Chess forum by Grandmasters

How to choose opening?

Hello Everyone!

The topic I would like to discuss today is an opening choice. What do you think, how should person choose an opening? Which are key factors? Personal characteristics, coach advise , or something else?
Please, feel free to share your thoughts. 

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I read somewhere that until 2000 ELO, one should play openings that are attacking in nature or lead to more dynamic play but after that one must study openings based on the pawn structure one is comfortable in playing.

What if you like both?

For me, the opening choice is basically caused by one's charachter. Personally I love to play sharp and complex positions. As Siriam has said, until 2000 ELO, sometimes players who do not have the required theoretical knowledge, choose openings which do not "fit" their playing style. One of my friends is so inspired by Morphy's games, he almost always chooses the italian game, although he gets crushed by me (his lichess ELO 1420). That's why I believe that an opening choice can arise is one's mind accordingly to his opponent.

I play what my coach tells me! heh

In all seriousness, when choosing openings on my own, I was all over the place with style, and was following the latest fads. I played the Trmpowski and the London System with white, and I played the Pirc and Philidors Black Lion with Black. I had experimented with the Najdorf, the Caro-Khan, KID, Nimzo-Indian, and many others looking for the "fix" to my game. 

Once I started with Chessmood I accepted the recommended openings and drop all the ones I was playing before (This was hard for the Tromp, as I had been playing it for 20+ years and was quite comfortable in all the positions) However, by doing so, I have found my own style because of the ChessMood openings. A very aggressive attacking style that fits my personality :). I will continue to use them until Coach tells me otherwise. 

Coach that's a great question and I spent many months thinking of this after I played my first event and then I found a nice idea not only for below 1600 players but it can also work on the fields of 2500 I think. I think for below 1600 players just focus on creating a nice repo then add new lines to apply my idea. Because choosing bunch of openings is useless for below 1600 players but once you have nice foundation of opening ideas and you can comfterable with my approach then add lines.

I also prefer to use both main lines and side lines.

My idea is simple and can be complicated for some players.

Attacking lines against positional players!

The point is simple, those players who are highly focus on positional chess have sometimes issues in their tactical vision or even if they are strong grandmasters there might be a slight chance that due to tactical positions they make a slight mistake and u will win. As I know from courses you are a najdjrof( sorry for spell) player so I think if you are facing positional player then there are a lot chances in which u can get good positions or even if you are under pressure I know players of Najdorf can have plenty of saving resources. So that's my way of play.

Positional Approach against attacker:

I only studied some classical games in  past and saw some live commentary of rapid and blitz and I feel like if you are facing an attacker and your repo is so solid and positional then it makes an attacker desperate to do something aggressive and this aggression might lead to some problem in his own camp so the point is when you play solid attacker have so issues in playing.

I have two examples to illustrate this point. 

1. A guy who is 2000 is my xfriend and he loves attacking approaches and he plays well in tactics but whenever he faces a player of 2200+ he lost positionally and it was due to his desperation to do something and he lose.

2.My coach in real life. He was 2300 in past and due to 5 year ban he is now 2000. The ban was due to playing unofficial events. He crushed many GM's in past including Abhijeet Gupta too. He told me that abhi you are a beginner now so play super solid but also learn tactics by heart but he also said that he always played so solid so it was tough for attacking GM's to break his territory and he don't like risk chess. 

So that's all I know sir. I hope this is right approach. 

Attacker- Positional approach

Positional- Attacking approach.

The biggest problem with my idea mentioned above is for advanced players. for example it's so tough to remember both lines against same openings. Let's say you have a match against Gary Kasparov and you know that he recently started playing e5 too so it will make your task difficult to focus on Najdrof or e5.

So may be my plan is not working for super advanced player but I feel like it can work for below 2200 players well. Rest is in future and please let me know if there is mistake in my approach. In past when I met Avetik sir on fb I shared him this idea and he said it's nice approach.  I am excited to know what others think about it.

I am just 1465 so I am focused on improving my vision and tactics but I do love solid approach. 

