Rossolimo 5.c3 - d4 line question

Hello, played a recent game in this line and got bad position after Be3. Nbd2 is analised in the course but how to proceed as black if white plays first Be3, then Nbd2. Txs

Replies

I tried forcing the issue once with 10...Rb8 11. Qc1 Qb6 12. b3 Qa5 followed by exchanges on c5, b3 and a1. Both sides have to tiptoe a bit to come out of that resulting position in one piece, as black could accidentally cede the entire queenside with 1 inaccuracy, while white could accidentally allow the c8 bishop to become a menacing force with 1 inaccuracy. 

Alternatively, 10...c4 has been tried in online settings. Black will most likely drop a pawn if white really tries to disfigure the black pawns near the center, but in exchange, they will take near full light square control over the board, and promising prospects at delivering a "fast and furious" around g2. 

10...Qb6 as played by Dubov against Caruana in Wijk Aan Zee 2020. Dubov got a extremely pleasant position after the exchange of Queens. Hope it helps

With Regards.

Hello,

I do like idea with Qb6 which I analyzed recently,  but taking on d4 firstly. Than when white plays b3 at some spot a5-a4 looks good to me.

Grand Prix move order 2..e6 with 3..a6, b5, Bb7, d5

Hi,

Either I can't find it in the course or it's move order stuff, but what to do in this grand-prix line for white:

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 a6 4.Nf3 b5 with Bb7 and d5 coming next.

Some guy been playing this against me, I seem to recall against early a6,b5 the nice plan with g3-Bg2,Nh3 waiting for d5, but in this situation f4 is already made, so suggestions please. Txs

Replies

on which move? Do you mean play 4.g3 (but isnt 4.Nf3 recommended here in course?), Bg2 then Nh3? But in this move order black can switch again and play d5 or smth, now I'm really confused :D

yes, that would go to Nh3 line, if black played 2..a6, but first they move order us with 2..e6 to play 3.f4 and compared to Nh3 line there is no f4 yet

Maybe you can go 5.d3!? If black does d5 then probably ed5 ed5 g3 and Bg2 and now white bishop on g2 has some good diagonal. As there is no pawn e6 blocking the whole diagonal someday we can go c4 opening the full diagonal and if black plays something like 5...Bb7 then 6.g4!? An idea which is shown in modle games section. If 5...b4 then I think Nb1 is fine the Knight goes to d2 and maybe in the future to c4 if possible I hope it helps... Regards.

Paulis, you can f4 slots into the g3 systems as well. Essentially don't play Nh3 unless they do a early b5. Instead you follow up with Nf3 etc.

Yhe only time the Knight wants to go to h3 is when they have played a early b5, this is to allow the g2 Boishop to control e4 and the long diagonal.

See section 7 of the a6 anti sicillain course, where avetik plays a g3,f4,h3 followed by Nf3 type system if I recall as a model game.

I do think a short 30 min video or something on various move order tricks etc would help because a lot of moves transpose and you can end up in the wrong lines quite easily.

This is in the recording pipeline. Avetik is on it.

Anti-sicilian g6 - new novelty ????

In the line 1. e5 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. e5 Nc6 7. Qa4

it was mentioned that the opponent has to play the regressive 7... Ng8, as Nh5 invites 8. g4.

Not to be outdone, in a 15 minute game my 2200 opponent comes up with the novelty 7... Ng4

:facepalm:

Replies

Yes but after 7. ... Ng4 we can take the black knight, and where is black's compensation?

Today is not April 1st right?

You are so lucky @David_Flynn, this never happens to me! ;-)

Practicing The Openings

I often ask myself if I am doing things correctly. And, I want others' opinions. What is the tool you use to practice any opening thorougly? 

Replies

we just play them so much online and on every weekend try to revise atleast one opening. So in the end of one month you can easily revise 4 openings!

Make your OWN pgns, add comments if you need, like we show in the blog. Then practice and analyze (seeing where you deviated), practice and analyze. This is the way to understand an opening, not to replay the same lines several times without understanding it, read the blog post regarding these topics, it can only help...

GP vs 2...d6, 8...e6 line, does Black have 10...d5?

Hello!

I am not sure whether this has already been discussed in the forum, but I have been looking at the position in the 2...d6 GP, 8...e6 line after 9.e5 Ne8 10.Be3. Is it possible for Black to play 10...d5? It is quite forcing as there is a fork on d4 coming, and I am not sure about White's position after 11.Bxc5 dxc4 12.Qc7, where SF13 gives Black big advantage up to depth 30.

Does White have enough compensation for the piece/exchange (in case of Bxf8)?

Thanks!!

Replies

OK, I just found the answer in the Advanced Section. Apologies for the confusion...

Altough you answered yourself, you still deserve the "best answer" mark, lol!

Attack on King in Benko?

Hey, champions! 
Usually, in Benko, we put a positional pressure on the Queenside no? 
Just found a cool game, where you attack the king! 
Check out:

https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/share/?p=FbPJtAyqqNJhbJttLDcJRtaZNjCoj5iO12IT16FaKxXHAwrT7/fkRPnvccsZWmV5 

Replies

Good one my friend, with my dear move Rb4, I will remember this one!

