Chess forum by Grandmasters

Best tools to practice openings

Hi,

Yesterday I subscribed to Chessmood for my younger son. Can you please suggest some good tools to practice chess openings where he can create the repertoire after learning a opening and the tool gives some feedback about where all he went wrong and which all lines he missed upon.

Thanks

Replies

You can try chessbase 14 or 15 and if you need free software then try ChessX soft and it works in linux, Mac and Linux. There you can make your base of opening and middlegames or anything

Chesstempo is good if you can get a subscription.

https://www.studyopenings.com/ is the one that can help practice with the openings.

You can have a look here http://fritz.chessbase.com/?lang=en

or even consider getting the program Fritz 17 or earlier iterations. Here is a Demo Video showing some of its features: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJOxo53mIgI

Good luck.

Here are my current thoughts.  I want to use something to drill my opening repertoire.  I watch the course videos and just cannot remember it all.  I know if I use some drilling software, eventually I will remember it all.

There are basically 3 methods that I have considered.  

Method 1

BookUp, Chess Openings Wizard, Chess Tempo, Chess Position Trainer, etc.

I am not going to be using any of these, because the entry, drilling features, or what have you are very basic in structure or seem to be buggy.  The analogy is trying to compare Microsoft Office (or Open Office) to Notepad on the feature aspects.

Method 2

Chessable

I LOVE LOVE the spaced learning feature and think that once a book exists, this is the best way to learn things.  So any book that you might buy on the site, is really top-notch efficient.  However, we don't want any book, we want the repertoire that is given here!  

When I try to enter the course moves from the video, it is very hard for me to do this in a systematic way so that once I am done, it is all neatly organized and orderly!  You have to do so much repetition in opening and re-opening various files, move orders do not present in the order you want, etc.  I just think it is way too hard to enter in a repertoire in Chessable, but IF you can get it all in there, the training is superb.

Method 3

ChessBase

This is what I am going to do.  My monitor is large enough that I can have the course open and alongside that a fresh board from ChessBase.  As I move through the course, I just enter whatever into a game and organize it on the fly.  If the game gets too big, I just save what I have and then start another game.  Variations nest well, lines can be promoted and become main lines, annotations can be liberally included both by text and more variations.  When I am done, I can then export well-ORGANIZED files into Chessable and train from there.

I have not given up that all this stuff can be drilled in ChessBase (or even Fritz17) and I may default to this eventually, but I see more sophistication in Chessable at present.

COST

I tend to see money as being a severely limiting factor in almost any decision chess players make.  How often we hear the desire for something that is FREE but just as good as the professional software out there!  Folks, I don't think it exists.  (The obvious exception being the Stockfish engine. Every grandmaster uses ChessBase, and for good reason.  In my opinion, this has become a basic investment much like a chess set or clock.  I think if you use anything else you are doing yourself a disservice.  You would not be reading this if you were not serious about chess!  Why handicap yourself?

GREAT WAY TO LEARN 

I have come across the IM Sagar Shah series of YouTube videos including a brand new series he is just starting.  It is easy to search for!  (Chess Base India is another place to search for him).  I have learned more from watching his videos on how to use this stuff than any other source.  I cannot recommend his videos more highly.  He is one of the great guys in chess.  I wish I could meet him personally!  

(I also want to one day meet Jacko too....lol)

Nitin, you should reserve a 1-1 call, I'll guide your son how to take the most value from ChessMood. 

+2hr comprehensive intro to chessbase 15

https://youtube.com/watch?v=EjlB9mMp9zs

Replies

Very nice video! 
Thanks for sharing it, Kevin! 

Retreating Moves- A dark mystery

I heard from Yasser and Maurice that retreating moves in chess are hard to find  even for super GMs. My question is why? These guys are machines then why retreating moves are hard for them to find. Even in classical games sometimes they miss them. So I am curious to know. 

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Abhi, it's related to psychology and even to a harder topic - neuropsychology. 

I have heard that it is very difficult to move your pieces backward when attacking; someone wants to checkmate as soon as possible; Tal had clear problems with retreating moves :)

National Open

I am planning on playing at the National Open in Las Vegas June 24-28, 2020. Is anyone else here going to play this tournament? 

