Chess forum by Grandmasters

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Hey friends! 
What's your most favorite design? :) 

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Saw followed by gentlemen followed by the one that was the most popular

#SLP

Another lost position saved!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/3780172919

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Good job! 
Jay, we have a special post SLP, so we collect all our SLPs there))

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/slp 

Awesome! I hate to lose so SLP is always great!

Fun Game!

There were a few errors where I tried to throw away the win, but a fun game non the less!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/3762160286

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Be6! :) 

I like it Jay. Go on and on and on. ????

Another fun one!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/3782839479

Benko Gambit

Hey all, 

I wanted to share a question in the Benko that I had from a game I played this last weekend in a tournament. I was playing black against a strong FM rated 2392, and ithe 5.Nc3 line he played 8. a4. I spent a good amount of my time trying to work this out and got myself in trouble first on the board and later on the clock. 

Here are the moves : 1. d4, Nf6 2. c4, c5 3. d5, b5 4. cb, a6 5. Nc3, ab 6. e4, b4 7. Nb5, d6 8. a4

How can we best answer this move? I took the pawn, but didnt follow up well and got tied up.

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Hey Jay ! When you say "I took the pawn" is it ...Ne4 or ...ba3 en passant ?

Hi Jay,

This variation is the Nescafe Frappe Attack (lol) and we should take the e4 pawn with knight or just continue developing with g6 or Nbd7 but not bxa3. I added a pgn for details.

Mate! Perfect answer! 

Game 6 Neutralizing opponent's attack

This is the position from my game. I was playing with white. 
Black wants to play g5, g4 and start a dangerous attack.
How to neutralize the attack?  

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Ne1 and f3 :)

I just watch the video : extremely convincing ! Congratulations. 

This game taught me to act on the  position, and not out of general considerations. Instead of 0-0, I had to play g5 or even a5!?, But my problem was that I didn’t assume that White could seriously fight for e5 square

Move Order in Grand Prix

What do you recommend against this? 

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Ne7

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The 5th move d4 immediately! 

Punishing opponents!

I was waiting for my brother to meet me for a few drinks and played a game from my phone and had to share!

https://lichess.org/P5VLHuIm

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Easy)) 

beating Scandinavian defence

Somehow I dont do well against prepared players with scandinavian defence.

I want to know if g3 would be good to play after 3....Qd8 .

I am copying one bullet game for reference . @GM Avetik do you have plan to show how to play against Pirc and Scandinavian ?

https://www.chess.com/live/game/3775256162

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In one of the live streams, he commented on a system with 3.Nf3 4.Be2 and delaying d4. 

For Pirc, there was a setup with 1.e4 2.d4 3.Nc3 4.Be3 5.f3 6.Qd2 7.0-0-0 8.Nge2 and attack on kingside

I'm agree Agree with Kevin :) 

Yeah, Bhabatosh, we are working now on that 2 courses. 

Daily Commentated Games PGNs

Here are my annotated PGNS from the Daily Commentated Games! :) 

I used arrows and commentary from GM Avetik's explanation. 

Game 1: Winter - Capablanca

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Game 2: Andersson - Qi 

Game 3: Petrosian - Sax 

Thank you Kevin !

Kevin the great! 

That's awesome, cheers Kevin!

Thx Kevin. You are good!

Game 4: Alekhine - Capablanca

Game 5: Reti - Yates

Game 6: Grigoryan - Hovhannisyan

Game 8: Petrosian - Bannik

Game 9: Petrosian - Schweber 

French without ... c5

wrt the French.

Do you have a recommendation if Black refrains from playing c5 as for example

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Mr. Simpson, I didn't find any game in the database... 

Mr. Simpson, after Bd6 I think Nd2 is very strong with Nc4! 
Onischuk, one of the experts of 3.Bd3 line is coming to Yerevan today, to play some tournament, I will try to arrange some webinar with him. 
Let's see :) 

Study Group

Hey fellow Pro Members!

Over the next few months, I am going to be working deeper on our ChessMood openings and filling in my PGN files, so I can remember all the lines better. 

I am looking for anyone who wants to study with me, play these openings together, and discuss the ideas of the opening as we fill in the PGN files. We will work on 1 opening section per day so we don't confuse ourselves. The goal is to know all of our openings inside and out in the next 90 days! Everyone is welcome! Even our GMs, if they have time and want to pop in to give us words of wisdom!

I will be starting each morning at 9 am PST and working till 11 am PST on the ChessMood openings. I will be starting this tomorrow morning, since it is short notice for today, and will be working on this every day at the same time. I know the time wont work for everyone all the time, but I hope some of you will be able to make it once in a while.

If you would like to join me, please download the free voice chat app Discord and join my channel - https://discord.gg/fhZ2SP9 - so we can talk to each other while we work. It is ok if your English isn't the best, no one here will judge you, but it is important to be able to communicate. 

I will be starting with the white openings, and this week will be the Scotch. Please take the time to watch the first section before we start if you can. I look forward to seeing you all over the coming weeks and watching all of us grow in our knowledge!

Feel free to ask any questions about this study group below. I hope you all join me!

