Chess forum by Grandmasters
Modern Philidor Course - 4.Nge2 Line
Thanks Avetik for another interesting installment in combating the Philidor Defence. I myself used to be very attracted to this 4.Nge2 line, but switched back to the more popular 4.Nf3 after finding it difficult to get an edge after [1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nge2 Nbd7 5.g3 Be7 6.Bg2 c6 7.a4 b6 8.0-0 a6 9.h3 h5! A typical idea often seen in many lines of the Najdorf], I don't remember seeing this h5 idea being covered in the videos but I could be wrong. Also after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nge2 Nbd7 5.g3 Black can now switch plans with 5...g6 and we have been tricked into a decent line of the Pirc outside our Repertoire. Perhaps an update or two would be in order showing how best to counter both the h5 ideas and a possible transposition into a Pirc. Below is an annotated game by GM Gawain Jones, with a few notes thrown in by me, that further illustrate the h5 idea in more detail:
Replies
Hey Kevin!
Thanks for the great feedback as always.
Yeah, h5 is an interesting option for Black. I will cover it in the advanced section.
Also will take a look to g6,Bg7. In a few words, it will be a very similar plan. As in Karpov's famous game.
Against pirc g3's only problem is when black goes c5 with Knight on b8 and without e5.
In this case, it will be a very easy game for white.
Anyway, I'll add that to the advanced section.
Is Maybe the variation with 5 g4 not very dangerous for black
Kevin, you should love this! :)
https://chessmood.com/course/philidor-defense/episode/1371
Scotch
How to punish this line?
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4 d5??
I know black violated opening basics so I need help.
Replies
I am thinking Bb5 is good here and bothers black's center
Looks pretty awful for black - I would go 4.Nxe5 after Nxe5 5.dxe that pawn on e5 is a nightmare for black and if he goes 4...dxe 5Bb5 looks very awkward for him
French with Bd3! Can you solve these puzzles?
ChessMood Family!
Just recorded one more section in the French Defense course, in the evening we'll add it.
But before that, I offer you to find answers in these 2 positions.
Position 1. With the last move, Black played a5, with idea Ra6. How to finish the attack?
Position 2. White to move. How to finish the game faster and in cool way?
Replies
1... not sure ...
2. Qf6
Got them coach! Want us to post answers here?
1.Ne6
2.Qf6
The 4th section in French is uploaded. So you'll find the answers there with many interesting ideas and improvements in the theory.
https://chessmood.com/course/french-defence/episode/1360
It's around 30 minutes.
Enjoy and keep the COGRO! (Constant Growth)
Puzzle 1: 1) Nxe6 Qf8 2) Nxc7 Qe8 3) Nxa8 or 1) Nxe6 fxe6 2) Qg4+ Ng6 Qxe6#
Puzzle 2: 1) Qf6 Nxf6 2) Nxf6#
4 minutes for both
Robatsch (modern) defence
Team,
I'm coming across this opening quiet often and having a lot of trouble with it. How do you like to approach this opening? Any suggestions would be great.
Replies
The Modern is like the Pirc. In one of the streams I think Avetik recommend 1.e4 2.d4 Nc3 3.f3 followed by Be3-Qd2 with h4-h5 ideas and attacking on the kingside.
Another system that I personally like is the Austrian Attack with 1.e4 2.Nc3 3.f4 4.Nf3 but this variation has a lot of theory and leads to very complex positions.
Hi Kevin. Try 4 BG5!!! 1.e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 nc3 g6 4 bg5! Why? Strong move BG5! Austtians lots of theory. F3 ECT black I think can go into Kings Indian. And c5 Gambit by black is why samiech no longer played. Read up on Bg5. Called Byrne line. Shirov as white played it in 1992 with an awesome game! Marc
Hey Kevin1 The Material is ready already, will record it soon, when I am back from the USA.
Anti-Sicilian with Nc3! - Help Needed
I played an online rapid game with white against a strong opponent in the following line:
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d3 0-0 8.Qe1 Bg4 9.f5 Bxf3 10.Rxf3 Nd4 11.Rh3 e6! 12.Bg5 [12.Qh4 Nh5= is also just equal]
The game was eventually drawn but I felt I should have done better, however when I checked the course it turns out I had actually played the recommended line. Unfortunately even after long analysis I was unable to find anything more than equality for White after 12...h6! and I'm hoping the ChessMood team is able to find something I missed to strengthen White's attack and tilt the balance in his favor.
