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Chess forum by Grandmasters
When is g4/g5 a good move?
I have been watching commented classical middlegames, and in some positions, g4 was considered a bad move as it weakened the king and some squares (like in Game 9 of 100 strategic masterpieces attached below), whereas in other positions it is completely fine (like in Game 11 also attached below)
I just played a game, where apparently going g4 to get rid of the pin was one of the best moves.
I understand that it all depends on the position, but I can't tell when g4/g5 is fine or not. What are some things to evaluate? Any courses on ChessMood that can help me to learn about this in more detail?
Replies
Dear Teddy,
These middlegame structures are out of our opening repertoire, and unfortunately, I will struggle to give you the right recommendations.
You are welcome to ask the questions regarding our repertoire, and middlegame plans :-)
Hey Teddy,
There is no universal position where there is just one method to think of position. Just like in math there can't be one method to use for every equation. Same is in chess. So, in the third position, when I was thinking of g4 to me the first thoughts were h6 is played so nh4 is a good follow up attacking the bishop threating to ruin blacks pawn structure and after he retreats, the knight lands on f5 so beautifully. So for me i liked that position and I would play g4. Now i evaluated the sequence but now I have to evaluate inn my head the position after nf5 which I provided below and it speaks for itself how good it is.
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/4M6YHTV3Jn/analysis
Benki Gambit How to get to the mainline position?
Step by Step Section 1 mianline.
All the video starts in the middle. How to get to the position shown in the video.
Did I miss anythings?
Thank you!
Replies
Dear Joshua,
Here is the sequence of the moves
Opening for black simplified
how to play against d4 e6 c4 Bb4+ Bd2 Bxd2+ Nxd2 f5 e4.
Replies
After d4 e6 c4 play f5, not Bb4 right away :-)
Alternatives to h4 in scotch
Hello, Chessmood team
Me and my chessmood sparring partner both are facing tough time in this h4 line. I read in one of the blogs that Gabuzyan has an alternative which may possibly be added to the course. Can I get a bit more information on this -
https://chessmood.com/blog/how-to-win-chess-tournaments-7-key-principles
Replies
I have also tried playing these lines in several games, and it's very interesting.
But at the moment we don't have this option in our repertoire, and you can investigate further :-)
Chessvision.ai
I just wanted to share a nice tool that complements chessmood's puzzles well called chessvision.ai. You can use it to scan positions with your phone or scan a webpage and set up an analysis board either in the app itself or with a link to lichess. Since chessmood doesn't have a built in analysis option, it's a really nice and quick option to pull up an analysis board for positions that you don't understand. Someone shared this with me the other day and I've been pretty impressed so far. It also seems to be totally free, which is nice.
Replies
@Lincoln Howarth
I can also recomend “chessify”
Intermediate Moves Tactics Section
Hello All, I just finished the intermediate moves section of tactics ninja. Other than the extremely easy puzzles, this was the hardest section so far and by a very long margin. I had an extremely hard time finding a good move and also any opponent responses to what I felt were good moves. Has anyone else had a hard time with this tactic? Any recommendations on recourses that would help to improve this specific tactical vision? Thanks! (Chess.com Rapid 1350)
Replies
Dear Vito,
Out of my coaching experience, intermediate moves are the hardest patterns to notice. Sources like ChessTempo, or CT-Art 6 should allow you to solve the thematical puzzles, and working on them more often is a good idea.
