Chess forum by Grandmasters

To play or not to play?

Hey guys! i need an advice. would you play in a tournament where you're the first seed (2234 me, the second one is 2170, and others are 2100--) where the first prize is 700euros, but it's very risky to lose elo rating? My main goal is to improve and the short-term goal is to get 2300 by mid 2020.

Replies

Hey Nicolo! 
Well, if the prize found is not important for you, I would skip such a tournament. 
Why?

If growth for you is the priority, you should find strong tournaments, where you'll gain experience playing against stronger opponents. 
Many 2700 players have no choice and they should play in open tournaments where they are 1st rating. Because it's tough to get invitations to close tournaments and they need to play somewhere right?  

Or some players have to play in not strong tournaments, because it's the only tournament in their country, and they can't afford to travel to another country. That's fine.

But if you have a choice where to play and the prize fund is the 2nd priority, the 1st is growth - try to find tournament stronger. 

Yes its wise to play in it...with crishing ChessMood openings the worst you can get is a draw...to protect your rating means gaining more knowledge not just winning against higher rated opponents...what you need is the RightMood approach to every game you play and make the RightMoves...play and make us proud

Some questions about ChessMood opening courses

Hi! I am the guy who wrote some questions and wishes in Russian in a sentence for the last webinar, so I would like to duplicate them here in English.

1) In the course about the closed Sicilian, some principal options from the black side were not considered. My blitz rating on chess.com is about 2150 points and very often opponents rank their pieces against me as follows: 1.е4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 and here black instead of 3...d5 may go 3...Nc6 and after 4 Nf3 a6 (the same after 3...a6 4.Nf3 Nc6) we have a hybrid position from different systems 2...Nc6, 2 ...e6, 2...a6 against which I do not quite understand how White needs to be set up, because after 5.g3 Black can go right now 5...d5 without turning the pawn on b5, after which it is not so easy for White to put problems before Black. Of course, I could go here to the Taimanov system after 5.d4, but that would not correspond to the spirit of the closed Sicilian... Also in line 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 instead of 4... g6 Black can go 4...e6 after which again a kind of hybrid position arises, in which Black subsequently plays 5...Nf6 6...Be7 7...0-0 8...Rb8 and 9...b5 without losing a tempo with a6... So I would like to hear from you some recommendations on playing for white in these positions.

2) In the course of “Crushing the Pirc”, do you plan to consider for Black the possibilities associated with the transition to the following systems: (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 !?), (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 !?), (1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 and after some white move here Black will not go 4...Nf6 but will make for example 4...a6 or 4...c6)?

3) In the course "Crushing All the Sicilian's Sidelines" GM Gabuzyan didn't covered the moves 2. a3!? (a pretty intresting Vadim Zvyagintsev's move) and 2.c4?!(it's quite dubious move but still it's not so easy to disprove for black), and of course the 2.d3!? and 2.Bc4 moves. Also some players play the system with b3 through the following move order: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.b3 (the same line about b4 gambit and a pretty nasty line 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4!? ), so I think it's worth to be considered to :) 

4) In the course "Crushing d4 Sidelines" in section "London System" it seems like you forgot to consider for White the opportunity to go the c-pawn on c3 or c4 squares on the fifth and sixth move, White will not rush to develop a white-winged bishop and will look after Black's plans, this does not seem like a really bad idea...

5) Finally in Benko gambit course in e3 line after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 e6 6. dxe6 fxe6 7.Nc3 d5 8. Nf3 you suggested to play 8... Bd6, but after 9. e4 my engine show on 40th dept, that white is clearly better (advantage around 1,5 pawn). I understand, what move 9.e4 is not so obvious for human and my laptop is not too powerful, but still white's advantage is pretty rough.. Maybe the move 8...c4!? which was played in the game between Karpov-Edouard is objectyvly stronger, I analyse some positions after 8...c4 and they are pretty intresting, what do you think? :)

PS. Sorry for my bad English, I hope you can understand everything that I wrote :)

PSS. Holy moly, I killed three hours of my life to formulate all of this questions. I definitely need some rest :)

Replies

Hi Mihail! 
Thank you for the questions.

