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Chess forum by Grandmasters
Modern Benoni Nf3
I used to play Modern Benoni but I always thought the Bf4 Nf3 line was super annoying and more comfortable for White.
1.d4 Nf6 2. C4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Bf4
Replies
I played a lot of Modern Benoni during my professional career.
After Bf4 you include a6, a4, and then there is Re8!? very interesting move with the idea to bring Nbd7, Ne5.
The lines are very complicated. You can check my games in the database.
Scotch Game Question
In the video Crushing 4...Nf6 under 8...Bb7 GM Avetik mentions that if black plays Ba6 after c4 that black will have Rh3 and then the rook lift to a3. I am having a hard time understanding under which situations this will occur, as it seems like in a lot of lines after you play Ra3 black can play Nb5.
For instance, 8...Bb7 9.c4 Ba6 10.Rh3 h6 (or some other move? Rb8?) and then 11. Ra3 Nb5. To me the Ra3 just doesn't seem to fit in.
Thank you for any clarification :)
Replies
Nb4** not Nb5. Couldn't find the edit button
Webinar- How to Win Winning Positions
Hey Champions! Here is the study link.
https://lichess.org/study/hNacK7ho
Let me know if you have any questions :)
Replies
Openings
Hello Chessmood family! How to Play Active in London System with black?
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Hey Dav! Now I am working on that course, and this month it will be uploaded.
What is your main opening against 1.d4?
Bh7 typical bishop Sacrifice
Hey Champions!
During the last webinar, I asked if you know about Bh7 sacrifice, and as there were many "no" answers, today's daily game is dedicated to that topic.
The 1st position. We take 1.Bh7 Kh7 and 2.Ng5!
Can you try to calculate all opponents answers? a. Kh8 b.Kg8 c. Bg5 d.Kg6 e.Kh6
The 2nd position.
Can we go Bh7 again, or Ng5 at first?
The 3rd position. How to continue the attack?
The best answers will get MoodCoins as always!
Replies
More difficult than usual because there is no Bc1, which makes ..Kh6 defenses more viable. This is how far I got in my head:
1st position:
1.Bxh7 Kxh7
2.Ng5+
2a. ..Kh8
3.Qh5+ Kg8
4.Qh7++
2b. ..Kg8
3.Qh5 Bxg5 (..Re8 4.Qh7+ Kf8 5.Qh8++)
4.hxg5 f6
5.g6 --
6. Qh8++
2c. ..Bxg5
3.hxg5+ Kg6 (..Kg8 4.Qh5 as above)
4.Qh5+ Kf5
5.Qh7+ g6
6.Qh3+ Kxg5
7.Qh4+ Kf5
8.g4+ Kf4
9.Qg3+ Kg5
10.f4++
2d. ..Kg6
3.Qd3+ f5
4.exf6+ Kxf6
5.Rh3! Bd6
6.Rf3+ Ke7
7.Nxd5+! exd5
8.Qe3+ and mate
2e. ..Kh6 (best defense)
3.Qd2 Bxg5 (..Kg6 see 2d.; not sure what happens after a queen move such as Qc8; does white have sth. better than Ng5xe6xf8 ?)
4.hxg5+ Kg6
5.Qd3+ f5
6.exf6+ Kf7
7.Qg3! Rg8
8.Rh7 Kf8
9.Rxg7 Rh8
10.Rf7+! Ke8 (otherwise loses rook and queen)
11.Qg7 Rh1+
12.Kd2 and mate
2nd position:
1.Bxh7 Kxh7
2.Ng5+ Kh6
can't find a win here, e.g.,
3.Qd2 fxg5
3.hxg5+ Kg6 with escape route via f7
1.Ng5 fxg5
2.Bxh7 Kxh7 (else 3.Qh5)
3.hxg6+ Kg6 (..Kg8 is 3rd position)
4.Qh5+ Kf5
5.g4+ Kf4
6.Qh2+ Kxg5 (..Kxg4 Qh3+ is similar)
7.f4+ Kxg4
8.Qh3+ Kxf4
9.Ne2+ Kg5
10.Qh5++
1.Ng5 h6
2.Nh7 with ideas such as Bg6, Qh5, exf6 looks strong but didn't calculate to end
3rd position:
1.Rh8+ Kxh8
2.Qh5+ Kg8
3.g6 Rf5
4.Qh7+ Kf8
5.Qh8++
Tactics and Rating Correlation
If anyone is comfortable discussing it... what is your lichess/chess.com tactics rating and your OTB rating? I am trying to see where I compare and if I need to focus more on tactics.