How to play in time pressure otb tournament
Hi Sir Today Only I became Chessmood Pro memeber so Asking This Question
Here is my one of the otb rated tournament game and i was on one second
I Was Black And I Missed mate in 1 in winning Position Please guide me how to play in time pressure
[Event "2nd Khelo Chess India Rapid Chess Tournament"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.08.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Pravin, Hend"]
[Black "Shreyash, Karkare"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "1719"]
[BlackElo "1617"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[GameId "2273830926045437"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.02.04"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 d5 4. Bd3 c5 5. Nbd2 Bd6 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. O-O Qc7 9. a3 cxd4 10. exd4 b6 11. Re1 Bb7 12. Ne5 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. f4 Nc5 15. Qh5 Nxd3 16. cxd3 Ne7 17. Rac1 Qd7 18. Nf3 h6 19. Nd4 Ng6 20. g4 Rac8 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. f5 Qc6 24. e6 d4 25. exf7+ Kf8 26. Re4 Nf4 27. Qh4 Qc2 28. Qe7# 1-0
Replies
Here is the time management webinar https://chessmood.com/event/webinar-time-management
Doubt in Anti-sicilian nc3 nc6 line
I recently faced an awkward looking line in a tournament game
e4 c5 nc3 nc6 bb5 g6 Bxc6 bxc6 d3 bg7 f4 d5 nf3 and black plays Bxc3+ bxc3 dxe4 dxe4 qxd1 kxd1. I am unable to play as white in this position
Replies
Dear Ansh,
I checked the position with a strong engine, and the endgame is better for White.
However, if you want to avoid this setup, there is an engine move 7.Qd2 - that protects on c3, and depending on what Black does, may play with b3-Bb2 in the future.
Howeve,r Qd2 looks bit unusual :-)
The best games of January, 2026, and the prizes
Hello ChessMood family, hello champions and future champions!
Welcome to the "Best games of January, 2026" competition.
Under this post, we invite you to post the best games that you will play this month (up to 5 games per person accepted).
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 December, 2025:
Yacoub Kassim
Kamil CH
Lucifear twm
Gaspar Veres
Andrei Gopak
Replies
A not so quiet Exchange Slav:
https://lichess.org/H7vlt2tij3gX
My january best games go here:
French exchange attack but with white lol https://lichess.org/study/fP8jYMJQ/x2Wp7YmB
i SLP my way to victory from a losing position:
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/147663603802/analysis?move=78
https://lichess.org/zFIkyX0d/white#52
Caro-Kann - Goldman variation:
https://lichess.org/Gxk1Q0ewWrPA
Beat the Modern with the Chessmood/Pasini variation.
Dead on the g-file and the h1-a8 diagonal!
https://lichess.org/Q6m4MujddT1H
Luckily I missed 21.Ng5…
https://lichess.org/O8hwYxVNmLud
Opponent fell into an Anti Sicilian trapand his King went to the center
Grand Prix miniature with a beautiful checkmate!
https://lichess.org/r80lZdcK
Hopton Attack
https://www.chess.com/game/live/162168421233?move=0
Jobava London attack:
https://lichess.org/HcLeVVbJcYXP
https://www.chess.com/game/live/147743430016 beautiful game against FM. He thought i was trying to attack kingside, so he longcastled, and the attack transitioned into a completely hopeless endgame for him
Here is a Scotch game ending with a checkmate. I am getting more comfortable playing the Scotch thanks to Coach Gabu! Love Chessmood and looking forward to the new stuff in 2026!
https://www.chess.com/game/147850665898
https://www.chess.com/game/live/147914029552 I sacrificed an exchange for a nail in my opponents throat, which was probably objectively wrong, but practically it proved too difficult for him and I finished him off
- Rook sacrifice, Queen not needed for Windmill-style checkmate forced in 7
https://www.chess.com/game/live/147643872912?move=0
�😊�
Insane Minor pieces sacs, castling brilliancies and tactical moves https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/136391753400/review
One of the best games I have ever played, and even better is that it's against my rival!
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/144907178413/review
https://www.chess.com/game/live/147956411268?move=26 A miniature where the opponent became greedy and allowed me too much activity with a pretty sacrifice in between
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/147960071188/analysis?move=79 a chaotic game in the french where I was piece up, but my king was weak. Even though i had a few slips, i think the game was still good
As I am going on holidays I will not be playing many chess games.
Adding 4 games (the 1st added 2 days ago).
