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Chess forum by Grandmasters
The best games of February, 2025, and the prizes
Hello ChessMood family, hello champions and future champions!
Welcome to the "Best games of February, 2025" competition.
Under this post, we invite you to post the best games that you will play this month.
The Prize fund is 350K MoodCoins which is equal to 350$.
The 1st prize - 150K
The 2nd prize - 100K
The 3rd prize- 50K
The 4th prize- 30k
The 5th prize- 20k
Good luck with your games and keep the Right Mood!
#ChessMood
#Right Mood - Right Move
P. S.
Here are the winners of January, 2025:
Gaspar Veress
Tyler Ferland
Joseph Zaffarese
Regis H
Marius Cornee
Replies
https://lichess.org/aaItgltqcUR1
Good evening,
I played very nice game as white against Pirc defence.
Please enjoy!
Interesting Scandinavian
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/132423662721?tab=analysis&move=40
I've always struggled against Caro-Kahn, but this was a good game https://www.chess.com/game/live/132436284193
The power of bishops vs uncastled king & dubious opening
https://lichess.org/gVF1jypX/black
Punished Bc5
https://www.chess.com/game/live/132499291743
Grey mood : master scalp (some mistake but a win against a so called master..)
A great center, a d5 passed pawn+ a backward d6 pawn and an awful f8 bishop, is giving white an long term advantage.
https://lichess.org/N3vYR8Ly/white#89
French attack
https://www.chess.com/game/live/132668964237
punishing a weird 1…e5 opening:
https://www.chess.com/live/game/132682808561
Killer Caro Kann
https://www.chess.com/game/live/132693625135
Interesting mate pattern with BIG help from Mating Matador!
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/132709787345?tab=review
I haven't been playing too much as of late as I have to take care of things in my life, but I thought this game was pretty good! https://lichess.org/aHnG5YUP/black
Funny benko miniature
https://www.chess.com/live/game/132821980923
A nice miniature in the dutch attack:
https://lichess.org/Yb6D0KYQ/black
A nice positional massage in the sicilian, with a nice f5 break to conclude
https://www.chess.com/live/game/132830949391
Antisicilian !
https://www.chess.com/game/live/132835733627?move=0
1. https://lichess.org/vgdmWDDVyuUu
2. https://lichess.org/ekiXM6AwBcVh
Good evening!
I played 2 very interesting games, 1. game is nice slow positional outplay and 2. is unique SLP.
Please enjoy!
A game that was played in the local league. a GP attack with sacrificing the rook and going for the king with a checkmate in the end.
https://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?art=36&id=5723710
anti sicilian part 1: with some mistakes but got the point: sometimes i missed a queen exchange according the silicon entity but “keeping the queen for the attack” sounded better..
Hello everyone,
Here is a win with the Scotch game! Enjoy
https://lichess.org/VnVL1UJaVrbD
I haven't really learned the Grand Prix (yet) but I didn't know what to do so…
https://lichess.org/study/bQns14tw
Sicilian with a nice finish
https://www.chess.com/live/game/133297776859
https://lichess.org/O6RX9JJa/white#0
straight forward win vs czech pirc
Nice English for black
https://www.chess.com/game/live/133353549993
A good scotch in the 8.h4 a5 variation with a queen trap
https://lichess.org/p2ryykRYsBwV
Good afternoon,
I played very instructive Scotch game using my h4 pawn sac novelty!
Please enjoy!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/133468166861?move=52
I think this is a nice game, using the Na3-c2-e1-d3 maneuver, combined with a kingside attack in the g6 caro; this win gave me my new peak, 2816, with the help of chess mood courses!
https://lichess.org/FOkTrs2A1GwG
Here is a nice Scotch Meises variation which I rarely see at my level. My opponent helped me out a bit and I got a good attack.
Today there was the Improvers sunday rapid tournament 1200+ on chess.com . I participated an won 4 out of 4 of my games.
On round 3 I beated the strongest opponent I have ever beaten, more than 2200 elo (2194 is his elo after the game). The game is quite nice, I've never been in danger and it is a testimony on my endgame progress.
I play white:
https://www.chess.com/game/live/133466969007
On round 4, I beated another strong player, 2120 elo, also a game where my progress at endgames helped me a lot.