Closed Sicilian 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 a6

In the line 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 a6 i don't see where they covered it. But I could just missed it(in that case I'll have to rewatch). It's a common line where we can't play Nh3. Did I miss that section or are they adding one and if not what should I play against it? Also I'm new to this forum thing so if I did anything wrong with the title or whatever just tell me.

Replies

As White we play 5.d3, d5 and transpose into our lines after 3.f4, d5, 4.Nf3, a6, 5.d3, Nc6, where we can continue with 6.g3 or 6.g4

Matthaus, it's a good question. 
You can still play with Nh3. The only difference is that you can't take on d5, and play Nf4, as the pawn is on f4. However, the positions are still very fighting. 
In the future, will add more in the advanced sections. 

Can you explain a good solution!

Hello!

Yesterday i played against 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Bd3 Nf6 4 e5 Ne4

What is your recomendations for White? 

https://lichess.org/V5o3bmOKtfES

Best Regards Erik Näckholm 

Replies

I think Ne4 is a dubious move, as N can be easily trapped on e4. Maybe Nh3 with idea f3 next? as we cannot play immediate f3 cause of Qh4

There are 2 good variations against Ne4!?, which both give white around +1,4 advantage. 

4. ... Ne4!? 5. Nh3 h6 6. 0-0 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Be3 Be7 9. Qg4 g6 10. Nf4 

4. ... Ne4!? 5. Ne2 c5 6. c3 cxd4 7. cxd4 f5 8. a3 Be7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. f3 

Hello Erik

see this thread,  including an answer from GM Avetik

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/french-3-bd3-nf6

Hezhog

Any new ideas after you found a4!

Because I do like this system as black.

Replies

It's a problematic position for Black. 

I think that in this position even if anyone finds any improvement the plans for black [ d5, b5 breaks (and Fischer's famous Kh8 Rg8 g5! if possible)] and the passive situation will not change. Though I am not telling this that this is bad, its very complicated ( and sharp, if you don't believe see the famous Karpov- Ulf Andersson 1975)  and demands accuracy from both sides.

What is your recomendations?

Hi!

Something strange move order for black early. I have only seen it later in videos here?

1 e4 d6 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bc4 c6 4 d3 d5

https://lichess.org/6S7CgbKQo5QV

Replies

Erik, with 2.Nc3 you choose to go for the Grand Prix Attack against the Pirc. With 3.Bc4 you deviate from the chessmood recommendation, therefore, you should follow-up with 3.f4 and only after 3…g6 play Bc4 

Apart from the chessmood's recommendation, which is the best answer ro Pirc, you can get a very sharp position with the Austrian attack. 1. e4 d6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d4 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 then you can put your bishops on the "e" file, play e5, go for long castling and if your opponent takes on e5, you take with the "f" pawn, opening up the "f" file and prepare a kingside pawn push after Rdf1. But this is the second recommendation. Gran prix works better, but I have the Austrian as a second choice. 

1.Nf3?

What is the best way to play against a 1.Nf3 opening move?

Replies

Assuming you know the rest of the Chessmood repertoire it might be worth thinking this one through because for most lines it's a transposition. Which move is most likely to stay within the repertoire irrespective of what White plays next (ignoring moves such as b3 which aren't covered yet, or random 'waiting moves' such as h3 or a3?

I just transpose to the Indian or Anglo-Indian game with 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 and sometimes get QB declined positions. It is a safe way, though slow, against 1. Nf3. 

A fitting line according to the CM repertoire would be 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 g6 play a kind of Grünfeld that has similar pawn structure like the accelerated dragon in the kingside. 

Talking about the quality of Chessmood opening courses.

 I've been looking at Giri recommendation in his new Dragon course on chessable against Nc3. In the variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6 7.e5 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Bg7 9.Bb5 O-O 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bxc6 Rb8 12.O-O Qc7 13.Re1 Rb6  he is not even mentioning CM recommendation from advanced course 14.Nd5, he only considers 14.Bf3.

Replies

This is another line that has been discussed before in some detail I think, I will see if I can dig up the thread.

@ Magnus Chess

If 2.Nc3 g6 is bad for Black, then 2.Nf3 g6 must also be bad for Black as the main line is reached via either move order i.e. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6.

Then can we conclude that the Hyper Accelerated Dragon is simply bad for Black?

I actually play 2..g6 when I get too annoyed with Rossolimo. Though it's a very good line with 3.d4 and 4.Qxd4 I believe black gets playable practical position with giving away pawn on c6 as per CM courses, so imo it's playable both for white and black for the win.

The bigger problem in my opinion with 2..g6 is 3.c3 Bg7 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d5 6.e5! where if white knows some setups, he definitely gets some plus, though again still playable for black.

The Accelerated dragon course will be soon renewed, with more lines I think. 

Nc3 Sicilian against 2.. d6 - the 8.. Bg4 variation with 10.. Ne5

An interesting move in the 8.. Bg4 is 10.. Ne5!