2. https://www.chess.com/game/live/147948866554?move=0 Sicilian 2.Nc3 Nc6
3. https://www.chess.com/game/live/147793846426?move=0 One Scotch with endgame, please!
4. https://www.chess.com/game/live/147515427564?move=0 Opening Principles Model Setup
5. https://www.chess.com/game/live/147501298352?move=0 Scotch unstoppable pawn storm
ThankfulBone vs. PINHON | Analysis - Chess.com
Can you also create a link to the games that have won?
SLP, opponent resigns unnecessarily. Keep the mood!
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.12.21"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Alpha_0Zero"]
[Black "supriyokundu99"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "8/P1K5/1P6/2k5/8/8/8/r7 b - - 6 59"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "D00"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Queens-Pawn-Opening-Chigorin-Variation-2...Nf6"]
[UTCDate "2025.12.21"]
[UTCTime "15:40:30"]
[WhiteElo "2354"]
[BlackElo "2386"]
[TimeControl "180"]
[Termination "Alpha_0Zero won on time"]
[StartTime "15:40:30"]
[EndDate "2025.12.21"]
[EndTime "15:46:45"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/146999100768/analysis?move=87"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/306289209.870e1d4d.50x50o.db7bb01d9724.jpg"]
[WhiteCountry "53"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/34444854.187fcaf4.50x50o.bf6eca2b5cfc.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "69"]
[BlackTitle ""]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 a6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O
Qe7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 e5 13. e4 Be6 14. Kh1 g5 15. Bg3
Bg4 16. f3 Bh5 17. exd5 cxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bh7+ Kxh7 20. Qxd5 f6 21. Rad1
Rad8 22. Qe4+ Bg6 23. Qc4 Rc8 24. Qxa6 Bxc2 25. Rc1 Be3 26. Rxc2 Rxc2 27. Qd3+
Kg7 28. Qxc2 f5 29. Re1 f4 30. h4 g4 31. Qe4 h5 32. Rxe3 fxg3 33. Qxe5+ Qxe5 34.
Rxe5 gxf3 35. gxf3 Rxf3 36. Rxh5 Rf2 37. Rb5 Rh2+ 38. Kg1 Kh6 39. Rb3 Kh5 40. a4
Kxh4 41. a5 Rd2 42. Rb8 Rd1+ 43. Kg2 Rd2+ 44. Kf3 Rf2+ 45. Ke3 Rf6 46. b4 g2 47.
Rh8+ Kg3 48. Rg8+ Kh2 49. Rxg2+ Kxg2 50. Kd4 Kf3 51. b5 Rf5 52. Kc4 Ke4 53. a6
Rf1 54. b6 Rc1+ 55. Kb5 Kd5 56. a7 Rb1+ 57. Ka6 Ra1+ 58. Kb7 Kc5 59. Kc7 1-0
[Event "2026 Chess.com Daily Chess Championship - Round 1"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2026.01.02"]
[Round "-"]
[White "StuLast"]
[Black "Alpha_0Zero"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Tournament "https://www.chess.com/tournament/2026-chess-com-daily-chess-championship"]
[CurrentPosition "rnb2rk1/p4ppp/4p3/qp1pN3/2pPnB2/P1b1P3/1PP1QPPP/2KR1BR1 w - b6 0 13"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "D00"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Queens-Pawn-Opening-Chigorin-Variation-2...Nf6"]
[UTCDate "2026.01.02"]
[UTCTime "06:45:12"]
[WhiteElo "449"]
[BlackElo "1420"]
[TimeControl "1/86400"]
[Termination "Alpha_0Zero won by resignation"]
[StartTime "06:45:12"]
[EndDate "2026.01.09"]
[EndTime "16:25:30"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/daily/911049599/analysis"]
[WhiteUrl "https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/noavatar_l.84a92436.gif"]
[WhiteCountry "164"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/306289209.870e1d4d.50x50o.db7bb01d9724.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "53"]
[BlackTitle ""]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 e6 4. Qd3 Bd6 5. e3 O-O 6. O-O-O c5 7. Nf3 c4 8. Qd2
Bb4 9. a3 Ne4 10. Qe2 Bxc3 11. Rg1 Qa5 12. Ne5 b5 0-1
Interesting game e5-ne4 on move 27 was very instructive.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/148051173216?move=0
A bishop's opening/Italian sample game. Where did my opponent go wrong?
