Chess forum by Grandmasters

New article: The Power of I Don't Knows

The biggest roadblock to chess improvement?
Not openings. Not tactics. Not endgames.
It’s something deeper. Something most players miss.

What do you think it is? Take a guess first before you read our new article 👇
https://chessmood.com/blog/power-of-i-dont-knows

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I think it is related to the mindset.BTW I am a 2300 rapid chess player and I have faced an opponent with 2450 elo in specific tournament and I set my brain to not be nervous, just think and play good moves and my right mindset paid me off with decisive win!!

Hi Avo,

I read the article (as most of yours and Gabu) and it's interesting, motivating one.
Some of the facts I knew, some not - but there is the other side of the story.

I am not a big fan of Metallica, I like some songs, mainly ballads, probably I will find 10, maybe more. 
But I really like band Megadeth, many albums are great and I do like many of songs. 
And who is the founder of Megadeth - Dave Mustaine.  If not the story you described, there would be no Megadeth..., 
no "Big Four" of thrash metal: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax.
 

And what is funny, in "The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists" Joel McIver's (an author of many books about Metallica) 
No. 1 is Dave Mustaine and Kirk Hammet is No. 3 (or in last link they show he is No. 15)

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/dave_mustaine_discusses_the_100_greatest_metal_guitarists.html

https://www.discogs.com/lists/The-100-Greatest-Metal-Guitarists/586188?srsltid=AfmBOoofqquG_h-bZhQMPVE3nt-0EmFBwXAlEvH1a8qVGGnSSivUWByZ

Cheers,
Kamil

Thanks! This was so useful.

i know that i dont know:
 if it is better to evaluate positionally or materialy
if me going on the offense all the time is good
is it ok for me to feel upset in defending positions
if it is ok to go all in during attacks
how to prevent losing in otb tourneys(not to higher rated players i mean my lev and lower)

What if bc6?

Hi family!

I didn't buy the Anti-Sicilian 2. Nc3 Nc6 course since I used the free samples, one question: What happens if after 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (let's say Black tries) e6  4. Bxc6 bxc6 ? In the course it was 4… dxc6… I played the chess.com engine to practice my opening but in the game I went 5. d3 like what the course tells me then Black plays d5. I went 6. f4 and it continued 6… Be7 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. e5 Nd7 9. g4 0-0 10. g5 and then for some reason the engine started attacking the queenside with moves like c4, c5, Rb8, Nc5 when possible, and Ba6 and it was really annoying because I didn't get that much tempi to attack. I think I made a wrong move but I am also preparing for a tournament tomorrow so I can't analyze this. Please tell me what to do next after Black plays bxc6, then I go d3 then f4. I need help😭

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One note: Do not play e5 unless necessary!

I almost never play this this move, and the only time when I do is when trying to break open the center to get to the black king (e5, Nd7 f5).

Just keep the pawn at e4 and develop your attack otherwise.

Also, if you ever get the chance, please play c2-c4! Assuming Black has pawns on c5 and d5 and c6, this is positionally just winning for you.

Good luck!

Tournament Preparation

Hi my name is Shaurya Singhi I am 1496 Fide Rated

How do I prepare for a very important tournament in Decemeber.

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Gran prix on lichess

it seems that this blogger has the same weapon as taught by chessmood: https://lichess.org/@/doughnut42/blog/the-sicilian-slayer-why-the-grand-prix-attack-works-at-every-level/v8sbbBiD

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Openings

How to continue after f3?

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How to play against 1.e3?

I know my question sounds crazy but I would like to know how to face a chessmood student who plays blackmood openings with white.

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Depending on the repertoire you are trying to follow.

1. If Blackmood, you can play with 1…e,6 building the Dutch and playing some symmetrical positions.
2. If the advanced openings - the choice can be Nf6 - with the Bishop fianchetto and some systems with c5 - or starting with c5 and building some setups advised in the English course.

1.e3 isn't dangerous, and can be a practical choice for White to play chess without much theory.

September 28 Daily puzzle

I tried Nf6 and Nh6 which to me are both checkmates but the puzzle says I am wrong. Am I missing something?

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The queen can just take the knight in both attempts. Also after Nh6 there is kh5.

LOL @ this guy

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Caro-Kann

Dear, Coach Gabuzyan

In this line of Caro Kann variation, I dace this move (Qc7) a lot. Can you please provide me a detailed explanation of the ideas and moves in the position. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/2bhWYj7m8S/analysis

Sincerely, Pawnbishop

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Hey there,

Isn't it covered in the course?
Here looks like typical Rae1 is the way of playing!

French with Bd3

Dear, Coach Gabuzyan

In the French defense opening in the course was covered here (b5 move) but I face (bd7) a lot and always end up having trouble with it. Can you please provide me a detailed explanation with the ideas and maybe even concrete moves. Thank you so much for your time!!

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/T6Doy7gJA/analysis

Sincerely, Pawnbishop

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Hey brother,

I think after Bd7, Rhg1 is a good move, as now the Bishop on f8 struggles to develop.
If 0-0-0, there are a few good options - something like f4-Nf3 looks good - but after f4, it depends on what Black does.
If Bb4 - then Rd3 is a good move!

daily puzzle (24 Sep): correct solution not accepted

In today’s puzzle I entered Ke7 as the 2nd moved and it was deemed incorrect, with only Kf7 accepted. Checking with the engine it seems both work (and Ke7 is actually faster if we care about delaying-the-inevitable lines).

