Chess forum by Grandmasters

French Defense

In French defense course,section 1, at 15:09 minutes bg6 is shown as winning move , but is a losing move shown by engines

Before this move, evaluation is +5 and after Bg6, it goes to -5

Black wins after Nxe5

Hopefully, I am right 

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Actually my engine is showing Qg6 instead of Bg6 as winning (+9.60) at depth 33

+250 points in 3 months!

One of our ChessMood PRO Members, Moemedi, raised 250 points in 3 months! 
He started with 1960 and got to 2207 now! 

The secret?! 
He just followed the study plan we have set up with him during the 1-1 call when he joined us and he kept working hard. 

Success is not an event, it's a process. 

P.S 
Soon I'm going to make an interview with him. 
If you have any questions, you can add it in the comments. 

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Congrats to @Moemedi_Machobane

Wow

super!!

Thank you very much Coach, i am pleased to learn from you and the whole of Chessmood team!!

Antisicilian 7....Ng4

Hi, all! I want to ask a question about the Antisicilian course of our white repertoire. There is a line 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6 7.e5 Ng4 8.Bf4 Bg7 9.exd6 0-0 10.Be2 exd6, where white stands better. But what about the more ambitious 10...e5 with following Qxd6? Is there any advantage for white?

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Even I faced the same line with e5 instead of ed6

Hi Martin! With e5 Black closes their g7 bishop, weakens the d6 square and loses tempos.
You just go 11.Bg5 or Bg3, and then after Qd6 Rd1!  

If you want to play more principal 10.Bb5! is the engine's first line with big adv. 

Positional sacrifices and attacking chess and random Questions

Often we hear that

I was winning but missed it as the lines were too complicated

Or I wanted to sacrifice an exchange but felt hesitation

Or I am in constant time pressure

Or I missed that intermediate move in between in my calculations

Or my opponent devaites me out of the theory

Or my opponent was well prepared, how do I even fight

How to counter these real life situations?

Replies

1. I think person is suffering from lack of vision or he is scared to sack. So he is playing chess with fear. He must have to keep in mind that chess is a war game so like in real war people sac their life to save their nation of win against enemy's army so same in chess. By sac, you can may be expose his king or make weaknesses in his camp. So he must get rid out of fearful attitude. For this purpose I strongly recommends to learn Essential Chess Sacrifices so he will become familiar with more sacrificial patterns and after that I want him to check out games of Tal so he will learn more about initiative.

2. I seriously have no experience at above 1600 level so I can share the idea of why below 1600 players are coming under pressure. First reason is lack of knowledge of openings ideas. Without knowing openings they start thinking from the very first move in the game. Due to that they spent more than 25-30 mins in opening phase. Normally this happened to my opponent. Because whenever I play I prepare my openings and my opponents face issues. Second point is lack of knowing basics of planning. For example if the position  has Carlsbad Structure then they do not know the ABC  of minority attack and then they face issues in finding plans.  Lack of knowledge of basic endgames. I saw some people calculating even in basic king and pawn endgame positions. They also do not work on tactical patterns so their speed of calculating and feeling of patterns is super slow. So in the end they face time pressure.

3.  The third question can be answered by good players than me.

4.  If your opponent is out of theory and you are unable to find plans or deliver mate then its clear that you have lack of knowledge of classics. Openings and middlegames ideas are well defined so if anyone below 2000 elo violate them then most of the time they will lose the game without any efforts so work on classics and your this problem will be solved. For example after I started watching all chessmood streams I am winning almost all games in which my opponent violates basics and especially if the King in the Center then it's nightmare. 

5. For this purpose check out games of Top Level . Don't miss commentary of top events. Once you will start watching top events you will see how elite players handle Strong Novelties and what are their reactions. For me Saint Louis Grand Chess Tour helped me a lot in understanding how to play against a well prepared opponents.

I do not say my answer are right. But this is what I feel about questions. I am excited what our mentors will add in comments as answers.

White's Antisicilian 2.Nc3 part 1. 2...d6. 10. ...d5 11. e5

Maestro Avetik, in this variation (1. e4 c5, 2. Nc3 d6, 3. f4 Nc6, 4. Nf3 g6, 5. Bc4 g6, 6. 0-0 e6, 7.d4 cxd4, 8. Nb5 Nge7, 9. Bb3! 0-0, 10. Nbxd4 d5, 11. e5) you mention in the course that White is better is this favorable "French structure with a bad Black bishop on g7). I was wondering, what if Black immediately plays ...f7-f6 undermining White's center. Would that be playable for them?

