Chess forum by Grandmasters

Decorative chess set advice for GF

Okay, I think I finally figured out what I want to get my girlfriend for x-mas.

I'd love to get her a nice glass chess set, but I don't know if my budget allows for that.
I'm looking to spend $80-100 on one, maybe a bit more.

Since she is fan of some mystery kind content (Game of Thrones series, Dragon Age game), will it be nice to present https://recroompick.com/best-chess-sets/#product2 a chessboard themed in dragons style? Any opinions?

Thanks, folks!!

Replies

Brian,

First off, if your GF is a chess lover, she is going to appreciate any set you get for her. She is going to like it even more with the amount of effort you give to personalize it for her.

However, I have a couple concerns for you. Concern number one: If she were truly a chess lover, then the best gift you could give her is ChessMood! Concern number 2: If she is a chess lover, why is she not already a member of ChessMood? Concern number 3: If she is already a member of ChessMood, then she is already reading your post and knows what her gift will be! 

All kidding aside, just get her something from the heart and you wont go wrong!

Good luck!

All I could find was the same set you posted. I have seen another that wasn’t glass but I couldn’t find it.

The Champion of October and the Prizes

Replies

Chess.com: 2018 Blitz rating as of Oct 6 

Here is my rating stat in my chess.com account

The goal is 2700!)

Best Games of October and the Prizes

ChessMood Family! 
Under this post, we invite you to post your best games that you will play in October
At the end of the month, we will vote to find the Winner who will join our PRO Members team for 1 month for FREE!

Let's go! 

Replies

This is one of my games to crush my opponent who used grob opening (1.g4). Punishing him in the opening.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4096868697?fbclid=IwAR1gH9UJ_7wyTqfTzynzC5aLQs_LWAOWKTc3VzfT_IwCXY6lP6aVK0qC1QM

This was a fun game for me! 

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4110893971

Nice checkmate)

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4118257992

Wanted to play 4.Nf3 But Mouse slip to e2!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4121272290

Here is a game I played last night over the board with a time control of G90+5. I felt like I was in control of this game from move 3, even with the black pieces!

(I added it to chess.com to be able to share it here)

https://www.chess.com/a/2uR4SFiUNZwLa

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4143186194

Nice bishop sac=)

PICASSSOOO vs Davo_Hakhinyan

Live Chess:Chess.com

1)d4-Nf6 2)c4-g6 3)Nc3-Bg7 4)e4-d6 5)Nf3-o-o 6)Be2-e5 7)o-o-Nc6 8)d5-Ne7 9)b4-Nh5 10)a4-f5 11)c5-Nf4 12)cd-cd 13)Nd2-Ne2 14)Qe2-f4 15)b5-g5 16)f3-h5 17)Ba3-Ng6 18)Nc4-Rf6 19)b6-ab 20)Rab1-g4 21)Nb6-Nh4 22)Na8-Rg6 23)Kh1-gf 24)gf-Bh3 25)Rg1-Bg2 26)Rg2-Rg2 27)Qe1??-Rh2! 28)Kh2-Nf3 29)Kg2-Ne1 30)Re1-Qa8 31)Bd6-Qa5 32)Rc1-Bh6 33)Kf3-Bg7 34)Ke2-Qa6 35)Nb5-Qa4 36)Nc7-Qe4 37)Kf1-Qf3 38)Ke1-Qe3 39)Kd1-f3 40)Rc2-f2 41)Ne6 0-1

Thank you for teaching me the Benko!

[Event "2019 Midwest Class"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "2019.10.13"]

[Round "5"]

[White "Graham, Paul"]

[Black "Me"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "A58"]

[WhiteElo "1935"]

[BlackElo "2019"]

[PlyCount "56"]

[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.22"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. b3 g6 7. Bb2 Bg7 8. g3

O-O 9. Bg2 d6 10. Nh3 Nbd7 11. O-O Qb6 12. Qd2 Rfb8 13. Bc3 c4 14. b4 Bb5 15.