I play black:
https://www.chess.com/game/live/133468747621?move=0
https://lichess.org/u7OhqK36/black
nice tactic at the end
I have two games, both of which are very tactical with huge attacks
https://lichess.org/study/SnHlWENo/wasLOMO5
https://lichess.org/study/SnHlWENo/2wIduGSG
Quick sicilian Nge2 h file attack https://lichess.org/MWXh3EoXzTtA
I haven't been playing much chess recently because of dealing with life challenges, this is the first game in a couple of days I played, so my long-term retention is still pretty solid! https://lichess.org/z1pJOOhe
https://www.chess.com/game/123039081328
https://www.chess.com/game/123074796226
https://www.chess.com/game/123077025878
https://www.chess.com/game/123261794280
Scotch, when black likes to exchange on d4 and go in an endgame against the BP, white has an attack
https://lichess.org/wHAhKtnJ/white
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/52z4GCy4a?tab=analysis&move=42
A nice fast attack in Scotch.
♟️
https://lichess.org/D1wCaCtXL1AJ
The champion Gambit!!
French Attack
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123088543094?tab=review
An interesting game in the Caro Kann where black plays a strange plan of Na5 with Qb6 with the later idea of ..Bb5 to exchange off my light bishop. I hadn't seen it before, the finsh is nice.
https://lichess.org/rsYrrY5LLWsf
Nice attack with nice sacrifices.
https://lichess.org/7VyyynXIsC8L
Interesting sacrifice in the Sveshnikov.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/133113558525
Destroying the Aljechin Defense.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/123074861736
https://lichess.org/Ex89eKMJ
French attack
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123111600298?tab=review&move=35
A very nice french attack! https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123143660390
Dear Cm family, this game could be an example (maybe model game) against the orang-outang 1.b4: it s a series of tactics that allows a quick development: (maybe not the rightest moves but the more annoying for opponent, as any of its threat are not taken seriously (e5 pawn and N on e5 after that)..
https://lichess.org/GhKegd0N/black
anti sicilian part 2 4… bxc6!? i maybe mixed the moves but i get to a position with a double attack on both black rook and have like and adavantage: does this line worth it ? https://lichess.org/72qMWxjZ
Nice scotch
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123161127382?tab=review
Bringing ALL of the pieces to mate the king in the Grand Prix Attack:
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123174041886?tab=review
CM Russian
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123186786526?tab=review
Overwhelming Dutch
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123188520778?tab=review
CM Scandinavian
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123189201354?tab=review
https://lichess.org/1rUvhggmYOPa
Started french attack just some time after i reWatched rise of calclman section in Rise of champs. Tried it out and it worked quite well. Pretty sure Opponent was trying the same. After sometime i remembered how rooks love open files and got that then used the tactic distraction to mate.
Dear Cm team, in this anti-sicilian part 1, black plays 3…g5?! instead of 3…g6 (maybe: not sure).
was a bit surprised but tried to take advantage that the Nf6 is not played and target the f7 point with Bc4.
(Qh5 later is a double attack on h3 and f7..
contains some mistake but it was a hard fight against a +2400 opponent:
black s king in center + 2pawns was enough for the sacrificed knight i guess.
https://lichess.org/rwGt0MEW
https://lichess.org/tRMPM5cN/black#0
nice positional game against opponent's light squared bishop
https://lichess.org/uaGRsnu6/black
No mercy in the French Exchange
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123214947254?tab=review
Punishing passive play with a brilliant bishop sacrifice in the Exchange Caro-Kann
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123215503180?tab=review
Brilliant Benko demonstrates how to crush opponents who play wrong opening move in a Standard OTB game
https://lichess.org/broadcast/wightlink-isle-of-wight--weekend-congress-open/round-4/H1XpyO9h/b88VG3z2
https://www.chess.com/game/123253573220
Just a rapid game online with ChessMood opening and finishing with a nice sacrifice.
Oh and with this game I crossed 2000 on chess.com. My goal is to do the same in OTB, but still nice. Thanks Avetik! Thanks Gabuzyan!
I played online. Time control was blitz(5min + 5sec).
Opening is French Attack Exchange Variation.
I played 2 brilliant moves in the game!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/123158407780
This was a satisfying game as White against the Petrov.
70+10 OTB league match. I was playing Board 2 of 5. An important match, which we won to remain top of the league.
https://chessdrop.com/games/f52ca349-e6e0-48d6-8b69-9f00f91bd794
😀
Caro kann, following the opening recommendations.
https://lichess.org/5XdixW9N/white
a nice rook sac to mate the opponent's king https://lichess.org/vljx5Rux
Beating a 2100 opponent (about 540 points higher rated than I) in the French Tarrasch with the ChessMood line
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/134255958567?tab=review
French exchange with some smaller tactics against 2000+ in an 10+5 on Lichess.
