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French defense
Kindar suprise variation
Replies
Caro-Kann 6.Bg4 What to do?
Hello, very often in the Caro-Kann I am getting this line: e4 c6 d4 d5 exd5 cxd5 Bd3 Nf6 c3 Nc6 Bf4 Bg4
I looked through the Simplified WhiteMood courses and the Caro-Kann course and could not find a place where this line is covered. Please help me understand how to play against this and where to locate the course which goes over this line.
Thanks!
Replies
I actually just found this move was covered in Section 2 of the main course
7.Bb5+ in 3.Nc3 French
I faced the following moves in the game recently:
1.e4, e6 2. d4, d5 3.Nc3, Nf6, 4.Bg5, h6 5.Bxf6, Qxf6 6.exd5, Bb4 7..Bb5+
I was wondering, what is the best way to defend from this check. If I remember correctly, the course was focused on 7.dxe6.
With 7.Bb5+ we have 3 options:
- c6 which I chose in the game - then white can play 8.dxc6 and bxc6 seems very passive(the c6 pawn blocks our knight and is quite weak), so after Nxc6, 9.Bxc6, bxc6. This makes some of the plans mentioned in the course harder, since we probably shouldn't castle long. Also the c6 pawn can get weak and we can't put pressure on d4 as effectively without our knight.
- Bd7 - White can play 8.Bxd7+, Nxd7 9.dxe6 and we have an unpleasant choice of capturing fxe6, when the e6 pawn looks weak, though we have an open f-file or Qxe6+, Qe2 and we trade queens while being down a pawn.
- Nd7 - I think there are a lot of previous problems, but in a more passive way, so probably the worst choice.
I would be thankful if someone could explain what is the best choice and what are our plans later.
Replies
So now in the Bb5+ White gave we must play c6 from our side
I know that after dxc6 Bxc6 Nxc6 bxc6 you will have isolated pawns but you have bishop pair and active bishop and c5 is a plan and You Can Castle Faster
~~Daily Study Updates~~ Restarted!!!
We all work daily on our chess skills and we do learn something new daily. In this post we will share what we learn daily. The point of this post is to motivate others to work on skills. By hearing how experts are working daily will motivate me so much .
Post your answers like that:
Date:
What you learnt:
Replies
Date: 10th Nov 2020.
What I learnt?
Openings:
I worked on Jobava video again because it's not common at my level.
Middlegames:
I studied maroczy's pawn str. today and completed 5th chapter (Based on white's Kingside Attacking plans in Maroczy such as f4-f5 or Re3-Rh3 shifts ) with my training partner.
I also worked on half game of Capablanca's Best Endings with my partner @Jay_Garrison
I analyzed two games of Tigran Petrosian from the book called Petrosian Move by Move with @Devansh_Shah
1. Uddenfeldt vs Petrosian Nice Olympiad 1974.
A lot ideas about how to outplay the opponent in symmetrical position we learnt from this game. Also the ending with rook against knight was instructive and we learnt new ideas.
2. Petrosian vs Visier Segovia Nice Olympiad 1974.
In this game I was stuck a bit because I am not super good in this KID pawn formations but with the help of my expert KID friend @Devansh_Shah we found almost all the nice ideas and grasped a lot attacking stuffs. Normally Petrosian do not like to attack but acc to Var Akobian (When Petrosian Attack it's Mate ). So this is what we saw in this game. When he attack it's mate.
Well, I studied so little today because I am sick and unable to focus well. I hope I will be fine soon then my real work level will become alive again.
I learnt two theoretical Endings:
Date: 12th Nov 2020
What I learnt:
Chessmood Classical Commented Games:
(1) Avetik Grigoryan vs Hovhannisyan 2006
(2) Johner vs Aron Nimzowitsch 1926
(3) Petrosian vs Bannik 1958
Pawn Structures:
I studied rest three games of Grunfeld Structures from Chess Structures a Grandmaster Guide
(1) Holden Hernandez vs George Meier 2013
In this game white entered in grunfeld str. in wrong time and in the end black got control of the important c-file and later he won,
(2) M. Emilian Parligras vs Ian Nepomniachtchi 2011
In this game, I learnt the important attacking plan e5. White is both good and bad too. Good because e5 shuts down the bishop on g7 but bad because it gives up the d5 square and if black survives the attack then white will have to handle a long term endgame pressure. But in this game white got e5 and due to lack of black's Light squared bishop white won easily,
(3) Yrri Vovk vs Andrei Volokitin 2012
In this game black first of all neutralized the white's e5 attack and in the end he won with an amazing breakthrough. Also this game showed importance of having outside passed pawns.