Hi, Interesting question.  I have spent a lot of time on this...  tooo much time!!  To my detrament as a player I have lost too much time with this question.  The best and simplest answer is this: (I should  have accepted the answer from the late Mark Morss.  I would be a better player) . 1.e4 as white and play open positions!  vs 1.d4 he recommended Tarrasch as leading to open positions.  I believe that is a decent answer.  Why because it handles 1.c4 and 1.Nf3.  maybe better is the QGA with the book by Delchev and Semkov and their book on how to play vs 1.Nf3 and 1.c4.  The QGA and the corresponding Delchev and Semkov book.  And vs 1e4 play 1...e5 and play open positions.  play open Ruy Lopez.  The idea BEHIND this is not to master the QGA or the Tarrasch.  BUT to master open positions.  Why open positions?  Main reason: they can never ever close up on you.  Why learn say the complicated KID with closed structures when you may have memorized where the pieces go but once the position opens up you loose.  Why?  You never learned open positions.  Mark Morss a Chess master and I think IM in Postal??  Would say play open positions till 2000 or better yet till you are knocking over NM or higher.  I think 1800 is pretty good, maybe.  The idea is that chess builds, just like Math or Physics.  Gotta learn to count before calculus.  Better know your Sines and Cosines ect ect....  Then at 1800, play semi open positions.  Then 2000 level  play Closed positions.  At 2200 play whatever you want.  You will now know what positions you like and don't like.  Very easy for 2500+ players to say openings are a matter of taste, often times they started at say 6 and by the time most of us started to drive they were better players with higher ratings then we will ever achieve!!  Also, if you haven't reached many of position types how do you know if you like and can play them.   Often times we also get our emotions into chess.  One issue, for example, is we want to play like Kasparov so we play Najdorf and we haven't learned to play say even Scandanavian with Qd6.   We hang pieces ect.   We must learn the basics first.  One teacher tried to show me this but I was blind.  Serving in Tennis, read at the top of his article(what the hell does this have to do with chess I thought??  I am the next Fischer!!).  We all want a devastating, leaping, killer serve.  We try throwing up the ball and it hits the net.  Net again.  Same with chess.  Develop the basics, the fundamentals!!  Another chess issue is thinking you play like Kasparov when really, you play like Karpov.  Not an issue.  I mean if you are 3000 rating who cares what style you play in, you are 3000!!  Most players I have seen have learned how to attack at first and then developed a style.  Karpov played 1.e4 when he started and only changed to 1.d4 after Kasparov.  Kramnik played very sharp.  He played Sveshnikov, Semi Slav and main line 1.d4 lines like Bayonette in KID (scaring most players away from KID for a while) and Rb1 in exchange Grunfeld!!  Soo, Tonight I will learn the Fundamental openings.  1.e4 with scotch, Nc3 vs sicilian, exchange caro.  And yes Benko and Accelerated dragon as Black.  So learn to attack.  Learn basic fundamental principles.  (Oh by the way even Mikhail Tal got caught watching  "basic" chess programs on TV, when asked I think he said he still learned from them or at least gotta keep in shape!!) .   But I still think open positions before closed, is a fundamental idea in chess.  Also, I think till you learn all the basics and are like say over 2000 you have no style.  You have lack of knowledge.  Even at 2000 people have attained that without knowing when to play say the move a4 as white to attack or stop b5 pawn.  They just want to attack.  If your coach can honestly say you know all the principles of chess and you have like a 2000-2200 rating then by all means pick a style.  By the way most GM's i think will say they have no style or  that theirs is a Universal style.  If you are so good in one you must be lacking in the other.   Just an opinion.   Thanks for reading!!  

I strongly feel you should play openings that you like and have success with. To do this well, does not just mean learning the first 10 moves from memory alone, but actually trying to understand the ideas and chess principles related to the openings you play. A good tip I also have, is it helps to learn and play an opening with both colours (eg GM Bobby Fischer playing Sicilian as White & Black with great success).

Getting good advice from a coach is very useful, but only if the coach knows your chess playing style. Too many coaches (imho), tell students to play the openings they (as coaches) like, which may not be the best for all chess students and chess players! With so many openings to choose from and so many opinions from "chess experts", it can be tough for lower rated and less experienced chess players to find the right openings that suits them individually and spend time specialising in them!

Amazingly, there are fashion trends in chess openings that influence players choices. Around 5-10 years ago, many GM's recommended lower rated players play the Colle opening as a sort of system opening and yet over the last 2 years these same GM's are now recommending to learn & play The London system! Sometimes the fashion depends on what openings were played mainly in the last World Chess Championship final.

Of course, the Chess Mood opening repertoire, is a really fine repertoire, as GM Avetik Grigoryan and the rest of the GM team explain the openings well and play them well also, giving a good example to follow. This is great for lower rated players like me to use, as I know they will give success if I learn and play them well. For me though, many of these are new openings to me, which means I have a lot to learn if I want to follow all Chess Mood opening courses and this takes a lot of time and effort!

Last year, before I joined Chess Mood I decided I would try & learn and play the Sicilian as Black and started with the Dragon variations. As White against the Sicilian, I usually play a Bb5/Bb5+ or some type of delayed Alapin. Now at Chess Mood I am learning the Closed Sicilian as White and may soon try to learn the Najdorf as Black. So much new work to do! Actually though, I do enjoy chess opening study and play which helps me tackle and persevere to learn these new openings. I also like the fact that as I know quite a few openings now, my chess play is versatile and has lots of variety! Now I need to learn better mid and end game play that arises from these openings, to win more games!

Final words from Jedi master Yoda: "Important an opening is. Wisely must you choose!"  So have fun all choosing and playing openings and especially the Chess Mood openings  :-)

Also in choosing openings, we should find coherence.  What I mean is take the slav and caro.  Or the KID  and Pirc.  Accelerated dragon and Benko.   Now for the slav and caro, lets say the moves are 1.c4 c6 2.e4!!!  You have been move ordered from your slav to your caro Kahn repertoire.  No Caro??  you have issue.  KID and Pirc still different openings but they give you flexability.  Hate the Trompowsky, but playing Jay who has played it for 20 plus years??  Play 1.d4 d6!!  no tropowsky!!   ACC. Dragon and Benko work as you have seen in tandem with symetrical English to give a repertoire vs 1.d4, e4, c4, and Nf3. 

Also remember, Black is not white and white is not black.  You can play KIA but KID is more of a line in GM play.  Why?  Because Black is not white.  White calls the shots and creates the information on the board.  Black replies to it.  Take GM Mihail Suba's example say a number any, ok 25 well 26 I win.  The point is white has to create the Tempo and Black depending on style of play either equalizes or counter punches.  That is why 1.c4 e5 and 1.e4 c5 are different.  1.e4 takes space and threatens 2.d4.  Black says, nah I am going to counter punch and create asymetry on the board.  While, 1.c4 is flexable allows for pawns to be developed before knights (meaning you dont want to weaken kingside by 1.f4 2.Nf3 but 1.c4 2.Nc3 is better then just 1.Nc3 as you have now blocked your c pawn), creates space.  while 1...e5 counteracts that says now the game will be a game of counterattack, probably Kingside space vs white's queenside space.  Reverse of sicilian game but still 1.c4 e5 is not 1.e4 c5!!!Check theory, what lines are with 1.c4 e5?  No Najdorfs, Sveshnikov's or Dragons (well reverse dragon but still Black is not white!!) no tons of theory. 

