Chess forum by Grandmasters

Scotch Question

Coach, after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 ed 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc6 bc6 6. e5 Nd5 7. c4 Bb4+ 

Is it better to block with Bd2 and let them exchange our DSB or block with Nd2 and then after Nf4 we play a3 and then Nf3 or something? I couldn't find it in the course, but I think playing Bd2 seems better.  What is your opinion? 

Matt

Replies

Hey Matt! 
Your questions are always good. 
Very logical here is Bd2. Because after Bd2 we take Qd2 and then at some point Black should play d6 right? After that we'll take on d6, and put a big pressure on d6 pawn playing Rd1! 
As you see Black misses a lot their bishop to protect that d6 pawn. 
So after Bb4 we don't mind to change the bishops and put big positional pressure with d line. 

Outbooked in the 2 Nc3 Sicilian

Dear readers

i had in an blitz game on internet

1 e4-C5 2 Nc3 d6 3 f4-a6 4 Nf3 -e6

do i am outprepared or isn t this position not in te courses 

Replies

Treat the position as you would a Closed Sicilian but with an extra tempo as White, since a6 is not that useful in those structures. By the way are you the same Franck Steenbekkers from chesspub and quality chess book forums? 

Dear Kevin i am.

do i know you personnaly

I think that a strong innovation for black is 15..._b5!! On the gamelivauc-sribis biograd na moru 2018

Simul game with Champion of Armenia!

Hey guys! 
Tomorrow, at the same time, instead of stream, we'll have a simul game with GM Ter-Sahakyan Samvel. 
https://chessmood.com/event/simul-game-with-gm-ter-sahakyan-with-live-comments

You just need to be there 5 minutes before the event and in chat write your nickname in lichess.
See you tomorrow! 

Replies

How to Improve Your Tactical Vision

Hey Champions!
We have an interesting article on our Blog about this topic.
https://chessmood.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-tactical-vision
If you have any questions, comments or you just liked it, feel free to share your thoughts here :) 

Replies

Great tactic

Benko Question

Coach, maybe I'm missing it in the videos but I am trying to figure out how best to continue when the opening goes 1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3... does black leave the tension and play d6/g6/Bg7 as usual and just try to transpose? I was looking on the lichess database and it seems like white scores very well in this move order, and I've ran into it several times now.  

Thanks! 

Matt

Replies

Hey Matt! 4...d6 is fine, keeping it flexible. You can go b4 as well, with idea d6,e5. 

Delayed Alapin

e4 c5 Nf3 Nc6 c3 Nf6 Bd3.

My best friend who is WCM plays this setup as white. She call it delayed Alapin and white wants to play Bc2-d4.  Coach, can you suggest which line to choose?

d5 or g6 setup?

Replies

I played this line as black once and looked what was considered best, I like 4...e5 and only then go for d5, since 4...d5 seems premature...5. e5 Nfd7 6.Bb5 is a weird french, but not great for black. 

In the line 4...e5 game can go like this 5 0-0 d5 6. exd5 Qxd5 with tempo and ideas of Bg4 or e4. If 5.Bc2 then 5...d5 and best for white seems 6.d3, and that can hardly be a problem...

4..e5 seems like a nice solution to me, I hope this helps!

Please help me with study Plan

Hello, 

I just joined the pro member with the hope to improve my chess performance, I am rated at around 1600, and i hope to get to 2000 this year. I am a working person, I only have around 2 hrs/day (at max) to train on the weekdays and 3-5 hrs on the weekend. The problem with me, i dont have training partner and most of the time I dont have the willpower to train, please help me coach. Thank you.

Replies

Hello Mohammad! 
Welcome to our PRO team. 
Soon we'll have a 1-1 call and I'll give you a study plan. 
Before that - start with the classical commented game course.

See you soon.
Regards,
Avetik 

Repertoire issues

I played  a Rapid tournament yesterday and I had the chance to test our Chessmood openings with quite a success, but I had a pair of sicilians that I do not think are in our repertoire, one being missing for a long time...

First game I was white and played 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nf6 4.Nf3 and he played 4...e6, I think this is not anywhere, and the question is...where should I put my bishop? If Bc4, Nxe4 trick is an option, If Bb5, he simply plays Bd7. What am I missing?

And my complain comes from the line I had in a Sicilian game with black. Moves were 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5. It's the line recommended with white, but we do not have any video adressing it as black, since GM Gabuzyan course comes from the order 2...d6. What are the best lines after 3...Nd4 4.Bc4 and 4.Nf3??

Replies

4. Bb5+ is most often played; however, 4. Bc4 is playable. if 4...Nxe4, the ol' sac the N for the illusory fork trick 5. Bb5+ leaves the N on e4 embarrassed and hanging.

