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Chess forum by Grandmasters
Punishing opponents!
My opponent clearing isnt a Pro member at ChessMood, as he premoved Ba6 but I didnt play the tired and boring c4, I had played h4! and then scoped a free premoved bishop :) GG
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3748508558
Replies
:D :D :D
I think he isn't a PRO Member, as he just resigned :) He doesn't know about SLP :)
Game 1
Dear Friends, dear PRO Members.
As you know from tomorrow, every day I will upload a commented game.
Here is the position of the 1st game.
Black to move. How to play?
Would love to hear your comments.
This will help you a lot, thinking about the position before watching the game!
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Honestly, I believe I know this position... The idea is to play ...Bg4 and to take on f3 to double up the pawns on the f-file. So The white bishop is sealed by his f2 pawn and the black pawns, and can't never replay. Or maybe after giving a pawn in f4, and play f3 and Bg1...(for sure it will be mate before this !). I think White do not exchange queens, it will be easier for Black to play with an extra piece. White do try c3 idea d4 to unlock his bishop, even at the price of a pawn. But with a rook on d8, it will be a difficult task... My problem is : what do I do, if White do nothing ? As I am strong in the center, maybe I prepare ...f5, tripling on the f-file to attack the weakness on f3... My king is wide opened but only his queen can attack. An other plan is to play after 1...Bg4 2.c3 Bf3 3.g3 Rfd8 Queen somewhere and ...f6 to overprotect e5 and try to open the queenside with an extra piece... In a game, I'm not sure I will realize the advantage so easily...
Lock the g3 bishop after Bg4xf3 with f6 and play with an extra piece on the queenside
I have the 2 bishops and more space in the center and king side. I like the plan of Be6 - c4, or maybe even c4! immediately to open the game for my bishops. I will also take control of the d-file with my rooks. If I am able to capture on d3, he will forever have a weakness there and if he captures on c4 I will get the open file. I do have to be mindful of my e5 pawn as he has some pressure there.
Here we go! The first game Winter-Capablanca!
https://chessmood.com/course/daily-commented-games/episode/498
Too much time on openings
I confess - I spend too much time looking at openings. I study one opening - play it at the club and when I lose I switch to something else, and then another,and another, and after a long time I still haven't picked a repertoire.
Is there a simple, bare-bones repertoire for a club player where I can sit at the board with some confidence, some preparation - not even an advantage - and just play chess?
I'm in the chess opening rabbit hole and need a commitment to something that isn't overwhelming.
Thanks for any input.
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Chessmood Openings
There is this site, where a group of very strong GMs got together and talked about what openings would be best for non gm players to learn that was both solid and aggressive. Where these non GM players could watch videos about the most current theory to help these players come out of the opening with confidence, and in good positions. These strong GMs also stream live events to show these non GM players how these openings work in practice and not just theory. These same GMs ALSO make them selves available to answer any questions these non GM players may have!
Now... If I could just remember the name of that site...
You need to pick up your opening repertoire and stick with it (unless your results are really bad), understand your and your opponents plans. If your opponent surprises you with a move, just follow the main opening principles:
- Developing your pieces
- Castle
- Connect your rooks and bring them to central files (or files which are open or going to open)
- Fight for the center
You could play the KIA (King's Indian attack) as White against most openings (especially against French-type positions). You could also consider playing the exchange QGD, the Colle or the London. The English opening is another good choice, but has more theory. I would suggest sticking with 1.d4/1.Nf3/1.c4 if you want a positional game with comparatively less theory or playing 1.b3 for surprise value.
However, if you want to choose something less theoretical as Black, the Stonewall Dutch or the Modern are great options, although I cannot vouch for the soundness of the latter in all variations. You could also play the QGD, but this will increase the amount of theory you have to learn (because of a possible Catalan).
Summing up, I would say the English opening and the Stonewall Dutch serves your purpose. Both are openings that aren't too theoretical, but require good positional and sometimes tactical understanding from both players.
Agree!
Hey Man!
One of our members noted very well: You don't need to spend too much time on openings before you get 2000!
But also you should have right openings with you! Right openings which will help you accelerate your growth!
