Chess forum by Grandmasters

D3 French Issue

Hi -- I've been having quite a lot of success using the Chess Mood lines on Li-Chess. But a higher graded opponent made me struggle as White in the d3 line. The game went as follows __

e4 : e6 - d4 : d5 -Bd3 : dxe - Bxe4 : Nf6  -- Bf3 :c5-- Ne2 : Nc6 -- Be3 : Bd7 -- dxc5 : Qa5 +  -- Nc3

It was his Bd7 that fazed me ! Maybe dxc5 was wrong as Qa5 seems good though Stockfish gives Qd2.  Eventually I found myself in a rather lifeless position where he had the two bishops and a strong edge.   I've looked through the materials but cannot find what is best ref Bd7.

I'd appreciate some quick guidance ?   Thanks  Keven

Replies

Would quality 'higher graded opponent'. The answer might differ if higher graded was 1800 vs an IM say.

https://database.chessbase.com/?lang=en

Three games there, the stronger two are with Nbc3, the weaker is dxc5 with a different reply. That might be the first place to look with similar lines with the set-up. (note the interface is awful and you have to hit the search on board position to see the games).

One thing I've found in this variation is Black can alter development of the bishop, taking the pawn or not, I guess being familiar with the ideas and why things can be done in places and why not. That will help prepare for different move orders.

what about 9.c3 after Qa5+

To be honest, at first glance the move Bd7 looks ugly and not logical, I don't understand the point of it.

Hi Keven!

I checked out on my own and with engine as well. The conclusion is to play 9.c3

Idea es that bxc5 is no longer available as white will play b4 and win the piece.

And if black plays 9...Ne5 than 10.Nd2 Nxf3+ 11.Nxf3 Qc7 12.b4 keeping the pawn advantage. 

Later on castleing short and playing better position.

A small mistake in the Anti-Sicilian 2...e6 course materials

While explaining the 4...dxe4 section of the 2...e6 course (7...Nh6 or track 9) we come to the position on the screen. White has played 15.g4??

Replies

Actually, the last White move is a blunder as Black can simply play 15...f5! and White is lost.

Rf7 appears to kill pretty much all of white's offensive threats. (gf ef Rhg1 Rf7 Qg3 Bh4 etc.) Therefore, perhaps we can play f5 first and then g4? The position still feels uncomfortable for black, since the bishop on c6 is misplaced against the white king that went to the queenside, similar to how the bishop on b6 in the Bc5 Scotch.

I believe the correct way to play is 15.Qg4 to provoke 15...g6 and then 16.Qe2. White should be better. Black has dark-square weaknesses around his King.

Hi Robert,

G4 is wrong for white and leading to a bad position. White instead of g4 is having a nice choice.

Qg4 seems to be great to provoke g6 and weaken long diagonal.

The engine as well offers h4 to start an attack. Now, f5 doesn't work as it is Qg3 with a tempo taking queen away. So after f5 e4 square will be terribly weakened.

My analyzed games. Starting from 3 March 2021

Hi everyone. Today I also decided to post which games I analyzed everyday. You can also correct me and share your doubts.

Replies

3rd March

4th March

CB16 engine evaulation display change

Hi,

Anyone able to help understand the new CB16 engine evaulation display, looks to have moved from decimal to percentage?

Replies

Image

Scotch - tricky 4...Qh4

I'm new to playing 1.e4 openings with White. In an online game my opponent played 4...Qh4 against the Scotch. I replied with 5.Nb5 as recommended in the Chessmood course, but was surprised by 5...Bb4+ which isn't in the course (maybe in the Advanced section?) and didn't react well.

After 5...Qxe4+ 6.Be2 Bb4 we play 7.N1c3, but I suppose after 5...Bb4+ it is better not to play 6.N1c3 Ba5.

Any thoughts on this move order? 