Good luck guys.
Replies
After h6 Bh6 give very interesting game. But Rh6 is very dangerous. Black should find many-many only moves to make a draw.
Also, 12.Qh4 is very dangerous.
Overall this all Bg4 line is super dangerous for Black...
Thank you for the question and analysis Kevin. Your posts and the coaches answers are always super informative, even if I can't remember everything :)
I am crushing almost all only by knowing the ideas. I think the more we play the more it wil be easier for us to remember lines.
Play then check lines and miss
play and then check lines and miss
that's simple idea I use in my games and it works fine for me.
The Best Games of April and the Prizes
Hello ChessMood Family!
Welcome to the Best Games of April contest.
Under this post, we invite you to post your best games that you will play in March.
The Prize fund is 650K Moodcoins which is equal to 650$.
The 1st prize - 200k
The 2nd prize -150k
The 3rd prize- 120k
The 4th prize - 100k
The 5th prize - 75k
The winners of March contest are:
The 1st place - Abhi Yadav
The 2nd place- Magnum2019
The 3rd place - Fahad Rahman
The 4th place- Jay Garrison
The 5th place- David Hackinyan
Good luck with your games and keep the Right Mood!
#ChessMood
#Right Mood - Right Move
Replies
I hope this isn't an April Fool's joke ;)
This is a perfect game on how to punish 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.e5 ending with a pretty nice mate
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4664550421
Utilizing another lesson from the streams! Undermine the c5 pawn with an e5 push!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4666642246
I have to post my best game of march or april?
Beating Grandmaster Positionally with small tactics.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4668838811
1. TV concept applied.
2. Passive play punishment applied.
https://lichess.org/tNz5ypyMVCe8
Another Nd5 beginner victim.
Cpncepts diagonal and weak squares exposed.
https://lichess.org/6Nf8DyuK
It's a 10 min casual chess.
Concepts applied:
1. Power of two bishops.
2.Basic pawn sacrifice for long term queenside pressure.
3. Using his weak pawns in the endgame to make his king and rook super passive and in the end executed the nice idea "Rook Behind Passed Pawns"
Still trying to work on quality of my games
https://lichess.org/MzXDdnYcooyt
https://lichess.org/WBqbX3Tu/white
OK I missed mate in 1 but I won with good strategical game.And my opponent never get counterplay so This match is very interesting for me.
Sicilian defence
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4682789836
Accelerated Dragon https://www.chess.com/live/game/4682973613
After long time I played a rapid game and crushed him not by calculation but just by knowing classics and intuition hehehehe.
Bad I need to work on calculation and I will but sometimes its fun that my intuition is improving too.
Playing this gamee as white. Used the account of my bestie when she was in vcall with me and we were playing against different people. Just for fun I posted.
After Qf6 I wanted to play Nc3 c6 d4 exd4 e5 and follow the Morphy's game but I forgot that and when we made the move d4 the game of morphy came in my mind.
It's cool game and we punished his bad opening play like Morphy did.
https://lichess.org/jLx3Gc73#20
Could have been better...
Lost the game but still so much fun game
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4693928365
The Dragon...works...need to fine tune it.
Closed Sicilian....
Playing against weak f4 pawn. Bishop pair play. b1 was blunder by me in the end.
https://lichess.org/r9cKK9G7gu0f
Knight pair mate, I wanted to sac a rook so so bad so I did.
https://lichess.org/BplzUppMbyAQ
Played against IQP
Played on a rapid game...tried a sac early in the game and confused my opponent..
https://lichess.org/kFoUMGwM
I know it's strange to share lose game. But I was completely winning against Hikaru Nakamura.
22.Qc4 wins and 32.Bb5 wins again
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4682889404
My best April game with only 1 mistake, according to Stockfish 9+, using the Bd3 line to play against French.
Another Positional Game. During your 1 week free course. I watched daily commented games and it helped my positional skill.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4704077108
Using the 1.e4 2.Nc3!? series to beat a GM right in the opening! It was my game in the titled tuesday of April
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4691997310
After a long time played a closed game and total domination in queenside.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4708047759
Oh! I play with Scotch opening!!