1. a- When 2...e6 and  Black without d5 goes a6,b5 - g3 Bg2 is possible. More I'll cover in the advanced course soon.  
About 1...d6 and then e6, I answered already a few times in the forum, and explained during the streams. We play Bb5, d3, give the bishop to c6 Knight and start an easy attack. 
If I get 5 "+" es in the comment section, I'll add a section about it. 

2.  Yeah, these courses are coming. For now you can just go 2.Nc3 and setup Grand Prix. 

3.  Yeah, there will be added more lines, also Fischer Gambit. 

4.  Can you clarify please on which move c3 o3 c4? With h3 or without h3? 

5. Yeah, you are correct, Nicolo also sent me e4 move! And you are correct, instead of Bd6, Bb4 is much better. Overall don't worry about such things, until you don't start to play against 2400+ players. For 2400+ players, I'll recommend Modern Benoni. 

P.S - No Problem :) 
P.S.s - Have a good rest. Sorry, but now everything in chessmood happening in English. Russian would be easier for me to, as English is my 3rd language. But our other PRO Members should also understand what's going on in the forum and take value. 

PSS - Thank you for the good questions, I am glad you are working on courses so serious. 
But please, don't worry about everything, don't go too deep. All you learn from the courses is more than enough until you get 2500 minimum. 

Najdorf course

Hi Avetik and chessmood team. One of the videos mentioned that GM Gabuzyan is preparing a najdorf repertoire course. Just wondering what the time line is for this? Am eagerly awaiting it :) 

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Hey! 
Haha :D 
Our team is editing it now :) So, very soon! 

What variation Will recommend versus Bg5 and be3

Home prep

Hi sir...iam jairus ...i was rated around 1900 in lichess.  . .how to do home prepration....?...

Replies

Hey Jairus. 
It very depends on how much time you have for chess. 

Webinar "Ask My Anything"

Hey Champions! 
If you have watched the webinar try to write down what did you learn? 
Even if it 1 sentence. 

If you haven't watched it yet - here is the link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJSMA8bCO8s&t=3057s 

Replies

I learnt that in analysis of game critical moments matters. I was all time confused but yesterday I solved my one issue.  Another thing I realized that benoni is not good for below 2000 players and that's what I felt in past too because I saw some themetic pawn advance and the calculation of those advances in the centre were beyond my level. Also I learnt that from which book we can study endgames. Even though I know the books but I do not like dev. Endgame manual because the level is higher for me so I sent book to GM Avetik for suggestions.

Yes right now I have time issues because I need a job first. But I am happy that because of GM Avetik and one of my friend I got my long term study plan and now I know that once I will get time I will be able to achieve my goal of 2000 in one year. 

I only saw last 40 minutes of webiner but it was still amazing.

I am glad to know a kind GM like Avetik.

Thanks for all useful suggestions

Time management for Studying

What would you suggest to study/ time management for a business professional. I have roughly 4-10 hours a week to study. What percentage of classical games, studying courses, analyzing your own games, analyzing pro chess players, actually playing chess.

Replies

Hey Kevin! 
Bro, for everyone, is different, someone needs more practice less play, someone versus Versa. 
Someone needs to solve more puzzles, someone mora study classical games. 
That's the reason I am having a 1-1 call with each one, who joins our PRO Members team. 

Personally for you Kevin, I would advise watching 1 classical game each day! https://chessmood.com/course/daily-commented-games 
Have at least 1 session a week, with 9 games. If you don't have time that day more, check your games the next day (check the theory part, compare with your files and check the blunders.) 
5-10 min solving puzzles - each day. 

If you have more time left. Try to review your openings, files, that you are making after watching the courses. 

My favorite complex endgame books

Replies

Nice!

The Best Chess Quotes

Hey Champions?
What are the best chess-related quotes that are coming to your mind? 

Replies

“It’s always better to sacrifice your opponent’s men.” – Savielly Tartakower

“Every chess master was once a beginner.” – Irving Chernev

“Pawns are the soul of the game.” – François-André Danican Philidor

These are the first ones that came to my mind, so I looked up who said them to quote them LOL

Tal- You must take your opponent into a dark Forrest, where 2+2=5, and there’s only room out enough for 1.

Lasker- See a good move, look for a better one!

Fischer- Chess is life.

Some people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it’s OK to lose. I don’t. - Magnus Carlsen.