Now with this the chapter on Grunfeld Structure is over and I am trying to find new sources to learn this structure in depth.
Ian Anderson's Visualization Course:
I finished chapter 10th today and I saw 23ply positions in the end of the chapter.
Analyzed Game 33 of Capablanca's Best Endings
Note: Due to my mom's illness. I did not studied whole day. After evening I started to study.
Date: 13th Nov, 2020.
What I learnt?
Art of Attack:
Completed Chapter-7th Ranks, Files and Diagonals in the Attack on the Castled King.
Chessmood:
~~~Classical Commented Section~~~
1) Petrosian vs Schweber 1962.
2) Avetik Grigoryan vs Korobkov 2010
3) Akiba Rubinstein vs Schlechter 1912
~~~Happy Pieces~~~
Section- 5 Queen in the Attack lessons completed and watched!
~~~Webinar~~~~
Joined Benko Gambit Webinar and learnt a lot ideas from coach .
https://chessmood.com/event/webinar-benko-gambit-tournament-coverage
Ian Anderson's Visualization Course-2.
Finished the 11th chapter which consists of 16 puzzles on visualization. 17 more chapters left then this book will over!
Pawn Structures:
I started working on Najdorf Type-1
Studied Alexander Grischuk vs Zhang Zhong 2001.
Date: 14th Nov, 2020.
What I learnt?
Chessmood:
~~~Classical Commented Games~~~
1. Marco vs Schlechter 1904.
2. Akiba Rubinstein vs Takacs 1926.
Capablanca's Best Endings:
I analyzed game 34th with Jay Garrison. It was Capablanca vs Bogolyubov 1922.
Due to mom's illness, studied nothing in day time. So at night studied some chess. So less study but as we all knows, Something is better than nothing!
Date: 16th Nov, 2020.
What I learnt?
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games~~~
1) Karpov vs Kuzmin 1973
2) Nimzowitsch vs Capablanca 1914
3) Fleissig vs Schelchter 1893
Happy Pieces~~~
Sec-8 The Rook vs Weak Pawns.
Capablanca's Best Endings~~~
Analyzed game 36th Capablanca vs Tartakower New York 1924
I know I am studying a little now a days but soon I will work more on my skills.
Date: 17th Nov, 2020
What I learnt?
Chessmood
Classical Commented Games~~~
1) Lasker vs Capablanca 1914
2) Alexander Alekhine vs Max Euwe 1937
Happy Pieces~~~
Sec- 9 The Happy Rook
Date: 18th Nov, 2020
What I learnt?
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games~~~
1) Ulf Andersson vs Franco 0. 1979
2) Cohn E vs Akiba Rubinstein 1909
3) Botvinnik vs Capablanca 1938
Classical Attacking Games~~~
1) Paulsen vs Paul Morphy 1857
2) Bogoljubow vs Spielmann 1919.
Instructional Classical Endgames~~~
1) Roselli S vs Akiba Rubinstein 1925
2) Englisch B vs Steinitz 1883
Capablanca's Best Endings~~~
Analyzed Capablanca vs Yates New York 1924 with @Jay_Garrison and @Edwin_Walker
Date: 19th Nov, 2020.
What I learnt?
Completed a chapter (A Leap to d5) from Understanding Maroczy Structures .
Analyzed Lasker vs Capablanca 1924
20th Nov, 2020
Studied nothing today!
21st Nov, 2020
What I learnt:
Analyzed 3 games with @Devansh_Shah
1. Cardoso vs Petrosian 1975.
2. Petrosian vs Peters 1976.
3. Tisdall vs Petrosian 1977.
Analyzed 1 game of Capablanca with @Jay_Garrison
Capablanca vs Reti 1924.
That's all for today!
28th Nov, 2020
~~~Chessmood~~~
Classical Commented Games:
1.Najdorf vs Gligoric 1953.
2. Aron Nimzowitch vs Capablanca 1927.
Classical Attacking Games:
1. Euwe vs Flohr 1939.
Openings:
I went through section-1 of Caro Kann Exchange Variation
Endgame Strategy M.I. Shereshevsky:
I went through five positions from the chapter which I shared in bottom.
The Problem of Exchanging:
1. Kline vs Capablanca 1913 (Position)
2. Flohr vs Spielmann 1931 (Position)
3. Szabo vs Fischer 1970 (Position)
4. Mikhalevski vs Akopov 1977 (Position)
5. Najdorf vs Averbakh 1953 (Position )
Capablanca's Best Endings:
I went thought game number 42. Played between Nimzowitsch in 1927.
Timman's Triumphs:
I completed whole introduction games today.
That's all for today. I hope more people are jealous now and call me arrogant !
29th Nov, 2020..