Quick Win!
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/4703182111
My Best Game Ever!
Against Engine Fritz 16(2256)
https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/game/?p=LTaR/wkic2rvnWqxyuFf3pUG2ih1MpsudMjfN8OxdQ5lNvOWEfxY4dq1M37O4o+k
I crack the Sicilian with 2. Nc3 !
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4719464377?username=abhi_chess_gm
Sicilian b4!
I missed a quick win with a5 and mess up my opening repo but still I like the ending of game where he mised that Rxc7 is checkmate hehehe.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4719982407
Hi, i played a Benko recently and met this line(i suppose its not covered in the series). I won the game but will be very pleased if GM Avetik can take a look at the game and give some opinions regarding the opening. (i am the black player)
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/4715681924
- 1) Total rook domination in endgame. I forgot but I did saw a game on control of files. May be it's from (“Grandmaster Chess Strategy: What Amateurs Can Learn from Ulf Andersson’s Positional Masterpieces” by Jurgen Kaufeld and Guido Kern) and I saw how white played so well when he got control of important c-file. Here in my game I not only controlled e file but also c file and made his all pieces passive. This make me feel a bit proud.
- 2) I am learning Karpovian approach. So slow but keep position solid and do not rush. In my game may be strong players will find an easy win but due to time pressure I tried to play solid and safe.
- 3) The liquidation the end was also good and thematic for me. I was thinking not to allow any counter play so I entered in endgame with winning pawn endgame.
- 4) I also exploited so well his bad bishop.
- 5) A bit ok positional play!
Played Bd3 against the french as taught by sir. He takes it casually and played h5 g5 on the kingside. I managed to block the position which I was dreaming of. Then I exchanged by bishops for his knight(exchanging the right piece). And then my knights dominated the position.HE was rated above 100 points then be but I was never in pressure. An easy game where two knights dominated two bishops in the endgame.
Very Beautiful Game!! Ended By Very Nice Tactics
https://www.chess.com/live#g=4725487221
Another Nc3 Sicilian!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4729120097
Another Nc3 Sicilian Game!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4729150665
Knight trap!!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4729484839
Pawn grabber line.
Importance of e5 square and bad f5?
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4729530027
Learning aggression but applied in wrong time.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4731023993
Rf6=
Tremendous space advantage
naderfass vs TahseenMD - https://chess.com/live/game/4730003561
Taking out defenders
Check out this #chess game: BeginnerForFun vs TahseenMD - https://chess.com/live/game/4725536523
Too close...!!!
Check out this #chess game: jlaves vs TahseenMD - https://chess.com/live/game/4729802314
"https://lichess.org/xpFKbYzc
In the middle game, my opponent offered me a free pawn by mistake by I did not take it because I didn't want him to do something and exploited his weak squares. After the game, I realized that taking it was also good.
Game 1
Game 2
Chess is not all about winning. Sometimes loses also shows your cool games.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4737436402
I blundered a queen in the end.
Very Nice Game ---No Chance!
Clean Game!
Quick Win!
Pawn Sacrifice For Piece Activity!
https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/game/?p=L/Ctx4fHQo8zsMiaw5WLFfRgXs1BwVX1xgOcMZaiVFIbfXZ512kpzjxZYiQqyXAO
14 Move!
Nice Mate!
Good Queen Vs Bad Queen!
https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/game/?p=XP2hNDTeK3bPucr34AONyinqLSr2rwfwc//Q86A5sRXnm+0HnMwrIl2GubeDcaq0
Piece Activity!!!