Plan first then pick openings around that!!  For example    questions to ask yourself:  1. what types of pawn structures do I like or want to investigate?  2. Do I like sharp positions or something more plan based? 3. Be honest, DO I HAVE THE TIME???  Unless you quit work, are retired maybe Grunfeld, Najdorf, 1.e4 and 1.d4 playing open sicilians and 30 moves of Mar Del Plata should not be your cup of tea!!  3. How many openings can I remember?  That also has to do with time.  (Note the above questions can rarely be answered by Newer players, or at least players with more experience will definetly have "better" answers).  4.  Next where am I in my chess career?  Am I new?  Well why be taught how to play 6.Bg5 in Najdorf when you have not seen classical games with 1.e4 e5??  Are you like coach a GM who needs/needed to revamp repertoire and play sharper or heck less sharp???  (Look at Kramnik went from hot chess to positional!  Similar to Karpov but Karpov a lot tamer over all.)  

Only now should you choose the openings to play.  If you have a job and have played 1.e4 before and are 1800+ or so and don't like theory.  Try the Trompowsky! What can it hurt?  Or even London?   As black try if you like open games 1.e5 and open spanish and Tarrasch or whatever!!  I am just advising to plan first and then choose.  Ask the above questions then start asking what openings fit the answers.  

Thanks, Marc

Success Stories

Dear ChessMood Family! 
Here let's post all our achievements to motivate each other.
It may be raising rating, winning a strong tournament or defeating a strong opponent. 
Right Mood - Right Move! 

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I have been a promember of ChessMood since march last year, and tried to follow streams, videos and other stuff. I have not yet used ChessMood-openings because I like my three openings (Jobava London, Black Lion and English defense) very well. And I have still a lot of things to learn in them. 

But Avetik and others in ChessMood give me a lot of inspiration, and it is very interessting to follow you other guys and see your progress. I also see that I learn a lot of chessstrategy when I watch this stuff.

Just now I feel that I play much safer and have a good mood when I am playing. In less than one month my blitzrating on Lichess has rise from 1596 til 1773. I use my normal openings, but try to learn from ChessMood  strategy and calmness. And it works.

I hope first to stabilize on this level, and then rise again. And maybe one day I will study deeper ChessMood-opening and get ut another level. (If my brain can take it :) )

Until then I will keep my good (chess)mood and try to do my best! And thanks to all for a group that give me a lot of fun and good inspiration.

The Best Games of December and the Prize

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One of my best positional style games

https://lichess.org/zeujFcRv/white

I almost threw this one away :*(

https://lichess.org/Nj9SiPeb/white#74

Attack!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4268914009

[Event "Rated Classical game"][Site "https://lichess.org/98MNjzlo"][Date "2019.12.05"][Round "-"][White "JairusJA"][Black "MilanVagovic"][Result "1-0"][UTCDate "2019.12.05"][UTCTime "10:08:08"][WhiteElo "1951"][BlackElo "1872"][WhiteRatingDiff "+6"][BlackRatingDiff "-5"][Variant "Standard"][TimeControl "900+15"][ECO "B86"][Opening "Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack"][Termination "Normal"][Annotator "lichess.org"]1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } c5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:13] } d6 { [%clk 0:15:13] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:15:28] } cxd4 { [%clk 0:15:26] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:15:43] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:15:31] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:15:56] } e6 { [%clk 0:15:42] } 6. Bc4 { [%clk 0:16:01] } { B86 Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack } a6 { [%clk 0:15:50] } 7. f4 { [%clk 0:16:13] } Be7 { [%clk 0:15:35] } 8. e5 { [%clk 0:16:27] } Nfd7 { [%clk 0:15:38] } 9. Bxe6 { [%clk 0:16:33] } fxe6 { [%clk 0:15:27] } 10. Nxe6 { [%clk 0:16:44] } Qb6 { [%clk 0:15:23] } 11. Nxg7+ { [%clk 0:16:53] } Kf7 { [%clk 0:14:56] } 12. Nd5 { [%clk 0:15:44] } Qd8 { [%clk 0:14:34] } 13. Nf5 { [%clk 0:15:41] } Nc6 { [%clk 0:14:13] } 14. Qh5+ { [%clk 0:14:55] } Ke6 { [%clk 0:13:36] } 15. Nfe3 { [%clk 0:15:07] } dxe5 { [%clk 0:11:15] } 16. c4 { [%clk 0:05:04] } Nd4 { [%clk 0:09:43] } 17. fxe5 { [%clk 0:04:07] } Bh4+ { [%clk 0:08:58] } 18. g3 { [%clk 0:04:17] } Qg5 { [%clk 0:09:00] } 19. Nc7+ { [%clk 0:03:20] } Kxe5 { [%clk 0:06:29] } 20. Ng4+ { [%clk 0:03:22] } Ke4 { [%clk 0:05:54] } 21. Nf2+ { [%clk 0:03:03] } { Black resigns. } 1-0I usually dont play attacking chess....but i saw a game where fisher crush his opponent like this sicillian atk...so i tried...and it worked????