Currently I am 1535ish OTB and my chess.com tactics hovers around 2200.
Replies
I’m currently 2000 OTB and 2000 on chesstempo.com
1800 USCF and 1650 tactics on chess tempo and 2200 on chess.com
Love Czech Pirc
Do u like Czech Pirc.
e4 d6 d4 Nf6 Nc3 c6
Some said to me it's bad for black and bla bla bla.
I think it's amazing.
Any ssuggestions GM?
Replies
e4 d6 d4 Nf6 Nc3 c6
Some said to me it's bad for black and bla bla bla.
I think it's amazing.
Any suggestions GM?]
Didn't you already start a thread about your love for this Opening already? :) Be that as it may I will share my thoughts on it as I too was attracted to this Opening many years ago, but later lost my enthusiasm for the line. White can pose problems for Black in at least two ways, provided he knows what he is doing:
Way number (1) The Positional Approach: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.g4 Bg6 7.Qe2! e6 8.h4! h5 9.g5 Nfd7 10.Bh3 With a pleasant advantage for white.
Way number (2) The Sharper Approach: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4! Qa5 5.Bd3 e5 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be3 Nbd7 8.0-0 Be7 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 0-0 11.Ne2 With a clear advantage.
I don't claim that the above two lines are the refutation of the Pribyl Indian (the other name for the defence), but they were unpleasant enough for me to abandon the defence as a mainline weapon to one best used occasionally in Rapid and Blitz as a surprise weapon.
Thank you Kevin for a great answer!
Myself a few days ago I asked to my GM friend, what is the best against this system, he said the f4 with Bd3!
Daily Game 64 "Opposite Castles Attack"
White to move in both positions. How to attack?
Replies
In the first diagram I wanted to play Ne5 followed by g4 Bxf6 and g5, but after looking at the second diagram it looks like 1. Bxf6, Nxf6 2. g4, Bd6 3. g5 Ne4, 4. h5 Qe7. Or maybe a slightly different move order.
Second diagram: Well my first thought is all of our aggressiveness has not caused black to create a weakness around his king, so I need to force a weakness there. 1. g6 is met with fxg6 hxg6 and h6 locking the king side and 1. h6 gets g6 as a response and neither looks to lead to anything.
So that led me to 1. Bxh7, Kxh7 2. g6+ Kg8 3. h6 crushing the whole king side
I can see you made a response, but can not see what the response was. nor could I see my reply when I replied from my post
New Antisicilian Course
I have a question on the new 2..g6 course. I used to play this line as well with white and in the final position of the dxe5 line, in the endgame after Qd4 Nxc6 Qxa4.. i used to play with Be3. Are you sure that Bd2 is better? To me Be3 feels much more natural, controlling the c5 square and with the idea of going somewhere b3 and c4.
Can you give a little more insight in the position? Thanks!
Replies
Hey Nicolo.
Yeah, Be3 is fine too, but it's more important to put it on a5 and control the d8 square.
Also with that, you leave e half-open line for your R on e1.
Daily Game 65 - How to start the attack?
1. White to move, how to start the attack?
2. To go with Queen somewhere, or not to do? That's the question.
3. Can we play Re5? What do you think about pawn endgame?
Feel free to share your thoughts.
Replies
July Challenge WINNERS!
Dear friends, the July Challenge has ended and here are the winners
1. "The Champion of July" award goes to ChessMood PRO Member Nicolò Pasini who raised 223 points in the last month!
The prize - 1 Month Membership
Congratulations, Champion!
2. "The Best Game of July" award wins Hasmik Kochinyan and gets 1 Month Membership!
Her game got 10 points by ChessMood Family Members.
Congratulations, Hasmik!