https://www.chess.com/live/game/148061220272
Check out this #chess game: cusokmayso vs Edorin97 - https://www.chess.com/live/game/148086840722
Quick miniature from black's side of Sicilian. Proud of the Re8 move :)
Chess: teonutt vs ThankfulBone - 148097294652 - Chess.com
https://lichess.org/NhnKUjBh/black
The invincible Knight!!
The two lasers!!
Hey ChessMood,
https://www.chess.com/game/live/148097142152?move=0
https://lichess.org/PE4FlcHd/white
https://www.chess.com/game/148124606128
https://www.chess.com/game/148125441758 (defending and counterattacking masterpiece)
https://lichess.org/T7tmdNws/black (comeback after misclick)
[White "Ansh"]
[Black "Nandini"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ansh"]
[ECO "C01"]
[TimeControl "90 mins+30 secs"]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. c3 c5 6. Ne2 Nc6 7. a3 a6 8. O-O Be7 9. b4 cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Nbc3 b5 12. Qc2 Bb7 13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. Bd3 Nb6 15. Be3 Nc4 16. Nf4 Bg5 17. Qe2 Bh6 18. Bc2 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Bxf4 20. Qh5+ Bh6 21. Bc5 d4 22. Rad1 Qc7 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Rxd4 Nxa3 25. Be4 Qxc3 26. Qxf7!! Rb8 27. Qxb7!! Rf8 28. Qf7!! Qc8 29. Qg6 Rf5 30. Bxf5 exf5 31. Rfd1 1-0
In this game I sacrificed my Queen 3 times. This was a classical game.
[White "Ansh"]
[Black "Ankur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ansh"]
[ECO "B23"]
[TimeControl "3600+30"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. O-O e6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nb5 Nge7 9. Bb3 a5 10. a4 O-O 11. Nbxd4 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Qe1 Rab8 15. Nb5 Bxb5 16. axb5 Bxb2 17. Qxa5 b6 18. Qa7 Rb7 19. Qa4 Bxa1 20. Qxa1 d5 21. Qf6 Rc8 22. f5 (22. Bd4 Kf8 23. Qh8+ Ng8 24. Qg7+ Ke7 25. exd5) 22... dxe4 23. fxe6 Nf5 24. Rxf5 gxf5 25. Bd4 Kf8 26. e7+ Ke8 27. Bxf7+ Kd7 28. Qe6# 1-0
In this game I sacrificed my a1 rook due to his weak dark squares then I played rxf5 and won.
