Chess forum by Grandmasters

Question about Modern Maroczy Bind

In the course Modern Maroczy Bind, in section 2, It's not a death draw, you came to the conclusion, that after the bishop changed, the position is over for white. But I thnk after c5 the position is lost for black. So I am not so sure what to play in that endgame. If someone could help me it would be really nice.

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can u please share the position?

ChessMood Family, need your opinion

Hey ChessMood Family! 
I have one good news, and I would like to hear your thoughts and recommendations. 

We' are going to add two courses. 

1. About planning in chess. How to find a correct plan? How to process it? 
It will be around 14 sections, more than 20 hours! 

and 

2. About exchanging the pieces. 

What are the reasons to exchange a piece? There are more than 20 reasons, like "Exchanging the defender", "Exchanging opponent's active piece", "Exchanging for square" and others. 

Both will be big courses (more than 20 hours!) 
Last months we have spent lots of time searching for material and finding the best examples. 
You'll be amazed by the courses... 

Now I need your thoughts. How to name the courses? :) 

Something like "Art of Exchanging" or "Art of Planning in chess?" 
Maybe Science of ... 

What do you think? 
Your thoughts are very valuable to us. 
Just share them :) 

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I think you are spreading yourself too thin Coach. Finish the Opening Series first, don't leave too many loose ends undone. Pirc is finished, but Modern and Pirc go hand in hand so I think that the Modern ( Robatsch Defence) should be the next logical project, further reinforcing all those nice attacking ideas you taught us in the Pirc Course.

The Art of Exchanging is a good title. Maybe " Right mindset planning" for the second? But you also need to add some more opening courses for black, and get back the Najdorf variation. I also prefer Scheveninngen variation against classical Sicilian, but the material and variation are long, deep  and hard to learn for the average player. Finally, will these courses be only for pro or will there be unlocked videos and how many moodcoins will they be worth?

Not sure about the title but I think-1."The art of planning in chess "and 2."The art of exchanging the right pieces"  are good titles. I think these titles would be good enough because of the quality of the material would be promising and useful. Don't judge a book by its cover. For me, the content is more important than the title :).

 I Think The Name Should Be Like

For Exchange ---- "The Beauty Of Exchanges"

and For Planning --------" The Secret Of Planning"

Just idea! 

I am simple so my words are simple.  

Arts of planning:

Art of exchanges.

But if you seriously wanna rank your keyword then go there and search there keywords that are less competitive. Try this!!

https://app.neilpatel.com/en/ubersuggest/keyword_ideas

Great news coach! I think these courses will add a lot of value for Chessmood members. It is becoming a one stop shop for chess improvement! I am looking forward to the courses.

I agree with Abhi - I like "The Art of...". For exchanges maybe even The Skill of Exchanging in Chess.

Both 'The art of Exchanges' (A course by GM Boris Avrukh on Modern Chess) and "Art of planning" ( A 2006 book by Neil McDonald) are already title that have been used. While I am sure you could use them as well, I have a feeling you are looking for inspiration on a unique title for these courses.

Here are my ideas, and I hope you are able to use them to help you find the titles you are looking for!

1. Plan to win the ChessMood way!

2. Know your 'why' when trading!

These are just off the top of my head, and I will post an update here when I think of more, as I am sure my subconscious will continue to think about this :) 

Thanks guys, for all your ideas! 

ChessMood's Art of Planning?

Finding the Correct Plan would work for me.

Avetik sir I have another opinion to improve the website!

I think the website should update quotes by great chess player and successful people so that we can always stay motivated and make the right moves in life and in chess in the right mood

I think you should make  endgame courses! you have opening but no endgame! endgame is more important! If you get an advantage in the opening( LETS say, pawn advantage) and then when you reach the endgame your advantage of the pawn is of know use if you don't know how to convert it!

When are the courses coming :)

I think that since you're doing the hard work of creating the plans and studies, your name deserves to be there. Who knows, they might even become legendary in the future when people realize their value?!

