Suggestions on how to play the Sicilian Defense: Closed 3.Nf3

I am finding nearly all my games as black ending up in a closed Sicilian.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3

Am I right in thinking your courses currently don't cover this opening? I have been searching through them.  Any tips or further resources you can point me to would be appreciated

Thanks!

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Something else I thought I'd get your thoughts on , I'm having to select little bits to concentrate on, as I'm finding learning these lines is taking a lot of time.

I've been wondering whether to learn to play one of the white lines as black and white, ie petroff defence, scotch , french.... I'd be interested what you thought of this, could potentially give me a deeper understanding of it , while reducing the number of courses I'd need to learn?

One observation is that for newer members , a learning plan would be useful :)

Hi Thomas Sanderson

I suggest that you after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 playes 2...Nc6. After 2...d6 white can play 3,Nf3 (or 3.Nge2) and 4.d4. Maybe black can play 3..e5, but it is a different structure than we normaly play. There are some lines in the game. 

The opening repertoire can be used for the rest of your life, so don't worry that it will take some time to learn. 

Maybe you can play through some of the pgn fast, so you can start blitzing the ChessMood opening repertoire. Read the artikel "Golden Method to Increase Online Rating in Chess" in the forum. It is a good artikel that will help you to learn the opening repertoire and make you a better chesspalyer.

/Kim Skaanning

I've just discovered this position in one of the videos:

Monthly Webinar with PRO Members: Typical Mistakes

https://youtu.be/jaj3GsAlLVg?t=2026

Sicilian part 2

Hey GM Avetik (and PRO community) - what do you recommend after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qc7 4.Nf3 (looks best) a6.

Played against me the other day, and I got no advantage.  There are few games in ChessBase databases, and engine says equal! 

Nigel

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Hey I think I can answer to your question.Here I anylize that postion and after Qc7  Nf3 e6 0-0 a6 Bc6 Qc6(that is the reason other way pown stractur will be crushed) play d4 aand you have advantage in this position.Olso if I can some how help you please like my post so I can get some Moodcoins!Thanks very much!

Cool - thanks Avetik and Suren - will do some work on it.

Question on Anti Sicilian 2.Nc3!? course Part 5

Hi, for the Anti Sicilian with 2.Nc3!? course part 5, i was worried about 9...Nxd7 move after the 8...Bd7 move in the main line. I used to play it as Black which usually the games follow 10.Bb5 Bg7 11.Bxc6 bc6 12.Qxc6 Rc8 13.Qf3 Bxc3+, and i was usually quite happy as black to get the pawns doubled on the c file. Is there anything better for White after 9...Nxd7 move?

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Hey! 
After Bb5, instead of taking on c6, it's better to play 0-0 and Rd1! 

Wathching 1 min 34s was enough to win !

Winning a game with Black (G15/10 on chess.com) after watching  the conclusion of the course  " Crushing All the Sicilian's Sidelines"  .  Iam not a Sicilian player. The game is short. But I was happy to navigate through the opening with one move : d5

https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/game/?p=UCC0VF56ilQmRf3QLrT75mMQXTkcR1pXBZD7qYVkGSm0UXzy/3Tmu/r1mWgwcfEU

analyse done w/o a computer. 

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Hehe :) 

Anti-Sicilian Open (Part 1)

In the Anti-Sicilian Open (Part 1)  I'm curious how you would continue if black developed Nf6 before g6, Bg7. 

This is how I continued kinda going with the theme of our opening but should I have pushed e3 instead of Bc4? Can I exploit my opponents position if he goes Nf6 before g6, Bg7? Attached is a screen shot of what I'm referencing. Thanks!

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nf6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4

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Kevin, from your last FB photo, I guessed you are working on this. 
Bro, you can play Bc4, 0-0 and transpose to our course. 

But why Black doesn't start with Nf6? It gives additional option e5!? and Bb5 check, and then e5!
Both are very dangerous for Black. 

Wishful thinking solutions?

I am suffering from this?

Any ideas?

I try to calculate but at some point my intuition and wishful thinking bothers me

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Right Calculation technique - is one of the hardest parts in chess. 

Question on Benko Gambit Section 3 - 5.e3

In the line of 5.e3, after 5...e6  6.Nc3 exd5 7.Nxd5 Bb7 8.Nxf6 Qxf6 can I know how should black play in order to get the initiative in this position?

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Koek, about this line, soon will be an advanced section. 
But for now, you just play Be7, 0-0 and d5. 

Petroff - Advanced Section

First off I really enjoyed your Petroff course, and it was clear to see how much time and effort went into researching and refining the various lines. Now I would like to make two requests regarding the Advance Section: 

1) I think it would be useful to illustrate in the following line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Nf6 10.Bd3 c5 11.Rhe1 Be6 12.Bg5 d5 13.Qf4 Re8 14.Re5 Qc7 the differences why 14...Qc7 works tactically but 14...Qd6 or 14...Qb8 which control the same diagonal do not. 