There was neither a blunder nor a mistake, just small inaccuracies (acc. to Lichess).
Black profited from much better understanding this opening (esp. on the black squares after queen exchange).
CM French
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/123336994836?tab=review
Played as white.. Whitemood opening against carokann
https://lichess.org/h3yAZpnky0RJ
2 knights against the french
https://www.chess.com/game/123353377514
Played with white (whoami30) whitemood opening against pirc
A nice queen sac in a complicated Alapin Sicilian
https://lichess.org/study/SnHlWENo/psLbxfr1
A nice OTB win with the Dutch Attack, in a team tournament with classic time control:
1.d4 e6 2.a3 f5 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nf3 b6 5.Nc3 Bb7 6.Bf4 d6 7.g3 Nbd7 8.Bg2 h6 9.0-0 Ne4 10.Nxe4 Bxe4 11.Ne1 Bxg2 12.Kxg2 g5 13.Bd2 Bg7 14.Bc3 0-0 15.Rc1 a5 16.a4 Qe8 17.e3 Nf6 18.b3 Ne4 19.f3 Nxc3 20.Rxc3 e5 21.dxe5 Qxe5 22.Rd3 Rae8 23.Qd2 Re7 24.Rf2 Rfe8 25.Re2 g4 26.Rf2 h5 27.fxg4 Qe4+ 28.Kg1 fxg4 29.Rf4 Qe6 30.Kf2 Bh6 31.Ng2 Bxf4 32.exf4 Qe2+ 33.Qxe2 Rxe2+ 34.Kf1 Rb2 35.Ne3 Rxh2 36.Kg1 Re2 37.Ng2 Kg7 38.Kf1 R8e6 39.Rc3 Rb2 40.Ne3 c6 41.Rd3 Rf6 42.Kg1 Kf7 43.f5 Re2 44.Kf1 Rxe3 45.Rxe3 Rxf5+ 46.Kg1 Re5 47.Rd3 Ke6 48.Kf1 d5 49.cxd5+ cxd5 50.Rc3 Kd6 51.Rd3 Re4 52.Kf2 d4 53.Kf1 Kd5 54.Kf2 Kc5 55.Kf1 Re3 56.Rxe3 dxe3 57.Ke2 Kd4 58.Ke1 Kd3 59.Kd1 e2+ 60.Ke1 h4 61.gxh4 g3 0-1
Champions, hello! How are you?
Thank you for sharing your games. It was a pleasure to review them. We found many instructive moments and ideas. It brings a smile to our faces to see you implementing what you've studied. Keep it up!
Now, onto the prizes:
1st Prize: Regis H. You punished your opponent for playing poorly in the opening. When the moment came, you finished off the game with a beautiful sacrifice. Well done!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/132682808561?move=1
2nd Prize: Yuya Sato. It looked like after 19.f3, White was putting up strong resistance. Then you found a patient but powerful way to keep the attack going with 19…Rdg8! The final finish with two piece sacrifices was a treat to watch. Great game!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/123158407780
3rd Prize: Konrad Scheffler. Fantastic attacking game in the French! You destroyed the position with a classy rook sacrifice and demonstrated the power of two bishops in an attack. Nicely done, and congratulations on crossing 2000. We’re happy for you!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/123253573220?move=1
4th Prize: Ashwin Anjulan. A positional masterpiece in the Benko! From grabbing more space to creating a new weakness with h5-h4 later, you showed many instructive ideas in your game! It was complete domination using the silent strategy. Well done!
https://lichess.org/broadcast/wightlink-isle-of-wight--weekend-congress-open/round-4/H1XpyO9h/b88VG3z2
5th Prize: Tomas Hanak. Giving up central control and ignoring development is never a good idea. You showed how to take advantage of it. 13.Qe2 was so subtle and powerful. Also, you finished off the endgame nicely, giving your opponent no chance to make a comeback. Well done!
https://lichess.org/aaItgltq#47
Congratulations to all of you.
And thanks everyone for sharing your games once again!
Keep the mood. Keep the CoGro mindset!
All the best for the next month’s contest!
