Chess forum by Grandmasters

Daily Games Questions

Hey Champions! 
I added questions for upcoming 3 games. 
Try to think and find answers. Yeah, and feel free to post your thoughts and questions.
I will cover them during recording the videos. 

You will take twice more value if you think about the positions first and then see the video. 

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/daily-games 

#COGRO  (Constant Growth) 

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Positional Question.

I have a question. In this diagram why is Bxe4 the best move for black?

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1...Bxe4 2. Qxe4, Qh6+ picking up the rook on g7

Modern Maroczy: Advanced Section

Hey Champions! 
Today I recorded a few lines of the advanced section.
Before we edit and upload I offer you to solve these positions which you will meet in the upcoming advanced section".  

The 1st position- Caruana played here Kf2 a very strong novelty! What's the idea? 
2nd position- White wants to play Ra1 and trap our queen. What to do? 

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Really tough strategic problems here...

1st one I guess he wants to go Rad1 but just keeping the king close to the center because of the incoming endgame after Nd5...but I can't see more ideas than that one.

2nd one I might be way off but since I do not want to change queen for rook+knight I'd go for a5, Ra1 Qb4, Qxb4 axb4, Nd5 Bxd5, cxd5 f5 and I think I have enough activity to compensate for the weak b4 pawn...

Looking forward for the solution!

I couldn't find these new videos in the Advanced Section of The Modern Maroczy Bind, have they been uploaded yet?

Regards,

Kevin,D

Modern Maroczy question

While I was reviewing Modern Maroczy, I didn't flip the board and found an incredible breakthrough for white. In Section 2 video 18 at 07:41 I initially marked it as winning for black, but white goes c5 and wins. I'll try to analyze it and post my conclusions.

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Here is my brief analysis after  some 40 minutes:

Hello Mate, 

You are correct, c5! does lead to a winning position for White. 

However, I believe I have found an improvement over 29...Kg7 with 29...Kf7! with the idea of ...e6 and b5!. This idea is very interesting and my analysis shows that Black will be able to reach objectively equal positions where Black is the side fighting for the win. It is a win or draw scenario. 

Here is my analysis: 

Hope this helps!

Wow-wow-woooow!!!!
Great Job guys! 
I really missed c5 for white! 
Kevin, Mate, you both did a nice analysis! 
Actually purpose of the video was to show, that endings are not death draw, and there are lot's of room for mistakes still, for both sides! 
You just proved it with your analyses! 

I feel Mate's Kg7 is better and gives more chances for black! I will make corrections in the course!

Thank you! 

Fixed the mistakes, will edit the videos upload the right answers! 

Guys, here are the corrections. 

https://chessmood.com/course/modern-maroczy-bind/episode/580
https://chessmood.com/course/modern-maroczy-bind/episode/581  

Thank you for being so careful! 
#Cogro 

Modern Maroczy -Section 3 - " We have a nice tactic! "

Reference Section : https://chessmood.com/course/modern-maroczy-bind/episode/496

In the diagram position you said Black is doing great as it wins one of the white piece . But if White simply captures Bxe4 then Black a8 rook is hanging and will be down material . Not sure what I am missing here , could you please check  ? 

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https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/modern-maroczy-question

Bhabatosh, that's true, Jordi, Kevin and Mate have mentioned the mistakes, I corrected them already will upload them in a few hours! 
Instead of Qc3 Qg5 was winning for black in this position :) 

Daily Puzzle 4/7/19

Hi CM Family, 

It looks to me like the puzzle for today has a dual : 

1. Kxe2! e3 (only move) 
2. Rf4 (or Rg4) Kb2 (only move) 
3. Rf1 Kxc3 
4. Kxe3 Kb2 
5. Kd2 and White will win the c-pawn and the game. 

This was the first move I looked at since it's a capture and missed the nice intended solution (will not spoil it).

