Interactive Lesson on "The art of exchanging the Bishops"

Incredible lesson on identifying and trying to get rid of bad bishops https://youtu.be/9W3NHXrs43Y. Didn't even know it existed until today morning. Thank you coach for these lessons

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cool. Enjoy the lessons!

Cool to hear that! 
Thanks, Hunan! 

How to study endgames - efficiently and effectively?

How to study endgames - efficiently and effectively?

When will chessmood post endgames material? 

Thank you.

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If you are below 2000 then my idea will work well for you. I do not know how to answer if you are above 2000. So let me start.

In case of endgames Chessmood will post courses soon this is what coach told me, So, I am also waiting for the material but in this mean time if you want to work alone then I suggest you to work from the book called Silman's Endgame Manual. The good thing about this book is that it covers topics by rating level. For example if you are below 1600 it will show you lucena, Philidor positions and vancura too. So by this way you will slowly learn theoretical endgames and slowly slowly this book will become difficult and make your level to 2000 in theoretical endgames. 

In case of practical endgames I like the book called  Capablanca's Best Chess Endings by Irving Chernev. This book will not only help you in practical endgames but also improve your positional play. So that's all I suggest you.

Another nice point is that if you are below 2000 then as statistics shows that most games are decided in the middle game at below 2000 level so I think working on Chessmood openings, classical games sections from chessmood and other sources such as books on world champs or videos, tactical pattern training from woodpecker method book or any other method which you like, only knowing basics of endgames which silman will show you, daily 2-3 Endgame Studies from Kasparian's book can make you 2000 in an year or may be less depends on your burning desire.

Good luck!

"100 endgames you must know" by Jesus De Villa is very good for a range of levels.

I like Jonathan Hawkins "Amateur to IM" book as well (probably for 1700+)

I know Chessmood recommend it but I was very disappointed with Chernev's Capablanca book and gave my copy away.

I think drilling mainstream positions with a training partner is a good way of training these.

Hey Heri! 
Nice questions. 
We are working now on the endgame courses, and soon we'll upload. 
Today we're going to publish a great article written by GM Hovhannisyan about learning of endgames, and at the end of the article, there will be something cool. 

Alekhine Section 4 4...Bg4

In this variation, after 5. Be2 e6 6. 0-0 Be7 7. c4 Nb6 8. h3 Bh5 9. Nc3 0-0 10. Be3 Nc6?! 11. exd6 cxd6 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5, what exactly should White play after 13...Bxf3? Now, after 14...Bxf3, the c4 pawn is hanging!?

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Ramon, you can take Bb6 first! 
Bro, please post Alekhine related question in the topic of Alekhine Defense, 

Benko Problem!

I was seeing the lines of Benko and found THIS : 

In the video you said that Ne1 is double attack but now I saw my lines carefully and saw that there is a Rook on e6! There is just Rxe1 and white is winning!

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But after Rc2 Rf4 gf4 Nf4 and black is just winning the endgame.

By the way it was already pointed out!! I just now saw that! 

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/some-questions-about-benko-gambit

True! This course will be soon restructured and the mistakes will be fixed. 

Secret Power of Pawns!

it's so useful if anyone comment the useful and educational games in the bottom. I studied this game from a video today and in the resulting endgame I laughed because black had 8 pawns on the board and white's rook was stuck on f1 square. I won't say oh! opening was fine but the middle game and converting passed pawns into win and double rook sac was super educational. In short I can say strategical ideas are super useful. For example. We all know 2 connected pawns on the sixth rank are more powerful than rook but in this game we see this idea in practical sense. 

Try to watch it anywhere and share your thoughts.It's so rare to see 8 pawns in the endgame on GM level hehehe.

Eduard Gufeld vs Lubomir Kavalek 1962.

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Anti-Sicilian Part 3 Question

Recently, in the Anti-Sicilian,  people have been playing e6 first, followed by a6. The moves are like this:

1.e4 c5

2.Nc3 e6

3.f4 a6

And my question is if we keep continuing with our Part 4 plan, he can play d5 since Nh3-Nf4 is not possible since our f-pawn is there. Is there a plan to play against this particular move order?

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It can work, but in this position it would be also useful to learn how to play against the Kan variation.

Yeah Sriram, this is a good way to play for Black. We'll play the same way we were doing against 2...a6, playing Nh3. We'll not have Nf4 option, but still we have initiative and it's very easy to play for White. 
I had this position a lot during the streams. 

Question on Maroczy Bind

In the video 9.Nb3 Qh5 10.Nd5 in the second 1:57 after black can play 12... Ne4 because after 13.g4 black has 13... Qe5 move and black is slight better

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Kevin, can you please, in future post with Screenshot or video link? 
If we are speaking about the same position, after 14.Re1 black loses the knight. 