It's cool, that you are asking these questions in a website, where with our Grandmaster we created step-by-step openings :)
Check it out :)
Modern Maroczy - The 3rd section is uploaded!
The 3rd section is uploaded!
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Friends, before we edit and upload the course, here I will give you a few positions to think.
The answers you can find in the course :)
Here is the 1st one! Black to move...
Black to move again...
This one is played by one of our PRO Members, GM Kislinsky Alexey! :) Black to move!
Is there a way to win this endgame for black?
If yes- what's the plan?
Good evening champions!
Enjoy! :)
https://chessmood.com/course/modern-maroczy-bind
Is there a way to win this endamage for black?
If yes- what's the plan?
Black to move!
Similar idea!
Black to move :)
Find a plan for black in these 3 positions.
Champions, the 2nd section is ready!
I also added one more video in the 1st section called " Important trick", explaining why d6 and only after that Nd4. Check it out!
Right Mood - Right Move
Champions, the 3rd section is uploaded!
https://chessmood.com/course/modern-maroczy-bind
Enjoy:)
Ask me Anything Webinar Notes
- These are my notes from the "Ask me Anything" webinar. I only took notes on the questions that I thought were most useful to me. To get the full webinar, feel free to go to the recording.
How much do you study per day?
- depends on your goal
- slowly improve: ~1 hour
- a lot of time (5+ hours) to improve a lot
- be productive, rest if needed
- try to study as much as you can
What do you recommend against Rossolimo?
- System with ...g6 where Black recaptures with ...dxc6 after Bxc6
- Check Carlsen's games on how he handles the Rossolimo
What did you do to become GM?
- have a burning desire, hard work, and determination
- find people that will help you on your journey
- understand why I wanted to become GM
How to properly use engine?
- engine is not always right, don't blindly trust it
- check only blunders with engine
- don't work strategical/positional positions with engine
What to do for crucial games? When you have to win?
- don't panic and don't relax at the same time
What is the optimal training environment?
- environment where you can grow and enjoy
- use trustworthy sources
- surround yourself with people that have already achieved what you want to achieve
Blindfold Training
- important but overestimated
- much more important to have a database of games in your mind
- good for calculation
Time spent studying v. Time spent playing
- if you play a lot, spend more time studying vice versa
- learn knowledge followed by playing
Concentration
- turn off worries, take out the "trash"
- forbidden to watch other's games when playing
- 100% concentration
- don't go on social media before the tournament because that will only increase "trash"
- turn off everything and focus before the game
- motivate yourself
Training Advice
- watch a lot of games and understand ideas etc.
- the number of games you play for blitz should be equivalent to the number of rounds in your usual tournament
- around 1 hour of tactics/puzzle
- find books where the author played the games or used the Recommended Page to see what books GM Avetik recommends
- find sparring partners around your level
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Thanks for sharing your work !
A super job Kevin!!
Thank you for sharing and helping others!
You have amazing note taking skills! Thank you for sharing!
Amazing!!!
Thanks so much
Need some help..and advice
Sir ..i was rated around 1850 in lichess....i couldn't afford a coach so i tried working hard online watching videos...and surfing...thing around...i seriously want to improve my ratings...i dont know what is my original rating...as i had not attended any tournaments...i can do any thing to improve my chess career....please help me to reach 2500......??.....just tell me what should i do...i can work hard on anything.....thx
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First of all lichess rating starts from1500.so Ur just started playing chess..
I recommend couple of things...
Do tactics everyday...this is the most effective way of increasing Ur rating..because at this level more than 50%games are decided on tactics.......
Secondly study some endgames..the books like 100 endgames u must know ....
After studied that book throughly Ur HV pretty good knowledge of. Endgames..Ur understanding of endgame increases....that will help u...
Now start reading some chess blogs...that will increse Ur interest in chess...Ur will read some amazing insight of game.. tournament..and other
U need 6~12 months to do that depending upon how mush time u afford to give regularly
Ur overall game will increase
Here are the 3 important steps!
1 Why you want that? Have a definite answer to that question. You should have a very strong answer!
2 Burning desire to do that!
3 Massive, determined action
3a- If you are a PRO Member- you have already a big advantage, you know the direction, you have mentors.
a1Watch the courses, watch the streams and put in practice. Don't afraid to get out of the comfort zone. We grow only when we are not in the comfort zone!
a2 Explore chess books from chessmood.com/we-recommend
a3 Solve puzzles minimum of 30 minutes a day!