Qb2 Qa6 16. Nd2 Nb6 17. Ne4 Na4 18. Qc2 Nxc3 19. Nxc3 Ba4 20. Nxa4 Qxa4 21.

Qxc4 Rxb4 22. Qc6 Nd7 23. Rab1 Rxb1 24. Rxb1 Qxa2 25. Be4 Nc5 26. Rb4 Nxe4 27.

Qxa8+ Qxa8 28. Rxe4 Be5 0-1

Hi! This was a game played with white pieces in a recent lichess tournament, starting from Bishop's Opening position

https://lichess.org/ARYsnU6F/white

Enjoy!

2 games played over the board

[Event "NÖ LL"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "2019.10.27"]

[Round "3"]

[White "Steiner, Bruno"]

[Black "Khachatouri, Saro"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "A45"]

[WhiteElo "2150"]

[BlackElo "2000"]

[Annotator ""]

[PlyCount "78"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. c3 d6 6. Bc4 g6 7. Ne2 Bg7 8. O-O

e5 $2 9. dxe5 $2 dxe5 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Bb3 Na6 12. Kh1 Nc5 13. f4 Bg4 14. f5

Rad8 15. Qe1 Nd3 16. Qd1 Nf4 17. Rxf4 exf4 18. Qe1 gxf5 19. Nxf4 Qg5 20. Qf2 c6

21. Rf1 Be5 22. g3 Kh8 23. Nf3 Bxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Bxf4 25. gxf4 Qg4 26. Qxg4 fxg4

27. Kg2 Kg7 28. Kg3 h5 29. f5 f6 30. Kh4 Kh6 31. h3 gxh3 32. Kxh3 Rd3+ 33. Kh4

Re3 34. Rd1 Re8 35. Be6 Re7 36. Rd8 Rxe4+ 37. Kh3 Rg7 38. Rh8+ Kg5 39. Rd8 Kf4

0-1

and

[Event "Landesliga Niederösterreich"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "2019.10.06"]

[Round "2"]

[White "Khachatouri, Saro"]

[Black "Mlynek, Peter"]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "B12"]

[WhiteElo "2000"]

[BlackElo "2100"]

[Annotator ""]

[PlyCount "79"]

[EventType "tourn"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 Nd7 7. Nge2 Nb6 8. Bb3

Ne7 9. O-O Ned5 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Be7 13. g4 Bg6 14. f4 Qd7

15. f5 exf5 16. Qf3 (16. Qe2 $1 fxg4 17. e6) 16... f4 17. Bxf4 O-O 18. Rae1 Kh8

19. Re2 Rae8 20. h4 Bxh4 21. g5 Qf5 22. Bc2 Qe6 23. Bb3 Qf5 24. Bc2 Qe6 25. Qh1

Qg4+ 26. Rg2 Qh5 27. Bd1 Bf2+ 28. Kxf2 Qxh1 29. Rxh1 Be4 30. Bf3 Bxf3 31. Kxf3

f6 32. Rgh2 fxg5 33. Rxh7+ Kg8 34. Rh8+ Kf7 35. Rxf8+ Rxf8 36. Bxg5 Ke6+ 37.

Ke3 Rf5 38. Rg1 Kd5 39. Bf4 Rf7 40. Rg6 1-0

Hope it's not too late to submit one. My only rated win against an FM.

Benko main line questions

1. In your repertoire suggestion for the main line with 12.a4, you say that White should sacrifice the bishop (19.Bxg5) and keep the knight. However, keeping the bishop seems more dangerous to me: Bg5 supports the march of the h-pawn and makes it much harder for Black to shift pieces to the kingside (no ..Re7 or ..Qd8). The combined threat of Qg4 and advancing the h-pawn seems extremely dangerous and much easier to play for White. Engines struggle to defend this position and often propose computer moves (e.g. ..f5 pawn sacrifice) as Blacks only chance of survival. Whats your take on this?