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Hey Ramon! 
Then e6 gonna be a serious weakness :) 

Endgame courses

ChessMood Family! 
I've started to record endgame courses! This month we're planning to upload 5 ones! 
Stay tuned :) 

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Hurray. First you made me Tal by showing many attacking games in streams and in openings and middlegame courses. Now you will make me Capablanca hehheeeh,

Thanks master. I am so excited to see your amazing courses in which ideas will come in my mind like chess is so simple

Great. We are waiting:).

Thank you maestro, this is wonderful news!

Pawn Endgames [Step-by-step]

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I am not so good in the endgames so I hope this course will help me a lot!! I have very good results with classic games, my favourite course.

Openings

Sir, I would be very grateful to you if you can make e4 e5 for black as many players don't have the time to study Sicilian lines and remember them

And many players do play e4 e5 so it might benefit a lot of players and I am sure that many people will like these courses on your platform

Hoping for a positive reply

Thank you

Replies

I think, that an complete e5 repertoire, needs way more time to study, as there are more "correct" tries for white, and a lot more serious gambits. 

Jan Gustafssons e5 repertoire for example is about 26 hours, and very complicated

I think it is very difficult for a chess player to remember all lines and solid systems against Italian, Ruy Lopez, Scotch, or against all openings which we are learning to play against. 1. ... e5 is the most solid time, but 1. e4 c5 is the most aggresive try. And this is proved as I don't always opt for Accelerated dragon and go for Najdorf or Taimanov.

Hi Devansah

Chess Mood opening with 1.e4 e5 is Scotch opening!

This Scotch is a mighty fine opening. Do you play it? Have you done the Chess Mood Scotch course?

If you have not done it-then do this Scotch course! Then you can study the Ruy Lopez and Italian openings by your own account as I do. If you need specific opening help with Ruy Lopez or Italian openings just ask in a post in forum, as many here can play these openings too (even coach GM Avetik Grigoryan I believe! LOL)  ;-)

I hope this helps a little. Goodluck and best wishes and play the Scotch now! Right Mood Right Move COGRO!

Devansh, 1.e4 e5 is not shorter than Sicilian. 
The philiosophy of ChessMood courses- we keep 1 strong opening repertoire and stream it all the time, so you learn it very fast. 

Queen in the attack

Dear PRO team, 

We've added one-hour material in the course "Happy Pieces" 
https://chessmood.com/course/happy-chess-pieces-the-art-of-keeping-your-chess-army-happy  

It's updated with the section queen in the attack. 
Enjoy :) 
#COGRO

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Super!

Thanks for this course it gave me 50 points

Sir in the 56th video Ahues versus Alekhine  video timing 4 minute 31 second for Qf1 black has Nb2 with checkmate instead of taking Rf1

From 1200 to 2500 in 5 years

https://youtu.be/kSmYnayXpzs  

Check out this interview with one of the youngest GMs of India - Prithu Gupta. 
You'll take a lot from it.  
Myself, I'm very proud to have such a student and big thanks to Sagar Shah, for bringing all this. 

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Sir, When you will you come and stream with sagar shah in chessbase india?

Nice. Very nice.

I do hope you are also proud of all your chess students and not just the most successful ones! I know you are really, even though you find it harder to show that always!  COGRO coach! :-)

Chess

Can I play with one of the chessmood Grand Masters on lichess?

Replies

Ηello Mosa, I am a PRO member and sometimes GM Avetik Grigoryan runs a simul where we can participate. If you are considering PRO membership, you will have it. You can also follow the GMs and challenge them; GM Zaven accepted my challenge once.

Well, also at chess.com for ChessMood members, there is a 3/0 blitz tourney for Chess Mood members every Sunday night and occasionally some of the GM's have played (although I have not seen them there recently there are 2400-2500+ players). Hope this information might help! I find GM Avetik doesn't want to play me as he is scared I will smash him! LOL-kidding! COGRO!

Confusion in Petroff

Am I missing something? Coach the idea you suggested with gxf3 was also cool but in the video you said Qxh6 is a mistake but acc to normal engine it's winning for white.

