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Chess forum by Grandmasters
Benko main line questions
1. In your repertoire suggestion for the main line with 12.a4, you say that White should sacrifice the bishop (19.Bxg5) and keep the knight. However, keeping the bishop seems more dangerous to me: Bg5 supports the march of the h-pawn and makes it much harder for Black to shift pieces to the kingside (no ..Re7 or ..Qd8). The combined threat of Qg4 and advancing the h-pawn seems extremely dangerous and much easier to play for White. Engines struggle to defend this position and often propose computer moves (e.g. ..f5 pawn sacrifice) as Blacks only chance of survival. Whats your take on this?
2. In the main line with 12.Re1, you recommend 12...Qa5. However, 13.a4 (with play similar to 12.a4) seems very dangerous, as Bd2 will once again come with tempo. Is this reason enough to prefer 12...Qb6 or 12...Ra6?
Thanks!
Peter
Replies
Hey Peter!
Have you checked the advanced course? I offer to play Qb6 tricky move instead of usual Nbd7.
Also, my advice - don't go so deep especially analyze openings with engines, if you are not an IM or GM yet.
Please reserve a 1-1 call in the events section, so we will see, how can I help you the most.
Regards,
Avetik
Yes I've seen the advanced course. The drawback of 11..Qb6 is that it doesn't connect well with the rest of the repertoire: after 12.Re1 or 12.h3, it's too late to transpose to 11..Nbd7 12.Re1/h3 Qa5.
Since you spend much time showing that 11..Nbd7 12.a4 isn't a straightforward refutation of the Benko and that 12..Qb6 is still quite playable for Black, I thought I'd give that a shot. However, 19.Nxg5 instead of 19.Bxg5 seems to refute your otherwise interesting line, especially in a practical game between humans.
Background: I'm trying to build a repertoire that I can confidently play against CM/FM/IM level opposition in OTB games, knowing that my opponents will prepare for myself. So far I really enjoy the ChessMood opening recommendations for Black. (I play 1.d4/1.c4 as White.) Also the "Crushing opponents with ChessMood openings" streams are great!
Small suggestion: Adding a game index (start time/link and opening played) in the description of the "Crushing opponents with ChessMood openings" videos would make them even more useful!
The Best Games with ChessMood Openings
Dear PRO Members!
Please post here your games played online or offline when you win with our ChessMood Openings.
At the end of the month, we will vote and find the winner, who will get another 1 month of Membership or "Right Mood - Right Move" t-shirt.
Let's go!
Replies
This is one of the games from chess.com, which uses the opening system from chessmood--against the anti-sicilian sideline. Develop slowly, attacking the weak spot, and exploit it,
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4097232229?fbclid=IwAR1nC0qJWC0MWpQ0UUQ5T7Z1e_ams8x4v0k2hUOLAh174d4aSnyfSa_H6Z4
Nice checkmate in crushing Sicilian with White (Nc3 move), punish opponent in the center and checkmate him.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4097273760
London System Course
Very interesting and thought provoking course. I also wanted to mention that the overwhelming choice of strong London System specialist against our chosen ChessMood line is:
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 (4.Qd2!? is a specialty of GM Daniel Naroditsky) Bg7 5.h4
Perhaps you could upload an antidote to the above lines in future London System videos.
Best Regards,
Kevin D
Replies
Hey Kevin!
I know how carefully you check all the lines, so when you say something good, it's very important for me.
Nc3, so-called Jobava line, will be the next section.
Jobava line? Or how it called?
Preparing for a known opponent - part 2
So my next Monday night game is with the white pieces against the Strong FM Pedram Atoufi (rated 2400) and I would love to get a win against him! He plays both the Pirc and the Philidor's Defense. I am including the last 3 games I have played against him (all losses) for reference to the lines he plays. Any help on how I should play is greatly appreciated.
Game 1 - https://www.chess.com/a/GvXzweq4ZwLa
Game 2 - https://www.chess.com/a/mBDbxUAAZwLa
Game 3 - https://www.chess.com/a/mBDbxUAAZwLa
Replies
Jay last 2 are the same game.
After g6, Bb5 is a good game!
Post Analyses of the stream on 23.10
Hey guys!
We had a few very interesting games.
2 of my opponents were really cheating :)
1 won clearly :)
Here are 3 positions, which I wanted to share with you.
1. I checked my analyses, instead of h4, the move I played in the game is fine, but f4 is giving more advantage! More about it, will be on upcoming course "Crushing Scandinavian"
2. I played Re3 in the game, but it's better Qc2 immediately, and no worry about Bc4, because of Qa4, and a7,c6 pawn, K on c8 are really weak. I need Rh3 for attack, so Re3 changing the Rooks was a mistakes.