2. In the main line with 12.Re1, you recommend 12...Qa5. However, 13.a4 (with play similar to 12.a4) seems very dangerous, as Bd2 will once again come with tempo. Is this reason enough to prefer 12...Qb6 or 12...Ra6?

Thanks!

Peter

Replies

Hey Peter! 
Have you checked the advanced course? I offer to play Qb6 tricky move instead of usual Nbd7. 
Also, my advice - don't go so deep especially analyze openings with engines, if you are not an IM or GM yet. 

Please reserve a 1-1 call in the events section, so we will see, how can I help you the most.

Regards,
Avetik 

Yes I've seen the advanced course. The drawback of 11..Qb6 is that it doesn't connect well with the rest of the repertoire: after 12.Re1 or 12.h3, it's too late to transpose to 11..Nbd7 12.Re1/h3 Qa5.

Since you spend much time showing that 11..Nbd7 12.a4 isn't a straightforward refutation of the Benko and that 12..Qb6 is still quite playable for Black, I thought I'd give that a shot. However, 19.Nxg5 instead of 19.Bxg5 seems to refute your otherwise interesting line, especially in a practical game between humans.

Background: I'm trying to build a repertoire that I can confidently play against CM/FM/IM level opposition in OTB games, knowing that my opponents will prepare for myself. So far I really enjoy the ChessMood opening recommendations for Black. (I play 1.d4/1.c4 as White.) Also the "Crushing opponents with ChessMood openings" streams are great!

Small suggestion: Adding a game index (start time/link and opening played) in the description of the "Crushing opponents with ChessMood openings" videos would make them even more useful!

[Event "Rated Blitz game"][Site "https://lichess.org/pZkrqtky"][Date "2019.10.31"][Round "-"][White "Ardrich"][Black "Spirochete"][Result "0-1"][UTCDate "2019.10.31"][UTCTime "03:05:32"][WhiteRatingDiff "-6"][BlackRatingDiff "+40"][Variant "Standard"][TimeControl "300+0"][ECO "A46"][Opening "Indian Game: Spielmann-Indian"][Termination "Normal"][Annotator "lichess.org"]1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 { A46 Indian Game: Spielmann-Indian } 3. dxc5 b6 4. c6 I don't know how I should reply dxc5 should I have answered with e6 instead?

The Best Games with ChessMood Openings

Replies

This is one of the games from chess.com, which uses the opening system from chessmood--against the anti-sicilian sideline. Develop slowly, attacking the weak spot, and exploit it,

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4097232229?fbclid=IwAR1nC0qJWC0MWpQ0UUQ5T7Z1e_ams8x4v0k2hUOLAh174d4aSnyfSa_H6Z4

Nice checkmate in crushing Sicilian with White (Nc3 move), punish opponent in the center and checkmate him.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4097273760

London System Course

Very interesting and thought provoking course. I also wanted to mention that the overwhelming choice of strong London System specialist against our chosen ChessMood line is:

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 (4.Qd2!? is a specialty of GM Daniel Naroditsky) Bg7 5.h4

Perhaps you could upload an antidote to the above lines in future London System videos.

Best Regards,

Kevin D

Replies

Hey Kevin! 
I know how carefully you check all the lines, so when you say something good, it's very important for me. 
Nc3, so-called Jobava line, will be the next section. 
Jobava line? Or how it called? 

Preparing for a known opponent - part 2

So my next Monday night game is with the white pieces against the Strong FM Pedram Atoufi (rated 2400) and I would love to get a win against him! He plays both the Pirc and the Philidor's Defense. I am including the last 3 games I have played against him (all losses) for reference to the lines he plays. Any help on how I should play is greatly appreciated. 

Game 1 - https://www.chess.com/a/GvXzweq4ZwLa

Game 2 - https://www.chess.com/a/mBDbxUAAZwLa

Game 3 - https://www.chess.com/a/mBDbxUAAZwLa

Replies

Jay last 2 are the same game. 
After g6, Bb5 is a good game! 