3. "The Hero of July" award wins Jay Garrison!
In spite of working hard for developing his chess skills, he found time to help our other members.
The Prize - 1 Month Membership
Congratulations, Hero!
4. "The Best Positional Game" award goes to Derek Lye for his game, where he crushed French defense with 3.Bd3 line.
The prize - 1 Month Membership
Congratulations, Derek!
5. "The Best Endgame" award goes to Kevin Ho.
The Prize - 1 Month Membership
Congratulations Kevin, you had more than one good game this month!
As we announced, we have also surprises!
Here we go!
"The best game by ChessMood Openings" award goes to Jeffrey Cobb for his fantastic game with French 3.Bd3
The Prize - Our traditional "Right Mood" T-shirt
Congratulations, Jeff!
For very cool games William Yen, Mohammad Fahad Rahman, Anna Khachatryan get 50% discount coupon codes in ChessMood.
Congratulations to all the Winners!
Join our AUGUST CHALLENGES in
https://chessmood.com/forum
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Game 67 "Long Term Compensation"
White to move, the knight is attacked, where to go?
Replies
My first thought was to play e5 and counter attack his knight, but after looking at a few lines, it didnt work out well for me. So I started looking at knight moves. Retreating the knightto a2 or b1 looks bad. e2 hangs the e4 pawn. So then I looked at b5, but after axb5, Nxb5 Qc6 giving my opponent full compensation for my sacrifice :/...
So through process of elimination, I looked at Nd5! 1. Nd5, exd5 2. exd5+, Be7 3. Nf5 and thing might get uncomfortable for my opponents king.
Full disclosure: I have heard in the past Nd5 is an idea used against the Najdorf and other Sicilian set ups, so I didnt spend long on the other moves.
The champion of July and the Prize
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
My online ratings are
My current USCF rating is 2003!
This is my chess.com stats. My current FIDE RATING (July) is
| std. 1542 | rapid 1797 | blitz Not rated |
My current Chess.com rating is 1800. (file attached) and my current USCF is 1803.
I have not been focused on my rating for a few weeks, as I have been more focused on just gaining better and deeper knowledge, knowing the rating will have to follow my understanding (Learned this from Coach!) but I also like to compete, so here we go!
I also just like to compete with my fellow members, so when I win, I will donate my prize to second place :) Good luck everyone! And keep the right mood while playing!
FIDE 1853 https://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?event=4275330
Stats on chess.com attached
I think we should have different challenge for live and online rating
At the moment this is my rating on Lichess and chess.com:
https://lichess.org/@/Cheebahund
https://www.chess.com/member/rogerrein
Lichess:
Bullet: 1440
Blitz: 1663
Rapid: 1804
Classical: 1817
Chess.com
Bullett: 1257
Blitz: 1459
This is my ratings
Where?
Hi all!
I have joined the ChessMood family today, so I might be a bit late to the party.
Does Bullet Rating count as well? I have increased 216 rating points on chess.com in bullet (though my blitz rating has suffered a lot during this time as I focused mainly on bullet chess).
Arnav, send us screenshots
Hey Champions!
Who is the champion of July?
Who claims that he raised rating?
Please attach your screenshots, the winner will be the one, who raised his ELO the most :)
My rating has grown tremendously. I'm currently the number 1 ranked player just ahead of Caruana.
No ARNAV, it's not counted :)
I attached my after screenshot to the same post as my original screenshot
Growth for this month! from 2080 to 2303!
The Hero of July and the Prize
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
Very easy:) Poll :)
Jay Garrison gets the award from me. He hops online and takes time out of his schedule to help talk me through games and he also helped me understand Chessbase. Adarsh Tripathi also reached out to help me with Chessbase. I love my chess family!
I vote for Jay as well!
Thanks Arnav!
Thank you!
Thank you guys!
It seems, Jay Garrison is the Hero of July :)
Game 63
In the first position, white played f5.
What are the pros and cons of this move?
In the 2nd position, white to move, what to play?
Replies
Pro, has created a nice outpost for the knight
Con, has activated Black's dark squared bishop
Game 63.