How to play as black?🤔 I have no idea😅 Please help
I have a few attacks with white like
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 exd4
4. Nxd4 Nxd4
5. Qxd4 and i have dome center
but with black i fall for my attack myself😅
could you give me a solution please🙏🥺
Replies
Have you looked in the courses? The BlackMood course is all about playing the openings as Black. You probably want to start with the Opening Principles course.
Cheers,
Jeff
Daily Puzzle Confusion
In the 2/27/2025 daily puzzle I'm wondering why Rb7 doesn't work with the point to go Ra7 and after he takes its stalemate.
Replies
That was my “solution” too. But Black is not obligated to take the rook, can just move the king.
Motivation for chess and life
Lets discuss how our mind works during a game and in life! Lets be motivated
Replies
Who have heard that the word “ sweat in peace” well if anyone here has worked for the army i bet he/she know the meaning of that. In army training they give insane training for the soldiers so that the upcoming war is not so challenging for them. Also i have a little story for u guys ..
The story of a young baseball player.
When he is batting he could not even see the ball! Ball came in lighting speed and beacause of him his team lost. The next day he is the best baseball batter! Whats the secret i guessed it “sweat in peace” after he lost he asked his dad to throw the ball at maximum speed then the next day arrive and baseball is like crystal clear for him!! So work hard in peace time and that will pay off in the work time!
“Concentration is the key to success ”
We need to keep our eyes on the prize i bet everybody heard that but today i'll try to open a inner layer that u before did't see.
a teacher put a piece of wood in a classroom. The piece of wood winch is bigger in lenght but the sides are shorter. Then teacher ask a child to go within the piece of wood without loosing balance the child did it easiliy. But lets imagine that the same piece of wood was placed between two buildings. Can we still go within the piece of wood whitout falling? Of course not cause we are afraid of falling and that factor stops us from crossing the piece of wood. Make sense? Not only in chess but also in life we get distracted by many things. What we need to do is only think what we are doing. Not what happen if or the result. THE KEY IS TO THINK ABOUT NOW
SLP Rating climb and more!
Lets discuss our skills in slp!
Replies
My real rating is chess.com 2219 Rapid and my SLP rating is 1842 (madchessdilshan) slp profile and lets analyse our slp games and discuss more
Lets share each other their SLP profiles
Ruy Lopez Puzzle
I recently played a blitz game where my opponent played an interesting sideline in the Ruy Lopez. I ended up getting demolished, but only because I overlooked the best move in a critical position. In the attached diagram, Black has sacrificed a pawn for active pieces. What is White's best move? This is an advanced puzzle, where the goal is not necessarily to win a piece but instead to limit Black's play and achieve a nice position.
Feel free to discuss answers below. I'll post the answer in the comments eventually.
Replies
Simplistically (which I realise probably isn’t what you are looking for!) black’s Nf4 move combines with the bishop on b7 to apply pressure to the g2 square immediately in front of our king. There is no immediate mate threat but white could safely remove the g2 pawn, leaving our king vulnerable.
So, one of my candidate moves would be f3 to block the b7 bishop.
Another would be Qg4, threatening the f4 knight and the g7 pawn which would weaken any castling move in the future and also threaten the h8 rook.
I just realized you have already shared the answer, and I will say that it was my first thought. Intuitevely, allowing a piece on d3 is eh. Basically the whole queenside would be stuck for like 10 moves for just a measly pawn!
Modern Maroczy 11. a4.
Hi coaches!
In Modern Maroczy Bind course, in the first section which is very important we play as it is showed on the coming gif with that idea of pushing 11. …. a4 with 12. ….. Qa5. But what if White has the idea of playing 11.a4 himself blocking our main plan. Maybe I'm missing something but I don't think it's mentioned in the course (I even looked at Maroczy Bind course thinking that it was a transposition to any line there). The problem is that even the engine likes that move and it's not easy for me to find any clear good continuation in the same spirit of our course.
Thanks!
.
Replies
11.a4 seems very anti-positional to me. Black's knight will have a safe home on c5 and white will have lots of weak squares to defend. I would play 11… Be6/12….Nd7/13…Nc5 and look for chances to exchange your light-square bishop for white's knight, getting a nice endgame.
Dear Ilias,
That idea terribly weakens the squares on b4 - it fixes the pawn on b3 as a static weakness, and Black will be doing great with a Knight transfer d7-c5!
getting better
Hello all. i am 1907 uscf and i am wondering how to get to 2000 uscf.
Thanks
Joel
Replies
Talk to Your (Happy) Pieces Course?