Post Analyses of the stream on 23.10

Hey guys! 
We had a few very interesting games.
2 of my opponents were really cheating :)

1 won clearly :)
Here are 3 positions, which I wanted to share with you.

1. I checked my analyses, instead of h4, the move I played in the game is fine, but f4 is giving more advantage! More about it, will be on upcoming course "Crushing Scandinavian" 

2. I played Re3 in the game, but it's better Qc2 immediately, and no worry about Bc4, because of Qa4, and a7,c6 pawn, K on c8 are really weak. I need Rh3 for attack, so Re3 changing the Rooks was a mistakes. 

3. Bhabatosh, you were right, Nd1 was winning, I missed it :) 

Thanks everyone who was with us, hope the stream was valuable.

See you after tomorrow! 

Replies

Preparing for a known opponent

Every Monday night I play a G90+5 game, and this week I got my pairing very early, so I have time to prep for my opponent! 

I will be playing black against an expert level player, and he almost always plays the Kings Indian Attack with white, with his first moves being 1.e4, 2. Nf3, 3. g3 and 4. Bg2.

I have played this gentleman 17 times in over the board play! I am 3 wins 3 draws and 11 losses against him, however we have not played since I started with the ChessMood openings, so I know I can surprise him!

Any ideas how I should play against his set up is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for any help!

Replies

To prepare for this game I re-watched GM Gabuzyan's  Sicilian sidelines course for ideas and studied the games I played with this opponent in the past. Overall I feel I played well, and came away with a victory, even though I tried to throw it away near the end haha!

For those interested, here is the game. (It was played over the board with a time control of G90+5, but I put it into chess.com so I could share it here)

https://www.chess.com/a/2uR4SFiUNZwLa

Hey Jay! 
Against KID Attack, c5, Nc6, g6, Bd7, d6, e5! is a very strong setup as I have explained and played during the streams few times.
Then Nge7, 0-0, h6, Be6 and f5 or d5. 
If op plays somehwere c3, d4, he has a problem with ed4, cd4, Bg4! 

French Defence 3.Bd3: 7...e5 in the main line.

Hello coach, hello everyone

The past week or so I have encountered this line 3 or 4 times (from different opponents):

1.e4 e5 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 dxe4 4.Bxe4 Nf6 5.Bf3 c5 6.Ne2 Nc6 7.Be3 e5!?

The first time I still thought to myself that my opponent was out of book and improvising, but I completely failed to show any advantage in any of those games and even got into serious difficulties in 1 or 2 of them.

So, the fact that I never saw it before and now suddenly in just one week 3 or 4 people have played the same line that brought me trouble, makes me suspect that it is no coincidence and that a new line has been invented/published/advocated somewhere.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

Thanks! Raf

P.S. Slightly off topic, I also encountered 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 Nc6!? and with only 3+0 time, I didn't manage to come up with anything more incisive than 4.exd5, giving away my opening advantage.

Replies

Hey Raf! 
I am so sorry...
I thought it's in the courses but couldn't find.
I am flying back to Armenia, and will check out, if the video is lost, or I forgot to record.
Anyway, will be fixed, sorry about that.

Two words, after 7...e5 you take Bc6 bc, 9.de5 Qd1 10.Kd1 Ng4 11. Nd2! Ne3 12.fe3 then Nf3 and it's a better endgame.

Hey Raf! 
We updated french course with 7...e5. 
Did you like it? 

d4,nf3 and d4,bf4

Hello Coach and ChessMood family, what is the best reply for black against, d4,nf3 or d4,bf4. I face this opening line quite often, let me know your thoughts and ideas, thank you. 

Replies

Hey Bobby! 
Will make a videos soon. 

The WINNERS of September Challenge

It's high time to reveal the WINNERS of September Challenge!

Let's go!

"The Best game of September" goes to Anastasis Koukas!