Chess: ASM0310 vs leedar - Chess.com
Instructive game by pressuring on the Queenside with bishop pair and active pieces
Chess: goooodtimes vs ASM0310 - 147524907992 - Chess.com
Throughout the game the Light-Squared Bishop remained trapped and I won (though I made some mistakes)
[White "Ansh"]
[Black "Ayan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ansh"]
[ECO "B23"]
[TimeControl "2700+10"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. f4 d6 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe1 Bg4 10. Qh4 Bxf3 11. Rxf3 e6 12. f5 Nd7 13. Bg5 Bf6 14. fxg6 fxg6 15. Rxf6 $1 Rxf6 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17. Ne4 Rf4 18. Bxd8 Rxh4 19. Bxh4 1-0
Game in which I won a piece using a nice pin
https://www.chess.com/game/148137567774
https://lichess.org/OFI6vkg1/black
Probably the best game I have ever played as an 1950 Rated Player.Combination Of position,Tactical and Strategic Breakdown.The courses that helped me most in this game were
1.Tactic Ninja
2.Caro kann from Blackmood openings
3.Silent stratergy
4.Speed boat adventures-Power your rooks through open files(Very underatted but valuable as seen in the game)
Hello, kind of messy French but I am happy how did I handle the position. I just finished Tactic Ninja and the opening courses and started to play it.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/148171154728
https://www.chess.com/game/148185592468
https://www.chess.com/game/148185592468
hit em with a smothered mate
https://www.chess.com/game/live/148201659112?move=0 a chaotic game in the steinitz french where we were racing for the other persons king, and in the end he found a beautiful queen sacrifice, but i had a cheeky reply kept for him
https://lichess.org/XB67Aabm/black
Not the soundest but still a fun attack
brutal smith morra attack
CosmicKnightmarez vs. SmellDeFeat | Analysis - Chess.com
my best SLP ever ..OTB FIDE rated game.. ..blundered free piece and then have to give away queen ..move 13 opponent blundered free knight (mating matador course tactic) so he has to give back knight .. .. SLP course + bishop pair course in action
Nice game playing against the French
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148302666410/analysis?move=0
An almost entirely clean benoni with a cool Qh4 idea(i think)
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148431915556/analysis?move=0
This game speaks for itself
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148465049990/analysis?move=0
The fireworks do compensate for inaccuracy in this one
https://www.chess.com/analysis/collection/games-to-be-sent-4EoM1YXg/4eXXcychK4/analysis
a clean and quiet french game
January 2026:
- French attack: dangerous ks attack https://lichess.org/OwrPe4jj/black
2. Making the king afraid of opening of the position: https://lichess.org/lKt9ggx1/white#25
3. My best petroff: https://lichess.org/jmnaLNIZ/white#44
4. A tough fight https://lichess.org/bgqqQgy2
5. My nicest and shortest ruy lopez exchanged variation https://lichess.org/fACZVNvV
Here is my maroczy bind with a brilliant knight sacrifice and a small grind in the endgame. Here:
https://www.chess.com/game/148383614286
A nice Dutch Attack - Stonewall System game.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/148432554174?move=0
Let me know your thoughts.
Thank you,
Glenn
https://lichess.org/HBaMKAKm/black#0
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148442170146/analysis?move=0
Sicilian, no flashy move but relatively clean
https://lichess.org/p7P52Dt0/white
https://www.chess.com/game/148490466276
Sacrificed my rook on f7 in a position no one expected.
https://www.chess.com/game/148509485346, my first time beating a 2700-plus player with an unconventional bishop move
The Scandinavian - modern is a favourite opening for black for me.
This is an example why.
Check out this #chess game: mdAsharf01 vs peterbago - https://www.chess.com/live/game/148544959102
I had an idea of playing against the dark bishop.
Check out this #chess game: peterbago vs markie2008 - https://www.chess.com/live/game/148545707074
https://www.chess.com/game/148556154508 an interesting win over an fm in the french with two brilliancies
Apocalypse Attack vs Caro-Kann:
https://lichess.org/S2ClrfX6U0RZ
Perfect game in sicilian Nc3 Bb5 line
https://lichess.org/STZh3GLS/white#0
Crazy game against somebody rated 150 higher than me in USCF. I was white
https://www.chess.com/a/2VqyTRYBGR1qx/analysis
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/163946115008/analysis
attacking against Nf6.
Brilliant
#Chessmood @Avetik Gregorian
https://www.chess.com/game/live/164000663874
Hey who knew I'm about 1800!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/164022657134
This was on the way to be a great game. Two Brilliant moves. Then it took a hilarious turn when I forgot what to do after forking the Q and K.
I enjoyed this game https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/164034062768/analysis?move=124
when will this end?