3. Bhabatosh, you were right, Nd1 was winning, I missed it :)
Thanks everyone who was with us, hope the stream was valuable.
See you after tomorrow!
Replies
Preparing for a known opponent
Every Monday night I play a G90+5 game, and this week I got my pairing very early, so I have time to prep for my opponent!
I will be playing black against an expert level player, and he almost always plays the Kings Indian Attack with white, with his first moves being 1.e4, 2. Nf3, 3. g3 and 4. Bg2.
I have played this gentleman 17 times in over the board play! I am 3 wins 3 draws and 11 losses against him, however we have not played since I started with the ChessMood openings, so I know I can surprise him!
Any ideas how I should play against his set up is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance for any help!
Replies
To prepare for this game I re-watched GM Gabuzyan's Sicilian sidelines course for ideas and studied the games I played with this opponent in the past. Overall I feel I played well, and came away with a victory, even though I tried to throw it away near the end haha!
For those interested, here is the game. (It was played over the board with a time control of G90+5, but I put it into chess.com so I could share it here)
https://www.chess.com/a/2uR4SFiUNZwLa
Hey Jay!
Against KID Attack, c5, Nc6, g6, Bd7, d6, e5! is a very strong setup as I have explained and played during the streams few times.
Then Nge7, 0-0, h6, Be6 and f5 or d5.
If op plays somehwere c3, d4, he has a problem with ed4, cd4, Bg4!
French Defence 3.Bd3: 7...e5 in the main line.
Hello coach, hello everyone
The past week or so I have encountered this line 3 or 4 times (from different opponents):
1.e4 e5 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 dxe4 4.Bxe4 Nf6 5.Bf3 c5 6.Ne2 Nc6 7.Be3 e5!?
The first time I still thought to myself that my opponent was out of book and improvising, but I completely failed to show any advantage in any of those games and even got into serious difficulties in 1 or 2 of them.
So, the fact that I never saw it before and now suddenly in just one week 3 or 4 people have played the same line that brought me trouble, makes me suspect that it is no coincidence and that a new line has been invented/published/advocated somewhere.
Do you have any thoughts on this?
Thanks! Raf
P.S. Slightly off topic, I also encountered 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 Nc6!? and with only 3+0 time, I didn't manage to come up with anything more incisive than 4.exd5, giving away my opening advantage.
Replies
Hey Raf!
I am so sorry...
I thought it's in the courses but couldn't find.
I am flying back to Armenia, and will check out, if the video is lost, or I forgot to record.
Anyway, will be fixed, sorry about that.
Two words, after 7...e5 you take Bc6 bc, 9.de5 Qd1 10.Kd1 Ng4 11. Nd2! Ne3 12.fe3 then Nf3 and it's a better endgame.
Hey Raf!
We updated french course with 7...e5.
Did you like it?
d4,nf3 and d4,bf4
Hello Coach and ChessMood family, what is the best reply for black against, d4,nf3 or d4,bf4. I face this opening line quite often, let me know your thoughts and ideas, thank you.
Replies
Hey Bobby!
Will make a videos soon.
The WINNERS of September Challenge
It's high time to reveal the WINNERS of September Challenge!
Let's go!
"The Best game of September" goes to Anastasis Koukas!
"The Best game with ChessMood Openings" goes to Jeffrey Cobb!
"The Champion of September" is a PRO Member Alex Terzi who raised 130 points!
Congratulations to all the Winners!
Everyone gets 1-month Free Membership in ChessMood.
Replies
Didn't see this until now lol :) I assumed it already expired ? :(
The Hero of October and the Prizes
ChessMood Family!
As we have a very tight-knit community, and many of you help each other, anytime you get help from someone, you can send nice words to that person here.
At the end of the month together we will vote to find the person who had the most impact on your success (you can't vote for our instructors)
The Hero of the month will join our PRO Members team for 1 month for Free!
Replies
October 4: Simul Games with IM Shahinyan
On October 4 you can play a Simul Game with IM David Shahinyan.
For participating, please write your Lichess nickname in this post's comment section.
He will play 10 tables. So, first come, first served.
The registration will be opened 15 minutes before the start of the event in
Please, don't be late, as you can't join the event if it is already started.
See you!
ChessMood Team
Replies
Roger nickname on lichess «cheebahund”
October 2: Simul Games with IM Shahinyan
Hey PRO Members!