Replies

Didn't see this until now lol :) I assumed it already expired ? :(

The Hero of October and the Prizes

ChessMood Family!
As we have a very tight-knit community, and many of you help each other, anytime you get help from someone, you can send nice words to that person here. 

At the end of the month together we will vote to find the person who had the most impact on your success (you can't vote for our instructors) 

The Hero of the month will join our PRO Members team for 1 month for Free!

Replies

October 4: Simul Games with IM Shahinyan

Replies

Roger nickname on lichess «cheebahund”

October 2: Simul Games with IM Shahinyan

Hey PRO Members!

On October 2 you can play a Simul Game with IM David Shahinyan.

For participating, please write your Lichess nickname in this post's comment section.  

 He will play 10 tables. So, first come, first served.

The registration will be opened 15 minutes before the start of the event  in  https://lichess.org/simul

Please, don't be late, as you can't join the event if it is already started.

See you!

ChessMood Team

Replies

My LiChess ID is Jayzorac

My lichess name is amicusUK

Spirochete 

KruNamNgern = Bobby

Pawnpusher76 on Lichess

Sicilian Accelerated Dragon

I played last night as black against an NM and we played a mainline Accelerated Dragon with 8...Re8 and we got to the 12...Bb7 line. 

In the video lessons the plan is to play 13...Qc7 and 14... c5 getting our light squared bishop more active and not letting white start his attack on the kingside, since exd5 isnt possible because at the end of the exchanges the white bishop on e3 will hang.

However, my opponent played 13. Bh6 first to trade the dark squared bishops and now Qc7 and c5 isnt working because the bishop isnt on e3 to hang. I ended up going with this plan anyway, sacing the d5 pawn (and a second on c4 after the c5 push) to get activity but was way worse in the endgame 2 pawns down. I did manage a little #SLP and he offered a draw while he was winning because I was making him work very hard to win and a draw gave him first place in the tournament, but I am wondering what a better plan would be after 13. Bh6. 

Thanks in advance for the help!

Here is the game for any who are interested. I loaded it into chess.com so I could share it, but it was an over the board game at a time control of G90+5

https://www.chess.com/a/2qy4MnhHpZwLa

Replies

Hey Jay. 
Nice question.
After g4 good move would be Rd8. Both rooks are interesting. 
You want to take de4 and also to play c5 and even e5 sometimes. If he plays g5, Than you go Nh5 and he has problems with f4 square! (he just changed the dark square bishop). 

Rd8 is strong if played h4, instead of g4, too :) the Same idea. 
Bh6 is a logical move, but the problem of that move, is that is going fight for the center, black wants to play c5 or e5, and with Bh6 white loses time. 

Best Games of September and the Prizes

ChessMood Family! 
Under this post, I invite you to post your best games that you will play in August
At the end of the month, we will vote to find the Winner who will join our PRO Members team for 1 month for FREE!

Let's go! 

Replies

Dont give your opponent time to breath!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4003091346

Starting off nicely with a nice checkmate with castling ! (5 min Blitz game on Chess.com)

Not perfect, but a fun game!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4014071605

[Event "Rated Bullet game"]

[Site "https://lichess.org/yi8JtC1u"]

[Date "2019.09.16"] [Round "-"]

[White "shalmaani"]

[Black "Hasul1"]

[Result "0-1"]

[UTCDate "2019.09.16"]

[UTCTime "13:44:23"]

[WhiteElo "1858"]

[BlackElo "1974"]

[WhiteRatingDiff "-5"]

[BlackRatingDiff "+5"]

[Variant "Standard"]

[TimeControl "60+0"]

[ECO "A00"]

[Opening "Saragossa Opening"]

[Termination "Time forfeit"]

[Annotator "lichess.org"]