Hence The Avetik Right Mood, Right Plan and

               The Avetik Right Mood, Right Exchange

sound like decent names to me....

An idea for streams

In the streams, would you consider taking the time after games to review and analyze the moves, explaining in more detail?

I was wondering if others would also find this useful, I think I would.

Is maybe something you could try out and see if people preferred? 

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um that's a nice idea. But for me I get most of the ideas during he make comments. But your suggestion have point too.

New Trendy line in the Maroczy

Hi Masters!

What do you think may be thge best way against the "trendy" line in the Maroczy h3. I've seen a world class expert like Iturrizaga getting heavy problems to equalize. Thank you for your advice!

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Yeah this line is a problem and I already mentioned it sometime back in another thread. I can't remember if I gave a recommendation for Black or not, I will need to check the archives. 

What a discussion and what answers!!! 
Thanks, Manuel for a great question and Kevin and Kim for answers. 
Kim, b6 idea against e5 is nice, however Manuel is right, White will just play Rfe1 and will slowly continue pushing more. 

Kevin, are they all your analyzes? Or your seconds?? :D 
Recently, I asked our coaches team to analyze h3 more. 
They sent me an analysis absolutely similar to your with a4 Qa5. 
Man, seriously, if you are really around 2200 player, you would be a Grandmaster long ago, if you have spent all that time instead of analyzing openings so deep, but on middlegame... 

Anyway, fantastic analyzes, with a human hand and strong engines. 
Thanks for your great answer, Kevin. 
I also think that a4, Qa5 is the most aggressive way. 

In Summary, guys, Maroczy Bind is very easy to learn for players below 2200 level. 
But if you are on a higher level, you should check out Modern Maroczy Course. 

Thanks, once more, everyone! 

Gratefull with ChessMood Family, Love the process!

Hey to all chessmood family, i just want to share with you some of my homework since one month on working with the courses, I want to recognize that my english writting is not the best but Coach Avetik ask me to share with you all this training method to improve. 

I just started training with chesstempo app, and playing more seriously on the web, i have a routine of hours per day with the clasical game and the repertoire plan that GM Avetik gave me when we start, so this is my litle progress that im proud to share.

Im so thankfull with the chessmood Family for being such good group of learning, and specially with GM Avetik that he is allways with the best wat to treat students. 

I use Excell, chesstempo and play (not much playing because im starting the courses and its more studying) but taking serious the process, with discipline, effort and the best right mood i want better results with next months,  

Im Heinichess in Lichess, and HeinichessPY, ill be glad to have new friends and play more games. 

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Really helpful! Thank you for sharing!

After spending some hours studying the theory I have come to the conclusion that if I haven't sacrificed a pawn in the first moves, or a piece, even the queen, then I probably don't remember the variation correctly  :D

Your tactics on chesstempo is impressive too :) 

Hey John! 
Thank you very much John for sharing it. 
I bet it should be super useful for our other Family Members

Woah, nice improvement. Good luck sir!!

Thank for sharing your study plan John and great results! Do you have a daily routine/plan you like to follow ?

Czech Pirc

Hello Champions! 

I am happy to tell you, that we are uploading a NEW course - Czech Pirc. 
We have analyzed many ways to play against it, and now we'll show you the strongest one, which is at the same time very easy to learn. 

https://chessmood.com/course/pirc-defense-czech-variation  

The first two sections are uploaded. 
Enjoy. 
The rest are coming soon. 

If you have any questions related to this course, feel free to ask.  

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Thanks coach! I face this a lot in Blitz and bullet!

Hey champions! 
Section 3 is uploaded! 
https://chessmood.com/course/pirc-defense-czech-variation 

Inspired play by GM G!

Hohvannes was on fire today in the stream!:) Very helpful. Thank you very much, learned great ideas!!

Cheers to all!

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His games are always useful. Especially, when he make mistakes he never feel down. He is a true fighter and because of him I saved many losing games. 

I learnt how to fight till the end from his games.

I learnt a lot about middlegame planning especially in case of winning weak pawns by fixing them.I

I also learnt some beautiful combinations.