Cool Mate!
https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/game/?p=9aNNBdBqA9sGjVHYDKvRZApHdNrp/dGhYhJeWW04qOA7qhX4mD9dgl42Ab0SKQLn
Won a nice game in the caro kann exchange, felt that it would be nice to share.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4742278567
I was in an attacking mood and wanted to get into risky complicated positions. It was a 3 min game so I both sides have a lot of mistakes but im proud of the Qg1!! move! It even takes the engines a bit of time to figure this out!
https://lichess.org/HiyY5jhp9W1B
I won a nice game in the Caro-Kann exchange line, got a good knight vs bad bishop.
https://lichess.org/koRg1phicP4O
17 Move--- 2nd Queen!!
https://www.chess.com/live#g=4747240638
Pretty Positional Game!
https://www.chess.com/live#g=4747503640
Bxc3 line I played in maroczy setup
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4747905392
Never Grab pawns in the opening heheh. I messed up lines but I took advantage of my lead in development.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4747931200
https://lichess.org/EJXQyL51#50
Attacking Grand prix
I crack the Sicilian with 2. Nc3
Good Piece Activity In Equal Endgame Wins The Match!
https://lichess.org/VNwMCGp96OJd
https://lichess.org/Rt8TlGhV/white
I did it but must have done better!
I drew with an FM in a simul.I sacrificed a pawn in the middlegame. Well he ignored my idea and I got sufficient counterplay. I could have won, but played badly in the end due to time pressure.
Same Color Bishop Ending!
https://lichess.org/pBZiNaEkYvex
a6 tempo down line. I am still learning opening but themetic e5 and then queen sacrifice was cool.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4756542872
I totally forgot that after Kf7 Ne4 will be check!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4757129747
a6 another victim, he violated basics of castles so he lost.
Bad liquidation by white so lost.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4756693721
Another game where I am play the Sicilian Dragon against an opponent whose mistakes I relied on. Tactics I used:
Discovered attack, double attack & isolating a piece.
I today applied the concept which I learnt from Karpov's game and Tal's game.
1. Played e5 on right time.
2. Rac1 to bother his development.
3. Improved all pieces with tempo
4. Took advantage of his hanging pieces.
https://lichess.org/UUrY8MuJ#17
cracking the stonewall by white side (extra tempo).
https://lichess.org/c5RIiiR9/black
it was bullet game (1 | 0)
Before going to the game I wanna share the concepts I applied in this game:
1. Chessmood Opening Caro kann exchange.
2. g3 key move with the idea of placing pawn on f4 and bothering his pieces with Ne5 and playing with space
3. Cool control over e4 square so no time for Ne4 and f5 for my opponent
4. Kg2 as explained in the course. I did not remember all lines but I knew there was a plan of kingside attack with Kg2. And guess why this plan works because black done nothing in the queenside so I was free to do my work
5. g4 and attack
6. After g6 final blow starts
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4760562948
d4 sidelines
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4760747043
Caro kann early crush
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4760817604
Quick Grand Prix knockout. Just 18 move mate!!!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4762518347
A victim of TV concept
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4762508008
GrandPrix rock. Even though i need to work on variations.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4768894260
An attacking masterpiece GP
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4768921649
I just learn the course Marcozy Blind. Against c4 or Nf3, its always appear problematic for me.
https://lichess.org/Ob5iwJsg/black
Here is a good example of having better development and a target. Beaten an FM in 21 moves!
Concepts applied-
1.Bishop pair advantage
2.Weak square exploitation.
3.Sacrifice pawn for development.
https://lichess.org/vQlAtCtC/black
crushed an NM.I did not allow him to do anything and then slowly slowly organized an attack.
Following Avetik's advice for more aggressive e4 play, this game follows the idea of more aggressive play, long castle and kingside attack. I probably bungled the main lines but just starting to implement new ideas, from counterpuncher to more aggressive play.
https://lichess.org/nkM24aGm
Very Nice Attacking Game!
https://www.chess.com/live#g=4783115210
Crushed a Fide Master!!!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4781545171
King Walk From The Opening!
https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/game/?p=cf/DicWd70WilxYbjOMIZAvu0txePW6ywvk8bEwFXt+PLcOiksofzWwjs+1Q1zp5
Fortunate win against GM Vidit!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4778964453
this was April prize right? already 3rd May and no prize? anything went worng?
Great!
Hello Champions!
Hello ChessMood Family!
Hello gangsters who are crushing their opponents with ChessMood openings.
This month it took us longer to review your games, as there were more games and more quality and impressive games!
It was amazing to see how much Abhi grew, Koek's fantastic attacks.
How our new ChessMood PRO Members, who learn the courses not more than 1-2 months, but already dominate in the competition!
It was impressive how Mate, Grigorios, Aayush and others are improving so fast.
