Chess forum by Grandmasters

ANTI-SICILIAN WITH Nc3!? Part 2

After 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 all my opponents are playing 3...g6 can you cover it Sir,

THANKS 

Replies

It’s been indirectly covered in streams! He plays against it a lot during them. I’m fact I asked him the exact same question on stream but I don’t remember what stream it was. The plan revolves around 4.Bxc6 followed by Be3, Nge2, Qd2, 0-0 followed by kingside attack with f4-f5

Varun, I explained it in the course too. 

Daily game 69 "Creating weaknesses"

Black to move. How do you evaluate the position? How to continue for Black? 

Replies

The only reasonable try I see is Ra5 and then trying to create weaknesses on the queenside, but without the title (Creating weaknesses) in a real game, I'd have played Rf8 and agreed to a draw after Rxf8 Kxf8, so I can't say that I know the idea.

This game is pretty similar to the rook endgame played by Capablanca. Perhaps one idea is to sacrifice a pawn with ...b5-b4 in order to infiltrate along the 2nd rank and take all the pawns. However, since the title of this forum is Creating Weaknesses. Another idea could be to play ...Ra5 and then attack the pawns forcing them to move creating weaknesses in the opponent's camp. This is an idea that I have seen in a Rubinstein game before! 

Benko gambit correspondance game

I am searching someone strong to play the black side of the benko gambit in correspondance game. I play white and we are both allowed computer and databases. I play on lichess my handle is Jonnyturgi feel free to challenge me. I do that to test my prep vs the benko gambit and i think the game could be really interesting. Tx all have a great day!

Replies

How is your prep against the ChessMood Benko? ?

Pawn Majority

Champions, In daily games 72 and 73 we gonna have a very interesting topic "Pawn Majority in the Kingside and Queenside". 

Think please about these positions, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comment sections.
Best answers, as always will get Rewards. 

Replies

Position #1: I like the idea of playing ...Qc7 in order to support my passed pawns. The difference between this move and ...Rfc8 is that I think the f-rook should belong on the d-file which is the only open file in the game. ...Qc7 followed by pushing the pawns via ...b5-c4 

Position #2: I am not so sure about this one. I usually prefer playing with queenside majority rather than kingside majority. The king is closer to the kingside majority meaning that White's king will be able to help out. Probably a plan for Black is to restrict White's pawn majority but I don't see a good way of doing so. ...b6 allows c5. Moving the queenside pawns will most likely weaken Black's position on the queenside even more. Perhaps the best plan is to bring the king into action through the dark squares to the e5-square with ...Kf7 and then support a pawn break with ...g5-f4. Another nice thing is that Black's rook can also enter the 2nd rank if necessary. The king is centralized enough on e5 that it can also help defend the queenside. 

In general, queenside majority is preferred in the endgame because the passed pawn created from it will be further from the kings and I think it's illustrated in the first example, so there we push our pawns b5-c4-b4-c3 creating a passer (we support them with our pieces as we need Rfc8 or d8, Queen to c7/d6/c5/b4, if we need we can double rooks, too).

In the second position I think the d file and the better possible king placement for black compensates for the queenside majority. I would play Kf7 first (following up later with Kf6-e5) and depending what White does advancing with g5-f4-e3 or Rd2. All in all, it seems to me at least equal for black. 

Daily Game 68 - Bobby is attacking! :)

1.White to move, how to continue to the attack? 
2. Question for 2000+ players. Is there any defense for Black? 

Replies

In the first position I think Rf4-h4 Qh3 is crashing through

e.g. a line is Rf4 b5 Rh4 Re8 Qh3 h6 (b4 Qh3 Kg8 Rh7 f6 g6 and mate) f6 Bf8 fxg7 Bxg7 Rf1 not allowing Bf6 and then gxh6

In the second position the tempting fxg6 hxg6 Qc5+ R1f2 Qg5+ doesn't work because of Qxg5 Bxg5 Rxf8 Rxf8 Rxf8 Kg7 Rf7+ and taking b7. Qc5 first doesn't work as well for the same reason.

So the only try is fxg6 hxg6 Rf7 where gxf7 is forced (Rxf7 Qg2 mate) threatening f8=Q, so Rf8 (Bf8!?). f7 and Nc3 is hanging so after Ne2 (Qh5 is probably best bxc3 bxc3 and it's complicated) Rxf7 and we win the f3 rook as well. Maybe I am missing some moves but it's definitely better option than the others.