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Re: Subscription Options

I have been a monthly Pro-Member since March this year and have been billed for 4 Months (March, April, May and June) thus far. I am considering changing my Subscription Option to Bi-Annually and have two queries:

1. This is now June, if I immediately change my subscription option to the six month one, will I be billed straight away or six months from the date the subscription type was changed.

2. I am currently a satisfied customer, but If for some reason I needed to cancel my subscription, how do I do it. I only ask because I didn't find the answer when I searched the FAQ on the website.

Best Regards,

Kevin D

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Hey Kevin! 
1. Can you please clarify what do you mean?
2. You can write to support@chessmood.com and we will unsubscribe you anytime you wish.

In future, please feel free to send all technical issues and questions not related chess to our customer support mail support@chessmood.com

With best wishes,
Any 

Game 9

White to Move! 
Find Petrosian's move! 

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What about attacking the c-pawn? It's looking for me that this is blacks biggest weakness. Nb3 followed by the Q or the R. And maybe find another weakness to attack? E-pawn?

Your world champion Petrosian is too deep for my mind. His positional play was unbelievable. 

I think I prefer ”my” Tigran Petrosyan. My coach suits me better.  ?

I want to arrange my pieces like that : Bb5-Nc4-Ng3- Rc1-Rc2-b3-Qb2. The idea is to put a Knight on f5 to play against dark square Bishop. If I achieve to exchange all the other pieces, the endgame is easily winning, Black has two weaknesses h6 pawn and my passed pawn on d5. Then the White King enters to opponent's lungs ! As Black want to play Ne8-d6 I start with 1.Bb5 to exchange.

Game 8

Hey, champions! 
Here I have positions for you to think, before watching game 8! :) 

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1) I try to win in force by 1.Be7 Ke7 2. Nd5 Kd8 3.Bh3 (threatening 4.Bd7 Bd7 5.Nf6 but 3...f5 is enough for Black, but not 3...Re8 4.Nf6 Re7 5.Nh7. I have played such positions with Black, and I know the bishop c8 is a good one, and the f1 Bishop isn't, after ...c6. So I want to exchange light squares bishop. Before I will play h4 threatening h5 weakening Black's Kingside. So 1.Be7 Ke7 2.Nd5 Kd8 3.h4 (Black's knight can't move) 3...c6 4.Ne3 Kc7 5.Bh3...

2) I want to go on d7 with my rook. Black can't exchange rooks on the d-file, because b7 is hanging. My plan is Kc2-Kc3-b4-Kb4 and a5. But I found a defense with 1...Re8 and ...Re7. So maybe I do play faster...1.b4 a) 1...ab4 2.a5 Nc4 3.Rd7 Kc8  4.Rb7 Na5 5.Ra7 b) 1...Nc4 2.Rd7 Kc8 3.Rb7 and h7 is a weakness. c) 1...Ra8 2.Ne6 Kb8 (2...Kc8 3.Td8 mate) 3.Rd8 Ka7 (3...Nc8 4.Rh8) 4.ba5 Nc4 5.Ra8 Ka8 6.Nf8 h6 7.Nd7 f5 8.Nb6 Nb6 9.ab6 White is winning in the pawn endgame because Black king is paralyzed...

3) Here is a position where I don't achieve too much with 1.a4 a5 2.Nc5 Re7. In the diagram, Black threaten ...h6 and ...f5. My plan is to play 1.g4 and go with my king on f5. On 1...Nd7 2.Rd7 Kd7 3.Nc5 Ke7 4.Ne6 Ke6 5.Kd2 f5 Black is ok. But I can slowly improve my position with 2.Rd3 and then the king is coming...

4) A different story, I want to play an endgame good Knight vs bad Bishop without any rooks. There is one weakness on f6, I will try to create another one on the other side to achieve the full point. 1.Bb6 ab6 2.Rd8 Rd8 3.g4 Rd4 4.f3 then 5.Rd1. after Rook's exchange, the position I want to achieve is a king on e4 a Knight on a4 and pawns on a3 and b4.

Maroczy Bind 4rd and 5th sections!

Before I edit and upload the videos, I offer you to find the best moves and plans! 
In all the positions black to move! 

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1) I have to defend against Bb6 paralyzing my pieces. I want to exchange Black bishops weakening dark squares. 1...Bb2 2.Rc2 Ba3 3.Bb6 Bb4 4.Kc1 Bd7 idea ...Rc6 and ...Bc5. If White exchanges on c5, I play ...dc5, not allowing my opponent to play b4 one day. I have a strong point on d4 for my rooks and later my king.

2) I want to fight against bishop pair. 1...Bb2 2.Rb1 Ba3 3.Rfd1 Nd7 (3...a4 4.b4 Ne4 5.Rd3) with the idea ...Bc5.

3) TV concept so 1...b5 a) 2.cb5 Ne4 3.Ne4 Ba1 b) 2.Nb5 Ne4 3.fe4 Ba1 c) 2.Rc1 bc4 3.Bc4 Bc4 4.bc4 Rc4 5.Ba7 Qa5 6.Bd4 (6.Be3 Ne4)...Ne4 7.Ne4(7.fe4 Bd4) Rc1...If 6.Qe3 Ng4...