Replies

I wrote Nc3 against Qh4 in my pgn file, so if I remember right Nc3 move order is covered in the advanced section. The following variation is 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Be2 Qe4 7.Ndb5 Kd8 8.0-0

In the normal course, that was the variation provided Thomas, but I believe that the advanced course variation is best.It is also very easy to remember

https://chessmood.com/course/scotch-game/episode/676

At the same time, you should also learn 5.Qf6 also in the advanced section, both moves appear a lot below 2200. It will take less than 10 minutes but you will be very glad to learn them.

https://chessmood.com/course/scotch-game/episode/675

Happy victories with these variations!!! But always remember, you get a good position, being on the driving seat but do not let your guard down.

Interesting position in the Benko Qc2

I thought I had to play 13... Bb7 rather than put my knights on the c5 square that had been cleared,  which seemed to be in the and allowed Nc6 and Nxa5, but there are some really neat tactics I didn't see over the board:

13...Ndc5 14.Nc6 Qc7 15.Nxa5 (bah! you can have it) Bd7 16.Nd2 (er what? If 16.Nb3 Nxb3 17.Qxb3 Nc5 - oh that Ra1 is hanging) b3 17.Qb1 (Well isn't the pawn en[prise]? - nope 17.Ndxb3 Nb4 - the b4 square has just been cleared and the bishop is in trouble) Ba4 (shuts out the knight from defence) 18.Nc6 Bxc6 19.dxc6 Qxc6 20.Be2 Nb4 - Black is better.

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Modern ...c6

The modern course doesn't give a hint on how to continue if Black plays with ...c6 (instead of ...a6 or ...Nf6 transposing to the Pirc)

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 c6 followed by ...Nd7

Replies

Based on all the strategic and tactical motifs presented in the Modern/ Pirc Course I am confident you should be able to handle all c6 type positions that crop up in this structure. Granted The Modern/ Pirc is a maze of move-order subtleties that could be intimidating at times, but there is a way to deal with this:

First categorise the structures of the different Modern/ Pirc Schools (Also see Diagrams Below):    

1. You have the Tiger Modern School [a6, b5 setups]

2. You have the Caro Modern School [c6, d5 setups]

3. You have the Chameleon Pirc/Modern School [c6, d6 delaying Nf6 Setups]

4. You have the Hippo Modern School [Double Fianchetto Setups, usually via Owens Defence 1..b6 ]

5. You have the Traditional Pirc School [Early Nf6 setup with all of the above pawn configurations still possible]

Now that you have the structures clearly categorised, it is much easier to devise clear strategies against each, and in most cases our plans and strategies overlap which thankfully simplifies our task a lot.  My advice would be to review the courses again but this time with the categories firmly in mind.

Interesting Trap in the Accelerated Dragon

I was playing with Black and in this position where ChessMood course suggest 11..b6 I played 11...Nd7?? 'preventing' the e4-e5.

Replies

Luckily, my opponent didn't see: 12.Bxf7+ Kxf7 13.Ne6 and now Black loses the Queen or 13...Kxe6 14.Qd5+ Kf6 15.e5+ Kf5 16.g4#.

It feels good to learn on mistakes without losing :)

Yes, it's quite a famous game. You can also feel the competitive spirit or rather anymosity between Fisher and Reshevsky, as the later doesn't want to resign until he is left with almost no material.

March 2nd Daily Puzzle

Unfortunately there are 2 solutions in today's daily puzzle (March 2nd). Later Troitsky added 2 pawns to correct his study : white h4 and black h5. With them there is only one solution :)
(thanks a lot for the daily puzzles)

Replies

Yeah I played 1.Rd4 Bc2+ 2.Kf6 after like 30 mins of thought, and it says it was wrong, I was like wtf? Even checked with the engine, it agrees.

*Edit* I think you mean the March 2 puzzle

I played Kf6 as well, but I guessed that move so probably wouldn’t have gotten the rest of the puzzle.

You are not talking about this puzzle right? but the march 1st puzzle is this, I just confused could you clarify for me? thanks. :))

Happy Pieces Part 56 Ending Additional Note

Instead of recapturing on f1, I believe white was more concerned that he will lose instantly to  Nb2(from d3) checkmate. Then there will no more grounds for SLP.

Replies

oh yes, Nb2 is just checkmate.