Turns out typical 11. Rh3 doesn't work out here. Black manages to block the h file and gain (temporary but important) control over the d4 square, potentially forcing the white king to the f file. Instead, white should go back with the rook to f1.

Replies

Would be really interesting to get the opinion of @GM_Avetik_Grigoryan on this one! :)

Shout-out to @Pablo_L who brought this to my attention.

Very interesting indeed! moreover since  -as we discussed it- Ne5 is a very natural move in my opinion...

That's true! We go 11.Rf1! 
The thing is that after 12.dc4 White's pawn structure looks spoiled, but it's very strong. 
The thing, is that Black will not have the standard counterplay with a6 b5, or Rb8 b5, as after a4 move, a4 and c4 pawns together with Nc3 will block b5 move. 
White wants to play Qh4, and organize the same GP attack. 
Yeah e5 square is weak, but whenever Black tries Nd7, then Nd5 Bg5 will be very dangerous. 

So, White is clearly pressuring. 
Another option you have is 9.Qh4!? which is also very interesting, dangerous and often can transpose to our variation. 
I would keep 9.f5 as the position after 12.dc4 is very good for White. 

What about 9... gxf5 10.  Qh4 Bxf3 11. Rxf3 and now Ne5

The only game I can find is Rendle - Maddens 2019:

Modern Winter Capablanca Game

Here is modern example of Winter-Capa game. 

Bg6 trapped in the game and So did so well. 

https://live.followchess.com/#!superbet-chess-classic-gct-2021/186406715

Replies

Some key points in this game:

1. Power of isolating opponent's piece.

2. Positional pawn sacrifice for initiative .

3. Smyslov's battery with Qc1! Qb2.

4. Total squeeze

Test your Pawn Endgames

share evaluation with lines. It's white to move.

Replies

It should be draw after...

1. c4! a4 

2.  cxd5 a3

3. d6  a2

4. d7  a1Q

5. g8Q+ Kxg8

6. d8Q+

Or maybe White can win because of his h-pawn if he escapes the checks. If second move dxc4, then d5 a4 d6 a3 d7 a2 g8Q+ Kxg8 d8Q+ Kg7 Qd1 and White wins. If we waste time playing h6 on the first move, Black's passed pawn will win.

I would say the position is a draw. Both sides will promote at the same time.

1.c4! a4 2.cxd5 a3 3.d6 a2 4.d7 a1Q 5.d8Q  Qc1+ 6.Ke4 Kxg7 draw.

1.c4! dxc4? 2.d5 a4 3.d6 a3 4.d7 a2 5.d8Q  a1Q 6.g8Q+ white wins.

Anti-siclian d6 Qh4 'Caveman' attack 12... e6

It's interesting that if you list all the variations of this course, the usual cause of branches and different moves for White is which move Black plays e6 on (or if at all). 12... e6 (instead of the trap of taking the rook) is not covered in the course, only 11... e6.

It is a transposition, in that Bg5! and h6 (probably being the only reply) transposes into video 4 (11... e6). There is a danger though of going down the 'rabbit hole' of 12... e6 13. fxg6/e6 which is the computer's suggestion, supposedly winning unless you leave it long enough or explore. If you do, there is a long (almost forced line): 12... e6 13. fxg6 (or fxe6) fxg6 (hxg6 14. Bg5 wins) 14. Bxe6+ Kh8 15. Bg5 h5 16. Rf1 Nh7 (Surprise! The queen isn't free as Bd4+ is threatened) 17. Rxf8+ Qxf8 18. Rf3 Bd4+ 19. Kf1 Qg7 20. Bb3 - if 20... Bxc3 21. bxc3 Qxc3 22. Bf6+ Nxf6 23. Qxf6+ Qxf6 24. Rxf6 = (well maybe White has a few more practical chances).

So 13. Bg5 with transposition is a better try for a win (the computer doesn't notice White is better for a bit), and let's not go to the complications of 13. fxg6 (it's a silly place!).

Replies

Best Endgame Classical Player?

In past I  was in stream of Coach Avetik Grigoryan and he asked a question to all of us about a position. It was like Capa endgame position. When I answered then he said good job and then he revealed that when he was analyzing games for endgame course then he found that Alekhine was also superb in endgame skills. But we all know him as attacking player. So it was strange thing for me. How many of you knows about amazing endgames of Alekhine? Do you guys have any endgame collections of Alekhine or some of his amazing endgames  in which he showed class!

Replies

I would look at Alekhine’s My Best Games.  Iirc, it has an endgame section.

Useful game for Bishop Pair Adva ntage

Pablo Ricardi - Nicolai Vesterbaek Pedersen, Olympiad, Calvia (Spain), 2004.10.19

Replies

Daily Study Partner

Anyone interested in studying regularly?

My fide elo is 1400.

for more info i we will chat by lichess.

Replies

NEW ARTICLE: Mysterious Backward Moves with Knights

Replies

I think the Petrosian game was similiar to a game played by Wolf Anderson and he played Nb5 with the idea c3 b4 a4 

Kasparov played against  Piket in 1989. 

"The book, where I found this 30...Nh8 move is written in 1985! "  HOW???)))