The highest art of the chessplayer lies in not allowing your opponent to show you what he can do. - Garry Kasparov

There are 2 types of sacrifices; correct ones, and mine.

 Mikhail Tal

In those years, it was easier to win the soviet chess championship that a game against Iron Tigran - Garry Kasparov

If Tal offers a sacrifice, you should accept it. If Bottvinik offers a sacrifice, you should consider it. If Spassky offers a sacriifce, you should refuse it. If Petrosian offers a sacrifice, you should resign. - Paul Kerres

To know to play chess, is a sign of a gentleman. To know to play well chess, is a sign of a destroyed life. - Paul Morphy

This is my favorite.

I found another one:

Play the opening like a book, the middlegame like a magician, and the endgame like a macine.-Rudolf Spielman

Here is a game against a stronger player...Coach is working!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4215322877

Replies

Nice game Biker Dude!

Wow Eric! 2200+!! :) 

Chessable

Hey everyone! I wanted to let you know a good way to train your openings is using the website https://www.chessable.com and building your own book with the lines the coaches teach. If you have a hard time remembering from only watching video, this is a great way to build your database and train against it. It also allows you to train on your phone or whatever if you have down time. 

Just thought I would share :) 

Matt

Replies

That's awesome, I didn't know you could build your own books. Thanks

Thanks Matt, for helping others! 

Opening

Is an opening 10 or 15 moves for each opponent? When does the Middlegame start?

Replies

The openi

ng doesn't durate a couple of moves, but it is completed when all pieces are developed and the player has already castled and have connected rooks.

Interesting game on Chess.com??

Hi ALL!!  I just played this game.  No engine.  Just me.  5 minutes on the clock.  the link is www.chess.com/live#game=4203001909.  Please if it doesn't work enter it on the URL line.  Any comments would be appreciated!   Thanks

Replies

Is it only me who can't see the game? 

The chess enigma study time mgt.

I usually have 2 hours to study. Sometimes more unfortunately my brain hurts after 2 hours. How do I break up study. Openings middle game end game? Should I play on different days? Should I play first then study? What if I only have 1 hour? Would it be better to study opening one day middle game the next. End game the next then play? What is an example of an amateur routine for improvement? Am I alone on this?

Replies

Hey Brad! 
The reason I'm having 1-1 calls with everyone who joins PRO Members team, is that everyone is on different level and struggle on something different in chess. 
For now, I advice you to play, make puzzles, and learn (courses + streams). Good ratio will be 70/15/15.  70-play. At first, you need to stop easy blunders. 

Jobava Line is covered!

Hello champions! 
Jobava line is covered. 
https://chessmood.com/course/crushing-d4-sidelines 

If you have any questions, feel free to post in this post.
Regards,
GM Avetik 

Replies

Hi Avetik,

I am enjoying the course so far and learning a lot, although I must confess that I am not fully convinced about Black's chances in the following critical line:

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.h4 h5 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Qd2! Bxf3 8.gxf3 [The engines really love this position for White] c6 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.Kb1 e6 11.e4 Now it's not clear to me what Black's long term plan should be, does he aim to eventually open the game on the Queenside or does he just sit tight and resist White's attempt to open the game himself. OTB Praxis has shown so far that these positions are difficult to handle for both sides, but I am leaning towards White having the edge with the two Bishops and better long term prospects. I have attached two annotated games from my files by IM Richard Palliser for your attention (particularly the notes) and feedback.

I was also wondering what you thought of:

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.h4 h5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.Ne5 c5!? My analysis of this position so far has been fairly encouraging for Black. 

The Best Games with ChessMood Openings

Dear Friends, dear chess lovers! 
Please post here your games played online or offline when you win with our ChessMood Openings.
Let's go!  

Replies

I'll start the party off right with a Scotch! 

https://lichess.org/U00eoXGt/white#20

I played really well, but after Qh4 it felt like the initiative was just very natural.  

Attack!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4003091346

Here is a Lonewolf tournament game played on Lichess. A Sicilian/Rossolimo win.  Very nice.

https://lichess.org/ZXQMhlqgBCDq

Hello=) Here is a game against GM (on chess.com). I use Anti-Sicilian system) Enjoy !