2) In the following line where the course only considered ...Bg4 continuations, would it be possible to upload a short clip/clips explaining the most effective setup to employ after: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.d4 Be7 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 Nbd7 [8...c5; 8...Nc6] 9.Re1 Re8 Intending b6 and Bb7 a setup much favoured by Chinese players. 

Thanks so much for your tireless dedication.
 

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Hey Kevin! 
Thanks for your nice words. 

1. It's impossible to cover all the moves, Kevin. Especially here when there are almost no games played. 
Qc7 makes sense, so Black wants to play Ng4. 
If Qd6, then even simple Rde1 is killing.
If Qb8, then Bf5. 

Anyway, after Qc7, the tactic with Bh7 was not working. 

2. These lines are very rare lines, but in the future will be covered. 

Scotch

GM Avetik, I love your videos on the Scotch.  Two players in a row played 4...Ne5 against me.  What strategy do you recommend against this move.  I believe I played 5. f4 and both players responded with 5...Ng6.

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Hi Dennis Helmuth

I think 4...Ne5 is a bad move. It waste a tempo, and gives white more control in the center. I have made some generals thoughts. Maybe you can use it similar situations the next time your opponent play a silly move.

/Kim Skaanning

Playing With A Opponent You Know Before

 It Very Funny Situation For Me.  Currently, My Rating is 1563 & My Opponent is Around 1500 And My Score Against Him Is Low (His 12 & I am 10)& Against My Second Opponent  His Rating Around 1900 My Score Is Very Good (His 0 & I am 5)

And My Question is With My 1st Opponent My Rating Is Higher Why I am Not Beating Him With A Fair Score And With My 2nd Opponent  My Score Very Good Why I am Stuck At 1563 And He Has Successfully Reached 1900 We All Are The Same Age.

It Will Be Helpful If Anyone Can Help Me Out!

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Hi Aasyush Shirodkar

Caro-Kann - Advance Section

Hello ChessMood family, recently a DVD has been released with the following recommendation against our preferred setup: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.Ne2 e6!? 7.Bf4 Bd6 at first glance you would think White should have little trouble making progress here, but Black's plan of  Nge7 followed by f6 at some point is extremely difficult to breakdown, see the illustrative games as proof. Therefore I'm asking the ChessMood team of GM's how best to go about breaking down Black's position.

Thanks and warm regards.

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Hey Kevin! 
Good question. 
We will take a look.

Maroczy Bind 10.h3!

Hi

I played Sicilian Defense, Accelerated Dragon before.

But in Maroczy Bind,I have a headache problem.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bg7 5. c4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8.
Be2 d6 9. O-O Bd7 10. h3 !

idea is after 10... Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. Qc2 a5 13. Rad1 Nd7 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. Bg4 Ne5

because h3 pawn protect g4 Bishop,white have a strong move now

16.c5!

after 16.c5!, black position is uncomfortable for me.

in database white also have good grade about this line.(82%)

is there any good plan or idea to against this h3 idea?

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Hi Yang Sung Jui

Look at this post

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/new-trendy-line-in-the-maroczy

/Kim Skaanning

modern defense

Modern defense is a very ambitious line where you give away the center to your opponents and attacking from the very first move. It's very dynamic line good for attacking players.If White doesn't know what's going on, he's in big trouble.This opening is played by attacking players such as Peter Svidler,Alexander Morozovich,Azmaiparashvili,Chernyshov,Jonathan Speelman and GM Hillarp Tiger Pearson and IM Cyrus Lakdawala are well known and have wrote books in this openings.

What do you think about this agressive opening?

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I think White needs a clear and cohesive attacking scheme to combat both the Modern and the Pirc which is flexible enough to avoid being move-ordered. I like the so called 150 Attack setup and the best move-order to get it against the Modern is to go: 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Be3!? now black has a big choice to make, transpose to the Pirc with 4....Nf6 and allow the 150 Attack, or try to stay in Modern waters with something else and risk an inferior King's Indian or inferior Pirc. The suggested setup also has something else going for it, the seal of approval of Anish Giri.

Aswin, I like the modern defence very much, since I am a very aggresive player. I often play the Hungarian opening for white 1. g3 e5 2. Bg2 d5 3. d3 Nf6 4. Nf3 (or e3) Be6 and then thinking about castling. I often transpose it into Hippopotamus setup, and have beaten even 1900 players with these openings. Currently, I am 1780 blitz on lichess.org and I have to say that my opponents have far more little theoretical knowledge than me ( the chessmood courses have made me very confident in the way I play my repetoire). I don't play the Pirc defence a lot, because I find it a bit passive opening, and my opponents know how to play against it. The key to play the Modern defence is to give to your opponent the centre, but from the 4th move you start to undermine it, without trying to occupy it yourself. It is true that the openings starting with 1. g3 or 1. ... g3 are very fexible and can ajust to any opening which includes a fianchetto of the kingside Bishop. 