Anti-Sicilian doubt

Why not (https://chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-part-1/episode/758) on 01:28 Black can't play Nf6 it's just repetition?

Replies

Oh! My mistake, just Bxf6. 

The best games of February 2021 and the prizes

Hello ChessMood family, hello champions and future champions! 
Happy New Year and welcome to the "Best games of February 2021" competition.
Under this post, we invite you to post your best games that you will play this month. 

The Prize fund is 350K Moodcoins which is equal to 350$.  

The 1st prize  - 150K
The 2nd prize - 100K
The 3rd prize-  50K
The 4th Prize- 30k
The 5th Prize- 20k

Good luck with your games and keep the Right Mood! 
#ChessMood
#Right Mood - Right Move 

P.S
Here are the winners of January: 

1st  Meet Shah
2nd Wenstin 
3rd  Karl Strohmaier
4th Keok Woltek 
5th Abhi Yadav

Replies

Here is an interesting game

Hi Chessmood,

Could you display the "winners of January" best games?

Would love to see them!

Cheers,

Chess Lifestyle

https://lichess.org/camxfoZN3TnI 

Another interesting game.

Another nice game

In this I game I cramped white's position, I didn't make any mistake I think. I am playing Black.

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/6466394656

[Event "Live Chess"]

[Site "Chess.com"]

[Date "2021.02.06"]

[Round "?"]

[White "Marginal0"]

[Black "KingFranklin2"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "A48"]

[WhiteElo "1581"]

[BlackElo "1593"]

[PlyCount "54"]

[EventDate "2021.??.??"]

[SourceVersionDate "2021.01.29"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. h3 b6 8. O-O

Bb7 9. Bh2 Re8 10. c3 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nb3 Qe7 13. Qd2 Rad8 14. Rfd1 Nc5

15. Qc2 Be4 16. Qc1 Rxd1+ 17. Qxd1 Rd8 18. Qe1 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nd3 20. Qe2 e4 21.

Bg4 h5 22. Bxh5 Nxh5 23. Rd1 Nxb2 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Bxc7 Qxc7 26. Qxb2 Qxc3

27. Qxc3 Bxc3 0-1

https://lichess.org/earoCr7P 

My Smothered Mate Game

https://tornelo.com/chess/orgs/saifulchessorganizer/games/a449761a-0109-4af3-a0aa-b83cd730d9b1

https://lichess.org/kTFySo9I/black

Sicilian Accelerated Dragon

French. Model game 99.1 accuracy

Scandinavian against strong IM who i've played several times OTB and never won before.

Benko with checkmate on f6

Another Benko with knights domination

Caro-Kann Defense

https://lichess.org/GzwhPwVI#0

Sicilian Defense: Closed

https://lichess.org/yF3MON58/black#0

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/CKneb67n/black#0

 Sicilian Defense: Closed

https://lichess.org/RT7z41gc#0

Sicilian Defense 

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/6490903888

Power of the bishop pair in accelerated dragon

https://lichess.org/WXpj5xQA/black

Quick & nice win.

https://lichess.org/Ie8b6wKUBmmU

Trap in the Caro Kann exchange variation

https://www.chess.com/live/game/6502042995

Not a very nice game, but a very nice save by setting a trap for opponent to fall. SOP in saving lost position.

Queen down domination heheh

https://www.chess.com/live/game/6508462943

This is a bullet game between me and WFM Ellsyum. I was very proud, due to this being my first win (via resignation) against a titled player. I am also happy that the computer analysis said that I made no inaccuracies, blunders or missed wins of any type (Lichess engine).

[Event "Casual Bullet game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/XZZEaHUQ"] [Date "2021.02.04"] [White "ChessImprover628"] [Black "Ellsyum"] [Result "1-0"] [UTCDate "2021.02.04"] [UTCTime "11:09:18"] [WhiteElo "1026"] [BlackElo "1946"] [BlackTitle "WFM"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "60+0"] [ECO "A06"] [Opening "Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack"] [Termination "Normal"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 1. d3 d5 2. Nf3 { A06 Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack } c6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O Bd6 6. e4 dxe4 7. dxe4 O-O 8. e5 Be7 9. exf6 Bxf6 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 Nd7 13. Nc3 Nf6 14. Rad1 { Black resigns. } 1-0

A miniature Scotch!