This month it was tough to find winners. And each month is becoming tougher and tougher.
As there are more games and more quality games.
Keep it, guys! It's fantastic!
The 5th prize goes Sriram M, for his nice game in Sicilian and nice converting of the advantage.
The 4th prize goes to Fahad Rahman, for his positional crush, which ended up with Qg7 checkmate.
The 3rd prize goes to Abhi Yadav, for his Scotch game, Qc2! Novelty and then winning in style of Ulf Andersson.
(By the way Abhi , had another fantastic games in Bobby Fischer style, especially crushing the Sicilians.)
The 2nd prize goes to Dark Lord for his Qg1!! amazing move!
And the 1st prize goes to Keok Woltek for crushing the GM with ChessMood variation against Sicilian.
(Keok had also other great games.)
Congratulations to winners and everyone who improved his chess this month, no matter did he raise rating or not.
See you in May's best games!
With best wishes,
ChessMood Grandmasters
right mood
I fully realize and appreciate the need to be in a good mood before the game but I have some troubles in getting into the right mood.I have tried many ways but they don't seem to work.can any one help?
Replies
You can listen relaxing musics.Also If you have time before the match you can do what you love.For example you can even watch a cinema if it will comfort you.
Punishing the Petroff
Here is my first Petroff I faced since I finished the course a couple weeks ago. I forgot a little bit, but still got an overwhelming attack!
Replies
Nice!
After Kg8 were you going to take on e6 or to play Rh8!! followed by Qh2? :)
How to analyse gameses
What is the best way to analyze your own games for a 1600 player
Replies
Check your games with engine to just find the blunders.
The rest should be done with coach.
Pirc with 4 Bf4
Are you intending 4Bf4 in the pirc?
That asked I will of course no burn out by the chess mood team
Replies
Very soon.
2 more sections are added! :)
wow what is 0-0-0 impressive!!!
Hey Champions!
We uploaded the last important section in Pirc defense when Black goes early c6.
https://chessmood.com/course/11-crushing-the-pirc/episode/1347
COGRO!
Analysis of Openings and Games
Just a note to let everyone know how impressed I am by Avetik's analysis of games and openings!
Ive come across many, many other online resources for openings and post game analysis and some are great...however Avetik has a consistent pattern of high quality that is not found in any other place!
IMHO its a winning combination of deep knowledge and a LOT of effort to come up with so much material!
Thank you Avetik and GM team!
Replies
Thank you very much, Ovi!!
Appreciated.
COGRO and Right Mood!
Ovi, do you mind if we use this as a testimonial in our Website?
Suggested opening and PGN
Hey there chessmood family, I'm a new Pro member and I would like to know if there will be a Course on the English Opening for white and for Black.
I'm keen on Mikenas variation for White as well as Botvinnik System and for Black, Keres or Karpov variation.
Thanks in advance, I'm literally devouring every course...all too good!!
Cheers and stay safe.
Replies
Hey man!
Thank you for your nice words.
It will be a course in English Opening for Black.
But for now learn Maroczy Bind course. You'll get there 90% of time, against 1.c4 and 1.Nf3
French trick problem
How to solve this c6 move......i cant find any idea here.....nd i deafeted after c6 move
Replies
Hey there Zahid, I guess that you played the opening in a perfect manner...until move 19th you were rocking and youir position was a dream for any e4 player against the French, I suppose your problems started after b4 and after his c5 move. Your rival was able to activate his queenside and after that was the struggle.
As I said, I guess your problems had little to do with the opening, but more with the middlegame. b4 was a sensible move which I think you didn´t evaluate properly. Your intention to close the queenside is understandable but probably Be4 was better.
Hope to have helped you with my opinion.
Cheers!
c6 is a very passive setup. You'll enjoy space advantage all the game.
Better try is Nbd7 when Black wants to go with e5!?
We'll add material about it today! :)
Best May game
I am playing in an online, USCF rated tournament for our local clubs and look at this beautiful Bd3 anti-french!
Replies
Thanks again coaches, your selections for the openings are always on point :)
Here is one where I play against the Marczy!
Nice games!