https://lichess.org/98MNjzlo

The link of the game 

[Event "Rated Classical game"][Site "https://lichess.org/ZHOaFQ7J"][Date "2019.12.08"][Round "-"][White "fogggggg"][Black "JairusJA"][Result "0-1"][UTCDate "2019.12.08"][UTCTime "14:04:34"][WhiteElo "2024"][BlackElo "1971"][WhiteRatingDiff "-8"][BlackRatingDiff "+9"][Variant "Standard"][TimeControl "900+15"][ECO "B30"][Opening "Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian"][Termination "Normal"][Annotator "lichess.org"]1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } c5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:12] } Nc6 { [%clk 0:15:13] } { B30 Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian } 3. c3 { [%clk 0:15:22] } e5 { [%clk 0:15:21] } 4. Bb5 { [%clk 0:15:22] } d6 { [%clk 0:15:32] } 5. d4 { [%clk 0:15:14] } cxd4 { [%clk 0:15:44] } 6. cxd4 { [%clk 0:15:25] } exd4 { [%clk 0:15:53] } 7. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:15:19] } Bd7 { [%clk 0:16:03] } 8. O-O { [%clk 0:14:17] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:16:06] } 9. Bxc6 { [%clk 0:13:58] } bxc6 { [%clk 0:16:05] } 10. Nc3 { [%clk 0:13:35] } Be7 { [%clk 0:16:18] } 11. f4 { [%clk 0:13:30] } Qc7 { [%clk 0:15:49] } 12. Nf5 { [%clk 0:12:02] } Bxf5 { [%clk 0:15:51] } 13. exf5 { [%clk 0:12:14] } O-O { [%clk 0:15:12] } 14. Rf3 { [%clk 0:11:58] } Rfe8 { [%clk 0:14:55] } 15. Rg3 { [%clk 0:11:39] } d5 { [%clk 0:14:45] } 16. Be3 { [%clk 0:11:30] } Bf8 { [%clk 0:14:37] } 17. Bd4 { [%clk 0:10:21] } Ne4 { [%clk 0:14:50] } 18. Nxe4 { [%clk 0:10:00] } Rxe4 { [%clk 0:14:14] } 19. Be5 { [%clk 0:09:48] } Qb6+ { [%clk 0:14:02] } 20. Kh1 { [%clk 0:09:57] } Kh8 { [%clk 0:13:00] } 21. Qg4 { [%clk 0:07:20] } Rxe5 { [%clk 0:13:13] } 22. fxe5 { [%clk 0:07:31] } Qxb2 { [%clk 0:13:26] } 23. Re1 { [%clk 0:06:35] } Rb8 { [%clk 0:13:25] } 24. h4 { [%clk 0:04:44] } Rb4 { [%clk 0:13:03] } 25. Qg5 { [%clk 0:04:13] } h6 { [%clk 0:11:04] } 26. Qh5 { [%clk 0:03:16] } Qf2 { [%clk 0:10:56] } 27. Ree3 { [%clk 0:01:24] } Rb1+ { [%clk 0:10:08] } 28. Kh2 { [%clk 0:01:35] } Qg1+ { [%clk 0:10:22] } 29. Kh3 { [%clk 0:01:49] } Qh1+ { [%clk 0:10:36] } 30. Kg4 { [%clk 0:02:03] } Rb4+ { [%clk 0:10:50] } 31. Kf3 { [%clk 0:02:16] } Qf1# { [%clk 0:10:38] } { Black wins by checkmate. } 0-1.......I played it today against a higher rated opponenthttps://lichess.org/ZHOaFQ7J

Link of the game

https://lichess.org/ZHOaFQ7J

Crushing with the black pieces!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4285288378

Caro-Kann

 https://www.chess.com/live/game/4289827147 

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4290285784

demolished in sicilian

https://lichess.org/PzszKWNF/white 

demolished in triangle slav

https://lichess.org/XEI6dTw0/black

Sicilian Defense - Closed Variation

Here is a daily game played on Chess.com.  I've had a lot of difficulty getting the K-side attack as white correct in the Sicilian. Finally, I think I figured it out.

https://www.chess.com/daily/game/243820024

Accelerated Dragon

French Advanced :)

https://lichess.org/SqEx0NmS

French Defense - Exchange Variation - Bd3. 

punishment in scotch

https://lichess.org/te7S7EBw/white

I really struggled a lot in openings in past. I learnt only alapin in depth from white side but now bec of chessmood I am crushing 2000 on chess.com and improving not only in openings but also middlegames strategy.

Here are my two quick knockouts.

1. He fell into the novelty Qe1! and made blunder Bd6??

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4325100745

2,  French knockout. I wanted him to play Nxf3 gxf3! line but he did not so I played my best and won so quickly.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4325044523

Thanks. I played many good  games but these two were amazing to me bec they fell into my prep.

positional destruction in benko gambit (unfortunately I did not find checkmate in 2 moves on the 30th move and made a couple of inaccuracies, however, during the game, I left no chance for the opponent to seize the advantage)

https://lichess.org/ChjSmqbD/black

Benko Gambit (Chessmood Line)

Here is a demolition of the You Tube variation of the Scotch Game. I have included the various alternatives examined during the game

http://view.chessbase.com/cbreader/2019/12/27/Game941821703.html

[Event "Rated Blitz game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/F3UisdGI"] [Date "2019.12.29"] [Round "-"] [White "villaoibos"] [Black "Hasul1"] [Result "0-1"] [UTCDate "2019.12.29"] [UTCTime "22:13:25"] [WhiteElo "1952"] [BlackElo "1984"] [WhiteRatingDiff "-6"] [BlackRatingDiff "+6"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "180+0"] [ECO "B22"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation"] [Termination "Normal"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 1. e4 c5 2. c3 { B22 Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation } d5 3. e5 e6 4. Qe2 Nc6 5. f4 g6 6. g3 Bg7 7. d3 Nge7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bg2 d4 10. c4 a6 11. a3 b5 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. Kf1 Nf5 14. Qe4 Ne3+ 15. Kf2 Rb8 16. f5 Nxe5 17. Qh4 Nxd3+ 18. Kg1 Qxh4 19. Nxh4 Bxg2 { White resigns. } 0-1

Crushing with the Scotch! They can not withstand the pressure!