Studied only one game so I did not consider it as study. I am making pgn of different lines.
Conclusion. no study.
Now smile, jealous people.
Note: I am saying not to all chessmood members, I wrote above statement only to those who calls me arrogant. Even though I always posted for chess and you guys never understand it.
1st Dec, 2020.
Day off from chess studies as @Jay_Garrison suggested to me!
2nd Dec, 2020.
No studies. Day off!
3rd Dec, 2020.
I anlyzed one game of Capablanca with Jay which he played against Alekhine.
That's all for today and from tomorrow my real training will begin again.
Date: 4th Dec, 2020.
The Art of Attack in Chess:
Pieces and Pawns in the Attack on Castled King
1. Rubinstein vs Teichmann,1908
2. Konig vs Weiss , 1919
3. Tolush vs Kotov, 1945
Chess Middlegame Strategies Ivan Sokolov
Chapter-1 Unusual Rook Lift:
Final Game: G. Munkhgal vs M. Al Modiahki 2016
Timman's Triumphs:
Laszlo Vadasz vs Jan Timman 1967
Beginners Chess Pattern Recognition:
1. Motylev Alexander vs Evgeny Bareev 2010.
2. Vassily Ivanchuk vs Levon Aronian 2013.
Love Chess and Love Fischer!!!
Date: 6th Dec, 2020.
Mastering the Middlegames by Alexander Panchenko
Studied some positions from 5th chapter ( Realizing an Advantage). Details is shared in bottom.
I studied it with my two training partner. One is Devansh and second on is Anonymous (like Blackhats heheeh)
1. Evegeny Bareev vs Alexy Shirov 1994.
2. Lev Psakhis vs Oleg Romanishin 1981.
3. Sergey Rublevsky vs Larry Christiansen 1997.
Now in exercises Positions for solving
I went through first six positions.
Caro Kann Main Lines I studied from Chessmood.
Timman's Triumphs:
Analyzed Ernesto Palacious de la Prada vs Jan Timman 1971.
7th December:
Not studied anything. I felt not connected.
8th Dec, 2020
Merenyi vs Capablanca 1928, Analyzed with @Jay_Garrison
Endgame Strategy Shereshevsky with @Devansh_Shah
Gufeld E vs Dolmatov 1978 ( Fragment)
Capablanca vs Alekhine 1924 ( Fragment)
Date: 9th Dec, 2020.
Capablanca's Best Endings with @Jay_Garrison
Analyzed Half game played between Steiner and Capablanca 1928
The Art of Attack in Chess:
I went though chapter 9th (The Attack on the Fianchettoed and Queenside Castling Positions)
Games and fragments list in the bottom:
1. Richter vs Abramavicius 1930 (Fragment)
2. Szilagyi vs Szabo 1946 ( Fragment)
3. Alexander vs Pachman 1947 ( Fragment)
4. Two examples made by author himself.
5. Keres vs Reshevsky 1948 (fragment)
6. Rabinovich vs Romanovsky 1925 (Fragment)
7. Euwe vs Colle 1926 (Fragment)
8. Lasker vs Marshall 1914 (Full Game)
Ian Anderson's Visualization Book:
I completed the chapter 12th (sequence of Bxh7+ and Nxf7.
Studied so little today but something is better than nothing
Date: 10th Dec, 2020
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games:
1. Capablanca vs Rubinstein 1928
2. Bobotsov vs Petrosian 1968
3. Portisch vs Kasparov 1989
Openings:
Completed main sections today and tomorrow will work on advanced sections.
https://chessmood.com/course/caro-kann-defence
The Art of Attack in Chess:
Started working on chapter 10th ( Defending against the Attack on the Castled King )
In the bottom I am sharing fragments:
1. Blackburne vs Schwarz 1881 ( Fragment)
2. Bogoljubow vs Reti 1923 ( Fragment)
3. Reshevsky vs Botvinnik 1946 ( Fragment)
Ian Anderson's Visualization Course:
Completed CHAPTER 13th (THE SEQUENCE 1 BXH7+ KXH7 2 QH5+ KG8 3 QXF7+)
This is one of the toughest chapter for me to solve. I faced so many issue in visualization. I wrote tough puzzles in my notepad so I will work on them again.
Capablanca's Best Endings:
Completed the analysis of 45th game which Capablanca played against Steiner with @Jay_Garrison
Chess Structures A Grandmaster Guide:
I started working on Benoni Pawn Structure and went through one game from the book.
Asymmetric Benoni
Vladimir Akopian vs Levan Pantsulaia 2013.
Chess Pattern Recognition for Beginners:
I completed chapter 2nd Queen in Trouble with @Devansh_Shah
That's all for today. It' better than yesterday I think!