Check out the pic

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I checked it with my engines, both seems super winning

Strange :)
Can you please send me the link of the video and tell me the minute? 

Got it! :) 
Yeah you're right. 
Both wins, Qh6 and gf3. 
But if you say Qh6 is super winning, try without checking what engine offers, find yourself how to win it :) 

Question about courses

Dear maestro 

Modern pirc

Will you give atention to variations with c6?

Aljechin

Will you give atention to variation with 4...bg4 and c6 (flohr variation 

Replies

Hello Frank, note that all Pirc variations and Alekhine defence are still under construction, new sections will be added and also the happy pieces course is under construction.

Hey Franck! 
If you mean c6 with d5- sure! 
What do you mean c6 with Bg4? 

Suggestion!

Hello There!

It Just My Suggestion ...Maybe It Can UseFull

I Was Thinking That We Should Have A Room/Area

Where Anybody Can Post Their Game And analyze  Their Or Have Conversation On Some Interesting position or chess game!  

i Got This Idea  When I Was Saw Many People Upload Their Game In The "Best Game" Forum

And I Saw Most Interesting Game Ever I Saw.. 

If We Had  Any Conversation In There Then The Forum Will More With Analyze Of Game Then of Any Game!

So This My Idea Hope It Can Be Useful!

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It demands a lot USD better is make an active fb messanger group so we can all meet in one call or may be skype group so we all can work well.

How about keeping a thematic tournament on weekends about any particular Chessmood opening

I Can Understand @Tomboy_Web But  I Believe  It Will Mess Because As The Current Forum Already Get Few Games Per Day  For "The Best Game" Prize And + Our Extra Game Wil Make It Messier!

So I Prefer It To Be In A Separate Forum And Only After Our Sir Approve It...

Should we keep a thematic tournament today?

On any opening

So we can play from both sides and find which lines we need to work more on ?

National Open Sept. 16-20

It looks like the National Open tournament in Las Vegas has been rescheduled to Sept. 16-20.  Is anyone here planning on playing in this tournament?

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Let's see.  Pandemic.  Las Vegas.  I am not sure I can think of a worse setting for Covid-19!

I do not see how they can possibly have 2 tables per board (so that you would have to stand to make your move and hit the clock.  I cannot see how they would have 400+ plexiglass screens either.  I think the USCF hoped that the virus would have been under control by now, so just rescheduled the tourney into the future.  It would not shock me if the tourney is still canceled.  Oh, and I would have to fly as well...

In short, no way in hell am I going :)

Looks like we will have to wait until 2021 to play OTB.  I am in the extreme risk group being 66 years old now.  I cannot risk it.  In the USA with all the kids refusing to wear masks, etc. , I even think this could stretch to 2022.  We are not going to get clear until they have a vaccine.  Any bets on how effective the first one rushed to market will be?  Pessimistic?  I am calling it cautious.  I cannot imagine losing your life because you cannot breathe.  That is not how I want to go out!

I would suggest we all plan on playing in Gibraltar in 2022.  I hear nothing but positive about that event.  I think that would be a nice central place we can all get to with some planning.  It would be great to meet you all.

New course - Alekhine Defense

Hey champions! 
Another course is added - How to play against Alekhine defense! 
​
The first sections are ready. Study them, the rest are coming. 
https://chessmood.com/course/alekhine-defense 

If you have any questions related to the course - feel free to post them here. 

Replies

Perfect start to the Alekhine course coach. While 4...Nc6 is not highly regarded theoretically it is very important to know exactly how to meet it, even Ponomariov tried it in his Wch Match against Ivanchuk and made a draw so we should take it seriously.

Hey, champions! 
Section 4 is uploaded. 

Maestro, I have just faced an online opponent who played 4. ...g6 in the Alekhine. This particular move order is not covered in the course. The game went:

1. e4 Nf6

2. e5 Nd5

3. d4 d6

4. Nf3 g6 Here I wasn't sure whether this early deviation is meaningful or not. Anyway, I thought I'd just develop normally and the game continued:

5. Be2 Bg7

6. 0-0 0-0

7. c4 Nb6

8. Nc3 Bg4

9. h3 Bxf3

10. Bxf3 Nc6

11. exd6 (c5!?) cxd6

12. c5 dxc5

13. dxc5  Nd7

14. Be3 Nde5

15. Be2 Qa5 (?!)

And I went on to win a none too brilliant game after many more moves.