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/4353013684?tab=analysis

You want to play a sideline? Then you will be punished!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4353802295

And another falls in the trickiest line of the French!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4353836358

Thanks to everyone for your nice games! 
The "Best Game" of December goes to Robert Piliposyan.
Robert won a 1-month PRO membership.
For his 2 nice games, we decided to give 1-month membership to Mikhail Salnikov as well. 
Congratulations, guys! 

Happy New Year, ChessMood Family!

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Happy new year dear chess lovers! Just today, I reached my 1st rating above 1800: lichess-bullet. My target is 2250.

Happy New Year 2020 to you and family, may the new year bring new beginnings and health and happiness to all.

ChessMood..Happy New Year!

I think I have posted a message on the Facebook group page also, but I really must add this here at our digital home! Right Mood Right Move! ;-)

Jobava Line 5.h4 h5 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Qd2!

Hi GM Avetik,

Could you take a closer look at this line? In his recent chess24 series on the London System, GM Adrien Demuth gives 7.Qd2! as the reason why 6. ..Bg4 isn't great (he thinks 6. ..0-0 7.Ne5 c5!? is Black's best try). For example 7. ..Bxf3 (to justify ..Bg4) 8.gxf3 c6 (8. ..0-0 9. 0-0-0 c6 10. e4 e6 11. Bg5 +/-) 9. 0-0-0 Nbd7 10. Kb1 e6 11. e4 and it's not clear how to continue with Black.

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Hi Peter,

I posed exactly this question about a month ago, see the following link for answers:

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/jobava-line-is-covered

I was really curious about what Demuth was offering in his course but could not afford to purchase it. Thanks for showing his recommendation for Black and I hope that Avetik gets around to sharing his thoughts on it sometime in an Advance Section update.

Happy Holidays. 

Hey Guys! 
Have you checked the file I've sent? 
The match between engines? 
Black is absolutely fine. 

My first Rxb2 counter

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4360131508

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Interesting sacrifice; I think I can't come up with sth like this! 

how to study the courses

what is the best way to study the courses.

I mean wich one first and so on

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I'd say that each course pretty much stands on its own. I'd start with the openings that you encounter most often in your practice, know the least about, or struggle with the most. And don't miss the "Commented Classical Games" course, a hidden gem that you can learn more from than from any opening course!

I dont know if it is the best way, but the way I have and continue to study the courses goes as follows:

I watched every video 1 time through so I had a basic idea of what I should be doing in each opening and I wasnt focused on memorizing lines. 

Then I went back through each opening, 1 section per day, learning as many lines as I could recall. I did this through all the openings, and when I reached the end I started over at the beginning and went through them all again. I did this several times.

Now I am going back through all of them again, but this time, I am adding every line covered to my ChessBase data base for referance.

I also watch 3 of the middle game courses per day (so I can get through them all in 1 month) and restart them after each time through.

Again, I dont know if this is the best way, but it seems to be working fairly well for me.

I hope this helps

Jay

Frankly telling I first of all focused on openings, the reason for that is lack of understanding of openings and ideas. I only studied few openings by heart like Alapin against Sicilian but I never found resources of other good openings so when I found chessmood so I first of all followed full opening course. I made chessbase file of all the course so I can remember ideas and I normally do not focus on variations. I focus on ideas behind opening- such as pawn structure, pawn levers, typcial themes, key squares for pieces, chepos, etc. That's how I try to remember the ideas and after I make chessbase files I put it on training mode and I use a real board to analise positions and make my own ideas first then I check analisis to see how good I played position and where I missed resources from both sides.

Opening tip: 

focus on ideas not variations. If you have idea then variations you can calculate but if you have no idea then you are not gonna play well and you will place your pieces on wrong squares and u will make wrong ideas and wrong plans. In case of remembering lines I only prefer evaluation of position. For example- Lets imagine you are in advanced opening section and you know the evaluation of some typical ideas of variations then if you get that exact position in real life in an event then atleast with the help of evaluation you will have idea that ok I am better. So it will motivate you during the game and with right mood you will find all right move!

In case of middlegame I am going to start learning from tomorrow. I prefer the method given by GM Avetik in the video which I am going to post in bottom. He suggest to find the game first in chessbase and then put the game on training mode and then make your plans and ideas. Then check books. So what I mean is don't watch video directly based on middle game. Use a real board (if beginner) and then find the game which author is presenting in video [for example - Levon Aronian vs Vishvanathan Anand 2013 Tata Steel - it's an amazing game shows home prep by Vishy in critical pawn sacrifice in opening,home prep in Slav(forgot the line name), critical attacking patterns, importance of dynamic play and a lot more ] in chessbase and then analise it alone. After your analysis will over then start the video and then you will learn a lot from one video a day.

Here is the link of Avetik's great training method.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Tw1iNDfas&t=1259s

If there is any mistake in my suggestion then let me know so I will also learn in right way and with right mood.

I am just 1465 FIDE.  But when I had time in past I analysed one game a day with my coach and in just 10 days of classical game training and tactics training I got 2100 in chess.com blitz first time in my life from 1700. So I hope my suggestion is good and will be helpful for all the players.

Thanks.