AK

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Hey Anastasios!
Just wow! 
I have worked on by studies database with my students around 5 years already, and was removing all wrong ones. And that's fantastic, that still there are mistakes.
Thank you for letting me know, and not telling others the 2nd right way! :) 

Maybe there is no White pawn on c3, or it's a black one !

Without pawn on c3, it would be possible, Ke2 e3 2. Ke3 Kd1 3. Bf3 and Rc4! (So without pawn would be wrong).
Initial puzzle was like this. 
I just make 1 more move on the puzzle, so it will be easier for you.
That's very strange, already around 10 of my students have solved this one, but no one of us noticed :) 

How to get chess & right mood

Hey Chessmood!I have one question,please help...How to get chess & right mood before chess games and tournaments?How to get that mood after loosing games?What we must do for it?

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Hi Alex, have you seen my posts about Right Mood?

https://m.facebook.com/story/graphql_permalink/?graphql_id=UzpfSTExMDU2NDIzMjQ6Vks6NDMxMTUzMDQ3NjMzNzg4

Alex the 2nd part link is broke but someone pasted it in the comments section

Thanks, Brad! 
Alex you can find the posts in the Facebook in the topic section checking for "Right Mood"

Grand Prix e6 Be7

Hello, 

In the Grand Prix video course I don't see the video series on e6 instead of g6 in the line: 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6. e5 dxe5 7. fxe5 Ng4 8. Qe2 e6

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Hi Adarsh,
I've covered it a few times during the streams. 
Nf6 is not a good move. 
In the line you mentioned Ng4 has big problems. You play d3, 0-0 and many tactics are hanging there. 
e5 pawn is easily protectable by Bf4. 

Accelerated Dragon - Advanced Course

Hey Champions! Just finished recording the Rb8!N that I mentioned in the course. 
Before we edit it and upload, here I am offering you to find solutions to the positions that you will meet in the course.

In all the positions Black to move! 
Hope you can crush white's king everywhere :) 

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No one found the answers? 
Come on! :) 

Hey Champions! 
Super videos are added in the advanced section! 
Check it out :) 

https://chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-accelerated-dragon

Tricky KID line

I got surprised in the opening today and i am curious what would the best answer to my opponent line. I am white : 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Be2 0-0 6 Nf3 e5 7 0-0 Nh5!?  . Very tricky line i dont know whats best here for white. If u have a suggestion i would be welcome tx a lot :)

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There are many good options: 

Bg5 - Provoking ...f6 but allows ...Nf4 but still a strong line for White and most commonly played

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Enter New Game"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[PlyCount "23"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nh5 8. Bg5
f6 9. Be3 Nf4 10. c5 Nxe2+ 11. Qxe2 exd4 12. Bxd4 *

- g3 - play resembles the Fianchetto Variation of the Kings Indian but without the fianchetto bishop. 

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Enter New Game"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[PlyCount "21"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nh5 8. g3
Bh3 9. Re1 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nf6 11. Bg5 *

I would say Bg5 would suit more sharper players and g3 would suit more positionally players. 

Nh5 looks ugly move :) 
Re1, g3, and yours Bg5 I believe will give a very easy play for white. 
Yeah, also maybe Be3 as there is not more Ng4. 

How to play against 1.b3

Here is one of my favorite ideas getting a better version of stonewall :) 
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3812769804

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Tried it in some blitz games which somewhat worked! One of my friends who play 1.b3 played against someone who played this system and met it with h3 and g4. 

Modern Maroczy: Commented Games

Hey Champions! 
Today I recorded my comments on a few typical games in Maroczy Bind.
Before we edit and upload I offer you to solve these positions which you will meet in the upcoming section "Commented games".  

In all the positions black to move! 

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30 commented games!

Hello Champions! 
Today we will upload the 30th game in the course "Daily game". 

Would love to hear your feedback! 
 

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No, finished... 

I love this series! 

I look forward to these every day!