Prophylaxis vs restriction
Hello chess friends. My first post on this forum. Is there a difference between restriction and prophylaxis? Ie based on your definition and understanding? Maybe you can use the opening systems recommended to show
thanks very much
kayode
Replies
They are very-very similar, dear friend.
If your rating is less than 2600 you don't need to go into this topic further.
Morra Smith Gambit
Hello chess friends. What is the recommended way for chessmooders to play against the morra Smith Gambit
Replies
Hi Kayode
We play 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nf6 or 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 Nf6.
They hate that!
/Kim Skaanning
Hi Kayode!
Yes, as Kim mentioned, we can just transpose the game into alapin's system, which is very detailed analysed in the Gabuzyan's anti-sicilian course. But I believe that we can pose serious problems for white if we accept the pawn's sacrifice, and leave in the following interesting way for black: 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cd 3. c3 dc 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 a6!? 7. 0-0 b5!? 8. Bb3 Bb7!? 9. Re1 and here 9 ... Bc5! a very simple but at the same time strong developing move. Now black has an interesting Nce7 resource at 10. Nd5, forcing white to exchange his strong knight, and if 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 black will not take the knight, but will play coldly with pawn on d6, ignoring all white’s ideas and continue to calmly go on remaining development moves with an extra pawn and depriving white of any significant positional compensation.
9.Qe2 is very stereotype decision here for white and black is already can fight for advantage after 9...Nge7!? for example 10.Bg5 (10.a3 Ng6 11.Be3 Be7 12.g3 0-0 13.h4 h6 14.h5 Nge5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.f4 Nc4! Bxc4 bxc4 18.Qxc4 d5! (18...f5!?) it seems what black is clearly better ) (10.Rd1 Ng6 Nd5 Na5 Bc2 Rc8!? ignoring knight on d5 and it's very difficult for white to find a good plan here) 10...Na5 11.Bc2 f6 12.Bf4 Ng6 13.Bg3 Rc8 14.Rad1 Bc5 15. h4 0-0 16.h5 Ne5! Bxe5 fxe5 18.Nxe5 Rc7! position is still not so cleare but black objectively better and have a very good chances to win.
Dorfman method
Hi guys! I would like to know, what do you think about Dorfman method?
1) Is this method suitable for all kinds of chess players?
2) What are the disadvantages of this method?
3) Do you use this method in your own practice?
4) Is this method relevant for study and understanding?
I will be glad to hear any of your thoughts about it :)
For those who hear about this method for the first time, here is a brief description:
The Dorfman method is a two-fold scheme for finding good moves.
The static elements
The first fold is the static elements of the position. These are 4 elements in decreasing priority:
- The king position: whose king is better positioned and protected.
- Material correlation: material balance, and combination of pieces. For instance, Dorfman considers 2 knights + bishop as being often more effective than 2 bishops + knight since the former can triply coordinate on the colour of the bishop.
- Which side will stand better after a potential trade of queens. This depends on which side has a more active queen, and whose endgame play is favourable.
- Pawn structure. Central outposts, number of pawn islands, pawn weaknesses, pawn majority, doubled-pawns, domination of light/dark squares such as the grip provided with the Moraczy bind, etc.
Dynamic play
The second fold is short-term play provided by dynamic play, which roughly constitutes:
- Being ready to opt for extreme measures, such as piece sacrifices,
- Create threats,
- Preventing a king from getting castled,
- Drastic change of pawn structure, and liquidations,
- Quick pawn advances on either flanks.
- etc.
Critical moments of a game
The scheme then is basically: At each critical moment of the game, each player has to decide whether to play statically, i.e. to improve their longterm play, or play dynamically for short-term advantages to possibly stir up the static balance of the position.
Critical moments are defined as moments when there can be:
- a possible exchange of pieces,
- a change in the pawn structure,
- and the existence of forced sequences of moves.
The Method
At each such critical juncture in the game, the method says:
- Study the static balance of the position in order to decide whether to play dynamically or not.
- The balance constitutes comparing the 4 elements one-by-one between the two sides, starting from highest priority.
- One side is deemed statically better if it stands better in any of the higher priority elements. For instance, if king positions are about the same, but one side has a stronger material correlation, then that side stands statically better even though they might be worse in the 3rd and 4th elements of the static balance.