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4021568744

Nice game in Benko Gambit!)

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4043578376

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4051194896

My game against sicilian with sicilian Nc3 line....crushing kingside and checkmate.

Know your openings and they will serve you well!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4082359363

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4163512717 

Scotch game with h4! 
The source- https://chessmood.com/course/scotch-game 

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4163502070 
Another one! 

Accelerated Dragon

Hi, Avetik

For the Accelerated Dragon, where do I find the advance section for The Super ...Re8! line?

How do I continue after 12...Bb7 13.h4 Qc7 14.h5 c5? my engines give +- for that position.

Thank you!

Replies

Hey Man! 
Will record it and update! 

Hey guys! It's uploaded in the course. 
https://chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-accelerated-dragon ​

Developing plans

5. ...Bd6 6.f5 my thinking was it was good to block the bishop with e5 and c5. Is this logical thinking? It also gets prepared for possible King side attack. I think my chess skills for developing deep plans are flawed anyway to strengthen them? I use ChessTempo, CT-ART, and Chess King.

Replies

Brad, f5 is cool, and very logical. 
You kill opponent's bishops! Both of them. He has problem with d5 square. You can go to g4 later. 

Decorative chess set advice for GF

Okay, I think I finally figured out what I want to get my girlfriend for x-mas.

I'd love to get her a nice glass chess set, but I don't know if my budget allows for that.
I'm looking to spend $80-100 on one, maybe a bit more.

Since she is fan of some mystery kind content (Game of Thrones series, Dragon Age game), will it be nice to present https://recroompick.com/best-chess-sets/#product2 a chessboard themed in dragons style? Any opinions?

Thanks, folks!!

Replies

Brian,

First off, if your GF is a chess lover, she is going to appreciate any set you get for her. She is going to like it even more with the amount of effort you give to personalize it for her.

However, I have a couple concerns for you. Concern number one: If she were truly a chess lover, then the best gift you could give her is ChessMood! Concern number 2: If she is a chess lover, why is she not already a member of ChessMood? Concern number 3: If she is already a member of ChessMood, then she is already reading your post and knows what her gift will be! 

All kidding aside, just get her something from the heart and you wont go wrong!

Good luck!

All I could find was the same set you posted. I have seen another that wasn’t glass but I couldn’t find it.

The Champion of October and the Prizes

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Chess.com: 2018 Blitz rating as of Oct 6 

Here is my rating stat in my chess.com account

The goal is 2700!)

Best Games of October and the Prizes

ChessMood Family! 
Under this post, we invite you to post your best games that you will play in October
At the end of the month, we will vote to find the Winner who will join our PRO Members team for 1 month for FREE!

Let's go! 

Replies

This is one of my games to crush my opponent who used grob opening (1.g4). Punishing him in the opening.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4096868697?fbclid=IwAR1gH9UJ_7wyTqfTzynzC5aLQs_LWAOWKTc3VzfT_IwCXY6lP6aVK0qC1QM

This was a fun game for me! 

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4110893971

Nice checkmate)

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4118257992

Wanted to play 4.Nf3 But Mouse slip to e2!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4121272290

Here is a game I played last night over the board with a time control of G90+5. I felt like I was in control of this game from move 3, even with the black pieces!

(I added it to chess.com to be able to share it here)

https://www.chess.com/a/2uR4SFiUNZwLa

https://www.chess.com/live/game/4143186194

Nice bishop sac=)

PICASSSOOO vs Davo_Hakhinyan

Live Chess:Chess.com

1)d4-Nf6 2)c4-g6 3)Nc3-Bg7 4)e4-d6 5)Nf3-o-o 6)Be2-e5 7)o-o-Nc6 8)d5-Ne7 9)b4-Nh5 10)a4-f5 11)c5-Nf4 12)cd-cd 13)Nd2-Ne2 14)Qe2-f4 15)b5-g5 16)f3-h5 17)Ba3-Ng6 18)Nc4-Rf6 19)b6-ab 20)Rab1-g4 21)Nb6-Nh4 22)Na8-Rg6 23)Kh1-gf 24)gf-Bh3 25)Rg1-Bg2 26)Rg2-Rg2 27)Qe1??-Rh2! 28)Kh2-Nf3 29)Kg2-Ne1 30)Re1-Qa8 31)Bd6-Qa5 32)Rc1-Bh6 33)Kf3-Bg7 34)Ke2-Qa6 35)Nb5-Qa4 36)Nc7-Qe4 37)Kf1-Qf3 38)Ke1-Qe3 39)Kd1-f3 40)Rc2-f2 41)Ne6 0-1

Thank you for teaching me the Benko!