Date: 12th Dec, 2020
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games:
1. Tarrasch vs Teichmann 1912
2. Petrosian vs Liublinsky 1949
3. Petrosian vs Chukaev 1951
The Power of the Bishop Pair
Section-1 The Power of two Bishops.
Section-2 Two Bishops in the Endgame.
The Art of Attack in Chess:
Started working on chapter 10th ( Defending against the Attack on the Castled King )
In the bottom I am sharing fragments:
1. Yates vs Marco 1921 ( Full Game)
2. An educational Example.
3. Rosolimmo vs Pachman 1947
Ian Anderson's Visualization Course:
Completed Half CHAPTER 15th THE SEQUENCE 1 RXH7 KXH7 2 QXF7
Pawn Structures:
Chess Structures A Grandmaster Guide:
I started working on Benoni Pawn Structure and went through one game from the book.
Asymmetric Benoni:
Nikita Vitiugov vs Ding Liren 2012
Capablanca's Best Endings:
I analyzed one game of Capablanca which he played against Bosch in 1929
Chess Pattern Recognition for Beginners:
Completed chapter 3rd ( Rook on the seventh Rank)
Date: 13th Dec, 2020
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games:
1. Petrosian vs Mecking 1971
2. Spassky vs Petrosian 1966
3. Steinitz vs Sellmann 1885
Openings:
Completed All Caro Kann Sections except model games. Tomorrow gonna revise move orders and then I will work on model games pgn.
ChessMood team in Bundesliga
The Art of Attack in Chess:
Completed chapter 10th ( Defending against the Attack on the Castled King )
In the bottom I am sharing fragments:
1.Alekhine vs Botvinnik 1936
2. Kotov vs Keres 1950
3. Marshall vs Burn 1900
Capablanca's Best Endings:
I analyzed one game of Capablanca which he played against Havasi 1929
Chess Pattern Recognition for Beginners:
Completed chapter 4th and 5th
Botvinnik’s fearsome bishop
Kasparov’s favourite
That's all for today!
14th Dec, 2020
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games:
1. Chigorin vs Schiffers 1879
2. Capablanca vs Marshall 1909
3. Steinitz vs Chirogin 1892
Capablanca's Best Endings:
Analyzed one game of Capablanca which he played against Thomas in 1929-30 with @Jay_Garrison
15 th Dec, 2020
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games:
1. Capablanca vs Janowski 1914
2. Fischer vs Unzicker 1970
3, Rubinstein vs Techmann 1908
4. Alekhine vs Yates 1910
Stream:
Participated in the Stream with GM Gabuzyan
https://chessmood.com/event/stream-with-gm-gabuzyan-4-755
The Art of Attack in Chess:
Started working on 11th Chapter ( The Phases of the Attack on the Castled King)
In the bottom I am sharing game and fragments list:
1. Botvinnik vs Chekhover 1935 ( Fragment)
Chess Pattern Recognition for Beginners:
I went through 2 chapters:
1. Fischer’s knight
2. Opposites are not equal
That's little but I am okay with it. I am working on my cubing too so studying 5-6 hrs a day on chess not 10.
16th Dec, 2020
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games:
1. Schlechter vs Wulff 1894
2. Stein vs Furman 1969
3. Fischer vs Cardoso 1957
Pawn Structures:
Carlsbad:
Studied some games on this structure and list is shared in bottom:
1. Piket vs Timman 1996
2. Kramnik vs Timman 1995
3. Karpov vs Andrei Kharitonov `988
Chess Structures a Grandmaster Guide by Mauricio Flores Rios:
Asymmetric Benoni:
Games and Fragments List which I studied:
1. Mikhalevski – Guseinov, Novi Sad 2009 ( Fragment)
2. Pavel Eljanov vs Teimour Radjabov 2008 ( Full Game)
Capablanca's Best Endings:
I studied game 52nd Menchik vs Capablanca 1931
17th Dec, 2020
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games:
1. Marshall vs Tarrasch 1905
2. Kann vs Capablanca 1936
3. Alekhine vs Feldt M 1916
4. Marshal vs Capablanca 1909
Openings:
Caro Kann Model Games watched and made pgn files
Pawn Structures:
Carlsbad:
Studied some games on this structure and list is shared in bottom:
1. Larsen vs Geller 1983
2. Telljohann Sven vs Dautov Rustem 1996
Chess Structures a Grandmaster Guide by Mauricio Flores Rios:
Asymmetric Benoni: Completed today
Games and Fragments List which I studied:
Johan Hellsten vs Emilio Cordova 2006
Chess Pattern Recognition for Beginners:
I went through 2 chapters
1. Cousins from a distance
2. IDP: isolated doubled pawn
Capablanca's Best Endings:
Studied the game between Kevitz and Capablanca 1931.