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I am going to be playing the 4 day schedule in the U2100 section, June 25th-28th, and I am looking to see if any ChessMood members want to meet up. Let me know if you are thinking of going!

good luck man and I wish you will play good chess and we all will be excited to see your games in which you will crush people like a melon with chessmood openings and middle game lessons.

Note: "Crush like a melon" is a term which I created with my bestie. It's just a funny term and it's not showing disrespect to any person. I do respect beginners too.

As you are no doubt aware, many large events are now in the process of being cancelled due to the Pandemic scare.  I am not sure I am going to play any over-the-board until later in the summer and even then with the close following of developments.  I don't mean to be crude here, but I have played across from some pretty sick (ill) people and won't be doing it during these times.

What is interesting is that this could be a catalyst for something big in the realm of on-line chess.  Now there is a REAL reason not to spend so much money on travel, hotel fees, entry fees, resort fees, et al. You can play right now in the safety of your home!

Doubts

Since I am new I have some doubts.Would be happy if you all cleared them:)

Replies

Hi Shona. 

1. You get unlimited access to the courses when you are a PRO Member. 
2. Calls are on skype. All members get a 15 min short call with a GM to get a personalized study plan, when they joined ChessMood PRO.  (it's once, when you join, not every month. If you want 1-1 lessons with coaches, please write to our support team at contact@chessmood.com) 
3. We have a 30-day money-back guarantee. So if somehow you don't like anything, you can ask for a refund.  

Study plan

 have sent you a Email GM Avetik on  [email protected]!! plz check it out and reply GM Avetik! I am really waiting for your answers! It is about recommending me a study plan. I have described my strengths and weaknesses, the books I have and the Softwares /memberships I have. Sadly, I do not have a membership on chessmood because my dad does not allow :(

Replies

Do you only give study plan to PRO members? plz give to normal members as well!! plz!

tel me ur elo so may be I can help you a bit?

You are welcome @skipper_chess

Skipper, "personalized plan" word speaks for himself. 
How do you imagine to give personalized plan of our 10.000 members? 
Abhi's post is nice. Check it out. 

Chess books regarding Calculation/Visualization

Hello, I am a 2000 fide rated player and am struggling in the aspects of calculation. I have trouble finding resources from both sides. I also have trouble calculating long variations in my head, since the position slowly gets more vague, and unclear in my head. I would greatly appreciate any tips for these problems, as well as chess books to strengthen these topics.

Thanks for any help

Replies

Um. I am 1465 but have some suggestions and I hope it may help you. Even though I am not experienced but I am just sharing what I learnt from strong players. my own research and from my friends.

First of all issue about missing opponent's resources can be solved from a book called  Recognizing Your Opponent Resources by Mark Dvoretsky .This is what a GM recommended to my WCM bestie because she also missed opponent's resources during she calculate long variations. 

Now let's move to the topic of messing up lines and variations. As far as I learnt from my friend @Jay_Garrison as I am facing this issue too because I am just novice. So he suggested me to pick up a chess book of games. Then try to see the game  in your mind till the first diagram position. Let's say first diagram comes on move 6 then try to visualise that position and then place the resulting position on real board and then check your resulting position with the book's diagram and check how clearly you saw. This way of training will improve blindfold and visualisation skills. I prefer try a bit simple games like go with Morphy instead of visualising the games of Kasparov.  By practicing it soon you will be able to see the whole game in your mind. 

Another useful point is by Indian GM Vidit. He said try to solve studies in blindfold. By this way you can also improve your visualization skills. I this step by step work is also important in chess. If you pick a book  suggested for GMs then you won't see all the lines well in your mind. So I suggest pick a calculation book of max 2200 elo level. This is what I learnt from some other coaches. By solving 200 elo point higher problems will improve your skills to the next level. For example now you are 2000 so let's say you can solve tactics of 1900 elo level and you have issue after that then try to get rid out of comfort zone and it will help you.

Final word on calculation book.. I only heard and saw two books in past and they are good books. First is  Grandmaster Preparation - Calculation by Jacob Aagaard and second one is Critical Moments in Chess by Paata Gaprindashvili

There are some recommendations by @ChessMood_ too . So you can go there and find the list of books which will be useful for you.

https://chessmood.com/we-recommend

Second useful article:

https://chessbase.in/news/Best-chess-solving-books-for-professional-players

Take a look at this video: (go to 04:12)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJOxo53mIgI

About calculation are written many books... 
But personally, I didn't like any of them. Next year, I am going to write a one. Have already more than thousands examples on my computer. 