Small miniature https://www.chess.com/game/live/164042725580?move=0
I played with white.Was played in OTB Classical.1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. a4 O-O 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. c3 Qc7 9. Re1 a6 10. Nbd2 Rb8 11. Nf1 Rd8 12. h3 b5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Ng3 d5 15. e5 Nd7 16. d4 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nb6 18. Bc2 h6 19. Nh5 Nb4 20. Bb1 Nd7 21. Bxh6 gxh6 22. Qd2 Bf8 23. Rc1 Qb7 24. Ng5 Nc6 25. Qc2 f5 26. exf6 Nde5 27. f7+
Quick attack
https://www.chess.com/game/164074663914
https://www.chess.com/game/live/147512063196
😀
Hii ChessMood, just asking when will the best games of January end?
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/147789103490/analysis
Modern Benoni with black – strong queenside-attack crowned by a nice sacrifice – 28…Nxb2
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148392614762/analysis
Another one-sided attack
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148507395584/analysis
Tried an unconventional opening line, it worked out at the end. 18. d6 was the winning touch, but then I had to work much to convert
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148509263404/analysis
I show this one especially for the final few moves, complicated stuff
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/163955922248/analysis
Here the four-move sequence beginning with 15. Ra6!! is the interesting part
A positional game in Catalan
https://www.chess.com/game/live/164072461250?move=73
A attacking game in Dragon
https://www.chess.com/game/live/164123549856?move=0
A attacking game in the Dragon
https://www.chess.com/game/live/163995159442?move=36
https://www.chess.com/game/164147383152
Gaining an advantage from my opponent's mistake in the opening and smoothly converting the win
🎉 Hello Champions!
Thanks for sharing your top games of the month.
You showed creative ideas, solid strategic thinking, and scored several strong wins. The games were full of useful and instructive moments. Great job! And now, let’s get to the prizes!
1st Prize: Thomas Maes
A fantastic, complicated game.
With the power of the space advantage, you locked the opponent’s pieces on the Queenside, and despite the fact that it was already an endgame delivered stunning pressure on the opponent’s King.
More than impressed!
https://lichess.org/H7vlt2ti#63
2nd Prize: Gaspar Veres
You crushed the reversed Benoni!
While being up an extra pawn, you immediately felt the weakness around the opponent’s King, and by using the weak squares, executed a Brilliant attack! Great game!
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148392614762/analysis?move=24
3rd Prize: James L
Great GP Game.
In the structures with Black’s bad light square Bishop, you executed fantastic positional ideas, with the improvement of the pieces, and at the right moment traded the opponent’s defender Bishop, starting a deadly attack. Masterpieces in this variation.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/164074663914?move=0
4th Prize: Tina Vehl
Amazing GP Attack!
Once the opponent lost their dark squared Bishop, you felt the weakness on their Kingside and immediately pushed the pawn, creating devastating pressure. Good attacking skills!
https://lichess.org/zFIkyX0d/white
5th Prize: STM Ten
The positional masterpiece.
The blockade of the opponent’s Bishops was insane, and by using the Knights for the weak squares, you clearly demonstrated the concept of Knights sometimes being much stronger than the Bishops! Great job!
https://lichess.org/STZh3GLS/white#71
Congratulations to all of you!
Thank you once again to everyone for sharing your games.
All the best for next month’s contest!
Experiment with Rating Range on French/Dutch
Would it be possible to test a series for a new rating range? I prefer the French/Dutch openings (and I heard Avo say the same thing) and was wondering if we try a rating range of say 1800-2300. I would like to see how ‘experts’ and weak master handle our systems since I am on the cutoff cusp at 2000 rating myself.
Worth a try?
Replies
Hey there,
The idea is interesting - we might give it a try, need to discuss :-)
Thanks!
French Attack Exd5 Question
in the french exchange, I have tried to play Nc6, Bf6 and Ne7.
However, I have been having trouble doing this setup against the c3 Knight, the bishop on d6 often blocks the defense of the d5 pawn. If I play Ne7 first, the knight now blocks the development of the bishop.
I have tried going back to the blackmood course for the french exchange. But I don't think I understand how to solve this issue.
Replies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3
sorry if it wasn't clear, this is the position i am referring to. What am i doing wrong?