Ian Anderson's Visualization Course:
I went through examples of chapter 15th and I already did exercises two days ago.
That's it!!!
18th Dec, 2020
Ian Anderson's Visualization Course:
I went through CHAPTER 16. THE SEQUENCE 1 BXH7+ KXH7 2 NG5+ KG8 3 QH5
19th Dec, 2020
Chessmood:
Classical Commented Games:
1. Yates vs Alekhine 1921.
2. Lasker vs Bauer 1889.
3. Nimzowitsch vs Tarrasch 1914
4. Fischer vs Ibrahimoglu 1970
Openings:
I went through some variations of caro kann exchange using Move Trainer. I studied 70 lines out of 173 from my pgn files and I nailed them now.
Pawn Structures:
Carlsbad:
Studied some games on this structure and list is shared in bottom:
1. Jan Timman vs Boris Spassky 1979
2. Igor Sotnikov vs Pushkov Nikolai 1995
3. Korchnoi vs Spassky 1977 !1th Round
25th Dec, 2020
I studied four chapter of Ian Anderson's Visualization Course-2 .
Chapter 19th to 22nd
30th Dec, 2020
Only worked on pgn files of my online games.
8th Jan ,2021
Only studied some lines of Accelerated Dragon with @Jay_Garrison
Another good thing is that I am glad my brother is agreed to work on chess books with me. Soon I will share updates about it too. I am glad. If everything will works out well then I think by the end of Jan I will complete 7 books!!
Stopped Study
@Abhi_yadav Why did you stop your study?
Maybe I restart it. It was always motivating to study more bec need to write a lot heheeh.
Task Restarted
18th August:
CALCULATION & VISUALISATION
GM Davorin Kuljasevic-Calculation Improvement
Candidates Move 2nd.
Pawn Structures:
Italian Game - January Workshop - Modern Chess Camp
Studied one video (Master the Italian Endgames - GM Grigor Grigorov)
Soon start Typing!
Finally I am going to write from today ( 27th of Aug 2021)
So, today I did nothing special .
1. Gained 50k points on Chessable and moving towards Tournament Able there by studying Endgames and by solving tactics of world class events!
You can also follow me on Chessable if you want too.
https://www.chessable.com/profile/InSane_AbHi/
2. Worked on 30 pages of kingwalks: paths of glory book by Yasser with my teammates.
3. Started (Fundamental Chess: Logical Decision Making) with my teammates and read 20 pages with them.
4. Completed ( Critical moments in chess by Adrian Mikhalchishin) with my teammate.
That's all for today. I am working so less but gonna improve myself more so I will work more.!!!
31st Aug
Finally completed Kingwalks: Paths of Glory By Yasser Seirawan
2nd of August:
Complete Sicilian Sidelines Course only
Now a days I am working on positional chess only! I think I am quiet human hehehe. So, I chose positonal repo so I can spent more time on middlegames, tactics and endgames.
Using chessup board to train OTB
Hey everyone,
So I just bought a ChessUp 2 board today. The main reason I got it is because I've noticed my OTB vision is just not the same as when I play online. When I go to my local chess club I can feel the difference — I train so much online that playing on a real board just feels different. My vision of the board is a lot different compared to when playing online, which leads to making silly blunders and not always noticing tactics that would never happen when playing online.
My plan is to use it to train OTB since you can link your chess.com and Lichess accounts to it and just play normally but on a physical board. I think this could really help bridge that gap between online chess and playing on a real chessboard.
Has anyone else here used a ChessUp board or any other electronic board to work on their OTB skills? Would love to know what your experience has been and if you actually noticed it helped you raise your OTB rating.
I'll report back once I've been using it for a while and let you know if it actually makes a difference.
Replies
Dear Tyler,
I didn't use it myself, but I advise a lot to train OTB if you are playing OTB, and the vision with the screen vs board is quite different.
I experienced it myself after a long break, playing at an OTB was very unusual :-)
Let me know how it goes :-)
Hi Tyler,
Having similar reasons and issues on OTB games I bought Chessnut Evo half of year ago. All in most cases works fine (very rarely moves are not recognized and I have to switch to phone), but eboard can be used only in long games at least 15|10. Too much time it takes to recognize your move and when opponent moves you have to make the move on eboard - in shorter time control you will be losing on time. If you play with stronger opponent or the game becomes complex, then 15|10 might be also not enough. For example if you play in simul game with Gabu :-) On lichess you will find players in Casual mode not affecting rating, but on chess.com probably only rated games are feasible. I think sooner or later I will have to try it, little afraid of my Rapid rating… ;-)
Btw. I also found that eboard can be used with chessable, tested it with some openings training. I will use it instead of phone version as I missed few times on OTB games opening position that was wining and I should know from phone :-(
I can see small progress in my 3D OTB vision, but still I see more on 2D online play. Recently I made decision and switched chess.com view to 3D, so now even when playing online it looks similar to OTB.