Black's chances in the 5.Re1 Berlin

I would like to make the Berlin Defense my main response to 1.e4, as I particularly find the Berlin Endgame very interesting to play with Black. However, I'm not sure how Black can play for a win in the variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1, as it seems that here the structures become very symmetrical, and black has some issues with coordination, making it hard for black to generate winning chances. Is it still possible to outplay white from these quiet lines, or should I only use the Berlin against strong opponents and something else against lower rated opponents?

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Hi Samuel! 
What's your level? 

You are right, it's very hard to outplay opponents if they go Re1 line. 
I would recommend you to have a minimum 2 openings and keep Berlin with strong opponents. 

Avetik vs Gabuzyan - Battle of the Anti-Sicilian Recommendations!

I have held back this obvious question for awhile now, ever since GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes' 'Crushing all the Sicilian's Sidelines' came out, hoping that someone else would ask it, but since no one else has, here goes. What does the ChessMood family think of GM Gabuzyan's antidote to GM Avetik's recommendation against the Sicilian, and how should White best meet the challenge. Gabuzyan's antidote goes as follows:

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.0-0 e6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nb5 Nge7 9.Bb3 0-0 10.Nbxd4 Na5 11.c4 a6 intending 12.Be3 b5!? Novelty =

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Hey Kevin! 
In the advanced course, I offer Be3 move without c4.
https://chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-part-1/episode/296 

They are very interesting positions to play for both sides. Personally, I prefer white. 

It's Starting to sink in with the win!

Old Biker Dude winning with Scotch!

The trail is long but I am so surprised to my result.

Thx Coach.

https://lichess.org/icJ5loy2#45

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Old Gangster! :D 

Nice game!

Awesome! Nice game! 

Dvoretsky Endgame Manual

How would you recommend to study this book? I saw this book in the Recommended Page but it is a 500 page manual covering almost every endgame. 

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I startwd studying it about 3 months ago, now I go to endgames with much more confidence. I would recommend it after studying Sheresevsky's Endgame strategy.

Kevin, the only bad thing of this book that it's not seperated for beginner, intermediate and advanced players... There are all together! 
We will create endgames courses too. 

Looking for Tips to tournament player

Good day, Avetik GM Grigoryan Here i want to ask some questions, 1)how to avoid making blunder 2) how to stay focus during long time game, im abit flaw during some standard games 3) how to convert advantage from equal position.

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Thank you Kevin, for a super answer! 

Modern Maroczy Analysis

My friend and I tried to find a line against the Modern Maroczy Bind ideas a long time ago. 

What are your thoughts on our line? 

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Be2 Bg7 9.Bg5 0-10.Qd2 a5 11.Rd1! (Only 11.0-0 and 11.b3 was discussed in the video) The idea behind this move is to play b3. Black cannot play ...a4 here because of 12.e5! 11...Be6 12.b3 

White has more space and it is hard to find counterplay for Black. 
 

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Hey Kevin! 
After b3 you can play a4! Using the moment that white can't take Na4, e4 pawn hangs. 
Then plans are the same. ab3 and Qa5 solving the problem of the queen.

By the way after Qd2 you can play Qa5 as well transposing to section 3 and play Be6,a6 b5 :) 

Excellent question H. Below is a game I annotated with light notes that indicates the way for Black to get a fine game after your proposed 11.Rd1. The game may be a bit cumbersome to follow in text form, so I also attached the pgn for your convenience.

 Lopez Martinez,Josep (2557) - Iturrizaga,E (2528) [B36]