1) Pros : Limiting the activity of Bc8... Opening the c1/h6 diagonal for our bishop... Allowing exchange of dark squares bishops via f4... Allowing a rook lift on h3... Weakening e6 square if Black plays a plan like ...c5-...b5-...Bb7... Allowing a pawn on g4, without playing h3, which doesn't permit rook's lift... Cons : Weakening e4 and e5 squares on a semi-open file (important positional factor)... Opening the b8/h2 diagonal on the White King... Losing the advantage of majority 4 vs 3 on the Kingside in the famous King endgame of Ruy Lopez exchange variation...
2) I believe White's idea is to obtain a passed pawn on the e-file, so I begin with 1.g5. If Black doesn't take I can continue with h4-h5-h6 to open lines on Black King.
Game 62
White to move. How to continue?
Replies
Game 62.
Kings are on opposite sides, so it's important de take initiative on the opponent"s king. Nh6 is badly placed and can't defend on the queenside. A plan like 1.Na4-2.Qc3(tempo)-3.Nc5-4.Qb4 is interesting... If 1.Na4 b5 simply 2.Nc3 (2.Qc3!?!) the black king is even more weak. 1.b4 is also interesting to open lines on the Black King 1.b4 Bf3 2.Rf3 Qb4 3.Rb1 but I believe Black can defend with 3...Qa5.
Grunfeld
Hi coach and everyone!!,
Is Grunfeld better to learn then modern Benoni if I don't play Benko?
Thanks,
Marc
Replies
Marc, did you check the webinar I have sent you the link?
Grunfeld is also fine.
Best Games of July and Prizes!
Under this post, I invite you to post your best games that you will play in July.
At the end of the month, we will vote to find the winners in these 3 nominations.
1. The most beautiful game
2. The best positional game
3. The best endgame
The winners will join our PRO Members team for 1 month for FREE!
Replies
This game was played yesterday against a 1720 USCF rated opponent.
Nice moments:
13.c4 - Closing the position and neutralizing my opponent's two bishops advantage. Blockades the opponent's doubled pawns. "Restrain, Blockade, Destroy" - Nimzowitwch
22. h4 - Preventing opponent's counterplay on the kingside so taking no risks.After that I decided to bring my pieces to the best possible positions due to my opponent's lack of counterplay. Example: Move 26-29 (Bringing my king to the queenside in order to help support my rook and prevent any possible infiltration along the d-file.
32.Ne1 - My knight is headed to d3 where it will increase the pressure on the c5-pawn. My opponent only has 3 pieces that can defend the pawn while I have four. That was the downside of having the two bishops advantage. (They control opposite colored squares). This move also provokes ...g5 which is my opponent's only source of counterplay otherwise it would be a slow painful death. However ...g5 creates another weakness on the kingside leading to Black having two weaknesses. (Maybe 3 if you consider the d-file.
Here is a Game that is crushing with ChessMood openings and is in July!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3831301010
And another quick knock out!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3831875940
Gonna be tough competition!