On October 2 you can play a Simul Game with IM David Shahinyan.
For participating, please write your Lichess nickname in this post's comment section.
He will play 10 tables. So, first come, first served.
The registration will be opened 15 minutes before the start of the event in
Please, don't be late, as you can't join the event if it is already started.
See you!
ChessMood Team
Replies
My LiChess ID is Jayzorac
My lichess name is amicusUK
Spirochete
KruNamNgern = Bobby
Pawnpusher76 on Lichess
Sicilian Accelerated Dragon
I played last night as black against an NM and we played a mainline Accelerated Dragon with 8...Re8 and we got to the 12...Bb7 line.
In the video lessons the plan is to play 13...Qc7 and 14... c5 getting our light squared bishop more active and not letting white start his attack on the kingside, since exd5 isnt possible because at the end of the exchanges the white bishop on e3 will hang.
However, my opponent played 13. Bh6 first to trade the dark squared bishops and now Qc7 and c5 isnt working because the bishop isnt on e3 to hang. I ended up going with this plan anyway, sacing the d5 pawn (and a second on c4 after the c5 push) to get activity but was way worse in the endgame 2 pawns down. I did manage a little #SLP and he offered a draw while he was winning because I was making him work very hard to win and a draw gave him first place in the tournament, but I am wondering what a better plan would be after 13. Bh6.
Thanks in advance for the help!
Here is the game for any who are interested. I loaded it into chess.com so I could share it, but it was an over the board game at a time control of G90+5
https://www.chess.com/a/2qy4MnhHpZwLa
Replies
Hey Jay.
Nice question.
After g4 good move would be Rd8. Both rooks are interesting.
You want to take de4 and also to play c5 and even e5 sometimes. If he plays g5, Than you go Nh5 and he has problems with f4 square! (he just changed the dark square bishop).
Rd8 is strong if played h4, instead of g4, too :) the Same idea.
Bh6 is a logical move, but the problem of that move, is that is going fight for the center, black wants to play c5 or e5, and with Bh6 white loses time.
Best Games of September and the Prizes
ChessMood Family!
Under this post, I invite you to post your best games that you will play in August
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
Dont give your opponent time to breath!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4003091346
Starting off nicely with a nice checkmate with castling ! (5 min Blitz game on Chess.com)
Not perfect, but a fun game!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4014071605
[Event "Rated Bullet game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/yi8JtC1u"]
[Date "2019.09.16"] [Round "-"]
[White "shalmaani"]
[Black "Hasul1"]
[Result "0-1"]
[UTCDate "2019.09.16"]
[UTCTime "13:44:23"]
[WhiteElo "1858"]
[BlackElo "1974"]
[WhiteRatingDiff "-5"]
[BlackRatingDiff "+5"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[TimeControl "60+0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[Opening "Saragossa Opening"]
[Termination "Time forfeit"]
[Annotator "lichess.org"]
1. c3 { A00 Saragossa Opening } g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. g3 Nd7 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O Ne7 7. Re1 O-O 8. Bg5 f5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nbd2 e5 11. d5 e4 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. Qb3 b6 14. Nc6 Nxc6 15. dxc6+ Be6 16. Qa4 a6 17. e3 b5 18. Qa5 g5 19. Nb3 h5 20. Nd4 h4 21. Rac1 hxg3 22. fxg3 Be5 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. Qxc7 Rf7 25. Qa5 Rh7 26. c7 Qh6 27. h3 Bxg3 28. Red1 g4 29. Qb6 gxh3 30. Qb8+ Kg7 31. Qxa8 hxg2 { Black wins on time. } 0-1
Hello Everyone!) I want to show you my beautiful game against strong WGM
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4043578376
{Event Rated Bullet Game}
{Site"https.//Chess.com
{Date "18.09.2019"}
{White IrenaSLO}
{Black Davo_Hakhinyan}
1)e4-c5 2)Nf3-Nc6 3)d4-cd 4)Nd4-g6 5)c4-Nf6 6)Be3-d6 7)f3-Bg7 8)Nc3-o-o 9)Qd2-Nd4 10)Bd4-Be6 11)Be2-a5 12)b3-Nd7 13)o-o-Bd4 14)Qd4-Nc5 15)Nd5-Bd5 16)ed-Qb6 17)Qh4?? (17)Rae1)-Nb3 18)Kh1-Na1 19)Ra1-Qb2 20)Re1-Qa2 21)f4-Qd2 22)f5-a4 23)Qf2-a3 24)Ra1-a2 25)Qf1-Ra3 26)Bf3-Qb2 27)h4-Rc8 28)Be2-Rb3 29)fg-hg 30)Re1-Qb1 31)h5-Qe1 32)Qe1-Rb1 33)Bd1-a1-Q 34)hg-Rd1 35)gf-Kf7 0-1
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4051194896
My game against sicilian with sicilian Nc3 line....crushing kingside and checkmate.