You'll see big progress in a few months!
3b- If you are not our PRO Member
b1- Find good sources to learn - Good FB groups, good youtube channels, if you can't afford to have a coach - find friends who can help you or you can grow helping each other.
The rest is the same. Explore chess books, solve puzzles. Of course, having a coach or mentor - is a big shortcut- but if you can't afford it - That's the way.
You will find good resources here: chessmood.com/we-recommend
A video link about how effectively explore chess books https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Tw1iNDfas&t=913s
Friends, and don't forget about the Right Mood! Right Mood generates Right Moves!
Tactical skill and positional understanding are very important as is knowledge of some basic endgames. Doing tactics helps a lot, but you'll need to do quite a lot of tactics with varying themes and levels of difficulty to achieve something big. Reading (and understanding!) some books like "How to reassess your chess" and "The Amateur's Mind" (both by IM Jeremy Silman) helps to improve your strategic skills as would many of Dvoretsky's books (Advanced material warning!). You might want to brush up your knowledge of endgames (rook endgames in particular, as well as pawn endgames) by understanding what to do in endgames rather than memorizing long theoretical variations.
I would also suggest choosing yourself a 'pet' opening. If you already know an opening (and like it!) then you could easily make it more fire-proof, by looking for novelties and ideas everywhere. One last thing, never be afraid of playing an opening or gambit that leads to a position deemed unclear as sometimes there is always a possibility that the opening may be better than its reputation. Use any good material to learn openings, but I suggest checking all lines with an engine and by yourself before playing it. That way, you can avoid any unpleasant surprises by hanging a piece in the first 10 moves. I should know, I've done that a few times ;)
Best of luck!
Hello my Chess brothers I need some practice
Hey guys I need some practice ! Hi guys this is Eric the old biker dude eating a little bit of practice on the board. Not sure what the rating is now but at one time 30 years ago I made it to 1800 I’m sure it’s a lot lower . I work very strange hours so getting games in is a little bit of a challenge . If you feel that you have some time to spare send me a message I would love to go over this fine instruction that I’m trying to learn here . Thanks Brothers for all your kind attention and stay free in the wind ! as I go take my motorcycle for a ride !
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It'd be useful if you added what time you can play. At the weekend, I'm free if you're interested
Hi Eric
I'm in Oz so my timezone at UTC +8 can be a challenge however may match your strange hours?? On Lichess as Patrick-66
Old biker dude :D :D :D
Super job guys!
Hopefully soon we will have a chat in chessmood, so you can message each other not going to other platform :)
I am available many times now. You can always reach out to me when you want to play!
Our Nice Games
ChessMood Family!
In the comment section let's post our best games played online or offline and support each other!
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https://www.chess.com/live/game/3730862141
It seems I need to add this game in the 2nd section of the course "Nightmare of Rossolimo" 
:D
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3730797031
Anti_Sicilian with Nc3!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3735942348
one of my best play in benko gambit..thank to chessmood... learning chess with more motivate after. join chessmood pro
Our New PRO Members! Welcome to team!
Derek JY , Raf De Coninck , Kavin Nattavutthisit Wallace Howard , Mark Knerr, Anu
Welcome to our team ?
Here you can find about our teammates:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChessmoodPRO/permalink/384093582386242/
Would be cool, if you also introduce yourself.
Warm welcome, guys ?
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Welcome!
Patrick Oliver, Jack Zhu! Welcome to our PRO Members team!
Welcome to the team!
Mate Janosik! Welcome to the team!
hi
Hello guys!
Nightmare of Rossolimo!
Dear friends, dear PRO Members.
With your request, I started to work on the course Rossolimo for black! We will kill at as Carlsen do!
I just finished the 1st section, I'll edit it today and upload!
Right Mood - Right Move!
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Nice! Thank you!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3730862141
It seems I need to add this game in the 2nd section of the course "Nightmare of Rossolimo" :D
English Opening
Is there a line where we can get good play against the english?
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You don't like Maroczy Bind?