Hi Jordi,

You have to be a bit more flexible in your thinking, since even though the Grand-Prix Attack is a dangerous or as Avetik would say 'dangery' attacking weapon as outlined in the course, it does not mean it is the most effective setup against all lines. The game segment you mentioned  1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 works fairly well against the Grand-Prix setup, but is less effective after 5.g3 transposing to a promising form of the Closed Sicilian where black has been tricked into a passive and theoretically inferior line. I posted a Kevin Spraggett game in another thread to illustrate model play in such positions.

I have briefly tried to address your second query in the below annotated pgn, I hope it helps:

Hey Jordi! Both of the issues are correct. 
About Grand Prix Attack, when Black plays e6, I'll update the course.
The same is about when we meet Anti-Sicilian. 

Colovic just came out with an antisicilian course on Chessable. I had a quick look and against nd4 bc4 he offers e6, nf6 and then usually a6 b5 or d5 depending on white move orders...haven't had a deep look though to compare with chessmood lines

Thanks to all for the answers. Kevin, I considered g3, but since I only remembered the Nh3 lines I thought I was going to be out of the book too soon, but it looks best to play g3, I saw the game of Spraggett.

The other line, I'm looking forward to see GM Avetik's solution, since I found it  complicated that retreat Carlsen did, we are underdeveloped, so I need to see how to handle that position. 

Regards,

Jordi

Hey guys! 
Just uploaded the 4th section in Grand Prix Attack, section 4

#SLP

Dear friends, dear PRO Members! 
In the comment section let's post our SLP - Saving Lost Positions games, the fleshmob continues! :) 

Replies

https://www.chess.com/live/game/3681555855 

Against 2500 FM, without a piece!:) 
#SLP 

https://www.chess.com/live#g=3691062794

https://www.chess.com/live/game/3741501443 

I was totally lost :D 
But... SLP!!! 

#SLP! should have lost never gave up! 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10205996082218199&id=1744969010

While waiting for the webinar I played this game. I lose a couple pawns, but get good development and my opponent misses the fun finish!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/3801681623

Good job! 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10206114608741288&id=1744969010

SLP!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10206681087262897&id=1744969010

I lost the exchange then helped my opponent go wrong #SLP

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4341233421

I hoodie blundered my queen... but #SLP

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4409731998

Chess games files

As Avetik sir said in live streams about pgn files of all the games which he is playing during stream of 800-2400. 

So I made my pgn file so if anyone need it let me know.

Replies

Sure,would appreciate that... send them to IfPeteKan@outlook.com

Study Partner.

Hi myself abhishek yadav. You can call me Abhi. I am 1465 FIDE rated guy and hoping to find a good partner for playing chess and also an hr daily classical game study. Because sometimes my mind stuck to read books. I know GM Avetik's method and I also apply same ideas in study but problem is how to find plans is a big issue.

Let me show a position.

I spent 10 mins on this position and my main thought is to find a way to open centre with f6 but I do not saw the follow up well. White's king is in the centre so I need to punish him for that. Avetik sir said focus on classics. I got that but before any game lesson we have to analise game alone na and there I face issues.  I am doing fine against 2000 chess.com blitz and recently had nice victory against FM but who cares for blitz. 

So,I hope I will find  a partner for study. But no beginner please. 

I am not trying to insult anyone. I just need a player above my strength. Anyways my positional chess is better than tactical but I do not mind styles. 

Thanks.

Replies

I know in these kind of positions we have three pawn advances and I love to play f6 but I do not see the follow up after exposing my own king.  I know white's bishop on f4 is bad right now and piece co oridination is bad too but I do not know how to open up centre and punish himm.

 Hello Ahbi, I would like to be your partner (I am 1750 rated in bullet and 1650 in blitz), but I also like online classic (~1500). I don't have an official FIDE ELO but I try to find sparring partners. I have watched some of your online games which I found very interesting. Where are we going to play our first games? I am looking forward to your answer.

Courses down (edit/repair?)

I am looking back at the Starter course this morning, but was not able to proceed with one video with the message "Sorry This video will be available for viewing shortly". I look forward to it's swift return! ;-)

Replies

Now we are back in business! New video in place (after some editing!) & I can get back to study! Thanks Chess Mood...Right Mood Right Move & COGRO! ;-)

Hi Richard. 
We're working on the technical issue. 
Hopefully you'll become a GM in the next week :) 

Positional Piece up!!

Middlegame lesson 1 in chessmood. 

Capablance Piece up positionally.

I tried same concept and won but made some errors too.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4381886598

Replies

Good job! 

My GOTD (game of the day) : Saidy vs Fischer 1.c4 c5 0-1

Another great game & win from Bobby Fischer! Saidy vs Fischer 1.c4 c5 0-1

Amazing N vs B endgame where Fischer's knight play killed the White bishop! Awesome...enjoy!

Replies

Hey Richard. Thank you for sharing! 

My best game of 2020 so far

https://lichess.org/3H8tMApvGETY

Replies

Nice :) 

Scandi Question

Hey Coach, what do you recommend when this line comes up? 