XI Open Salou ESP (6), 10.05.2009

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Bg5 Bg7 9.Be2 0-0 10.Qd2 a5 11.Rd1 Be6 12.b3 a4! Yes, a4 is still possible and probably best. 13.e5!? This move has scored extremely well in practice, but analysis shows that with correct play Black is just fine. [13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nxa4 Bd7 15.Nc3 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 Rxa2 17.Bd3 Qb6 18.0-0 Rfa8 19.Bb1 R2a3 20.Bc2 Qa5 21.Qxa5 R3xa5 22.f3 Ra2 23.Rf2 Be6 24.Bd3 Rxf2 25.Kxf2 Ra2+ 26.Kf1 g5 27.Rc1 Rd2 28.Be2 Rb2 29.Bd1 f5 30.Bc2 fxe4 31.fxe4 Kg7 32.Ke1 Ra2 33.Kd2 g4 34.Kc3 Ra5 35.Bd1 Kf6 36.g3 Ke5 37.Bc2 Rc5 38.Ra1 b5 39.Ra5 bxc4 40.Rxc5+ dxc5 41.bxc4 Bd7 42.Kd3 Bc6 43.Ke3 h5 44.Bb1 Ba4 45.Kd3 Bb3 46.Kc3 Bd1 47.Kd3 Bb3 48.Kc3 Ba4 49.Kd3 Kd6 50.Bc2 Bc6 51.Ke3 e5 ½-½ (51) Galkin,A (2608)-Maletin,P (2567) Krasnoiarsk RUS 2007; 

13.0-0 Qa5 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nxa4 Qa7 16.Rfe1 Rfd8 17.Rc1 Rdc8 18.Rc2 Bd4 19.Bd3 Rc6 20.Rec1 Qa5 21.Rd1 Qa7 22.Bf1 Be5 23.Rdc1 h5 24.Nc3 Bxc3 25.Qxc3 b5 26.e5 bxc4 27.exd6 exd6 28.bxc4 Rac8 29.Qd2 Qa4 30.g3 Bxc4 31.Bg2 d5 32.Qd4 Qa5 33.h3 Re8 34.Rd2 Qc5 ½-½ (34) Sherwood,A (2187)-Gibbons,A (2085) ICCF 2016; 

13.b4 Rc8 14.e5 dxe5 15.Qxd8 Rfxd8 16.Rxd8+ Rxd8 17.Nxa4 Nd7 18.Bxe7?! Ra8 19.Nc3 e4 20.Kd2 Ra3-+] 13...dxe5 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Rxd8+ Rxd8 16.Nxa4 Bd7 [16...h6!? 17.Be3 a) 17.Bd2 Nd7 18.Bf3 b6 19.Be3 f5 20.Bc6 e4 21.0-0 Ne5 22.Bb5 g5 23.Bxb6 Rd2 24.Nc5 Bf7 25.a4 Ng4 26.a5 Nxf2 27.Na4 Ng4 28.a6 Bd4+ 29.Bxd4 Rxd4 30.a7 Rd8 31.Bc6 e3 32.a8Q Rxa8 33.Bxa8 f4 34.Nc3 Ne5 35.g3 Ng6 36.Be4 e5 37.Bxg6 Bxg6 38.c5 Kf7 39.b4 Ke6 40.b5 Bd3 41.b6 Bxf1 42.b7 1-0 (42) Valsecchi,A (2459)-Petrov,V (2336) Kavala GRE 2015; b) 17.Bxf6 exf6 18.Bf3 Bf8 (18...Rd4! 19.Bxb7 Bxc4 20.bxc4 Rxc4³) 19.Ke2 Rb8 20.Nc3 f5 21.Bd5 Bb4 22.Bxe6 Bxc3 23.Bd5 Bb4 24.Rc1 Ba3 25.Rc2 Bc5 26.Rb2 Ba3 27.Rb1 Bb4 28.a3 Bd6 29.b4 b6 30.Rd1 Be7 31.Bc6 Rd8 32.Rxd8+ Bxd8 33.Kd3 Kf8 34.c5 bxc5 35.bxc5 Ke7 36.Kc4 Ke6 37.Kb5 e4 38.a4 Ke5 39.a5 Bc7 40.a6 Bb8 41.Kb6 1-0 (41) Bratkovic,S (2086)-Srebrnic,V (2184) Nova Gorica SLO 2014; 17...Bd7 (¹17...Nd7!? 18.Bf3 Rb8=) 18.Nb6 Bc6 19.f3 Nh5 20.Kf2 f5 21.Rd1 Rxd1 22.Bxd1 f4 23.Bc5 e4 24.b4 Bc3 25.b5 e3+ 26.Ke2 Be8 27.Nd5 Bd2 28.Bc2 e5 29.Bd6 Bf7 30.Be4 Ng7 31.Bxe5 g5 32.Nf6+ Kh8 33.Bd5 1-0 (33) Praggnanandhaa,R (2447)-Ashwath,R (2242) Dubai UAE 2017] 17.Nc3 Bc6 18.0-0 h6 19.Be3 Ne4 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 21.Rd1 Ra8 22.Rd2 e6 23.Bf3 Bb1 24.a4 e4 25.Be2 Rb8 26.Rd7 Bc2 27.Bd1 Bxd1 28.Rxd1 Kf8 29.Bd4 Bxd4 30.Rxd4 Ke7 31.Rxe4 Rd8 32.Kf1 Rd1+ 33.Re1 Rd2 34.Re5 Kd6 35.Rb5 Kc6 36.b4 Ra2 37.a5 Ra1+ 38.Ke2 Ra2+ 39.Kf3 Ra3+ 40.Kf4 g5+ 41.Kg4 f5+ 42.Kh5 Ra2 43.Rb6+ Kc7 44.Kxh6 Rxf2 45.g3 Rxh2+ 46.Kxg5 Rg2 47.Rxe6 Rxg3+ 48.Kxf5 Rb3 49.Rb6 Rc3 50.c5 Rc4 51.Ke5 Rg4 52.Kd5 Rh4 53.a6 bxa6 54.Rxa6 Rxb4 55.Ra7+ Kb8 56.Rd7 Kc8 57.Kc6 Rh4 58.Rd6 Rh7 59.Rg6 Rc7+ 60.Kb6 Rb7+ 61.Ka6 Rb1 62.Rc6+ Kd7 63.Rb6 Rc1 64.Kb5 ½-½ [Kevin,D]