His best skill in blitz is fighting spirit and Never give up attitude and also amazing commentary skills at high level too.

My funniest Chess Dream!!!

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I dont Know how to play when Black plays

I Got Promblem When Black play the move 8...a6 in Crushing Sicilian

[Event "?"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "????.??.??"]

[Round "?"]

[White "?"]

[Black "?"]

[Result "*"]

[PlyCount "14"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. d3 a6 *

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I think that should play a3, opening a luft for your light sqared Bishop in order not to get trapped, or delay d3 move so that you can move thw Bishop back if black plays 8. ... b5. If black doesn't play a6-b5 you can continue the attack on the kingside with Qe1, Qh4, f5. I hope I covered your question.

Hey Dipak. Are you a PRO Member? We covered a few times during the Webinars. 

Repertoire against 1.Nf3 and 1.c4

Hello GM Avetik, could you make a complete repertoire for black against 1.Nf3 and 1.c4 please!

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It's the Marocy Bind Fianchetto. It's not a complete repertoire but it covers the mainline. 

Hi Atruro if you want to have a stronger repertoire against 1. c4 and Nf3 check out my suggestions:

Against 1. c4 I prefer the symmetrical london system with 1. c4 c5  2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 where both sides fiachetto their kingside bishop and castle kingside ( 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. 0-0 0-0 ) then getting a dragon variation pawn structure with pawns on d3-6 , e2-7 , f2-7 , g3-6 and h2-7. Here the main ideas for both sides are to play d4 or d5 opening the centre. Of course, I believe that the symmetrical engliah does not fit  in a attacking playing style. You can also watch the Maroczy bind, which can occur feom Benko Gambit ( 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 Nxd4 4. Nc6 c4 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 )  or from the English opening and Sicilian defence.

Against 1. Nf3, usually white is transposing the game into Queen's gambit declined , which can arise after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 which is a very big opening but if you want to learn a lot you must try it. Or you can choose the Grünfeld setup which can be adjusted to any openings starting with 1. d4 or Nf3 It goes d5 Nf6 g6 Bg7 0-0 b6 Bb7 c5 echannging some pawns if necessary and the playing Nc6.

Or if white is transposing to other openings  you can learn King's indian defence arising from  Nf3 ( 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. e4 0-0 5. Nc3 d6 controlling e5 and c5 sqares not allowing white to push in the centre 6. Be2 classical var. in here white can choose other variations as well  Nc6 7. d5 Ne7 ). I love King's indian and you can watch Kasparov's and Petrosian's games to get a better understanding of this opening. 

Hi Arturo! 
The complete repertoire is coming. You'll get Maroczy Bind 90% of time if you play 1...c5 and 2...g6. 
The rest we covered during the webinars. 
But anyway, the course is coming. 

Files for Mac

Hey Champions! 
Help, please :) 

One of my students uses Mac. 
On which software can he open the PGN file them I send him? 

I try lichess, but there is some bug, very often when I try to upload the files it says error bla, bla, bla...
What other software do you use for Mac? 

Thanks in advance! 

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Chess Openings Professional has a "lite" version for the Mac.  This would accomplish that easily.  I think the cost is $67.  www.bookup.com    

That question was asked on www.chess.com and the best reply was 

if I understand you correctly & you are having trouble just opening your .pgn files, then I may have the solution:  If you are using a text editor such as Notepad (but any text editor will do) then open your .pgn file by browsing to the folder where it's stored but remember to select the 'All Files' option in file-types, otherwise, it won't display files other than .txt files!

Then you should be able to see the file you want & you can open it in the text editor. Next, copy the entire PGN data to the clipboard (Ctrl+A to select all & Ctrl+C to copy). 
Finally, open the Game Editor on this site & paste the PGN text into it. You should then be able to see your game, step through the moves & see any annotation in any language.