7th rank game active piece

https://lichess.org/r0hhoXP9/white

Sicilian Defense: Closed

https://lichess.org/yrWnUyTi/white#3

Grand Prix Attack Game

https://lichess.org/IpwYoH6Obk9F

I think mate was decent one

https://lichess.org/MHnPouzAsovR

A model game of how to attack with white in grandprix attack 

https://lichess.org/mOPZ0f1p3oiJ

Beating with the Scotch (when an IM plays recklessly)

https://lichess.org/Siv1iQGF/black

Crushing victory against a FM with Bd3 line in French

https://lichess.org/2MeVdwUY#34

Bxg7 Caro Kann game

https://lichess.org/Uh2dXteW#0

Funny coincidence. Yesterday i watched a Caro chapter on Qc7 bishop trap on H line. As soon as i finished i played on lichess and it was the same variation. 100% accuracy afraid will be banned for cheating ;))

https://lichess.org/69on1k91/black

https://lichess.org/oNyg6qBRX7mq 

Ok, this one clearly deserves the first price as school example of how to play against the Qh4 variation of the Scotch! :)

A perfect game from start to end!

https://lichess.org/BjANRi73BBWf 

https://lichess.org/U3eAmOTJGADW

https://lichess.org/0AV8JZjcvA4z

My interesting plan on the queenside in the symmetrical english. And nice smothered mate.  94,4% accuracy. 1 inaccuracy, 0 mistakes, 0 blunders. Note that I am playing BLACK. 

https://lichess.org/4WSQ3pfsu8DX 

https://lichess.org/Zuk6PgBJ 

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/kGQ62LbZ/black#4

Sicilian Defense

https://lichess.org/EJYxZWpE#6

Pretty Nice Game!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/7572742301

Inspired Benko by today win of GM Gabuzyan :))

Inspired Benko 2 by today win of GM Gabuzyan

Inspired Benko 3 by today win of GM Gabuzyan

A little bit of abracadabra magic on the Blackmar-Diemer gambit:

Funny str.

https://lichess.org/hpeYZd2JBS9d

Benko Gambit - positional play

https://lichess.org/KC3ZdR2F/black#68

https://lichess.org/xNwp4x57

https://lichess.org/UL9LbpsV515o

https://lichess.org/n2u0ZQtl 

Crushing victory with Benko gambit , Queen sacrifice and windmill tactic 

https://lichess.org/0LKNh2HlKnWw

a brilliant game , using GM Avetik's deep preparation in accelerated dragon with black , Rook and Queen sacrifice !

https://lichess.org/hH0AGYfBxHOo

Nice str game but in the end I overcomplicated stuffs.

https://lichess.org/7wOHVixfNc2M

Don't think this line was in the course, but I thought the mate at the end was very pretty

https://lichess.org/fGPOeATa/white

Crushing the Caro-Kann :-)

The Chessmood course gives 9.Bg5 against the Dreev line, but I'm just starting to use this repertoire...

17.c4 looks like a good alternative to the course's 17.f4

Ouplayed IM Eric Rosen in his pet London system on Titled Tuesday, but one move before checkmate run out of time :(

Another London miniature with rook blunder/sacrifice ;))

Chessmood Antisicilian in action on Titled Tuesday against 2600 FM

A fun game!

A typical mistake in the Closed Sicilian!

French Defence - positional dominance leading to a winning endgame.

13.g4 is crushing.

Caro-kann King Hunt

https://lichess.org/DBhh7bfF

https://lichess.org/cnOFCGyh1AkL

How not to play the Petroff

No cat and mouse: opponent gets mauled.