It's just 1+0 game:) But it was a nice attack :)
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3835059238
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3834281787
Event: Marshall Chess Club Weekend Open, Round 1
White: William Yen (2160)
Black : Joshua Ethan Chong (1889)
Time Control: G/90 +30
1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 Be7 3. d3 d5 4. g3 Nf6
5. Bg2 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O O-O 8. e5 Nd7
9. c4 d4 10. h4 Qc7 11. Re1 a6 12. Nbd2 Rb8
13. b3 b5 14. Nf1 bxc4 15. bxc4 Nb6 16. N1h2 Na4
17. Ng5 Nc3 18. Qh5 Bxg5 19. hxg5 Nb4 20. Ng4 Bb7
21. Nf6+ gxf6 22. exf6 Kh8 23. Bf4 Qc8 24. Be5 Nxd3
25. g6 Ne2+ 26. Rxe2 fxg6 27. f7+ Nxe5 28. Qxe5#
Not the most precise and technical game, but I think the ending is aesthetically pleasing :)
awesome
Nice Attacking Game + Exchange Sacrifice
[Event "2019 World Open"][Site "?"][Date "2019.07.04"][Round "3"][White "Rivers, Ryan"][Black "Kevin"][Result "0-1"][ECO "A57"][WhiteElo "1871"][BlackElo "2003"][Annotator "klhoc"][PlyCount "72"][SourceVersionDate "2018.12.22"]1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 e6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. Nxd5 Bb7 8. Nc3Be7 9. e4 Bxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qa4 (11. Qd5 Qa5+ 12. Ke2 Qxb5+ 13. Kf3 Qxf1)11... Nf6 12. Bf4 O-O 13. O-O-O Qb6 14. Nf3 axb5 15. Qxa8 Na6 16. Bc7 Nxc7 17.Qa3 Ra8 18. Qe3 Ncd5 19. Qg5 Nb4 20. a3 Nc6 21. Ne5 h6 22. Qe3 Nxe5 23. Qxe5Bf8 24. h4 b4 25. Rh3 d5 26. Rg3 Kh8 27. Be2 Bd6 28. Qe3 Bxg3 29. fxg3 bxa3 30.bxa3 Rb8 31. Kd2 Qa5+ 32. Kc1 c4 33. Bf3 Rb3 34. Rxd5 Qxa3+ 35. Kd2 Rxe3 36.Rd8+ Kh7 0-1
Punish your opponents
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3853861248
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3854101888
[Event "CCC Bastille Plus-Score #42"][Site "?"][Date "2019.07.14"][Round "2"][White "?"][Black "Kevin"][Result "0-1"][ECO "A58"][WhiteElo "1936"][BlackElo "1989"][PlyCount "46"][SourceVersionDate "2018.12.22"]1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 b5 5. cxb5 a6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. bxa6 Bxa6 8. g3O-O 9. Bg2 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Re1 Qa5 12. Qc2 Nb6 13. e4 Nfd7 14. Bd2 Nc4 15.Bg5 Nxb2 16. Bxe7 Rfe8 17. Bxd6 Bxc3 18. Re3 Bg7 19. Bh3 Nc4 20. Bxd7 Nxe3 21.fxe3 Bxa1 22. Bxe8 Rxe8 23. Qxc5 Qxa2 0-1
Correction, this is a Closed Sicilian Crush
https://www.chess.com/daily/game/231679302
Accelerated Dragon breathing fire!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3869591186
Another Accelerated Dragon
https://www.chess.com/live?#g=3869639721
Punishing our opponents
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3871571913
I will also put my game :) :)
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3872810388
Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2019
Game 4
05.07.2019
Hasmik Kochinyan-Sergeev Nikita
1 e4-e6 2 d4-d5 3 Bd3-Nf6 4 e5-Nd7 5 Ne2-c5 6 c3-Nc6 7 a3-Qb6 8 b4-cd 9 cd-a6 10 Be3-Be7 11 o-o o-o 12 Nf4-Rc8 13 Qh5-Nf8 14 Rd1-Ng6 15 Nc3-Bd7 16 Nce2-Bf8 17 Nh3-Ne7 18 Ng5-h6 19 Nf7-Kf7 20 Nf4-Rc8 21 Ng6-Be8 22 Qf3-Nf5 23 Bf5-ef 24 Qf5-Kg8 25 Qf8-Kh7 26 Ne7-Qe6 27 Nc8-Rc8 28 Rc1
(1-0)
Punished by death! Or Checkmate, whichever you prefer :)
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3880929728
Fun attack, sacrificing a rook!
https://www.chess.com/daily/game/225118790
Hey Champions!
It's time to find the winner!
The game, which gets the most likes till the end of 01.08 will be the winner.
Let's vote :)
Game 60
White to move. What plan to choose?
Replies
Either Qg3 or Ng3, if Qg3 white can play bh7, or Ng3, nf5 pressuring the g7 pawn and bringing in the queen??
Another forced mate lost :(
I put my Queen on e8 giving it to Blacks eager Rook :( see if you can solve the mate. I did it when I looked at it without any pressure. I wanted to cry.
Replies
Many mates!
1.Rf8 Bxf8 2. Qf7 Kh8 3.Qxf8
1. Qf7 followed by Qxf8
Brad, just solve a lots of puzzles in chesstempo.com