Best preparation for an OTB Open Tournament ?
I'll play an OTB Open tournament in one month : 1h30/40 - 30' +[30"]. I'll will play the Opening Repertoire suggested here, even if I'm not ready yet... Is there a special preparation ? more tactics ? more opening preparation ? something else ? Thanks.
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Probably do many tactics before the tournament to be sharp then focus on openings before your game.
Mr. Pascual, take a good rest before. You need energy!
I agree with Kirk, some work for the calculation can be solving puzzles.
It's also a great idea to play some sparring games trying our opening repertoire.
You can play with any of our team members, so you don't show your secrets to others :)
I think proper physical fitness is also important.If the game lasts longer,we need good energy levels.I agree with the prior replies.I consider physical one of the important factor now a days.We can see that fit player like magnus has great results.While vishy is strong in his game,he lacks fitness.Which played a major role during his recent tournaments
Can black survive?
Black to move...
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If Qf2 I don't see anything, but I may be wrong
We have the first Grandmaster PRO Member!
We have the first GM Pro Member!
Alexey Kislinsky, welcome to team :)
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Welcome!
New Project for PRO Members
Dear Friends!
I am very excited to announce that from the 1st of June we start a new project for PRO Members!
As many of you have problems in the middlegame, I will analyze and upload 1 classical game each day explaining ideas, plans, what and why.
This will help you a lot with middlegame, as you will see so many new ideas, which will grow your chess understanding and your chess level.
#Let's_keep_constant_growth
With best wishes,
GM Avetik
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Looking forward to it coach!
How to Play for a Win against the Maroczy Bind?
The Accelerated Dragon is a very solid and sound opening, but as the title suggests it is exteremely difficult to generate any winning chances against the acid test, that being the Maroczy Bind. To make matters worse for Black some aggresive new ideas have recently surfaced that make the Bind even more potent than before. Below are a couple of illustrative games to highlight how White can cut across two popular plans Black typically employs:
Fier,A (2561) - Ahmad,Al Khatib (2336) [B36]
25th Abu Dhabi Masters Abu Dhabi UAE (7.23), 13.08.2018
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.f3! Bg7 9.Be3 0-0 10.Qd2 a5 11.Na4 Nd7 12.0-0-0! Relatively rare but very strong b6 13.h4 Ba6 14.Kb1 Nc5 15.Nc3 f5 16.h5 fxe4 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qd5+ Rf7 20.Qxe4 Qc8 21.Bd3 Rf6 22.Qd5+ e6 23.Qxd6 Bxc4 24.Be4 Rb8 25.Rc1 b5 26.b3 Qe8 27.Bg5 Rf8 28.Qh2 Rf5 29.Qh7+ Kf7 30.Bh6 Qf8 31.Bxg7 Qxg7 32.Qxg7+ 1-0 My conclusion is that 12.0-0-0 closes the chapter on 11...Nd7, but perhaps 11...Be6 deserves deeper investigation.
Sousa,Andre Ventura (2373) - Pintor,S (2040) [B38]
6th Famalicao Open 2018 Vila Nova de Famalicao POR (4.6), 31.07.2018
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6 9.f3! Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bd7 11.Qd2 a5 12.h4! h5 13.0-0-0! Very strong a4 14.g4 e5 15.Be3 hxg4 16.Bg5 gxf3 17.Bxf3 Qc8 18.h5 Nxh5 19.Bxh5 gxh5 20.Bh6 f6 21.Rdg1 Rf7 22.Rxh5 Qc5 23.Qg2 a3 24.Bxg7 Qe3+ 25.Kc2 Qxg1 26.Rh8# 1-0 Again this 0-0-0 idea poses serious problems for Black, and forces him to consider his early move order and typical plans very carefully. Who knew that this Yugoslav Attack style play that we see in the regular Dragon would also prove effective in Maroczy Bind as well.
So ChessMood family I welcome your thoughts an ideas on how to generate some winning chances against the dreaded Bind.
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Kevin, good question!
Right now I am working on the new course, advanced Maroczy Bind, which will be ready soon!
Closed Sicilian with 2... g6
One of my recent opponent played 1.e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6. I didn't know it so I played f4 but I got a bad position out of the opening (in the end I drew the game). After the game I found out that the main move is d4, so what would you advise me to play if I meet g6 again?