I heard about a reference to a “Talk to Your pieces” course here on ChessMood via Noel Studer – does anyone know if that course exists? THANKS I am a new person
Replies
Question on Kinder variation after 5.Be3 Ne7 6.f4!
🏆 Hi ChessMood Team ! 🏆
I played the “Kinder” variation of the French attack recently (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Ng8!).
In the Blackmood videos, Avo talks about responding to 5.f4 with c5 & Nh6 now that the diagonal is closed). Or responding to 5.Be3 with Ne7, so that the coming Nf5 hits White's bishop with tempo and allows c5, ruining White's pawns.
But my opponent played a tricky move order: 5.Be3 Ne7, 6. f4! This confused me because I was not confident to play a 6.c5 sacrifice. I played 6...Nf5 anyway, but White's Bishop predictably went to safety on 7. Bf2, and now the c5 push is not so clear.
What do you think is the most thematic French Attack way of handling this move order?
FWIW, I have come up with the following, which involves sacrificing a pawn on c5. (In some subvariations Black can win the pawn back on c5, but this full line shows White keeping the c5 pawn) :
5.Be3 Ne7 6.f4 c5! (anyway, saccing the pawn) 7.dxc5 Nd7 (looking to win back the pawn after Nf5) 8.Bb5 (pinning the knight) Nc6! 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10.b4 (finally securing the pawn) a5 11. a3 Ba6 (the point, Black is a pawn down but has solved the light square Bishop) 12. Nge2 (to enable castling) Be7 13.O-O O-O +/=
White is up a full pawn in the above but Black has better pieces I think and can look at f6. 🤔
Is this any good? Any better ideas? Is there any way to get c5 in without a sacrifice? It seems that 5.Be3 then 6. f4 are quite logical moves for White so I think this is worth planning for.
Thank you for your thoughts ! 😀 🙏
Replies
Dear Ben,
Usually, U2000 this variation of Nc3 happens rarely, and the specific sequence you mentioned is even rarer, however, if you still face it, I would recommend after f4, to play with Nf5 and h5 - if Bd3 - g6 to recapture on f5 with a G pawn. And after that playing with b6-Ba6 ideas. I think it's very practical.
French Attack, Classical, Steinitz, Boleslavsky Variation
In French attack, Classical, Steinitz, Boleslavsky Variation, (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 O-O 9.Be2 a6 10.O-O)
What is the purpose of 9. ...a6? What would happen if I didn't play this move?
Replies
Dear Yuya,
The variation that you have mentioned is not from our opening repertoire.
I would be very happy to assist you with any questions related to our variations.
Future Courses Ideas
ChessMood !
The best chess courses site. I have nothing to say. The courses are wonderful, the explanation is the best, the training examples are carefully chosen, the courses ideas are amazing, the user interface is magnificent.
I have only one thing to add (Not a bad thing, just relax 😀 ! ), as previously said in the title of this article, “ Future ideas ”, the courses about openings are numerous, the same goes for the endgame, and the section of “In Grandmaster's Mind” and “Rating booster”. However, for the middlegame section it's the opposite, a few and uncompleted courses, even if the middlegame is far more important than the opening phase, and there is so much course ideas when it comes to the middlegame play and concepts.
“Playing in open and closed positions”, “Improve your middlegame play”, “Crucial middlegame concepts”, "Improve your positional play", “Various middlegame strategies”, and many other courses ideas.
So what I'm asking is focus more on the middlegame courses, without forgetting about the other sections, and complete the unfinished courses.
Nothing more to add about this great, amazing, instructive and fun website.
All my respect, appreciation and love to the creators, coaches and developers of this website. ❤️
Thank you for taking the time to read this article and I hope it was useful. 🙏
THANK YOU ! 🙏
Replies
Check this https://chessmood.com/courses?scrollTo=#middlegame-mastery
Brave Chess
🤔
Hi, I was just watching the ‘Brave Chess’ video in the Blunderproof course. It gives an example where White blundered a mate in one: 1…Qg1 checkmate according to the video.
But actually that move is not even a check because the White king is on h2 and the Black Queen can't move backwards…
Replies
check again
Hi,
good point! I agree.
Maybe the rules should be modified: A check (under normal chess circumstances) must be parried.
If that is not possible, we define it as a checkmate?! Without the modification …Qg1wouldn't be mate, like
you pointed out.
Course
From where i have to start?