Cheers,
Kamil
Let me know how this goes I never heard of this but prefer to solve puzzles and play on a physical board and linking to my chess.com would be great. I mainly play rapid. I just looked at the FAQ though and it says squares light up and all that? Does that happen during a real game?
The Root Problem
I study a lot at chess. I train hard, solve puzzles, play games, and now(much recently) I am going to start looking at games. But I am plateaued at 2200 rapid chess.com. And it's not a problem at chess. It's a problem with emotions. You see, back when I was very young (around 5-7 yrs old)I used to like chess. It was a fun hobby, and I played a lot of games with my dad. But that started to change when I was at like 9 years old. Now, I'm 10. what happened is that I started to lose passion for the game. I wanted to play chess games, but most of the time, some feeling made me scared and I refused to play. The thing is, I'm not scared of losing my rating. Frankly, I couldn't care less. But it is some other feeling that I don't know about. I also now am way too interested in video games. I would sometimes sneakily play some video games while I was supposed to be training(Like what Coach Avetik did when he was young😅). Video games feel fun, while chess is starting to feel like a boring chore. Of course I still train and play games, but my parents have to push me. Could any one of you help with this problem, and to help me regain love for chess? P.S: I did read https://chessmood.com/blog/lasting-love-for-chess . It was helpful, but I did not find it very applicable to my situation. Thanks in advance, Vedant
Replies
Hi Vedant,
First of all, thank you for being so honest.
What you described is very normal. I don’t think the main problem is rating. It sounds more like chess started to feel heavy for you.
When we were kids, chess was fun. We play with family, try out ideas, and enjoy the game. But later, when there is training, puzzles, goals, coaches, parents, and expectations, chess can start to feel like homework.
My advice is not to force yourself to love chess again. Pressure will not bring the love back. Try to make chess fun again, step by step. Play some games just for fun. Watch beautiful games. Play with your dad or friends like before. After each game, don’t only look at mistakes. Also, find one thing you did well.
You should also speak honestly with your parents. Tell them that you still like chess, but when you feel pushed too much, it starts to feel like a chore. That is not laziness. It is important for your long-term growth.
About video games, they give quick fun, while chess gives a deeper but slower reward. So maybe make a clear deal. First, do focused chess training, then play video games without hiding it. Hiding it can make you feel guilty, and then chess feels even worse.
I went through similar things when I was much younger as well. At some point, if you want to become above average at anything, sometimes it's not only fun, but also requires discipline and effort. So the question is - how much are you ready to sacrifice for the goals as well :-)
I have just tried to share my thoughts and experience, I hope it helps :-)
Good luck!
Hi Vedant,
I think it is similar with many things. Example from my long time ago past. At the end of primary school I got a desktop computer (they were just appearing, not so common as now :-)), I played on it and also start programming in basic computer languages. It was fun and pleasure, and I learnt a lot. After secondary school I chose to continue with IT on university. And suddenly the pleasure of programming was reduced as now I had to write a program to pass an exam ;-) And the same later when I started my first job - I had to develop some functionalities in software, and all was completely known how to do that, the only it was hundreds of hours I needed to write a code. Nothing about fun and pleasure, but just hard work.
You need to split your time, play some chess games for fun, play also video games (but not too much :-) ), and as Gabu wrote do not pressure on yourself too much. If you are bored with openings, work on middlegame or practice endgames. If again you are bored you can switch to watch some famous games or watch some online games commented GMs. You can always make a break and then start again with more power. This what I try to do.
Good luck and don't rush, better to learn slower step by step than lose all the enthusiasm after hard working in short time of period. As wrote by our GMs, it's marathon, the effects are not immediate and there can be many times plateaus on the way.
Cheers,
Kmil
French Attack model game
Hi,
I have tried to warm up to the “French Attack” for a while, it's been a rocky journey … but I finally had a game worth showing🙂
https://www.chess.com/game/live/168591247098
Happy for any feedback. Was there something better than the Knight sacrifice? The engine considers it a blunder … but it worked🥳
Cheers,
Philipp
Replies
Dear Philipp,
Checked the game :-)
Nxg3 is a blunder as there is a pawn that takes g3 and no certain continuation after that, but prior to it, you have played a perfect game!