To show about why ideas matters in learning opening, I wanna show a game which I played in blitz against 1900 chess.com. I did nothing special in opening.

I knew about Accelerated Dragon's piece placements of some variations.

1. Queen best placed on a5.

2. When b file open place Rb8 which potentially threaten Rxb2 in some main line positions too.

3. Nxe4 tactics and Nxg4 tactics may come.

See I only knew the idea not variations and look what happened. I know it's blitz but I just mean to tell when w will focus on ideas even in classical events players of GM strength can make mistakes.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4360131508

See the game and see the importance of ideas in openings instead of memorizing lines.

Classical games

Hi coach, I wanna start middlegame training now. So can u please provideo the pgn of all classical games so I can analise them one by one and then check video course?

I can find games if pgn is not available.

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How to Multiply Good Results in Chess

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Nice article. Seen the paradox that was mentioned and it certainly has to do with fear. My question though is how many tournaments a year should a serious player participate in to progress?

If you want to win cash, it's good to play tournaments where you are top seed. 
But if you want to improve fast - of course is best to play with strong opponents and get more lessons. 

20/20 vision

Hello to all my ChessMood brothers and sisters!

This is the time of the year many of us reflect on how the last year went and plan for the year to come. I do this every year, not to fundamentally change myself every 12 months, but to remind myself how far I have come towards my goals, and to correct my course if I have gone too far astray from the destination I wish to reach. 

This morning I took an hour or so to sit quietly and review how my 2019 progressed. For me, this was a year of finally making the decision to follow my passion and my dreams instead of chasing money and possessions, but I will get to that in a minute.

This year started for me on Jan 1st! I know, it did for everyone, but something life changing happened for me on that very first day. A GM named Avetik Grigoryan sent me a private message thanking me for kind words I spoke in his ChessMood FaceBook group. It sparked a friendship that I will cherish for the rest of my life, no matter what ever happens on the chess board. This is a man that not only shows how to be a good chess player, but also how to be a great person. He is always giving freely of his time and truly wants to help everyone that will let him. I am personally learning as much about myself as I am learning about chess from GM Avetik. Right Mood, Right Move!

In February I became a Pro Member in ChessMood and received the opportunity to have a 1 on 1 lesson with Coach Avetik. I learned a very powerful lesson that day, and it wasnt even on the chess board. The lesson I learned was to know "why" I wanted to do something, whether it was learning to be an expert chess player, or even 'why' I would choose the job I was working. It made me start asking myself 'why' for everything I was doing at the time.

I spent the next few months evaluating everything I wanted from life, but more importantly, what I wanted to give back. I knew at that point chess will be forever at the center of my life, with only my family and my faith coming before it. In May I booked another 1 on 1 with Coach Avetik, and I spoke to him about my conclusions, and asked him if he could help me become a GM. 

His answer will stick with me for all my days. He didnt ask me if I was crazy. He didnt dismiss me by saying that no one at my age has ever accomplished such a feat. No, Coach Avetik looked me in the eye over Skype and asked me 1 simple question in 1 word: Why?! 

And while I had not tried to put it in words previous to that, it was suddenly abundantly clear to me that it was what I was meant to do. I articulated it to Coach Avetik as best I could in words, but I think he saw in my eyes and in my heart, that I knew why I was going to do it, and he agreed by answering me, "Let's make history."

Since June, I have left my sales career of over 22 years, started teaching beginners how to play chess at the local chess club, and have focused most of my time to learning everything I can about chess, with the guidance of Coach Avetik. (I am not recommending everyone make this drastic of a change, I was in a situation I could do this, and it was best for ME to be able to be the best me I can be)

Looking at the end of the year, I realize I became very relaxed in my routine over the last coupe of months, and stopped completing all my daily tasks each day, and worked on the areas I liked most and ignored the areas I was struggling in. This has caused my progression to slow over the last couple months. (And this is EXACTLY why we should reflect on our year, the same way we review a game, so we can correct what we are doing wrong!)

So looking forward towards 2020, I am first going to refocus on finishing ALL my daily activities to improve my game. A very wise man also told me I should write down my goals and share them with the world so I will hold myself accountable to those goals, but MOST importantly, I am reminding myself 'WHY' I am going to accomplish all my goals this year. 

The following is a list of chess goals I will complete in 2020:

1. I will reach 2200+ FIDE rating in 2020

2. I will play 200+ tournament chess games in 2020

3. I will teach 100+ new people to play chess in 2020

4. I will share ChessMood with 1000+ people in 2020

5. I will beat Coach Avetik in a game of chess in 2020

2020 will be a great year for everyone who knows 'WHY' they are pursuing their goals. If you dont already have your vision for 2020, I pray for you to find it, and if you do have your vision for 2020, then I pray for your achievements! Let's all have 20/20 Vision!

Thank you Coach Avetik for your vision in forming ChessMood and bringing us all together! Because of you, I have found my life's vision as well.

With love to all my ChessMood brothers and sisters. Right Mood, Right Move!

Jay

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Thanks Jay! 
Let's do that! 

Inspiring Lesson from a Legendary Coach

Watch this inspiring legend talk about sports and achieving...applying it to Chess might make a difference.

https://www.ted.com/talks/valorie_kondos_field_why_winning_doesn_t_always_equal_success?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

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Wow!!! 
Despite my absolute business I decided to listen to it. 
Thanks for sharing. 
I'll share it with others too. 
Unfortunately, I see so many coaches who make champions in chess breaking their human beings... 

Thank you for sharing this, my friend!

Blunder on the move Qg3

I played Qg3 on black side, and as you can see, in Analysis it shows me a Blunder.. Why is it considered as a Blunder. I see no harm on my side after playing this. This confuses me.