Modern will sooner become a novelty! Why? If you look at the chess live book, the best reply e4 is 1...c5. The second best reply is 1...g6! 

Grandmasters vs PRO Members!

Hey Champions! 
How are you doing? 
 
I have cool news for you! 
As I told the last time, you gonna have many games vs Grandmasters, during the period.
So here we go: 
In less than 1 hour we have a tournament where 5 Grandmasters join it: https://www.chess.com/live#r=171520  

+ 

On 24, Tuesday - 1-1 Games, GM Gabuzyan vs PRO Members 
On 25, Wednesday - Simul Game:  GM Ter Sahakyan vs PRO Members
On 26, Thursday - 1-1 Games, GM Gabuzyan vs PRO Members  
On 27, Friday - 1-1 Games, GM Gabuzyan vs PRO Members   
On 28, Saturday - Simul Game: You guys vs me :D :D :D  

Let's beat COVID-19 boredom, and use this period to speed up the growth. 
With our Grandmasters team, we will do our best.  

For more info about the schedule of events and how to participate, you can find in the link below: 
https://chessmood.com/events  

Right Mood - Right Move ​​​​

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great!

Question

How do i become aggressive and always have a right mood ?

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For having a nice mood listen to relaxing music and sit in the nature for 10-20 min before a game in tournament.for becaming aggressive you can see the anti-sicilian in chessmood which i like very much and also read jacob agard's books like FIRE ON THE BOARD.

How to become agressive you mean in chess? :) 

If you want to play passive-aggressive chess study Tigran Petrosians games ;-)

Najdorf Sicilian player handling anti Sicilian

How a najdorf Sicilian player treat anti Sicilian 

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If you mean 2.Nc3, it's not easy :) 

Hi Muhammad Qasam Qasam

If you look at the course "Crushing All the Sicilian's Sidelines" it is also made for a Najdorf player. Anti sicilian lines are with 2...d6. I think you can use it.

/Kim Skaanning

NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENSE

Hello GM Avetik. Could you create a complete black course with the Nimzoindian defense please?

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Arturo, we create one opening repertoire, which is best for getting 2400 rating.
It is done due to long masterminds with the best Grandmasters and best coaches in the world. 

One of my favorite openings for black against 1.d4 is kings indian alhthough it is not included in chessmood openings.

Petroff trap

Hey coach, this was what I was mentioning in the chat about a trap in the Petroff when black plays 3...Ne4. IM Rosen put out this video about a year ago and I ran across it in a training game.  Basically black is hoping that white plays Bf4 to hold on to his extra pawn and then black plays g5/f5 and wins material pretty quickly. White still holds the advantage if played correctly and doesn't play Bf4, but it seemed very sharp over the board, especially in a faster time control (30+10).  Anyway, here is the video link if interested!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v89vJ6GWVBc

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Hey Matt! 
A cool question.  
I checked it and Eric's videos too. 
Quite decent stuff. 
I am not sure if Bf4 is the best. I had in my files 10.Nb5, which also gives white a big advantage in the endgame. 
I will check it out more carefully with the cloud engine and will upload it in the advanced course. 

Hey Champions! 
The advanced section about 3...Ne4 is ready. 

Game of the Month and Weekly Chess.com tournament

I'm having a little problem with the Game of the Month and how winners are selected as well as the seeming bias to blitz games. For the last two months, at least, a highly rated player playing with a 3 minute time control has won the contest.  If this is the criteria, then I see little point in submitting my own games for consideration.  What chance do I have against players rated 700 points stronger than me, and I don't play 3 minute games?

I sort of have the same beef with the weekly tournament on Chess.com. I don't like 3 minute blitz and what chance, realistically, do have against the competition that shows up on a weekly basis? 

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Hi Jeffrey! 
Unfortunately, right now we have only this competition. 
As there are just 5 places, of course not everyone can win :( 
If in future we come up with other competitions, we will let you know! 

pgn file saved from opening video sections

Hi everyone - I have saved down several of the pgn files that are helpfully provided in each section, and I'm busy building them out.  But I can't find any way in ChessBase to delete the opening words "Dear Chessmood PRO Member! Here you have a draft file...."

I would never want to delete any of GM Avetik's words of wisdom... except these ones!  Any idea how to do so?  Any other ChessBase user got any tips?

Nigel

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Hey Nigel! 
You just double click on the text and delete that :) 
By the way, download the last file, Petroff PGN + Homework. You will love it.