Good Job, Mr. Pascual! 

Just finished watching section 5, high quality stuff as usual and providing much food for thought. Perhaps you could add one more clip covering the following related line which was omitted: 

 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.f3 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Bg7 9.Be3 0-0 10.Qd2 Be6 11.Rc1 Qa5 12.Nd5!? This has been recommended by one or two authors as promising for White and is often faced in practice.

I should also mention that Quality Chess Publishing, released a  Repertoire Book for White last year entitled Playing 1.e4. In the book they analyse your alternative to the 7...Nxd4 line given above in some detail. Below is a brief snippet highlighting  the direction of their analysis:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.f3 Bg7 8.Be3 0-0 9.Be2 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 a5 [11...Bc6 12.0-0-0] 12.h4! Maroczy Bind played in the spirit of the Yugoslav Attack 12...a4 [12...Bc6 13.0-0-0; 12...h5 13.0-0-0 a4 14.g4] 13.h5 Qa5 14.g4 With a promising attack.

The above method of treating the Maroczy Bind for White, that is, aiming to 0-0-0 and launch a mating attack is highly unusual and has not fully caught on yet, but it looks quite dangerous for Black to me and deserves careful study. 

Game 7

Black to move :) 

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A difficult one for me... I believe White want to play g4 gaining space on the kingside, and threatening g5 as the center is closed. I want to play against the c4 pawn with ...Qa4 ...Ba6 and ...Na5. So let's begin with ...Qd7 not allowing g4. If White wants to help me they play 2.h3 Kh8 3.g4 h5 4.g5 Qh3 5.gf6 gf6 threatening ...Rg8. In fact I think about one hour on this position, to conclude I understand possibilities, but I am not able de find any concrete moves.

QD7? keeping an eye on g4 square?

Good job!!! 

Good with a break? What experiences do you have?

Back in Norway. Back in games. Played a ”tournament” on the plane. 5-2 in my favour. Close to 6-2, but lost connection with 1.40 left on time while the opponent had 12 seconds, and good position. I think 14 days break was a good idea ?

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Welcome back! 

It's always a great idea to have some break. 
It opens your appetite :) 

I believe it's true even in relationship :) 
What do you think? 

Short break, go some vacation for a few days and come back to a lovely wife.
It's cool, yeah? )) 

Queen vs Rooks Mamedyarov- Aronian

Champions, what did it remind you g5 move? 

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It's really good to see these endings occur ;)

About our beloved Bishop Pair...

Two days ago, I watched an Armageddon game between Carlsen and Anand... We all know the importance of bishop pair, and the game was 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Be7 Can you explain this concept of giving this dark square bishop so early in a relatively open game without damaging pawn structure ?

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As long as Black keeps the pawn structure closed or at least not open, he should be fine. Black often wants to gain space with ...d6-...f5 in this structure so the dark-squared bishop would be bad anyway. 

Queen vs two rooks - Part 2

Dear ChessMood Family, dear friends!
After we learned the most important factors playing in positions queen vs. two rooks, now I am going to offer you an interesting position. 
 

White to move. 
Is it a draw, won or lost?   

If you haven't read the 1st part - here is the link https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/queen-vs-2-rooks 

Looking forward to seeing your comments! 
 

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In this position, White's king is quite safe. White will most likely target Black's a-pawn by doubling up on the a-file. Black is hopeless against this idea because his king is too far away from the action. This means that Black cannot win this position. However, after White wins the pawn, I find it very hard to win as White. One of the rooks have to be on the back rank protecting against any checkmate ideas. If White decides to move any of the pawns in front of his king and get his rooks on the 7th rank to win the f7-pawn, White's king is weak and can be exposed to a lot of checks leading to a draw. 

This position is probably drawn with White fighting for the win and Black fighting for the draw. 

Air for the king. Attack queen with rooks and try to come to the 7. rank with both rooks to attack a-pawn and whites king. Maybe try to take the a-pawn first. And then try to go to 7th rank and attack white pawns and king. 

It's a draw. By doubling rooks white cannot freely move anywhere there should be a rook in 1 St rank for protecting king.

White is probably winning since he will easily win a7 and slowly coordinate on f7 with both his rooks.

Cool! 
Anyone who said it's draw. 
White plan Ra3, Rfa1, Ra7, g3, h4, (preparing space for king on h2) and then Rc7,Raa7 and take the f pawn. If black gives Qd1 check, Kh2! :)
So it's draw or White wins? :) 

So, we should first state that white fights for a win, black for a draw. 

White's plan is to double rooks on the a pawn then on the f pawn, winning them.

However Black advances his pawns on the queenside and weakens white king, threatens mate or perpetual, I played a sample variation just to show it. 

Also if white has pawns on f2 g2 g3, his king will have a shelter on h2, and the rooks win with careful play, black can't really weaken white king.

Also check out Leko-Kramnik 2004 World Championship Match Game 1, where Kramnik won with the two rooks, here is the link: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1306138.

If you have questions with my sample variation, feel free to ask.