skaanning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiBeu-U3sNU - Train tunnel chess - Paul Merton show

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/fwtqq2/kramnik_plays_prank_on_magnus_before_game/ - Kramnik plays prank on Magnus before game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XudCtJc3fsc -  Chess GM Funny Moments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsUASjpU0nY - Chess Fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeB-1F-UKO0 -  A brief history of chess - Alex Gendler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln4yI4zZEJE - Chess Sketch

All the courses are UNLOCKED

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Sir, why can't I download the PGN files?

Thank you very much GM Avetik!, I intend to become promember, just to know what to play against the Rossolimo variation in the order move 5.0-0 instead of 5.d3 and 5.d3 6.0-0. Do you have anything prepared against this? 

I would like to ask a question regarding the accelerated dragon course. Can I use the move order of hyper accelerated dragon 2. ... g6 instead of 2. ... Nc6 to avoid Rossolimo lines and only learn accelerated dragon, sicilian sidelines and maroczy structures against 1. e4?

I'm very impressed with the courses that I've looked at so far (Benko, Maroczy, Grand Prix vs 2...e6). I've been convinced that I should play these lines and I plan to become a pro member soon.

I do have a few questions:

1. There used to be the start of a Najdorf course. What happened to it?

2. Will there be a further course on the Reti/English, for lines that don't transpose to the Maroczy?

3. In the anti-Sicilian course, it seems that the lines are designed for Najdorf players (with an early ...d6). What is recommended vs 2. Nc3 if you want to play the Accelerated Dragon (2...Nc6, 2...g6)?

Petroff Section 8, 5...Nf6 & 6...d5

Is this line a transposition to some French Exchange?

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Stream recording link not working

Trying to check the "Logic of the openings" stream hosted this morning but the link isn't working.Kindly check.

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Seems to be working now

Teaching chess to the kids

Hi,

I would like to know your opinions about:

At what age start to teach them?

How to teach them once they know the basics?

What kind of resources will work with them, books, videos, only apps?

What study plan do you recommend when they just dream with playing against Magnus ? :)

So far my 6yo boy, can give me a checkmate if I am sleepy, is reading his first paper chess book for kids written by Kasparov, plays on chess.com or chesskid.com, I read with him the lessons on Magnus Trainer app, sometimes we play a lot on a board, sometimes we see youtube videos from chess.com, you can see the boy loves chess, but how to teach him correctly , specially to a level which I dont have.

Thanks for your answers :)

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Hi. I think  you should start teaching chess to kids at the age of 5 or 6.  It will take them time to learn but they will learn the basics. For example they might learn the basics in 1 or 2 months. Then, they will improve their chess skills over the months. You can use both apps and videos to teach them the moves and practice chess. 

Hi Edgar! 
I was the director of one of the biggest chess school in Armenia and we had lots of students. 
In one I'm sure, should be not earlier than 6. 
Max 5.5 when you take him to chess school. 
But to just teach him to play chess - you can do it when he's 4 :) 
Just be careful with this: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJyeKiT8g4g 

Daily puzzle wrong? SPOILER ALERT

Hello Chessmood family I have notice an error in today’s Daily puzzle (22 july 2020).

I’m new there so I don’t know if it was been notice yet, but in the last move of the problem i promote to a Rook and even if it was Checkmate it sayed that I went wrong.

Thx reading, hope you’ll fix????

LLimone

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Hi LLimone LLimone

You are right. There is some thing wrong with promotion to rooks in the daily puzzle from 22/7. 
The solution is 1.Bf3 Qd1 2.Kxb4 Qdxf3 3.a8=Q Qxa8 4.f8=Q. 
Both 3.a8=R and 4.f8=R is also solutions, but the dont work.
I think the solution in the database dont have your under promotions.

I think in the current form there are no acceptable alternatives programmed to the daily puzzles, only one answer is accepted. Not regarding the underpromotion issue, this puzzle is still a bit strange, because after White's Qd1+ you still have to find out which move is the shortest mate: Kxb4 (mate in 6), Kc4 (mate in 7) or Bxd1 (mate in 10).  The fair solution would have been just to stop after the (otherwise nice) first move.

You are right LLimone. 
We have this daily puzzles for people to keep their mind in a good shape. 
In future we'll hire better developers who'll fix all such things. 

Idea- Choose Nge2 or GP

Coach as you know my level so what you think which setup is better for me to play against Philidor 

e4 d6 d4 N6 Nc3 e5 Nge2 or e4 d6 Nc3 Grand Prix one?

My old story is that I studied very well Adams attack which comes in Najdorf. 

e4 c5 Nf3 d6 d4 cxd4 Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3 a6 h3 idea is g4 and same kind of maneuvers .Even if black follow up with d5 in this setup still white is fine. I don't remember the moves now because it was yy very old weapon against Najdorf but I do remember maneuvers. 

So I love the Grischuk and Carlsen's idea, But your opinion is valuable for me because I am a beginner too and you suggested that Nge2 setup is good if you are above 2300, I can say my feeling about those Nge2 position is better than GP. Even though I am learning GP and Nge2 but I have I have a lot experience in this structure. 

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Abhi, for now just keep GP Attack. 

NEW ARTICLE: Exchange, Distract, Destroy! The 3 Principles of Attack in Chess

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Nice article!

Thanks for the article with great examples! Amasing moves! 

The book mentioned in the article "Perfect your Chess". Is it the one written by Andrei Volokitin & Vladimir Grabinsky?