For improving calculation, you really need coach. 
It's something, that it's thought to explain in course... 
There are so many different calculation techniques. 

For now I would recommend to check Dvorecky's book and also to solve more puzzles. 

Check the book Calculation by Aagaard.

Pgn file for Scotch Game Opening Course

Hello, 

I have just finished the Scotch game course, and I am wondering if there is any pgn file that is available for review. It would be greatly helpful, as I can go over the lines numerous times, and make sure I remember the specific move orders.

Thanks, Sanjay

Replies

At the end of the course, there is a PGN download which gives you some of the basic lines. It is set up this way so you will create your very own PGN for each opening, which will reinforce your learning and help you to memorize all the lines. It will also allow you to build more lines out as you play your own games and compare it to your file.

I hope this helps!

Sanjay, this would be very useful too. 
https://chessmood.com/quiz/attack-with-scotch-game 

How to Post

How to post?

Like if someone post there is only option to reply,

Is there option to post there in the forum too?

Replies

Can you please elaborate this question please?

Study plan for hard- workers

Hey Champions! 
Some of our members are working very hard and in a few months finished most of the courses. 
I've recorded here a video, what to do next, what should be the plan. 

https://youtu.be/rClFoIOT3XE 

If you have still any questions, feel free to ask here. 

Replies

Educational and I follow streams and checking my openings and tactics miss after every game. My intuition is already improving and frankly I worked a lot on siclian course so I almost crush all my opponent who play c5 except chessmood players hehehe. I feel like c5= 1-0 . Need to work on rest of courses. Ten time revision is in my mind and it will be useful I know.

How to define positional play?

I am learning a lot about positional play from Saint Louis Videos by Armenian GM Vazubian Akobian. He explains a lot about exchanges, tempos, timings and a lot more things. It make me feel like positional play is tough but logical and if we know the basics of positional play we can achieve atleast 2300 elo. I know positional play do requires calculation skills. I am not ignoring this point but I think it also works with  logical play!

What you think guys? I just love positional play 

Replies

I think Positional Chess is Pawn Structure Chess. I love it too, but tactical chess and positional chess are tightly codependent, don't forget that. :-)

Abhi, about about improving positional chess, Commented Classical Game course is must. 
@Kevin_D, buy the way, do you watch it? 

From 1600 to 2400 in chess.com

Hey Champions! 

As most of our ChessMood Family members are from 1600 to 2400 levels, I decided to make a streaming series of getting from 1600 to 2400  in chess.com

Looking forward to seeing you in a few hours. 

P.S
It's time to not just raise your rating but raise it explosively.

Replies

I enjoyed & very instructive today's event.Can you please share pgn of games played today's event?

A great stream! I enjoyed it a lot! What a great parrot you have sir, so good!

Plan in the GP endgame?

I know many experts can win this position as white. But I am not an expert. This is well known position for all Chessmood Members so kindly explain me how to play this position as white. For example it's black to move in this diagram position and my move is Rf8 so how will white fight for advantage here because only open file is in black's hand and he is piece up. Yeah we have amazing pawns but still I am worried about a long term plan.  I am worried about how to make my king active and one plan for black is to play Rf8-Rf8 anf he can move his king anywhere to stop our pawns. Yes I never saw anyone who got this position against me but I am worried about future so if anyone give nice ideas or games then it will be super useful for me and my endgame knowledge.

Replies

If I remember well then video was over after this d4 and coach said better for white. Yes I believe in it but all i want is my king in the center so I can fight and trading rooks in the current position is suicidal.

exchange rooks on f8 and centralize the king. There is no player who can hold knight vs 3 pawns, probably not even stockfish!

ok, some variations...

Since you played Rf8 I continue Rxf8 Kxf8, Kf2 Nf4 (trying Nd3 fork), just b3, next comes Kf3 and the knight must go back. Then all I have to do is Ke3 and push the e and d pawns... He will have to give up the knight for some pawns at some time. You need to make sure either that he gets no more than 2 pawns for the knight, or if he gets 3 make sure your king is more active and you queen!

e and d pawns are really dangerous... Always calculate possible transpositions to pawn endgame after knight sacrifice and look out for forks!