Endgame position.

I was analyzing one of my tournament game and in which we had this position in analysis session.

Can anyone tell who is better?

What will be the winning idea for black?

Engine said I am better to hard to believe.

there are two lines in which After fxe4 Qg4.

1. e5

2. exd5.

Any help

Replies

I am learning basics of endgame but I was analyzing this game with my WCM bestie so we found that there was a point where instead of c5 in my game f6 was better.

Puzzle Bug

Tried doing the daily Puzzle today where the solution required promoting a pawn to a Knight instead of a Queen, but the system kept auto-promoting to a Queen and would not give me the option to choose another piece. Is this a bug in the system or am I doing something wrong?

Also, below the Puzzles no longer show which side is to move as it did before, so I just assume it is always White to play. Then there is the issue with the Mood Coin total resetting, could it be that all these glitches are related in some way. 

Has anyone else been experiencing similar technical difficulties?   

Replies

Yeah I also had same problem. and I didn't got 500 moodcoin

Hey guys. Sorry for the issues. There is a bug in the system, which we are fixing now. 

Also didn't work but it was a very nice puzzle! 

The guy, who made this bugs, is fired already. 
Everything will be fixed now. 
Thank you for understanding. 

MoodCoins Bug?

1. I gained 500 MoodCoins by becoming a member.

2. I received a notification saying that "For your great answer in the forum you gained 1000 MoodCoins."

3. The new balance is 1000.

This doesn't add up; I would have expected the new balance to be 1500. (I've yet to spend any MoodCoins.)

Replies

This sometimes happens to me. I usually just refresh the screen which sometimes work.

Hey Peter, yeah, sorry for that, a few days ago same happened with our other PRO Member. 
We are fixing it, and the moodcoins will be back. Sorry for that and thanks for understanding. 

Hey Peter :) 
Your MoodCoins are back now.
Once again, sorry for the issue.

Do you love Sokolsky 1.b4

I love to learn many new openings idea.

Do you guys ever tried this opening.

Sokolsky 1.b4

I am learning it to understand how to handle unfamiliar positions.

Replies

I prefer the move order with 1.a3 2.b4. It's good for bullet games but not that good for Classical. 

Abhi, for understanding chess, you should learn good openings, where the fight goes for the center.
Not 1.b4 

@ Abhi yadav 

You seem to be very attracted to unorthodoxed openings such as Czech Pirc, and now 1.b4 and how to play against it, which suggest a few things to me:

Either you actively are trying to avoid popular theoretical lines in order to take opponents 'out of book', or you yourself are uncomfortable playing against unusual or rare Opening Systems. 

I propose a study plan focussed more on the principles, themes and ideas behind good opening play rather than just trying to memorise some moves of theory. For example:

1.b4 is a Flank Opening, which means it does not occupy the centre with a pawn directly, but rather invites the opponent to  to do so instead with the idea that the resulting Pawn Centre can be later undermined and exploited. Essentially the game often revolves around whether the player with the Pawn Centre can consolidate it and use the advantage in space to cramp his opponent and launch an attack or The Pawn Centre becomes overextended leaving many weaknesses and vulnerable entry points  behind them that can be infiltrated.  Against Flank Openings these are the considerations that should guide your Opening play and allow you to find reasonable moves and a sound plan in the absence of concrete theoretical knowledge.

Should you decide to take up my proposal, don't forget to study the other Opening Classifications as well and try to understand the differences between them.  Consider the following.

Gambit Openings: Ask yourself, should you accept, decline or offer a Counter Gambit. Often such considerations are simply a matter of taste, and depends on what type of player you are. Take for instance the King's Gambit, if you like extra material and are confident in your defensive skill and or theoretical knowledge by all means accept and say thank you; However the KGA can lead to some very irrational positions that could well favor the better prepared player, so declining could well suit players who simply want to get a playable position with a clear plan; on the other hand there is the psychological option of forcing the gambiteer to defend by offering a counter-gambit of your own, particularly if you are an attacking player yourself. Amateurs are often way too preoccupied by what theory considers the absolute 'strongest' or 'best' counter to a particular Opening, when in Human terms there is no strongest or best, only what is best for you.  