This thread is the best place to share the games, as every month we are revising the best games of our students and choosing the winners
https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/the-best-games-of-may-2026-and-the-prizes
Keep crushing and make us happier with your beautiful games :-)
Finally Achieved 1000elo!
Thank you Chessmood. I did it. I realized what mistakes I was making and my opponents where making thanks to blunder checking every move. It made me go off autopilot. I won 5 games in a row because my opponents blundered. It wasn't 1 or twice. It was multiple times almost every game! I just simply converted my advantage thanks to WWP course. All I need is a couple of pawns or a piece. I got a 1000elo twice now. Dropped 150 points! I lost it and then climbed back up. It was a real let down when I lost it the first time. My new goal is 1200elo. I'm really starting to get the hang of winning won positions. I got tactics down real well. I'll post in a couple of months when I cross it.
Thanks Chessmood Team!
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Congrats!
Dear Justin,
It's amazing to read this. Congratulations, dear friend, and keep going!
Thanks a lot for your kind words!
I wish you good luck in climbing the rating ladder, but be careful not to fall into a common trap of numbers. If you haven't read it yet, this article can be helpful as well :-) https://chessmood.com/blog/the-rating-obsession-ruining-your-progress
Nice job Justin, I remember when I first crossed 1000 elo, its a big deal! You should feel great, use this momentum to keep improving and becoming a better chess player 😃
Paris Chess Coach
Hi, looking for a chess coach for in person lessons in central Paris. Current 1300 Chess.com rating. Pls email if interested [email protected]. Merci!
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Bug in BugZone
In the bugZone the following quizz doesn^t work, after having answered it just stay stuck.
It's aproblem with my config or a real bug ?
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8. ... Ba5+ in Scotch 4. ... Qf6
Today I played an OTB game and my opponent played Ba5+ at move 8 in the variation 4. Qf6
I reacted with 9.c3 but I missed the right plan.
I join the game, may someone tell me briefly how to play after 8. … Ba5+ ?
------game---
[White "Bonferroni, Carlo"]
[Black "na, na"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[BlackFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[GameId "2309272255050329"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceVersionDate "2026.04.12"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qf6 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. Nc3 Nge7 7. Nb5 Bb6 8. Be3 Ba5+ 9. c3 a6 10. Nbd4 O-O 11. Bd3 h6 12. O-O d6 13. h3 Ne5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Nb3 Bb6 16. Bxb6 cxb6 17. Re1 Ng6 18. Re3 Nf4 19. Qf3 Rd8 20. Bf1 Rd6 21. Kh2 Qg6 22. Rd1 Qf6 23. Rxd6 Qxd6 24. g3 Ng6 25. Rd3 Qe7 26. Qd1 Be6 27. Rd2 Qc7 28. Qe2 Rd8 29. Rxd8+ Qxd8 30. Qd3 1/2-1/2
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Dear Carlo,
I checked it, and you actually had a decent position. Instead of 13.h3 - I like more Nxc6 - followed by Nd2. The idea is either to play Nc4 and pressure on the a5 Bishop, or to play f4 and take the space on the Kingside.
Hope this answer helps :-)
Chess As career
Hey folks, I am 13 year old 2000 elo from Indian and started chess last year, as everyone knows chess has to much compitition and hard to grow and i am curious how to proceed in chess to make it my main stream 😔 and a career
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French Defense - Weird line
The other day I was playing some training games, when I came across this guy who played e4. Of course, at that time, I was still playing the French Defen- I mean French Attack(please don't sue me🥺) and he played this line where after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bd7 4.c3 a6 in the advanced, he played b4. I was kinda shocked, and tried to play Bb5. He played Nd2, I went Nd7, he went Ngf3, and I tried to do some f6, but that probably wasn't the right plan, but I wasn't sure on what to do. Could anyone help? Thanks in advance!
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Hey Vedant,
Can you please post the game link, so I can better check and advise?
Ok! Got it! Will do!
doubt in scotch
In Bc5 section of scotch 4th video white keeps playing f5 against knight on h6 but in that case can black play nf7 ne5 to improve his knight
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Dear Shankar,
Can you please post the exact position where your question is, so I can better advise :-) ?
Scotch Game pawn storm question
In the e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4 exd4 Nxd4 Nxd4 Qxd4 d6 Nc3 Nf6 Bf4 0-0-0 0-0 line, when we push our pawns to pawn storm the opponent with f3 g4 h4, Avetik says in the course to push g5 then h5, but wouldn’t the correct sequence be h5 then g5 since our opponent can play Nh5 to block our h5 move if we play g5 first?
Often when I am doing this attack in the scotch game I am struggling to open the lines to opponent's king when doing a pawn storm attack because I am unsure how to push the pawns in the correct sequence.