1. e4 d5  2. ed5 Nf6  3.B b5 Bd7  4. Bc4 Bg4  5. f3 Bh5  6. Nc3 c6

It seems like if white plays 7. dc6 then black just gets to develop the knight, but I don't see how else to proceed.  Maybe just 7. g4 Bg6 8. f4?  It seems like white's king is fairly exposed and queenside development is still a few moves away from castling long

Matt

Replies

Matt, just d3,Nge2, Ng3, Nge4. Staying pawn up. 

1.e4 (Best by test)

I would like to say how pleased I am that ChessMood opening white repertoire is based on 1.e4.

I have played chess (badly) for many years and have always liked 1.e4 as my favourite white opening (1.e4 was famously endorsed by GM Bobby Fischer as his favourite white opening also eg "1.e4 best by test", as he stated!).

It is really good to hear GM Avetik Grigoryan explain why ChessMood chose 1.e4 to be the white opening first move of choice (and very nice to go with 1.e4 Scotch opening, yet another favourite opening of mine). I agree with his comment on the potential attacking nature of 1.e4 and I chuckle as I have had 1.d4 players try to tell me how aggressive and attacking 1.d4 opening is for white! Well. of course there are some attacking 1.d4 openings, but I have yet to find one as fast and as aggressive as some of the 1.e4 openings. If anyone knows any, do let me know, as most 1.d4 aggressive openings I know take time to develop (Blackmar Diemer Gambit, BDG, 1.d4 d5 2.e4 is a possible exception, but as it involves 2.e4 as the second move, it doesn't count with me as a true 1.d4 opening?! LOL!).

Continuing my 1.e4 ramble, I started my chess "career(?)" playing the Alapin Sicilian 1.e4 c5 2.c3 and then last year I got a chess coach who played Sicilian Accelerated Dragon as Black and I started to learn this too and ended up trying to learn the Sicilian with both colours! However, this centered on the Open Sicilian openings and anti-Sicilian openings (Alapin/Rossolimo etc etc BUT not the Sicilian Closed!).

So, now I am learning the Chess Mood Sicilian Closed opening (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4...) and the Scotch Potter variation (Nb3) and the French Schlecter (3.Bd3)! BRING IT ON!

(I almost forgot why I started this 1.e4 post! It is because I found x9 GM Bobby Fischer Closed Sicilian games in my Fritz9 DBase (7 white Fischer wins & x2 draws) and this prompted this post. I am not sure if the game Fischer vs Spassky Sicilian Closed 1992 (m 25) is in the "Classical games" Chess Mood list, but I think it could be so I post it to honour a favourite player of mine who was a 1.e4 expert chess player!)

Viva 1.e4 (here endeth my 1.e4 ramble...for the moment. I will not mention Petrovs, Scandinavians,French, Caro Kann, Italians, Spanish, Viennas, Philidors, Owens & Nimzowitsh, Pirc, Moderns  and any other 1.e4 openings...) Happy opening study all and goodluck! ;-)

Replies

Go Richard, go! :) 

Carlsen chessmooder?

Apologies for the clickbait title, but this is really interesting:

https://live.followchess.com/#!king-salman-world-blitz-2019/-1651222067

The recent blog post by Avetik about classic games was still fresh in my mind when I was watching this game live. Carlsen follows exactly the strategy Avetik described in his article. In a Carlsbad structure, he played Nd3, completely stopping the minority attack, and then Kramnik was helpless against the Kside attack.  Just goes to show how important the point coach is trying to make -study the classics!

Replies

Yeah Avetik's lessons are wonderful about middlegame. I only watched one Dvd by Collins about Carlsbad and he also explained many themes. I prefer gaining knowledge. 

Carlsen ChessMooder :D :D :D 
Sounds cool! :D 

Thanks for the post, Papa Tactics :) 

Opening Files in Chessbase

Can anyone guide me as how to prepare the opening files from Chessmood courses into Chessbase 14 using the draft versions provided? I have posed the same question to GM Avetik and awaiting reply. In the meantime, would appreciate if anyone who knows it can respond.

Replies

Hi Sriram. 
Just watch 1 section, and then put in the file whatever you remembered. 
If you forget something, go back to the video. 
And this way, section by section, course by course. 

My most open-hearted interview

There are journalists who ask you what kind of apple you like and people like Alex who make the interviews cool with interesting and deep questions.
I think this is the most open-hearted interview I've ever given.
https://www.alexcolovic.com/2020/01/interview-with-gm-avetik-grigoryan/ 

Thanks all those because of whom now I am living a smile in my soul ❤️

Replies

Nice interview and article. I commented on it on chess.com and you asked if we knew one another & I did reply, but had no reply, so I post here also! No hoodie blunders playe4! Best wishes! ;-)

BTW What kind of apples do you like? I'd be pleased to know! :-)

Richard :D :D