- The side with a favourable static balance should play slowly and find moves that further improve their longterm static advantages.
- Conversely, the side being statically worse, should opt for dynamic play and establish a short-term advantage, in order to ultimately stir up the static balance in their favour.
- Ideally, the dynamic play should aim to establish an advantage in terms of a higher priority static element. For instance, if we are statically worse because our material correlation (2nd element) is worse, then by playing dynamically we should try to worsen our opponent's king position relative to ours, i.e., establish an edge in a static element higher in priority than the one we're doing worse in. So in this example that higher priority would be the king position (1st element).
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Yes it sounds like a good technique and should work out well
NEW ARTICLE: How to Become a Chess Grandmaster - Is it Easy?
We have this topic in our Blog.
https://chessmood.com/blog/how-to-become-a-chess-grandmaster-is-it-easy
If you have any questions, comments or you just liked it, feel free to share your thoughts here.
Replies
- Start young.
- Work hard.
- Play tournaments.
- Score three norms.
- Earn a 2500 FIDE rating.
Opened my eyes to the journey of becoming a gm
Coach, my eyes were already opened from 2017 when my first good mentor told me how he prepared against GMs and how he crushed them. I left him bec of financial issue. But we are still in touch. I know it wont be easy to achieve GM title and I do know it's not a joke.
I am happy that I am not too old and I can work hard and learning smart work from your community too. So I know I will improve more because now I have proper guidence and I will achieve my goals
Cool!
Scotch Opening
How to further prepare the Scotch after watching the course? Or is the preparation in the video course enough?
Replies
I've found it more than enough. Most people that play against the scotch seem to be out of book after move 6ish and you easily gain a sizable advantage. At worse, I've found myself in very complex games where I am pressing. I LOVE the Scotch course on here.
Create a database of Scotch Games, and keep it up to date with the latest tournament games as well as your own. Pay special attention to the heroes that play our line regularly to see if any promising new ideas or problems have cropped up. The main heroes of our line in tournament practice include:
GM Ian Nepomniachtchi
GM Alexander Morozevich
GM Ivan Cheparinov
IM Thomas Beerdsen
Feel free to compile your own list and if you run into problems in your games don't hesitate to ask for advice here.
Good luck
Apart from the players that Kevin D mentioned you to follow, you may wanna take a look at Kasparov's games in the Scotch. Even though he didn't play the lines that are recommended in the course, he( apart from being an ex-world champion) was one of the experts of this line, so you will get a lot of ideas and plans by watching his games. I hope this will be useful for you as it was for me :)
No need to prepare further if you are not 2600+ Grandmaster.
Scotch we covered very-very deeply in the main course and in advanced courses.
What you need now, is to play, play and play!
And at the end, if you have a coach, or someone better than you, who also knows these lines, ask him to check your games and help you with fixing the mistakes.
Sicilian 2.Nc3 line is surprising strong against 2100 player
Dear Chess friends,
I am new to this repertoire, and wanted to test some of the ideas online. I was able to play this game as white and was surprised how much i was able to keep the initiative and continue to push my opponent back. [White "Kayode"]
[Black "marcaliplayer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[UTCDate "2020.04.28"]
[UTCTime "11:47:46"]
[WhiteElo "1924"]
[BlackElo "2107"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
[ECO "B23"]
[Opening "Sicilian Defense: Closed"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 { B23 Sicilian Defense: Closed } 3. f4 d5 4. Nf3 d4 5. Bb5+ Nd7 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. Ne2 Ne7 8. d3 Nc6 9. O-O f6 10. Ng3 Bd6 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. e5 fxe5 13. fxe5 Nxe5 14. Ne4 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 O-O-O 16. Nxd6+ Qxd6 17. Bf4 e5 18. Bg3 Rhf8 19. Qe4 Rxf1+ 20. Rxf1 Re8 21. Qxh7 Qe7 22. Qg6 e4 23. dxe4 Qxe4 24. Qd6 Kd8 25. Qc7+ Ke7 26. Re1 { Black resigns. } 1-0
Replies
yeah its true and it is even strong for 2300 if you have detailed analysis of all lines.
Super!
Just a piece of advice. Don't take on d7 early. Let him to play a6 and spend a tempo on that :)