For example, I constructed the following diagram/game using PGN data that I compiled with notes I translated using Google Translate (unlike you, I can't read Russian):-  https://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/opening-pgn-on-mac

and perhaps the simple solution is https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chess-pgn-viewer/id1251365291?mt=12

I just came across this as well.  Again, it is not free but if I had only access to a MAC, this is where I would probably go for chess. 

https://www.hiarcs.com/mac-chess-explorer.htm 

There is also Stockfish for the MAC.  I would think that you could read a .pgn file here also.  It is free.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stockfish-chess/id801463932?mt=12

ChessMood vs Candidate

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Nice! Alekseenko is a Sicilian player too so its not like he was in foreign territory or playing something he doesn't know! (Although he clearly didn't know hehe)

Excellent Coach Avetik!

A good coaches teaches. A great coaches inspires! 

When you see a move, look for a better one! ~ Emmanuel Lasker

woah. I think our future is super bright with Grandmaster Avetik sir. I am improving a lot.  First time ever I gained 2100 on lichess and all credit goes to him and second time in my life i got 2100 o chess.com all bec of him. I done nothing special.

Question

Hello coach.in the  accelerated  dragon  there's  a line D×d4 that's  not  covered  in the  course. I have same idea but it's not enough, so I hope  for you knowledge. With  best  wishes. Abdelhadi aassim

REPLY

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From black side we play Rossolimo 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 so there is no chance for Qxd4

Hey Aasim! Do you mean the 3rd move Qd4? 
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cd 3.Qd4? 

No piece is symbolised with D letter so I did not understand what you meant.

Funny Bike or car sound!!

Guys do you ever noticed that during you watch courses you hear some sound of racing car behind the voice of coach?

I heard it several times. It's funny .

I love bikes and cars too but due to my eyesight I can't drive vehicle well!

My top speed is 85 kmph and normal speed now is 50 kmph.

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Yeah really funny.

85 kmph!

Maybe sir has a race court behind his house.lol

a missed thing in the website

hello GM Avetik! the blog button on the top of the screen , there is not new written in yellow as it used to be. while, on the other hand, when you scroll down as much as you can at the bottom of the screen the blue space where everything is written like copyright, Etc. you should remove the yellow coloured new from next to the blog button too

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Ah, right! :) 
We forgot about it. 
Thank you very much! 

Is chessmood philidor published by chessworld

Is the philidor for white course by chessworld published the same as the chessmood course

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I believe they would be exactly the same ..I think they package it as a separate course on its own in partnership with chessmood I'm guessing..I've seen them sell individual chess24 videos as well

Yep. 
We made a little partnership with them, as we need to support ChessMood going, to not get bankrupt :) 

may 2020 best game championship question

who are the 5 players leading the best game of may 2020 championship? ,when are the results going to be declared? can you pls answer these questions GM avetik?

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plz answer GM Avetik!

It'll be at the end of the May. 
It's not Eurovision, that someone is leading :) 

Accelerated dragon

Hello coach.in the  accelerated  dragon  there's  a line D×d4 that's  not  covered  in the  course.                                                                I have  same  idea  but  it's  not enough, so  I hope  for your knowledge.                                  With  best  wishes.                                                       Abdelhadi aassim

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Qxd4 was covered in the course, be more specific.

Could you write the variation or post a game? I don't understand which position you are talking about.

Identifying updates in the courses

I've found some practical problems in developing/maintaining the pgn files (actually .cbv chessbase files) and wondered how others manage this.

So I start with a database I call "1.e4 repertoire" and create a game in it called "Sicilian".  I go through the videos, once just listening and then I go though it more slowly, adding the moves, variations and comments.  This game file includes alternative moves for white, and also the errors that white makes.  It includes arrows, evaluations, highlighted squares etc.   This is intended as a permanent detailed file, including copied in GM games etc.

Then I copy the game to my "White Repertoire" database which I store on the chessbase cloud.  Now, I want to upload it to the chessbase web app "My Games", and create the file that helps me drill the lines using the Chessbase Openings app.  For the app to work well, I have found that I need to:

1. Where Avetik has given a choice, I need to choose which line I prefer and delete the other, otherwise the drill app seems to get confused

2. Delete the lines that showed what white should NOT play, otherwise the drill app will include them (I don't want to be sitting in a game and trying to remember whether that line I remember was the one to play or not to play!)