Dear Eric,
Often, to Nc3 we can reply with c6, and just play positional chess, as it makes it hard to do our regular ideas.
Here is an advanced event on French that GM Avetik made, which can be helpful as well https://chessmood.com/event/french-attack-advanced
Interesting
Hello, Chessmood
I see in most of my games whenever I knwo the plans and ideas of chessmood lines I do good but if I play a new opening I dont know the positions or plans I mess up why is this because so many people became titled without knowing openings. Thank you.
sincerely, pawn
Replies
That's why you need to know well the middlegame concepts, watch a lot of commented games, understand the 7Q method - so in situations where there is nothing to do, you can understand the correct ideas :-)
When to use 7Q method
I finished watching the 7Q method course a while ago, and I find it quite helpful as in the videos I am able to come up with the plans most of the time, but in a real game, when should I bother taking time to ask the 7 questions. Obviously asking them every move would take too much time, especially in a blitz game, and if I ask them only if I am unsure of what to do, I could still potentially miss resources when I don't ask the 7 questions, as sometimes the intuitive plan is wrong. So when in a real game should I ask the 7 questions?
Replies
Well, in some middlegames out of openings, you may know the plans-ideas, and just follow them.The
7Q method is for situations when you really don't know what to do - and applying it may help to choose the right direction.
I seek a chess player who was "with Korchnoi in the Philippines"
I recently joined chess.com. Playing chess again brought back an old memory of meeting a chess player who I'd love to reconnect with.
Around 22 years ago, I went to Richardson TX for some HP (Hewlett-Packard) training.
The instructor of the class noted my little chess computer. Next day he brought in a chess board and we would play at lunch or over dinner.
I never won a game. He was a fantastic player. Near the end of the week, he offered me a draw. I accepted.
On Friday, after the class ended, he asked if he could play my chess computer.
He used a longer setting. As he played he talked about his experiences---including going to the Philippines with Korchnoi.
(Whoa!)
It was only last year that I joined chess.com; so, I only recently remembered that week and the guy who was so good.
I'd love to find out who he was. I can't recall his name. Wondering whether someone might know him, or maybe he will see this note.
I only have a few clues: I think he was in his thirties or forties back then; worked for HP as a tech teacher; went to the Philippines with Korchnoi.
Thanks!
Replies
Maybe this good player?
Training Ideas w/ a Sparring Partner
Hi ChessMood family,
Besides playing training games with your sparring partner, what else have you found helpful? Analyzing OTB games? Solving tactics together? Would love your opinions.
Thanks
Replies
I would say mostly playing the games, training the openings - like practicing new ones, then analyzing.
Move trainer
Hello, Chessmood team
I recently bought a Chessable move trainer course and the I am learning the opening faster than ever and also I remember everything. Even if it isn’t helpful for learning for some people it is amazing for reviewing the lines. It would be amazing if chessmood had such a tool as reviewing the lines would be way easier it is harder to do in the pgn as the lines are all mixed whereas if each line were separate it would be easy. I think it is something to add to chessmood as it helped me so much and it’s also pretty fun. Thank you
Sincerely, Pawn
Replies
Hey there,
We are planning to have this type of future :-)
BlackMood - French Attack - Avoiding the paradoxical move
I am trying to learn the reasoning behind all the BlackMood openings.
My questions are in relation to Section 4 – French Attack vs 3.Nc3 in the BlackMood Opening course.
The recommended moves are as follows:
1.e4,e6; 2.d4,d5; 3.Nc3,Nf6; 4.e4,Ng8 (Paradoxical move)
The reasons for not recommending 4. …., Nd7 instead of 4….., Ng8 was clearly explained in the course.
The episode explains that the 2 big moves after 3.Nc3 are Nf6 and Bg4. The recommended move for this course was Nf6. It appears that Bg4 was too complicated for students of this course.
My questions:
- What are pros and cons of Black playing c5, Nc6 and Qb6, instead of 3.Nf6? (On the face of it, it appears that this would avoid the moves Nf6 and Ng8 for black which results in reaching the same position after making 2 moves.)