I have not been playing well the last week or so, but this is a fun finish!
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4060795102
https://www.chess.com/live/game/4077273949
The Champion of September and the Prizes
ChessMood Family!
The one who raises his rating most in this month will join our PRO Members team for 1 month for FREE!
It can be online and offline (but not the rating of tactics).
To participate you should screenshot your rating the moment you read this post and add it here.
At the end of the month, who raised his rating most - he wins!
Replies
Lets raise those ratings again!
This is where I start Sept!
FIDE : 1894 (id= 4275330)
Lichess :
I think I will have to stop drinking Bourbon while playing blitz to win this one.?
Let's raise the Rating!!
Chess.com
Daily Rating: 1470
Blitz Rating:2007
Rapid: 2183
USCF: 2018
My Elo is 1550
My goal is 2600)
Hey Champions! Alex raised his rating with 130 points.
Do we have anyone who did more? :)
Reti opening
What is the most uncomfortable line against the Reti opening?
Replies
I have played Reti as White and I feel that 1...c5 is the most uncomfortable line for White because most White players will not be prepared to play 2.e4 and transpose into the Open Sicilian. There is an excellent course on this for Black with Maroczy Bind Fianchetto Variation video course. However, the drawback of playing 1...c5, is that you have to prepare for the Sicilian if White plays 2.e4. The lines tend to transpose to the Symmetrical English which I personally prefer as Black.
Hi Loyd!
Against Nf3 you can also go 1...Nf6.
If 2.g3 then g6.
If white wants to achieve something, soon or lose it will be transposed to Maroczy Bind course.
Grand Prix Attack is alive!
Grand Prix Attack is alive!
www.chess.com/live/game/4075456298
www.chess.com/live/game/3821980496
www.chess.com/live/game/3669539048
www.chess.com/live/game/3588935148
www.chess.com/live/game/3428137005
You just need to know a few important novelties which you can find in our courses
Grand Prix attack - chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-part-1
Free Starter course (around 3 hours) - chessmood.com/course/1-starter-course-winning-with-white
Check out the results of our members or just go to the courses and learn all this stuff.
chessmood.com/feedback
Good luck!
Replies
1...e5 or french???
Hi Champions!!,
What do people think about playing either french with after 3 nc3 nf6 4bg5 dxe4 nxe4 be7 bxn gxf6. The Morozevich line. or the archangel and 1...e5. which is sharper. I am a sharp tactical player. I have been told that and many many wins that way!! I lean towards 1...e5. other than guicco piano (I would play Nf6 not Bc5) and Scotch nf6 again only ruy confronts it head on. Then french is very stable and still gives counterplay. I like the space and no bad bishop with e5. Plus I like 1e5 as if morozevich line gives out not sure what to play? I would have tons of lines in 1e5 please advise.
Thanks,
Marc
Replies
Marc, you are going around all the time, what openings to play.
Just start with something.
Watch the webinar "The best openings" please, finally. Everything will be clear to you.
Benko Gambit Accepted
I’m trying to learn the Benko Gambit but no one is accepting and I’m stuck trying to learn strange positions. Any one else having this problem?
Replies
I'm having the same problem. These days, many of my opponents play 2.Nf3 or the London system after 1.d4. I'm looking forward to having these systems covered in the d4 sidelines course.
When I do get the Benko, my opponents often play 4.b3, resulting in fairly dull positions where I'm struggling to generate chances.
I'll complete the d4 sidelines, once I am back to home.
Before that just follow the streams, as I all the time comment on the games, how to play against sidelines, which opponents plays.
The Hero of September and the Prizes
ChessMood Family!
As we have a very tight-knit community, and many of you help each other, anytime you get help from someone, you can send nice words to that person here.
At the end of the month together we will vote to find the person who had the most impact on your success (you can't vote for our instructors ?
The Hero of the month will join our PRO Members team for 1 month for Free!
Replies
Hello sir, May I know what are these and how does this works. are these about the games played on chess.com
This month I would like to nominate Kevin Hall Jr., Piort Urbanski and Bhabatosh Chowdhury for everything they did for me in St Louis. These amazing people are brothers to me and I can't wait till the next time we are all together!