Closed Games: These are with interlocking pawn chains like in the Advanced French. Ask yourself which side of the board should I direct my attack (Hint: the answer lies in the pawn chain).

Open Games: Usually arise from 1.e4 e5 openings, where Ranks, Files  and Diagonals can open up quickly and the f7 Square is particularly vulnerable in the early stages. Theoretical knowledge is important here no doubt, but no more so than fully understanding the principles of Time, Space and Force which usually determine the outcome in open games.

Time in chess refers to the number of developing moves one gets to play in relation  to that of your opponent, in an Open Game, a big lead in development (Lead in Time) often proves fatal for the opponent because the King is particularly vulnerable to  early attacks on the f7 square right from the Opening. 

Space in chess refers to the amount of squares one controls. more space usually means that your pieces have more mobility, more mobility means that you can organise attacks faster against weak points in opponent's camp. But, and this is a very important but, a space advantage does not necessarily mean you are better as  your position could easily become overextended and difficult to consolidate. A general rule of thumb is that the side with more space tends to avoid trades of pieces while the side with less space seeks them out to avoid ending up in a cramped position .

Force in chess simply refers to your Chess Pieces/Material, the side with an advantage in force all things being equal, will nearly always win. However it is the interplay between these three elements and knowing which is more important in a given situation that differentiates Masters from Mortals, especially in Open Games.

In summary, even though we live in an age where the chess engine is king, don't underestimate the power of mastering the guiding principles of sound opening strategy, distilled over centuries by the best players of the past. Not only will your opening play benefit greatly from such study, but your chess intuition and overall sense of danger will as well.

Good luck.

Modern Benoni Nf3

I used to play Modern Benoni but I always thought the Bf4 Nf3 line was super annoying and more comfortable for White. 

1.d4 Nf6 2. C4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Bf4

Replies

I played a lot of Modern Benoni during my professional career.
After Bf4 you include a6, a4, and then there is Re8!? very interesting move with the idea to bring Nbd7, Ne5. 
The lines are very complicated. You can check my games in the database. 

Scotch Game Question

In the video Crushing 4...Nf6 under 8...Bb7 GM Avetik mentions that if black plays Ba6 after c4 that black will have Rh3 and then the rook lift to a3. I am having a hard time understanding under which situations this will occur, as it seems like in a lot of lines after you play Ra3 black can play Nb5.  

For instance, 8...Bb7 9.c4 Ba6 10.Rh3 h6 (or some other move? Rb8?) and then 11. Ra3 Nb5.  To me the Ra3 just doesn't seem to fit in.  

Thank you for any clarification :) 

Replies

Nb4** not Nb5. Couldn't find the edit button

Webinar- How to Win Winning Positions

Hey Champions! Here is the study link.
https://lichess.org/study/hNacK7ho

Let me know if you have any questions :) 

Replies

Openings

Hello Chessmood family! How to Play Active in London System with black?

Replies

Hey Dav! Now I am working on that course, and this month it will be uploaded. 
What is your main opening against 1.d4? 

Bh7 typical bishop Sacrifice

Hey Champions! 
During the last webinar, I asked if you know about Bh7 sacrifice, and as there were many "no" answers, today's daily game is dedicated to that topic. 

The 1st position. We take 1.Bh7 Kh7 and 2.Ng5! 
Can you try to calculate all opponents answers? a. Kh8 b.Kg8 c. Bg5 d.Kg6 e.Kh6 

The 2nd position.
Can we go Bh7 again, or Ng5 at first? 

The 3rd position. How to continue the attack?

The best answers will get MoodCoins as always! 
 

Replies

More difficult than usual because there is no Bc1, which makes ..Kh6 defenses more viable. This is how far I got in my head:

1st position:

1.Bxh7 Kxh7

2.Ng5+

2a.    ..Kh8

3.Qh5+ Kg8

4.Qh7++

2b.    ..Kg8

3.Qh5  Bxg5 (..Re8 4.Qh7+ Kf8 5.Qh8++)

4.hxg5 f6

5.g6   --

6. Qh8++

2c.   ..Bxg5

3.hxg5+ Kg6 (..Kg8 4.Qh5 as above)

4.Qh5+ Kf5

5.Qh7+ g6

6.Qh3+ Kxg5

7.Qh4+ Kf5

8.g4+ Kf4

9.Qg3+ Kg5

10.f4++

2d.   ..Kg6

3.Qd3+ f5

4.exf6+ Kxf6

5.Rh3! Bd6

6.Rf3+ Ke7

7.Nxd5+! exd5

8.Qe3+ and mate

2e.   ..Kh6 (best defense)

3.Qd2 Bxg5 (..Kg6 see 2d.; not sure what happens after a queen move such as Qc8; does white have sth. better than Ng5xe6xf8 ?)