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Fantastic answer by Kevin!
In the first game 14.Qa6 I believe is the strongest move!
About Rb8, need to check...
There is also a quite interesting idea against 2...g6 3.d4 cd 4.Qd4 Nf6 5.Be3!? Bg7 6.Qd2!
Idea is going to dragon line without wastng time on Bc4 and Bb3!
It's a very fresh idea played by GM Demchenko againt GM Dubov.
By the way after we get a clear advantage, the 2...g6 will be the 5th part Anti-Sicilian!
Sorry guys I mistakenly deleted my earlier post, oops :( Let me try to reconstruct it as best I can. I had expressed that I too was wondering how best to meet 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6!?, as 3.d4 recommended by both GM Robin Van-Kampen on chess24 and GM Alexei Kornev in his book Rossolimo and friends didn't seem fully convincing to me. See below games for details:
Dastan,B (2520) - Nguyen,P (2421) [B27]
Graz Open A 2018 Graz AUT (6.3), 21.02.2018
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6 7.e5 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Bg7 9.Bb5
0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bxc6 Rb8!? 12.0-0 Qc7 13.Re1 Rb6!N 14.Bf3 Bb7 15.Bf4 Qc8 16.Bxb7
Qxb7 17.Qa3 Rb4 18.Bg3 Rc8 19.Rad1 Bf8! with excellent compensation.
Jovanovic,Zo CRO (2518) - Guseinov,G (2664) [B23]
European Rapid 2018 Skopje MKD (11.7), 09.12.2018
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6 7.e5 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Bg7 9.Bb5 0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bxc6 Bd7 12.0-0 Rc8 13.Bxd7 Qxd7 [with sufficient compensation] 14.Be3 Qxa4 15.Nxa4 Rxc2 16.Rac1 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Nd5 18.Bd2 Bd4 19.Rc4 e5 20.Kf1 f6 21.Ke2 g5 22.g3 Kf7 23.Nc3 Rd8 24.Nxd5 Rxd5 25.Be3 Bxe3 26.Kxe3 a5 27.g4 Kg6 28.h3 h5 29.Ke2 h4 30.b3 Rb5 31.Kd3 Rd5+ 32.Ke2 Rb5 33.Kd3 Rd5+ ½-½
GM Guseinov is an Accelerated Dragon specialist whose games are well worth studying, and curiously he also specialises in the 2.Nc3 Anti-Sicilian for White.
Thanks very much for your input GM Avetik, I will check out the Demchenko vs Dubov game for sure and look forward to the fifth part of the Anti-Sicilian Course.
Right mood right move as always. :)
Crushing with Scotch game!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3680234628
And again h4! :)
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Fun game!
Another #SLP!
Keep saving a few of these. How about all of you?
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/3715269030
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Bro, wrong link... You should give us the link without that ...analyze...
Time Management Notes Part 1
- These are my notes from the webinar
Knowing chess and playing chess are very different
Don’t recommend to play a lot of correspondence games
Basic Problems with Time Management
Play too slow
Time pressure
Not enough time for the rest of the game
Some players spend too much time in the opening stage which does not allow them to have the time they need when faced with critical positions later on in the game
Losing due to time pressure is not a good excuse
Chess is just a game: At home, chess is a science as you try to find the best moves. However in a game, it is just a game. Since you have limited time, you cannot find the best moves every time.
Don’t try to find the best moves all the time unless it is a critical moment
Play too fast
Quality of moves goes down
Some players spend too much time in the opening stage which does not allow them to have the time they need when faced with critical positions later on in the game
Noticing critical positions
Comes with experience
Be aware that at some point of the game, there will be critical moments
Spend more time in critical moments
Standard Games v. Blitz Games
Cannot play blitz games as good as standard games
Play as many good moves as possible
Knowing the opening well or playing must-play moves can save time; can lead to spending more time in the future than your opponent
Good time management leads to higher-quality games
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These are great notes! Thanks for posting them!
Wooooow!!!
Kevin, super!!!
Fantastic!!! I am shocked!
It seems you liked the webinar and took lots of value from there.
Thank you for sharing your notes!