Thank you :)
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Dear Tyler,
Both are doable - g5 at first often allows Nh5, but we can try to remove that Knight with ideas like Be2-f4.
I often prefer starting with h5 in order to prevent Nh5 after g5.
That can sometimes also depend on the exact nuances in the position.
french attack, rubinstein system against Bg2
Dear CM coach, i played this time, not the stonewall but the usual system and got a playable position: is that less effetive than the stonewall ?
https://lichess.org/JLUyCRCv/black
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This looks quite playable and you can keep this choice if enjoying it, I believe though in some sequences White might start with an early g3 that prevents the b6-Bb7 idea 🥲😄
Playing recommended French Exchange setup for Black as White
In the past month I've started playing the recommended setup for Black in the Exchange French (Nc6, Bd6, Nge7, Bg4-f5, Qd7, O-O-O, f6, and a kingside attack) as White in blitz and in classical for must-win situations instead of the Schlechter, which from my experience typically results in boring draws. I've scored quite well with it with 12 wins, 1 draw, and 7 losses in blitz practice. Is there anything I need to know about playing this line with White in particular as an 1800 or am I good?
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Dear Zack,
In order to master this lines more I would certainly advise watching the model
games we are adding on the website.
That would give you extra experience.
PGN for Defend with Honour Course
Hi Chessmood,
I had finished the Defend with Honour course long time ago.I was fully satisfied with the way GM Johann Hellsten had explained the concepts.
But I was little unhappy that there was no PGN to revise the positions.So I left and came back now to check if it was uploaded, but still it is not given.
Kind request to chessmood to upload its PGN.
Thank you!
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New article: Endgame roadmap: 9 strategies on how to play chess endgames
“I lose almost every equal endgame.”
“I’ve already read 6 books about endgames, but it doesn’t help much...” said a chess improver to GM Avetik.
They wanted to improve their endgame, but something wasn’t working.
In today’s article, you’re going to discover:
?Why they were struggling to improve at endgames.
?Why and how GM Avetik created the endgame compass.
?How the endgame compass can help you think in endgames.
3 weeks after ‘using’ this compass, the chess improver touched their dream rating!?
At the same time, as promised, we’ve also added all the sections to our Endgame Roadmap course.
And after you read the article and watch the course, you’ll never say, “I don’t know what to do in endgames.”
Read the article here?
https://chessmood.com/blog/chess-endgame-strategies
And watch the full course here?
https://chessmood.com/course/chess-endgame-roadmap
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The Endgame Roadmap sounds pretty much like the course An Endgame Expert by GM Smirnov. I don't want to post a direct link to avoid accusations of promoting other sites but it should be easy enough to find and compare the ideas.
Hi, I am enjoying the course and learning a lot. I have a question. In the section on creating passed pawns you give an ending from one of your games that won a prize. Who was the opponent and in which event?. I would like to look at the complete game if possible. Chessmood has already helped me to improve my play. Thank you
Hi,
I'm a free user of chessmood. I read this article andwatched the unlocked pieces of the course. its what i needed. I often get advantage in the opening, then in the middle game with my coach! but i always screw up in the endgame. Pawn up still lose. i believe this course it making a difference. im still screwing up in endgames, but slowly slowly im reducing my mistakes
“What the f…”
This course turned me happy and angry at the same time. Happy to learn sth new and angry about other coaches with whom I have worked before. I also read dozens of endgame books, but such a simple advice: In the endgame, we place our pieces to attack weak pawns…, I never got before. And I remember dozens of games where I placed my pieces acc. to middlegame “rules”….Now, I understand what has been my mistake.
And this course is full of “What the f… ” moments for me :-).
So I'm very happy to improve and apply this knowledge in the next tournament.
👍
Thanks! So useful Avetik and the course helps even more! Thanks!
BlackMood vs London question
I have a question about the BlackMood course, playing against the London.
I have encountered this situation a few times already. I play the option with the Bishop on e7. What if White plays c3 instead of c4, and thus opens both their light-squared Bishop and their Queen, and one of them (or both) attacks the e6 pawn after I have played d6?
For example, this situation (but I would like a general answer, because the situation can occur in different move orders, for example later in the game) :
1. d4 e6 2. Bf4 f5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 b6 5. Be2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. c3 O-O 8. Nbd2 Ne4 9. h3 d6 10. Bc4
The Engine suggests playing 10. Bc4 d5 here, but that becomes a Stonewall & White already has their Dark Squared Bishop on f4.
I saw the Next Level BlackMood Stream, but this is not addressed.
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Hello
In the position the engine suggested d5 you may go Qd7 then Important to play Kh8 and play simple or in some position You can go Qd7 Nc6 Kh8