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Same question…couldn't understand why Ke7 was wrong 

Hey there, guys!

This answer is also correct, thanks for noticing :-) 

Daily puzzle Sep 24

For today's daily puzzle, I found the first move is to promote pawn to queen. The second move I tried is King e7, but the correct answer in the system is King f7. I think both works. Did i missing anything?

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Hey there,

You are absolutely right - thanks for mentioning!

Dutch vs London WhiteMood below 1200

Hello,

I followed the plan outlined in the PDFs, but I ended up in a terrible position. When am I supposed to push g5, because it seems I was a bit late, even though the PDF plan stated otherwise?

Ignore the hanging of the rook, I was very sleepy this game, however I am confused about the opening part.

https://www.chess.com/game/live/143503284668

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Dear Ivaylo,

Following the PDF in general is a good idea; however, not always will White play the same way - same setups, and like in your game, White tried to attack the pawn. During our events, we are playing Chessmood openings, and very often get different situations where in the middlegames we adjust our ideas based on the opponent's action.
 

So I would advise watching the model games - that we cut from the streams, and attending the events will help you to better understand different situations.

Thank you Chessmood! (And a little question)

Hey Grandmaster Gabuzyan and Grigoryan, and the whole chessmood team:

Thanks so much!! I just finished the tactic ninja, and yes, you can see how many rating points I raised over past 20 days.

A little question though. In the introduction of the mating matador course, GM Grigoryan said do at most 1 section a day. But metador section is short, while I have like 3-4 hours dedicated to chess these days. should I also study other chessmood courses on endgame / openings as well, or only one course at a time?

looking forward to your response,

Kevin

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Hi, Dear Kevin,

Thanks for the kind words! 
It's totally ok to open a few courses during the day. Did you ever take a 1-1 call? If not, and you have that option, during the call, we usually discuss detailed actions, on what students need to do, and how much time to spend on the courses.

Please let me know!

Just a mohawked thug who thinks with her adrenal glands...

This game isn't impressive, but the timestamps are haha. Very proud of pulling out those machine-gun premoves while down to no time. 

I actually lost a friendship over blitz and bullet once. She said I was…basically the above…and that I wasted her free chess advice flagging it up in the 3|0 arenas instead of playing Proper Serious Chess. 

Sometimes it haunts me, then I play a crazy blitz game and feel glad I made the right choice. 

Play Chess Online for FREE - 2 Player Chess - Chess.com

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This was a very nice SLP

Look how messy the eval bar is!

Game: https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/143249392564

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No bad feelings but that is not SLP but just your opponent blundering some kind of checkmate which you seemed to have seen but u just missed 3. Nxe5 after 2…f6 in 1.e4 1…e5 so I think it is not SLP but rather u and ur opponent not playing accurate chess.

Query about step by step opening repetoire for Black Sicilian course

Dear chessmood members , 

I am rated 1600 fide .I am thinking to start the Sicilian course with black but I am confused whether to do the advanced sections or not .So my question remains is it enough if I just do the main course to face below 2200 fide players or do I need to do the advanced sections.? 

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You definetly do not need the advanced sections at 1600 FIDE.

I am 2000 FIDE, and still have not watched (most) of the advanced sections.

If you end up repeadedtly encountering a line in the advanced sections, then watch the videos to better understand it.

I would reccomend to go for the step by step opening repertoire for black French defense as they have not covered an interesting move in the theory that poses lot of practical problems for black with Qd3 instead of Qd2 in the main line so would recommend to wait for it and do the French defense first

Hi AR RAY , can u be my training partner my fide rating is 1500 but I have beaten many 17,1800's in tournaments . My lichess ID is https://lichess.org/@/Chessdude123456098

Question to Gm Avetik

GM can I copy and paste some of the best writings in the site?

I am asking because there is copy rights and I make screenshots and I copy and paste and send some articles to some chess players and non chess players?

Is it allowed?

Please if you know the answer tell me or ask chessmood team or ask the investors.

Thank you very much Gm

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Hi Ahmad. Can you please send your question to our Support at [email protected]?

PROBLEM OPENING VIDEO

CANNOT OPEN NIMZOVICH DEFENCE UNDER WHITEMOOD MODELGAMES

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Dear Mohad,

I redirected your inquiry to our technical team.

 

Dear Mohd,

The thing is, because that variation is very rare, we don't often get games in it at our events, and there are no model games yet in that specific variation. 

Appropriate situations for playing ...c5 in the Dutch Attack

In the Dutch Attack (except the Stonewall system), I understand that the main plan is generally to launch an attack on the kingside. However, as I’ve played more games, I’ve realized that the central break with …c5 can also be very effective.

Could you please explain the typical conditions, guidelines, or key points for when …c5 is the right plan to pursue?

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Dear Yuya,

This question is super general - I will need some more concrete details, as if following our repertoire, we are always trying to attack.
One situation where we think about c5 is when White sometimes plays with f3 ideas, blocking the Bishop on the long diagonal and preventing the attack, but often, there we also play with e5 ideas in the center.