And finally, only practice will help you. Try analyzing the position by yourself first, find the ideas and then check with machine.

Today's Article

When is today's artucle going to come? I am eager :)

Replies

It's there :) 

Another victim of Grand Prix Attack

I lost the match to GM Michael Roiz, but the last game and his last phrase compensate it ????
Below are the links of the game and the course about Grand Prix attack :)

https://www.chess.com/live/game/5029891573

https://chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-part-1

Do you play Grand Prix attack or you're going to play? :) 

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This game reminds me my own piece sac on g5 square after my opponent did h6 then g5.https://lichess.org/sFYCM0up#30

WOW! Sir!

I would recommend you to continue your chess, you have all the potential of becaming the world champion!

Great game!

I only need 3000 moodcoins to unlock the whole part 1.

...and what if white does not allow the Qa5 line in Maroczy with Bg2 line?

Hi, champs! Do you have any sugestions of how to play with black if white does not play d4 move in proposed English opening line? I mean after 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 and if the first player just plays it slowly and modestly like: Bg2 0-0 d3 and so on. I know this is not very ambitious line for white, but anyway, it would be quite interresting to hear a GM recipe here. Shall black play here d5 right away, or do you have any better advice? Or is the answe given in the courses already? Thank you in advance...

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Hey Martin! 
We'll add all other systems in the upcoming English opening. When White plays without d4, or they go e3 with Nge2... And all other things. 

Fathers day

Happy fathers day to all fathers of our ChessMood Family????

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5.e3 with Nc3 in Benko Gambit

Hello everyone!I played a game only 5 minutes ago.And my opponent played against me with 5.e3 5...e6 6.Nc3.I lost the match with a very nice tactic.How should I play against this?

P.S:I am not a pro member but I bought the course.

Replies

Hello TK, in the position you mentioned, I would recommend you to play something like a mixed modern benoni and benko gambit 6. ... exd5 7. Nxd5 Bb7 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Nf3 Be7 10. a4 O-O 11. h3 axb5 12. Bxb5 Bc6 13. Bd2 Qxb2 14. Rb1 Qf6 15. O-O d5. For me this is the better continuation for black ( my own calculations w.o. help of engine ). This is the most popular variation which can arise from here I think. Then continue with the queenside knight developement and bring the "f" rook either on "b" or "d" files.

The course will be updated with an advanced section. 
If you bought the course, you'll have the update as well. 

A game suggest for courses!

[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]

[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]

[Date "2016.01.26"]

[Round "9"]

[White "Wei Yi"]

[Black "David Navara"]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "C65"]

[WhiteElo "2706"]

[BlackElo "2730"]

[PlyCount "55"]

[EventDate "2016.01.15"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Nc4 Nd7 8.

Qe2 Re8 9. Bd2 Bd6 10. h4 c5 11. h5 h6 12. O-O-O Nb8 13. Rdg1 Nc6 14. g4 f6 15.

g5 fxg5 16. Nxg5 Nd4 17. Qd1 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Be7 19. Be3 Bf6 20. h6 Re7 21. hxg7

Rxg7 22. Qh5 Be6 23. Bh6 Bf7 24. Bxg7 Bxh5 25. Bxf6+ Kf8 26. Bxd8 Ne2+ 27. Kb1

Nxg1 28. Bxc7 1-0

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I can read blind, but not everybody can :D

So this is the game! Next time please use the "add new file" button..

nope @Tomboy_Web I am learning just classics so the more I know the more I will play well. I am working on revision of lines bec lines are so tough to remember but I wanna remember all the lines .

Novelty in Catalan

I was watching video on middlegames and found this funny but super strong novelty by Fabiano Caruana. So for those who love Catalan can work on this novelty to surprise their opponent. Be3 idea is to stop c5 that's all even  GM Vazubian Akobian said and not more because he was also shocked and confused by this move. By using this novelty Fabi Crushed Anand. Vishy spent 5 mins after Be3 move and played Bd6 and 7 mins on move 9th .

Enjoy

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my database is not up to date so i do not know how many recent games played with this move but this move looks amazing to me!