How did I (mis)handle the opening? any suggestions?

Champions, Black's 4...g6 section is uploaded! 
https://chessmood.com/course/alekhine-defense 

COGRO! 

Against Caro Kann

Today I played two games against Caro Kann. In both cases I have advantage in opening. But I fail to convert both games to victory. What is the problem? What mistakes I have done? Please help me.

Replies

As far as I can see: First of all, you had a better position, without a doubt, but I don´t think, that it was a big adventage. 

You lost a lot of tempi, by not trading the pieces in the right way

b4 was maybe too weakening, or if you do it, place your knigt faster on c5. The way you did it, he created annoying counterplay

Lastly, when he hadnt any defneder on his kingside, you swtiched your queen from your Kingside to your queenside. Instead lift your rooks and mate him. The ending isnt as proimising, while an attack seemes very strong.

Please take note, that I just had a brief look at the game, and didnt analyzed it in serious depth

2nd game

It's because of lack of knowledge of classics. I am not sure you had one on one call with coach @GM_Avetik_Grigoryan or not but when I had I asked him same questions and he told me about my issues of lack of knowing classics. Classics will teach us everything. They are the foundation of any chess player. No matter you are deadly tactician or nice calculator or problem solver but without knowing classics you wont be able to understand how to win a winning position. Once you will start working on them you will see difference in your overall play.

Here is what I suggest. Read this blog and you will see why you had issue in converting advantage.

https://chessmood.com/blog/why-It-is-a-must-to-study-classical-chess-games

My story:

I started working as coach said. But issue came when he asked questions in commented classical games. I never found answers in unknown openings. So I talked with him that coach I can't analise games and I miss most of the lines. So I asked him what will happen if I watch 1000 classical or commented games in video and grasp concepts from there. Then he said every game will give you 50%  benefit because you are only seeing the game but if you analise game then it will give you 100% benefit. So I decided let's first watch 1000 classical games and once I will be familiar with more patterns then I will work on analising games. So from that day to now I think I saw more than 200 hr video content based on middegame and positional games and I also rarely miss streams so I am doing superb in winning a winning positions and my feeling of killing bad positions is also improving. 

Conclusion:

Work on classics= Watch them gives 50% benefit or analise them gives 100% benefit.

If possible hire a mentor who can see why and in which kind of positions you are making mistakes. 

Good luck, I hope my advice will be super helpful for you

Tanmoy, when you play b4, hurry up playing Nb3 Nc5. 

Anti-Sicilian with Nc3!? Part 1, What after 10. Be3 d5! ?

What after 10 Be3 d5! ?

11. Bc5 d:c4

12. d:c4 Ne7

Black are piece up but in bed position.

I think there should be some line about this in course.

Replies

Coach already modified this file I think. I do not remember the move here but I like Bb5 here  rest you can find in the next update video in which coach shared the idea  instead of Be3

So Bb5 was the right plan here.  You can check the next videos and you will find that coach shared lines with Bb5 instead of Be3

Hey Marcin! Yeah, in the advanced section I offered a better way to play against e6. 
It's an adv. one, but check it out - https://chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-part-1/episode/303 

The Monster Knight on d5

I played a game with the Scotch where I had a "Monster Knight" on d5. I watched the video of the same topic in Commented Classical Games Course, and I loved it! I ran into some time trouble issues in the endgame, so the execution was not entirely perfect.

Replies

Cool :) 

My study plan

Avetik Sir had recommended me to complete all white openings and not for black according to my study plan

I have completed scotch, petroff, anti Sicilian all parts, Scandinavian , caro kann and Czech pirc

But I find it little tough to memorize the lines and subtleties 

What to do?

And any suggestion of books or any other study material? (My rating is 1628)

Thank you in advance

Replies

If you like the arising poistion, than stay with this repertoire, just play it often, go through the pgns etc.

Denvash, you can also watch all the streams where all lines and ideas will be applied by the GMs. Streams help me in memorization and revision. I still have to finish Pirc and Alekhine for white and I haven't touched Petroff yet.

Devansh, you should watch the streams, put in practice your knowledge, and fix the mistakes after games.