1. c3 { A00 Saragossa Opening } g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. g3 Nd7 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O Ne7 7. Re1 O-O 8. Bg5 f5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nbd2 e5 11. d5 e4 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. Qb3 b6 14. Nc6 Nxc6 15. dxc6+ Be6 16. Qa4 a6 17. e3 b5 18. Qa5 g5 19. Nb3 h5 20. Nd4 h4 21. Rac1 hxg3 22. fxg3 Be5 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. Qxc7 Rf7 25. Qa5 Rh7 26. c7 Qh6 27. h3 Bxg3 28. Red1 g4 29. Qb6 gxh3 30. Qb8+ Kg7 31. Qxa8 hxg2 { Black wins on time. } 0-1

Hello Everyone!) I want to show you my beautiful game against strong WGM

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4043578376

{Event Rated Bullet Game}

{Site"https.//Chess.com

{Date "18.09.2019"}

{White IrenaSLO}

{Black Davo_Hakhinyan}

1)e4-c5 2)Nf3-Nc6 3)d4-cd 4)Nd4-g6 5)c4-Nf6 6)Be3-d6 7)f3-Bg7 8)Nc3-o-o 9)Qd2-Nd4 10)Bd4-Be6 11)Be2-a5 12)b3-Nd7 13)o-o-Bd4 14)Qd4-Nc5 15)Nd5-Bd5 16)ed-Qb6 17)Qh4?? (17)Rae1)-Nb3 18)Kh1-Na1 19)Ra1-Qb2 20)Re1-Qa2 21)f4-Qd2 22)f5-a4 23)Qf2-a3 24)Ra1-a2 25)Qf1-Ra3 26)Bf3-Qb2 27)h4-Rc8 28)Be2-Rb3 29)fg-hg 30)Re1-Qb1 31)h5-Qe1 32)Qe1-Rb1 33)Bd1-a1-Q 34)hg-Rd1 35)gf-Kf7 0-1

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4051194896

My game against sicilian with sicilian Nc3 line....crushing kingside and checkmate.

I have not been playing well the last week or so, but this is a fun finish! 

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4060795102

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4077273949

The Champion of September and the Prizes

ChessMood Family! 
The one who raises his rating most in this month will join our PRO Members team for 1 month for FREE!

It can be online and offline (but not the rating of tactics). 
To participate you should screenshot your rating the moment you read this post and add it here. 

At the end of the month, who raised his rating most - he wins! 

Replies

Lets raise those ratings again!

This is where I start Sept! 

FIDE : 1894 (id= 4275330) 

Lichess : 

I think I will have to stop drinking Bourbon while playing blitz to win this one.?

Let's raise the Rating!!

Chess.com 

Daily Rating: 1470

Blitz Rating:2007

Rapid: 2183

USCF: 2018

My Elo is 1550

My goal is 2600)

Hey Champions! Alex raised his rating with 130 points.
Do we have anyone who did more? :) 

Reti opening

What is the most uncomfortable line against the Reti opening?

Replies

I have played Reti as White and I feel that 1...c5 is the most uncomfortable line for White because most White players will not be prepared to play 2.e4 and transpose into the Open Sicilian. There is an excellent course on this for Black with Maroczy Bind Fianchetto Variation video course. However, the drawback of playing 1...c5, is that you have to prepare for the Sicilian if White plays 2.e4. The lines tend to transpose to the Symmetrical English which I personally prefer as Black. 

Hi Loyd! 
Against Nf3 you can also go 1...Nf6.
If 2.g3 then g6.
If white wants to achieve something, soon or lose it will be transposed to Maroczy Bind course. 

Grand Prix Attack is alive!

Grand Prix Attack is alive!

www.chess.com/live/game/4075456298

www.chess.com/live/game/3821980496

www.chess.com/live/game/3669539048

www.chess.com/live/game/3588935148

www.chess.com/live/game/3428137005


You just need to know a few important novelties which you can find in our courses
Grand Prix attack - chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-part-1
Free Starter course (around 3 hours) - chessmood.com/course/1-starter-course-winning-with-white

Check out the results of our members or just go to the courses and learn all this stuff.
chessmood.com/feedback

Good luck!

Replies