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Not a blunder, a missed mate is what the analysis is.

A better move would have been Rxg2 when the queen was on f4 because after Kxg2, you play Qg3+ and after Kh1, you take Bxf3+ which leads to a forced mate. The whole line looks like this:

1...  Rxg2 

2. Kxg2 Qg3+

3. Kh1 Bxf3+ 

4. Rxf3 Qxf3+

5. Kg1 Bf2+

6. Kf1 Be3+

7. Ke1 Qf2+

8. Kd1 Qd2#

On the 5th move, if your opponent plays Kh2 instead of Kg1, you play Bg3+ followed by Qf2+ and Qh2#. This is all apparently a forced sequence that could have decided the game quicker.

The right continuation starts with Bxf3 and if Rxf3 or gxf3, Qg2 checkmate is coming and black is winning

Puzzle

Ok I feel dumb but I can’t figure this out.

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Is it White to move?

Brad, you should start by looking at all checks, captures and threats.

Assuming white to move, you have a very dangerous double threat you can make and black can not defend against both.

I am sure you  can find it :)

Let me know!

You should try to find motifs, right now white has a very dangerous double threat through a discovered attack... Took me 30 secs to find the solution.

Space matters in chess xixixi

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Hey you can see middle games of chess mood. In almost all of them there is importance of space control. You will understand space concept very well from it

Ahbi, I watched the Maroczy bind free video course yesterday, where GM Avetik explains in a fantastic way the space disadvantage both with the white and black pieces and how to control it. This would be very useful for you.

Knight vs Bishop!

Hey Chessmood Family!

Many players state that bishops are stronger than knights, others have the opposite opinion.

What do you think which side is better and if there are some conditions?

Feel free to share your opinion and ask questions!

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Knights for closed positions or attacking with Queen. Bishops in open or soon to be open positions with Queen’s off the board? That’s at least what I have heard.

GM Gabuzyan, I believe that each piece has its pros and cons. For instance, bisgops are better in open positions and in the side that has space advantage, especially in the endgame, because they can move quickly from one to another edge of the board. On the other hand, knights are better in closed positions, such as stone wall formations, sice they are very useful for maneuvering. I have broken the chinese wall with 16 pawns on the board with my knights against a 1600 player once and managed to win the game, although a piece down. Personally, I like the knights more that the bishops because my opponents can't calculate my multiple attacks and knight moves so properly than the pins from the bishops! Anyway, I also like to checkmate both with knights and bishops :)

Be careful when you touch the f pawn

Here is a short miniature :) 
If you have such games too, feel free to share it here :) 
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3763567825 

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IF White knew their openings and basic chess principles, this probably would not have happened!

1.f4 Bird opening is a fine opening but White needs to be careful.

1.f3 Barnes Opening is just a bad opening  and fools mate can follow eg  1.f3 e5 2.g4 Qh4#

1.e4 e5 2.f4 the Kings Gambit, is another fine opening for White, if White is aware and understands and is careful to guard against the potential king weakness f4 brings.

There are many other "hoody/ie" blunders of similar proportions... How about this classic opening error hoodie blunder:

Djordjevic vs Kovacevic
Bela Crkva (1984)
Trompowsky Attack  ·  0-1

Is this a minature forum or a f-pawn forum.  Here's a nice minature.

https://www.chess.com/daily/game/243730914

Here is another 20 move miniature

http://view.chessbase.com/cbreader/2019/12/27/Game941821703.html

Opening repo with d4

Hi guys I hope you all are doing well in chess. I have a question regarding some lines. So I need some suggestions.

 I am a positional player but I do play e4. I am a alapin player against Sicilian and my score is quite +80%. 

Today  I decided to switch to d4  because I wanna learn more pawn formations and d4 is both tactical and positional I think.

I need suggestions about which setup to choose against

1. Nimzo Indian ( I like to the games of  f3 e3 line played in recent top chess ) is it okay for me?

2. Against direct f5 on move one. ( I played Nc3 against direct f5) Is it fine approach? My point is to get e4 as fast as I can. 

3. King's Indian ( I never studied any games of this lines so pure beginner in this field. I need a promising positional setup not super sharp because I am still on the way to improve my calculation level and due to lack of time I think I can focus on positional chess first and when I will get more time after my future job I will start focus on calculation.

4. Against slav or semi slav ( I normally play exchange queen's gambit )  and my ideas are clear about the pawn formations and pawn levers and typical ideas.

5. Against Gruenfeld? ( I never studied this line but I like the games of Russian System) I do not know plans but I like my pawn center and then passed d pawn . Any suggestions about it?

6. I am a benko gambit player from black's side and I do not know which setup is fine for white against benko. I prefer to play the e4 Bxf1 Kxf1 g3 Kg2 Nf3 Re1 Re2 lines. but still thinks it's passive so I need an idea against it. I also do not like to play passive positions like legendary Kramnik can . I meant g3 Bg2 ideas I do not like because I can not play e4 and another thing is sometimes black's pressure along a6-f1 is tremendous and force white to play e4 and then he black attacks the d3 square and so on. So that's all I know.

I do not know if there are more lines still left against d4  .I seriously need help because I have bunch of books but I need promising ideas. All the variations which I like above is because of the lastest GM's games except against dutch I learnt the idea of rapid e4 from some nice positional lessons of Varuzhan Akobian.

Thanks for all the future suggestions. I am happy to be the part of this family.

Another crutial thing is that I am only 1465 FIDE rated and another thing is online I am above 2000.I do not play events due to lack of time but preparing at home and hoping to come back to events one day and also there is no club near to my home. Nearest club is 200 miles from my home. So this bothers my level .