[Event "2019 Midwest Class"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "2019.10.13"]

[Round "5"]

[White "Graham, Paul"]

[Black "Me"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "A58"]

[WhiteElo "1935"]

[BlackElo "2019"]

[PlyCount "56"]

[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.22"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. b3 g6 7. Bb2 Bg7 8. g3

O-O 9. Bg2 d6 10. Nh3 Nbd7 11. O-O Qb6 12. Qd2 Rfb8 13. Bc3 c4 14. b4 Bb5 15.

Qb2 Qa6 16. Nd2 Nb6 17. Ne4 Na4 18. Qc2 Nxc3 19. Nxc3 Ba4 20. Nxa4 Qxa4 21.

Qxc4 Rxb4 22. Qc6 Nd7 23. Rab1 Rxb1 24. Rxb1 Qxa2 25. Be4 Nc5 26. Rb4 Nxe4 27.

Qxa8+ Qxa8 28. Rxe4 Be5 0-1

Hi! This was a game played with white pieces in a recent lichess tournament, starting from Bishop's Opening position

https://lichess.org/ARYsnU6F/white

Enjoy!

2 games played over the board

[Event "NÖ LL"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "2019.10.27"]

[Round "3"]

[White "Steiner, Bruno"]

[Black "Khachatouri, Saro"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "A45"]

[WhiteElo "2150"]

[BlackElo "2000"]

[Annotator ""]

[PlyCount "78"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. c3 d6 6. Bc4 g6 7. Ne2 Bg7 8. O-O

e5 $2 9. dxe5 $2 dxe5 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Bb3 Na6 12. Kh1 Nc5 13. f4 Bg4 14. f5

Rad8 15. Qe1 Nd3 16. Qd1 Nf4 17. Rxf4 exf4 18. Qe1 gxf5 19. Nxf4 Qg5 20. Qf2 c6

21. Rf1 Be5 22. g3 Kh8 23. Nf3 Bxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Bxf4 25. gxf4 Qg4 26. Qxg4 fxg4

27. Kg2 Kg7 28. Kg3 h5 29. f5 f6 30. Kh4 Kh6 31. h3 gxh3 32. Kxh3 Rd3+ 33. Kh4

Re3 34. Rd1 Re8 35. Be6 Re7 36. Rd8 Rxe4+ 37. Kh3 Rg7 38. Rh8+ Kg5 39. Rd8 Kf4

0-1

and

[Event "Landesliga Niederösterreich"]

[Site "?"]

[Date "2019.10.06"]

[Round "2"]

[White "Khachatouri, Saro"]

[Black "Mlynek, Peter"]

[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "B12"]

[WhiteElo "2000"]

[BlackElo "2100"]

[Annotator ""]

[PlyCount "79"]

[EventType "tourn"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 Nd7 7. Nge2 Nb6 8. Bb3

Ne7 9. O-O Ned5 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Be7 13. g4 Bg6 14. f4 Qd7

15. f5 exf5 16. Qf3 (16. Qe2 $1 fxg4 17. e6) 16... f4 17. Bxf4 O-O 18. Rae1 Kh8

19. Re2 Rae8 20. h4 Bxh4 21. g5 Qf5 22. Bc2 Qe6 23. Bb3 Qf5 24. Bc2 Qe6 25. Qh1

Qg4+ 26. Rg2 Qh5 27. Bd1 Bf2+ 28. Kxf2 Qxh1 29. Rxh1 Be4 30. Bf3 Bxf3 31. Kxf3

f6 32. Rgh2 fxg5 33. Rxh7+ Kg8 34. Rh8+ Kf7 35. Rxf8+ Rxf8 36. Bxg5 Ke6+ 37.

Ke3 Rf5 38. Rg1 Kd5 39. Bf4 Rf7 40. Rg6 1-0

Hope it's not too late to submit one. My only rated win against an FM.