The best chess cartoon

https://vimeo.com/314770216 

Is there any better cartoon about chess? :) 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kweN7VLx-JE

Hi!

Here are some funny chess videos and a chess history video. Enjoy!

/Kim Skaanning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiBeu-U3sNU - Train tunnel chess - Paul Merton show

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/fwtqq2/kramnik_plays_prank_on_magnus_before_game/ - Kramnik plays prank on Magnus before game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XudCtJc3fsc -  Chess GM Funny Moments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsUASjpU0nY - Chess Fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeB-1F-UKO0 -  A brief history of chess - Alex Gendler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln4yI4zZEJE - Chess Sketch

All the courses are UNLOCKED

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Sir, why can't I download the PGN files?

Thank you very much GM Avetik!, I intend to become promember, just to know what to play against the Rossolimo variation in the order move 5.0-0 instead of 5.d3 and 5.d3 6.0-0. Do you have anything prepared against this? 

I would like to ask a question regarding the accelerated dragon course. Can I use the move order of hyper accelerated dragon 2. ... g6 instead of 2. ... Nc6 to avoid Rossolimo lines and only learn accelerated dragon, sicilian sidelines and maroczy structures against 1. e4?

I'm very impressed with the courses that I've looked at so far (Benko, Maroczy, Grand Prix vs 2...e6). I've been convinced that I should play these lines and I plan to become a pro member soon.

I do have a few questions:

1. There used to be the start of a Najdorf course. What happened to it?

2. Will there be a further course on the Reti/English, for lines that don't transpose to the Maroczy?

3. In the anti-Sicilian course, it seems that the lines are designed for Najdorf players (with an early ...d6). What is recommended vs 2. Nc3 if you want to play the Accelerated Dragon (2...Nc6, 2...g6)?

Petroff Section 8, 5...Nf6 & 6...d5

Is this line a transposition to some French Exchange?

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Stream recording link not working

Trying to check the "Logic of the openings" stream hosted this morning but the link isn't working.Kindly check.

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Seems to be working now

Teaching chess to the kids

Hi,

I would like to know your opinions about:

At what age start to teach them?

How to teach them once they know the basics?

What kind of resources will work with them, books, videos, only apps?

What study plan do you recommend when they just dream with playing against Magnus ? :)

So far my 6yo boy, can give me a checkmate if I am sleepy, is reading his first paper chess book for kids written by Kasparov, plays on chess.com or chesskid.com, I read with him the lessons on Magnus Trainer app, sometimes we play a lot on a board, sometimes we see youtube videos from chess.com, you can see the boy loves chess, but how to teach him correctly , specially to a level which I dont have.

Thanks for your answers :)

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Hi. I think  you should start teaching chess to kids at the age of 5 or 6.  It will take them time to learn but they will learn the basics. For example they might learn the basics in 1 or 2 months. Then, they will improve their chess skills over the months. You can use both apps and videos to teach them the moves and practice chess. 

Hi Edgar! 
I was the director of one of the biggest chess school in Armenia and we had lots of students. 
In one I'm sure, should be not earlier than 6. 
Max 5.5 when you take him to chess school. 
But to just teach him to play chess - you can do it when he's 4 :) 
Just be careful with this: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJyeKiT8g4g 

Daily puzzle wrong? SPOILER ALERT

Hello Chessmood family I have notice an error in today’s Daily puzzle (22 july 2020).

I’m new there so I don’t know if it was been notice yet, but in the last move of the problem i promote to a Rook and even if it was Checkmate it sayed that I went wrong.

Thx reading, hope you’ll fix????

LLimone

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Hi LLimone LLimone

You are right. There is some thing wrong with promotion to rooks in the daily puzzle from 22/7. 
The solution is 1.Bf3 Qd1 2.Kxb4 Qdxf3 3.a8=Q Qxa8 4.f8=Q. 
Both 3.a8=R and 4.f8=R is also solutions, but the dont work.
I think the solution in the database dont have your under promotions.

I think in the current form there are no acceptable alternatives programmed to the daily puzzles, only one answer is accepted. Not regarding the underpromotion issue, this puzzle is still a bit strange, because after White's Qd1+ you still have to find out which move is the shortest mate: Kxb4 (mate in 6), Kc4 (mate in 7) or Bxd1 (mate in 10).  The fair solution would have been just to stop after the (otherwise nice) first move.

You are right LLimone. 
We have this daily puzzles for people to keep their mind in a good shape. 
In future we'll hire better developers who'll fix all such things. 