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I know sir but I already mentioned my current time issues regarding study. I have no time to study books on middle game or attacking chess or endgames because I barely have an hr a day for study so I wanna pick one variation of opening and hoping to understand ideas and plans for both sides so when after my job I will use my full time for middle game and endgames not on openings.

That's my point.

Although I agree with your point too. 

I think your wasting time studying openings.

That's why I said I just wanna learn some structures and general ideas of new openings.

So i will feel fine whenever i need to switch

I do not forget the importance of other phrases of game.

But seems like u guys misunderstood me.

Ahby, when I play the sicilian with the white pieces, I play 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 .... The reason is that if 3. d4 for white, you can learn more variation than the Alapin...

On the other hand, with the black pieces, king's indian defence is one of the most solid openings with 3 advantages:

• the kings goes immediately in safety

• you can improve your maneuvering skills and use of knights, because it usually goes to closed positions

• use of half-open lines and g7 dark-sqared bishop, which can arise from benko gambit as well

Hope that I motivated you to leaen the king's indian defence.  In addition, agamist direct f5 (dutch defence type positions), I choose exchange queen's gambit or the London system, which is an opening quite easy to learn.

What's your rating, Ahby?

Αhby, I have very recently downloaded chess.com and thats why my ratings are low there around 1500. But in lichess, whixh I have been playing for 3 months, I have Ultrabullet:1730  Bullet: 1760  Blitz: 1630  Rapid: 1480  Classic: 1540

I also play the chess variants, 3 check ia my favourite but I can't find good opponents. Send me your lichess name so that I can follow you and challenge you. My is giorgoskehagias509

Sparring partners needed

Hello All,

My kid(12 year old) is for whom I have subscribed to pro membership herein. On our 1-1 call with GM Avetik, his suggestion was to get sparring partners(casual or rated games)  against whom to practice the openings he is learning on this platform(currently Scotch with White & Acc. Dragon with Black). His suggestion was to put it out in the forum as this community can build up on the knowledge gained herein.

His lichess ID is Mkvs715_Chs and hope to see some challeges coming in. 

Thanks

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Hi Sriram M

I am happy to play/practice with any Chess Mood member, as this is the exact same advice I had on my 1:1 call with GM Avetik Grigoryan.

Your kid (boy or girl, or whatever-cryptic handle..just like mine), I see has a high rating already for rapid & blitz on lichess and is clearly much better than myself at these time controls (my rating 1450 approximately at 5 min blitz & my handle is CRR). Do you actually supervise while they play (ToS)?

I wonder if we get to play Chess Mood tournaments at lichess with other Chess Mood members? Do you know (I forgot to ask Avetik)?

As yet, I have not completed any Chess Mood opening course, but I have started a couple and I am just getting to make posts and find my way around here and hope to learn & improve.

Anyway, what timezone are you in, so, if you like, I will know when I can challenge and we can play? I am in UK (so GMT for me). If you do not want to play me, as I am a lower rated player, I understand. I think I would prefer to play unrated training games anyway, so that should be possible. Let's hope we find some sparring partners & can get some good practice in. I look forward to your reply.

Hello Siriam, I am happy to pracrice the chessmood openings with your son, although I'm not a pro member. My lichess ratings are around 1750. Thank you for sharing this.

For all those on 

Chess.com, the ID is :   RightAtom

Looking forward to sparring partners (chessmood family)

Anti-Sicilian Questions #1

1. e4 c5 

2. Nc3 d6 

3. f4 Nf6 

4. Nf3 Nc6

Computer suggest to go Bb5. would this be the variation? If they play Bd7 or Qc7 then Bxc6 has less value in my eyes because your not doubling up your opponents pawn. What game plan should we go into for this scenario? 

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Chessbase 189 actually has a good article about this. The article suggests after Bd7 or Qc7 to retreat to Bc4. So, what's the point? After Bd7 or Qc7, it is no longer so easy for black to play the typical e6-d5 plan because Black's control of the d5 square is not so absolute now

Hey Kevin! 
I am agree with Jeff! 
Actually Nc6 is not so good, because that knight is important. 
For Black better is to start with g6,Bg7 as you can see in Gabuzyan's course about Sicilian Sidelines. 
The idea is, if we go Bb5, Black plays Bd7. Changing the bishop not the knight which fights for important d4 square. 
So Bb5 is a good move! 

P.S Kevin, my big advice: use engine only for checking your games and only check if there were blunders.  

Webinar Questions

Webinar Question

1. How to access Webinar in lichess? When i log into lichess , I go straight to the Study mode, How do I get access to the live Video?

2. I do not have a Chess.com account so if there is a webinar on Chess.com, again i get to see it as a Study in lichess, no video stream?

3. I see the recordings on Youtube, so I see that the stream is on Youtube, yet how can i access it?

Kindly guide.

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Hi Sriram

I get a notification of the seminar/webinar at the Chess Mood events page and that has a link to join & so clicking that opens the YouTube seminar to view!

BtW: I have previously reserved my webinar seat from the ChessMood events page.

I am not sure on your other queries, but I hope this helps. GL!

Hey guys! 
Richard, thank you very much for your answers and help. 
Sriram, in the event section (https://chessmood.com/events) you can go the event, and there will be a link to the live event. 
Also when the event starts, there should be a link on the bottom of the website. 
You didn't see it? 
If not, please contact our support team https://chessmood.com/contact, our girls will help you to solve the problem. 

By the way, do you use FB? I'll add you to our closed group in FB, where I also post the links of events.