Black has more critical problems to solve in the line that runs: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.f3! so stay tuned for when those courses are released. 

Chessbase

I have chessbase 15 and I want to train openings... how do I do this I have chess openings wizard which is really good but I paid for chessbase and I want to use it at full potential. This book is really helpful

https://www.amazon.com/ChessBase-Complete-Chess-Digital-Age/dp/1936490544/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=chessbase+complete&qid=1561304294&s=gateway&sprefix=chessbase+&sr=8-1

but it doesn’t have what I’m looking for and it looks like chessbase can’t do what Opening wizard can do so I recommend 

http://www.bookup.com/home/

Ok so chess base has a training feature here is a demo of how to set it. 

https://youtu.be/ZZ6idKvSNlA

https://youtu.be/j-vE_C2BHCQ

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Read the Chessbase manual 

We use chessbase to prepare databases , edit them , create opening repertoire . Here is the section how to do that . 

http://help.chessbase.com/CBase/15/Eng/index.html?000001.htm .  With chessbase you can practice opening stuff using chessbase web app . So what you would do is Open any game in the line you want to practice in chessbase , then click on Training --> Openings App  . That will load your current game in PC in a Chessbase web browser. make sure to create a Chessbase web a/c , so whatever work you do in webapp gets stored for future use . Once you load the game in browser you will find all the options you are looking for .

The specific feature you are looking for to train with a specific opening line in your desktop ( not web browser )  is probably part of Fritz 12 and onwards , or Chessbase other CHESS PLAYING product .  Here is a sample training video how to do it in fritz in your desktop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4CLkMvr3bY

After watching the video on Opening Chess Wizard. I still don't understand what's so special about that program. You can just create an opening PGN on the opening you wish to play and that's about all you need for opening preparation. :)

You can use Online Database and Reference Database to help find the best moves in a certain position. I would also like to add that if you want to memorize a certain opening repertoire, Chessbase Web has a certain feature to help you with that and so does chessable.com and chesstempo.com