Replies
Ratting booster
YAAAAAAAY
Well my struggle with tilt lately had a happy ending. I made it to 1400 chess.com! Yes that is me on my alt; it's my little arcade purely for bullet and blitz
Replies
Congratulations! 🤩 🥳
Can't win with the Dutch
Hi, I'm a 1400 on Chess.com. I've enjoyed the Chessmood repertoire but can't play the Dutch ATTACK. I often get games with 100% opening accuracy for the Scotch and the French ATTACK. Does anyone have any ideas for why this could be happening? Also, if anyone wants to spar with the Dutch ATTACK, I'm game.
Replies
I must admit I had similar problems when I was 1800ish, and so switched to the Sicilian and Benko (then later KID) which worked much better.
Simply try to understand the ideas, sparring games is always a great idea, and if you want, you can experiment with new openings.
French Bd3
Hi
I recently played the following line 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3 Bd3 Nf6 4 e5 Nd75 c3 c5 6 Ne2 Nc6 7 a3 and here all the analysis we've been given follows Qb6 by black. However in this game black played 7. ..a5. I castled then played Bb5 but got crushed on the queenside.
The move 7. … a5 seems to cross all the plans we were shown in the courses. Can someone explain how it is best to proceed here? Should I exploit the hole on b5 or aim for kingside activity?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Replies
a4 seems reasonable here followed by Na3,Nb5. this also stops black's plans in the queenside with b5,b4. if you successfully stop black's counterplay on the queenside you will have very good potential for an attack as you can easily advance with f4,f5 while black is left with no clear plan. While this position is not yet winning for white, white has a clear advantage due to their space advantage as well as their potential for a kingside attack.
hope this helps, Samuel
Dear Norbert,
You don't need to focus on the Queenside.
A3 pawn limits all Nb4 ideas. So you get a clear game on the Kingside.
Play with 0-0 - meet Qb6 by Bc2 to protect the d4 pawn. Sometimes going to Kh1 - to escape from Diagonal where the Queen is located, is reasonable. Playing with f4 seems like a great and easy plan.
There are other options as well, but what I offered I think is the most practical one.
ChessMood Simplified Openings VS Step by Step Repertoire
Hi, I'm a bit confused with the recommendations available for the openings between the Simplified Openings Course and the Step by Step courses. I have an OTB game coming up and my opponent plays the London. I'd like to prepare something for the match because I currently play the KID typically against d4, but I don't really feel comfortable with it against the London. The Simplified course recommends the Dutch Attack and provides a nice idea for the set up. I thought the Simplified course would be an introduction since it gives a lot of simple ideas to go up against a number of different openings from white. So I went to the Step by Step courses looking for a more thorough course on that Dutch Attack recommendation against the London, but the only course I see is the d4 sidelines which includes the London and Jobava along with the Trompowsky. Is there not a full or more thorough course on how to prepare the Dutch Attack against the London? Or is the d4 sidelines better for me to study to prepare for my OTB game?
Thank you,
Garry P.
Replies
The advanced repertoire for black is different to the simplified courses. Personally, I really like the advanced repertoire against the london as it will surprise many opponents (the section in the course is also only 25 mins long) but if you usually play the Dutch then you could risk transpositions into unfamiliar territory if your opponent does not play the London.
Hope this helps, Samuel
Dear Garry,
In the future, we might also have advanced French and Dutch in the step-by-step section, but by now the repertoires are different.
Based on your rating/level you can choose which ones to play. Usually simplified are for U2000 online ratings, and advanced one 2000+
Question on London Counter in the d4 Sidelines
I just went through the course and I noticed there isn't any mention of white playing Bd3 rather than Be2. I understand that it is an inferior move than Bd3, but I do see it played quite a bit by people. The engine seems to suggest to play c5 right away, but I was wondering if there was any lines or plans that could be offered within the course to better understand the ideas that are best to play against that similar to how the course provides it for the other moves.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!!
Replies
Dear Garry,
It's impossible to cover absolutely all moves in all the openings, so we try to focus on the main/more common lines.
If you can post a specific position, with a question I would try to help :-)
Caro-Kann Na5 line
after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+ Nc6 ; in the course, 9.Qb3 is recommended transposing to the main lines after 9…Qd7 or 9…Qc8 but what if black plays 9…Bd6 aiming to reach the Qd7 line with an extra tempo?
Replies
sorry i meant after 9.Nd2 e6,10.Qb3 not 9.Qb3