3... Qe7 with 4... d6

King´s walk.

https://lichess.org/ZlSxiNQcneX2

Sicilian Closed with 2...g6 Almost perfect game from the White :)

https://lichess.org/FnH6yeF8ljoA 

Youtube Abra Ka Dabra Gambit Crushed

https://lichess.org/0Tu7JGOfbnDq

Nice queen trap

https://lichess.org/vMpbOSI5WgYE

Another two wins but this time I am working on caro also 

https://lichess.org/Y81YPca7b8vo

https://lichess.org/8LbkroDMxSjf

Power of space using some chessmood classics also.

https://lichess.org/oYmrIuYpBL4F

Follow up issue but attack was cool for blitz sense

https://lichess.org/JjNkXok4nLRx

Scotch Game

https://lichess.org/m5eisgUC/white#3

GP

https://lichess.org/FBGDMTkB1LqU

Carlsen Variation

https://lichess.org/G2rO5QMLqPfG

Nd5 sac fun

https://lichess.org/L09qLJFC/white#22

https://lichess.org/D4UYkvca1T8N knight vs bad bishop

https://lichess.org/5iU7QdPwRch7 strong knight in center d5

https://lichess.org/KE6yKtnLhGAZ

power of space

https://www.chess.com/live/game/8251506171?username=abhi_chess_gm

Winning against the French: https://lichess.org/MUPCPv8G/white#69 

https://lichess.org/iD9iNbNXAULX 

Queen's Pawn Game: Torre Attack

https://lichess.org/X5POHvfu/black#6

 Sicilian Defense: Closed

https://lichess.org/OOftiAKD/white#0

https://lichess.org/fDcbPU6j056T 

Hey, champions and future champions! 
Thanks for all the games you've posted in our forum. 
As always, it's cool to see your growth. 

Here are the winners of February. 
5th place - Vibhush Pusapadi, for his nice attack and Bf1 move! 
https://lichess.org/KE6yKtnL#39   
 (We were wondering if Vibhush has watched Johan's lesson about Mobilization in the attack) 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrdxKSA313E&t=17s 

The 4th place - Sean Raasch, who've raised a few hundred points in the last months. 
Bg4 with f5 idea was very nice! 
https://lichess.org/Siv1iQGF/black#68 

The 3rd place - to Abhi Yadav, for the very nice Ra8!! move 
https://lichess.org/MHnPouzA#81

The 2nd place - Vladimir Bugaev. 
It was cool to see so many nice games with ChessMood openings and your growth, Vladimir. 
Especially the one with 3.Bd3 in french, was very nice. 
The game is uploaded on the 1st page of the link
https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/the-best-games-of-february-2021-and-the-prizes 

The 1st place - Arman Shahzamani for a very nice game with Accelerated Dragon and the nice queen sacrifice.  https://lichess.org/hH0AGYfB/black  
By the way, Arman played another nice game with the Grand Prix attack. https://lichess.org/mOPZ0f1p#41
 
Thanks, everyone, see you in March!   

Armenian Campionship

Congrats to GM Gabuzyan on winning Armenian Championship, hopefully we can learn from his games here

Replies

Well done! Hopefully the games are still in his mind ;)

WIM Susanna Gaboyan won the women's section !!

Congradulations both GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan and WIM Susanna Gaboyan.

A fantastic result for both of them. Congratulations!!! Time to uncork the champagne ;)

Judging the Best Games of the Month

Was thinking that the judging happens behind closed doors and often there is no learning between the game being uploaded and members analysing it themselves. It might be interesting to stream the judging process to get GMs comments on our (hopefully amazing) play. It's probably too much of a task to do the whole lot in a session (I imagine it gets spread over the month), maybe when there is a shortlist of 10 or so games to go through the 10, comment on them before choosing the final 5 winners. Although this would kind of turn it into the Chess-Factor, perhaps a live-stream would mean the audience also gets to vote (those that can't make it could watch the event up to a few days after and cast their vote by direct message to Chessmood). Then the winners get announced - perhaps we won't go as far to have them record an 'Oscar' speech thanking their agent, family, pets... Could be fun and instructive.

What do you think?

Replies

Suggestion !!