- Not playing Nf6 allows white to keep the pawn on e4 instead of moving it to e5 or defending it. Is it important to force the move e5 at the loss of 2 moves for black?
Thanks in advance for explanations.
Replies
pros- if white just plays what we expect its great we have a tempo up c3 is not possible and we can win a pawns.
cons-just one line i think i analyzed after c5 exd5 exd5 white is playing french exchange variation tempo up they played nc3 and we have played c5 so they can follow the exchange variation's attacking setup against c4 but as white against c5, and c4 is said to be a bad move in opening. additionally nc6 after e5 attacks both d4 and e5 forcing the d4 pawn to be there
Just my point of view. plus ng8 confuses the opponent.
French Exchange - White routes bishop to c2
Hi Chessmood Legends
I have a question about plans in the French exchange if White makes an unusual, but reasonable, bishop journey:
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Bd3 Nb4! (looking to win bishop pair) 6. Bb5+!? c6 7. Ba4 (the bishop looks redundant for now..) Bd6 8. c3 Na6 (now our knight is bad too) 9. O-O Ne7 10. Bc2 (and the bishop is strong again).
In the game I played 10…Bf5 to immediately exchange off the LSBs, followed by 11. Re1 Bxc2 12. Qxc2 f6. And we had a long battle for a draw.
My question is what are the plans against this idea for White to preserve this bishop? If correct to exchange the bishops, should we also abandon ideas of queenside castling (thinking we are a bit slow after the knight had been kicked about) and just hope to play with a better bishop?
Many thanks for any insight - I see a couple of masters have tried this line.
Replies
In this case, after trading the Bishops, the Black Knight can come via c7 to e6, which wouldn't be a bad position.
Improving Tactical Vision
Hi everyone,
I am at the 2100 otb elo but tactics have been one of my weakest points in my game for a while and I continue to miss “simple” one or two move tactics often that even players hundreds of points lower-rated would find (check out the example below from a game, where I missed this tactic even with 40 min left on my clock!), even during classical games! As I am missing these simple ones sometimes, more challenging tactics feels a lot more impossible both during the real game and during training and I am unable to solve them a lot of times.
I have already done the tactic ninja and mating matador courses, and have worked through other tactic books such as the woodpecker. Is there anything I can do to improve my tactical vision besides solving puzzles daily? Should I do more "simple" puzzles that don't really require calculation, or some harder puzzles with tactical ideas that are not obvious?
Thanks
P.S. I still ended up winning the game, but I played Qc3? instead of the right move. My opponent (who was around 200 points or so lower rated) told me after the game that he thought he was going to resign after I picked up the queen and everyone around me was surprised I played Qc3 lol
Replies
The Myth About Chess Tactics and Solving Chess Puzzles
How To Solve Puzzles To Improve Your Chess
How to Calculate less and find better moves
5 Easy Steps to Evaluate a Chess Position Like a GM
I like chesstempos puzzle and lichess puzzle.
Good luck!
My advice on this is to solve daily tactics, 10-20 minutes, depending on your available time.
It helps you always to stay in more or less a tactical shape.
New article: The Night I Stopped Being Lazy
If your child seems lazy, this story might change how you respond.
An uncomfortable truth every parent should think about.
Read this story before calling your child lazy 👇
https://chessmood.com/blog/the-night-i-stopped-being-lazy
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This is one of the most heart touching stories I’ve heard. It’s not about heroism or failure. It’s deeply real and grounded in simple true practical experience. Many of us may encounter moments like this, but what truly differentiates you is how you stood there with honesty, acceptance, and reflection. That is remarkable.
Thank you, Coach Avo. This is what makes you so special. I’m grateful to be a tiny part of your journey.
�😀�
Wow Mr. Avetic, i play on chess.com under the name @the-chess_legend and I play bullet on there :D so would you like to play daily sometime? This is a good article :D. My name is Sam