Idea- Choose Nge2 or GP

Coach as you know my level so what you think which setup is better for me to play against Philidor 

e4 d6 d4 N6 Nc3 e5 Nge2 or e4 d6 Nc3 Grand Prix one?

My old story is that I studied very well Adams attack which comes in Najdorf. 

e4 c5 Nf3 d6 d4 cxd4 Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3 a6 h3 idea is g4 and same kind of maneuvers .Even if black follow up with d5 in this setup still white is fine. I don't remember the moves now because it was yy very old weapon against Najdorf but I do remember maneuvers. 

So I love the Grischuk and Carlsen's idea, But your opinion is valuable for me because I am a beginner too and you suggested that Nge2 setup is good if you are above 2300, I can say my feeling about those Nge2 position is better than GP. Even though I am learning GP and Nge2 but I have I have a lot experience in this structure. 

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Abhi, for now just keep GP Attack. 

NEW ARTICLE: Exchange, Distract, Destroy! The 3 Principles of Attack in Chess

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Nice article!

Thanks for the article with great examples! Amasing moves! 

The book mentioned in the article "Perfect your Chess". Is it the one written by Andrei Volokitin & Vladimir Grabinsky?

A Scotch Game to learn from

A Scotch Game between top Grandmaster's played today.

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Thanks, if chessmood will make a video on it then it would be super if not then I will try to understand it by myself by using this pgn and computers,.

Maybe Nepo is also one of the secret members of ChessMood? :)) 

Game with Benoni

Hi all,

I'd like to share a game I just played OTB. It's a classical 90m/40+30m with 30sec inc per move. It is the first time I've ever played the Benoni  after following Chessmood course.  Game ended with a Queen sacrifice which I'm proud of :-)

[Date "2020.07.20"]

[ECO "A57"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. g3 O-O 8. Bg2 d6

9.bxa6 Bxa6 10. Nge2 Nbd7 11. f4 Qa5 12. O-O Rfb8 13. Qc2 Nb6 14. e4 Nc4

15. h3 Nd7 16. Rf3 Ra7 17. Rb1 Rab7 18. b3 Na3 19. Bxa3 Qxa3 20. Na4 Qxa4

21. bxa4 Rxb1+ 22. Rf1 R1b2 23. Qc1 Rxe2 24. Bf3 Bd4+ 25. Kh1 Rxa2 26. Rd1 Rbb2

27. Rxd4 cxd4 28. Bg4 Rh2+ 0-1

regards,

Duncan

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Nice,useful educational game. It helped me because I am studying Benko Gambit as well.

Hi Duncan! 
Very nice game. 
Just one correction. This is Benko Gambit. Benoni is another one :) 

Upcoming simul

I find the instructions for the simul are somewhat vague, i.e. log on 5 mins before ... where?  live chat again where ..?

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Live stream in youtube will start at 17:55 there

Hey Derek! Sorry for inconvenience. 
Live chat of youtube link we meant. 

Tips for chess study plan

Hello Chess Mood Family

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The best way to divide your time at this rating is: 60% learning from the Chessmood courses, 10% playing games, 20% analyzing and fixing your mistakes, 10% others e.g. solving puzzles or other stuff. I am using this division of time for three months and I had a progress of +100 online points. In addition, check the article "golden rule" in the blog. It will help you to keep a method of not playing much and playing only if you are in the right mood. I think my advice was helpful.

Hey Anurag! 
Study plan is something very personalized thing. 
That's why we jump for 1-1 calls with our new PRO Members. It depends on your level, goals, strong and weak points. 

Studying Kasparov's games

I've started looking at studying Kasparov's games. 

I don't own chessbase, I've not bought as I'm on a Mac , although I think I could get it to work with parallels.

I've signed up for a months premium membership with chess tempo which gives me guess the move , and I've noticed it has 487 games in total. 

I guess for this to be really effective, having a book with the same games analyzed would be useful. I've thought about buying the part 1 book in the we recommend section. I guess I may find the same games are not included though. 

Do people use any different tools for doing this, anyone found chess tempo is sufficient, or do I really need chessbase? Does the standard chessbase include these games or do you also need the database. 

Thanks! Tom

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Karpovs my best games is a great book, as you get in insight into one of chess alltimes greats. 

If you want to study seriously and want to become a strong player, chessbase is needed for sure. 

Have a nice day

Christoph

Hey Thomas! 
Yeah, overall Chessbase is very useful software. 
It also comes with three key I think, so you can share it with your friends. 

https://shop.chessbase.com/en/products/chessbase15 
This one for 119$ is good one to start with.