3. Shorten the lines down to the core moves, otherwise I will be drilling lines down to move 40 or so, which is an impossibility for the human brain.

4. Make sure there are no "hanging" black moves - each line needs to finish on a clinching white move.

4. Mark the lines with a "my move" mark so I will be drilled on them.

And then...….  Avetik adds some new videos, or I want to go back and view the advanced material and add it to my databases, or I play a game and find I want to add a new line to counter what my opponent played. 

Firstly, it is really hard to identify which videos are new since I made the original .cbv file.  Avetik, any way to better identify such new material, so when we come back to that opening a month later we can see what is new and what we have to cover?  And secondly, moving new variations through that whole process above causes me incredible brain pain.  It is just impossible to follow each through.  It seems to me that there is benefit in having 2 files (one that is complete as a reference for the detailed material, and one that is stripped down for using the drilling app) that stay synchronised as I cover new material, but doing so is doing my head in.

What do you guys do?  How can I simplify the process to make it more manageable, but still retain the goal of having a detailed file, and a drilling file?

Nigel

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Hi,

I don't know about chessbase opening trainer, because I haven't tried it. I am using an opening trainer that is built in chesstempo site. And as far as I can adress the problem, three things come to mind:

1. If you're creating an opening repertoire, let's say for white, you can add many variable white moves. During the drill, the opening trainer asks for a specified move, and if you play other possibility it states that the move is correct but will not proceed until you find the exact one. So actually you achieve it by process of elimination.

2. You can deactivate variants - this way the opening trainer wont consider them during the drill. So you create a repertoire with long lines and many variables but train as many as you wish during the drill. 

3. Making arrows and highlighting squares is not possible as far as I know. Opening trainer has an engine, but it is limited to some extend for non-premium members of chesstempo.

I have found it to be useful to create an Opening Repertoire Study (private) in Lichess and to keep adding lines (the opening explorer in Lichess is handy). This way all of Chessmood's opening lines can be captured and studied upon.

Hi Nigel,

When you are in Lichess, go to the learn column and then click study. You can add whatever you like and label it accordingly. If you would like to keep it private, go to the 3 horizontal  lines left top corner of board and when you click it , you'll get get "edit study". Then you can change it to private, otherwise everybody can see your notes (unless youre ok with that).

Hey champions! Please read this post and share your thoughts.
https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/software-for-memorizing-the-lines 

We are going to build something crazy and super-useful for you! 

Well, as far as I know, building your repertoire (let's say for white) means that for white you have ONLY ONE response to every response that black gives. You don't need to know the variations that don't work. The lessons provide several ideas mainly for the general understanding of the opening.

First you work with the general ideas of the opening and see where the pieces go, typical tactics and motifs. Then write the continuation that you liked most.

You should chose one continuation for white, and if possible in depth, and examine each possible response. That means that you don't need all 3 plans provided in the lesson (sometimes in advanced section another continuation is examined). Chose the one that suits you better. Same goes for black.

My little trick, not to get lost, is creating one pgn for each opening and each video is added as a game in the pgn. The name of the white player is the line (preferably the name of the video). So I don't have one file with all the analysis, but many small files. This helps me remember the lines easier and also I can find the files that are added later. If you want all the lines in one file you can merge them later, but it's not practical.

Question on Anti-sicilian Nc3

There are 2 lessons on Nc3 for both black and white(Anti sic by Avetik Grigoryan and Crushing sic sidelines by Hovhannes Gabuzyan). In a game, if both white and black follow chessmood lessons, which will win? 

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This is a feature of chess.  You always have to play BOTH sides of ONE line.  Nothing you can do about it :)

@Congkai

The side that plays better will win or maybe it ends in a draw. :)

If black plays correctly and know how to stop white's attack, and if both players have watched the advanced sections, then in my evaluation: 86% draw, 7% white wins, 7% black wins.