4.hxg5+ Kg6

5.Qd3+ f5

6.exf6+ Kf7

7.Qg3! Rg8

8.Rh7 Kf8

9.Rxg7 Rh8

10.Rf7+! Ke8 (otherwise loses rook and queen)

11.Qg7 Rh1+

12.Kd2 and mate

2nd position:

1.Bxh7 Kxh7

2.Ng5+ Kh6

can't find a win here, e.g.,

3.Qd2 fxg5

3.hxg5+ Kg6 with escape route via f7

1.Ng5 fxg5

2.Bxh7 Kxh7 (else 3.Qh5)

3.hxg6+ Kg6 (..Kg8 is 3rd position)

4.Qh5+ Kf5

5.g4+ Kf4

6.Qh2+ Kxg5 (..Kxg4 Qh3+ is similar)

7.f4+ Kxg4

8.Qh3+ Kxf4

9.Ne2+ Kg5

10.Qh5++

1.Ng5 h6

2.Nh7 with ideas such as Bg6, Qh5, exf6 looks strong but didn't calculate to end

3rd position:

1.Rh8+ Kxh8

2.Qh5+ Kg8

3.g6 Rf5

4.Qh7+ Kf8

5.Qh8++

Tactics and Rating Correlation

If anyone is comfortable discussing it... what is your lichess/chess.com tactics rating and your OTB rating? I am trying to see where I compare and if I need to focus more on tactics. 

Currently I am 1535ish OTB and my chess.com tactics hovers around 2200.  

Replies

I’m currently 2000 OTB and 2000 on chesstempo.com

1800 USCF and 1650 tactics on chess tempo and 2200 on chess.com

Love Czech Pirc

Do u like Czech Pirc.

e4 d6 d4 Nf6 Nc3 c6

Some said to me it's bad for black and bla bla bla.

I think it's amazing.

Any ssuggestions GM?

Replies

Thank you Kevin for a great answer! 
Myself a few days ago I asked to my GM friend, what is the best against this system, he said the f4 with Bd3! 

Daily Game 64 "Opposite Castles Attack"

 White to move in both positions. How to attack? 

Replies

In the first diagram I wanted to play Ne5 followed by g4 Bxf6 and g5, but after looking at the second diagram it looks like 1. Bxf6, Nxf6 2. g4, Bd6 3. g5 Ne4, 4. h5 Qe7. Or maybe a slightly different move order.

Second diagram: Well my first thought is all of our aggressiveness has not caused black to create a weakness around his king, so I need to force a weakness there. 1. g6 is met with fxg6 hxg6 and h6 locking the king side and 1. h6 gets g6 as a response and neither looks to lead to anything. 

So that led me to 1. Bxh7, Kxh7 2. g6+ Kg8 3. h6 crushing the whole king side 

I can see you made a response, but can not see what the response was. nor could I see my reply when I replied from my post

New Antisicilian Course

I have a question on the new 2..g6 course. I used to play this line as well with white and in the final position of the dxe5 line, in the endgame after Qd4 Nxc6 Qxa4.. i used to play with Be3. Are you sure that Bd2 is better? To me Be3 feels much more natural, controlling the c5 square and with the idea of going somewhere b3 and c4.
Can you give a little more insight in the position? Thanks!

Replies

Hey Nicolo.
Yeah, Be3 is fine too, but it's more important to put it on a5 and control the d8 square. 
Also with that, you leave e half-open line for your R on e1. 

Daily Game 65 - How to start the attack?

1. White to move, how to start the attack?
2. To go with Queen somewhere, or not to do? That's the question.
3. Can we play Re5? What do you think about pawn endgame? 

Feel free to share your thoughts. 

Replies

July Challenge WINNERS!

Dear friends, the July Challenge has ended and here are the winners

1. "The Champion of July" award goes to ChessMood PRO Member Nicolò Pasini who raised 223 points in the last month!

The prize - 1 Month Membership

Congratulations, Champion!

Replies