Hi GM Avetik, can we keep a new forum for SLP games as you did for the best games of the month

Then you can create some good video content on how players from different rating ranges did the slp and bluff and turned the tables in their favour

Replies

That would be cool!

Interesting line the c3 Sicilian 5 Qxd4 8 Qe2 9 g3 (video 11)

10 Nh4 (instead of Bg2) is interesting. g6 is the obvious reply (Qh5+ is the threat) but interesting is to let the exchange go, with a similar line to the French. Looks like for the cost of a pawn, Black has a much better position.

Replies

I'm not sure I've ever had anyone played this against me but you motivated me to look up this particular video and this b5 move is totally fascinating!

Benko Gambit - The e3 variation - move order issues

I'm getting the e3 variation more than anything! It's interesting to note that not always can we go for the Blumfeld-style e6 move as white can sort of move-order us out of this. I just got:

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 c5. 4. d5 b5 5. cxb5 a6 6. e3, after which black has already commited to a king's side fianchetto. All in all an interesting game, though with a few major mistakes (blitz game!), so I'm sharing it with the team.

Replies

e3 e6 line in the Benko advanced

The final video of the e3 section mentions about more information on the e6 line in the advanced section, but there isn't anything there at present. I'm assuming this is something to be added in future, and not an oversight? Would be useful to also see a model game of g6, Bg7, O-O, d6 against e3 as well.

Replies

Same with additional material in the 5. Nc3 with Qa5 lines and 5. f3 with Qa5 lines.

I also asked this before you.GM Avetik said there will be an update at the future.Also updates are started with other courses.We should wait for a while :/

Guys, I'm going crazy already :) 
I said earlier, that Benko and Acc. Dragon I'm recording, adding more model games, and changing some variations, fixing at the same time mistakes :) 

At the same time, I'm adding other courses, in openings, new sections, new middlegame and endgame courses. 
I can't do all together. 
Please give me a time :) 

For anyone who might be interested, I arranged an engine match betwen Stockfish 13 and Komodo 11, in the position arising after 5. e3 e6 6. Nc3. The time control was 3+0 and the first game with Stockfish playing black was drawn. I expected Stockfish to win the next game, playing white, especially as I saw Komodo improvising a novelty with 9.. Ne4. The game, however, eventually seemed quite equal, but with the clock ticking the game turned dramatic. First, Stockfish got a winning advantage, but feeling both the time pressure and the high expecations from the chess world, from move 114 onwards Stockfish started to misplay and eventually it was Komodo that came up on top!

Proper Way to Study Chess at Intermediate-Advanced level.

Hello. Recently, I am having a very hard time figuring out the best way to study. I don't know whether to analyze games, solve puzzles, play games, read books, or study openings. By the time I make up my mind, a good deal of time I could have been using for training has evaporated. As the title says, I would consider myself intermediate-advanced level. Does anyone have any ideas?

Replies

1) Prepare your Openings.

2) Test what you have learned in some training games.

3) Review the games afterwards and determine what went right, what went wrong and what other aspects of your play/knowledge needs to be worked on.

4) Rinse and repeat.

What approx rating do you consider that to be? What are you weakest/er in? What causes the most losses? How do you learn the best?

I'm sure those who got through whatever barrier you have can answer, though I suspect it depends on the individual and you're going to have to try various things to see what works.

From the sounds of it you need to spend (most) time on one or more things until they improve rather than a little of everything as soon as the next shiny thing presents itself.

One other thing, maybe booking a 1-1 call if you are new and haven't had one yet will give you a GM's perspective on this?

Mistakes in the 1600-1800 range (from 1900 perspective)

Replies

On avoiding tactics and not playing on an advantage - it's worth looking at the earlier streams about the suggested improvements for Chessmood players (an event that would be really useful to do again!).

One of GM Avetik's comments was:
When your opponent makes a mistake, you need to be aggressive - no cat and mouse - [become a] wild animal!

This is very true, and remains true at the 1900 and above level as well. Sometimes you'll over push and lose because of it, but better to have lost and improved your feel than not tried and petered out into a draw moves later after (anyway) flawed positional moves.