Chess forum by Grandmasters

Daily Lesson with a GM Questions

This is a post for anyone wanting to discuss ideas and questions about the daily lessons with GM Avetik.

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#8: I suppose this is something we need to be careful of in the Dutch attack since we often trade off our K-side bishop (for knight) as early as possible. Do we always try to castle long once traded because of this so we can push P on K-side?

#8 test:
I really wanted to make it work with 1...Nxe4 2.Nxe4 Qxc2 with lots of ideas to either hold the pin, add an attacker with ...exf4 or start both central pawns pushing together. Honestly I have trouble knowing if this is a worthy sacrifice idea or not. But after all maybe White has 2.Rxe4 with no problems? What stopped me from 1...d5 was 2.-- ..dxe4 3.Qe3 but I suppose it isn't easy for White in this position even though the diagonal is temporarily closed. He can't win the pawn back without reopening it and letting it be there is bad for him too.

Great Idea !!!

Pirc Defense

what do i play as white after 1E4,C6

                                                    2D4,G6

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Hi there,

I'm still a novice so take what I say with a pinch of salt!

• * Isn't this a variation of the Caro-Kann defence rather than the Pirc?  https://www.365chess.com/opening.php?m=5&n=195&ms=e4.c6.d4.g6&ns=3.31.21.195
• * You have 2 pawns in the centre (which is good!), you should now start to develop your pieces.  Nc3 is a possibility (and is played in the Jobava London) but note that it blocks the movement of the c-pawn, so you may prefer Nd2.

What should the plan be in this position (Caro-Kann Exchange Variation)?

Hello everyone! I hope that this message finds you in good spirits :)

Actually, I recently played a game using ChessMood repertoire (I've recently picked it up so I am still learning it, but it's really fun & effective to use!) and I got a position from the Caro Kann Exchange variation, which arose after

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. Qxb6 axb6 9. h3 Bh5 10. Na3 

Of course, this all theory, but here, my opponent played 10…e6. I was a bit confused on how to proceed because during the game, I thought that we should not exchange pieces (especially the bishops and the b5 knight) or give our opponent any kind of play in general, but it started to feel like there were weaknesses in my position (I pushed a4 & b3 at some point) and my opponent started to get some play slowly (it ended in a draw, but I struggled a lot during the game).

It would be really helpful if you could explain this to me. Thank you so much in advance! 

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Yes, but I thought that after black plays …Bg6 & exchanges our light squared bishop, the knight on b5 seems a bit loose, right?

I hope this message finds you in good spirits :)

Actually, I recently played a game using ChessMood repertoire (I've recently picked it up, so I am still learning it, but it's really fun & effective to use!) and I got a position from the Caro Kann Exchange variation, which arose after:

e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Qb3 Qb6

While diving into these strategic moves, I was also reminded of how thrilling it is to make quick decisions, whether in chess or while zooming through levels in https://drift-boss.pro . If you're in the mood for something fast-paced and challenging, give Drift Boss a try – the thrill of the game might just remind you of outsmarting your opponent in those key chess moments!

Just a4. Anyways it is completely fine, I think you are seeing ghosts.

Best Way to Study Opening Courses ?

Hi everyone!

I'm currently working through one of the opening courses (800-2000), and I’m not sure what the most effective study method is. I’d really appreciate your thoughts!

Specifically:

Should I write down all the moves and lines, including how to punish inaccurate responses from the opponent?

Or is it better to focus mainly on understanding the key ideas, typical plans, and patterns?

My goal is to build a strong, long-lasting understanding — not just memorize lines I’ll forget later.

Thanks in advance

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Dear Neev,

Your thoughts are very much right!
No need just only to memorize the lines; it's super important to understand the ideas at first.

I would recommend you to watch the videos, understand the ideas, and at the end, create your PGN files based on the homework PGNs we provide at the end.

Also, I highly recommend checking the WhiteMood and BlackMood model game courses ( you will find them below the theoretical ones)
to enhance your experience and middlegame understanding.

Good luck! 

antisicilian part 2

whats the best response after d4…e6…..

1.e4c5 2.nc3 nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4. Nf3 NxB 5. NxN a6 6. Nc3 b5

7. d4 e6   ?????

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Dear Druva,

I checked the position, and I like 2 options 8. Bf4 and 8. d5 - I would personally choose d5 to take the space advantage in the center.
In both scenarios, White will try to complete the development and bring the pieces for the fight to the center. Of course, it also depends on how Black will continue. 

New Year Streaming Goal

Happy New Year, all.

One of my goals for this year is to stream some of my online playing and OTB analysis sessions. The idea behind this is to have public accountability.

Before posting any links, I wanted to check with the admin/moderators to see if there are any rules against advertising yourself. Or is there a dedicated place to post things like this? Please remove this post if I am in breach of any rules. 

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Happy New Year, dear Michael.

It's fine to do so!

A little advice: If you want to post links, you can create a post on the forum, name it as you wish, and post the links and upgrade, and anything in that forum post.
(instead of adding a forum post every time something happens. )

Does anyone else have those moments...

…where you pull off some cool concept and win your game, and think ‘This should be formally taught’…

And then you realize you got it from Avetik Grigoryan? :D

I did this in a blitz game recently. I was down material and decided to just be as annoying as possible until my opponent blundered. Right on cue after many complications they blundered their queen. I thought to myself ‘Someone needs to teach a ’How to be a pain in the ass' workshop for chess players'…then I remembered I got that skill from Section 1 of SLP 😆😆😆

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Grand prix attack

Hello!

I watched your course on the Grand Prix attack and I decided to try it in a few practise games. In one of the games i was playing against a 2400 fide rated player and the game went: e4 c5 Nc3 e6 f4 d5 Nf3 dxe4 Nxe4 Nc6 Bb5 Bd7 Qe2 a6 Bxc6 Bxc6 f5 as suggested in the course. Despite the fact the he had never seen the position before he immediately felt his king was in danger and played Bxe4 Qxe4 Qd5 Qxd5 exd5 d4 going into the position that the course says it is the best for black and here he played c4. we analyzed a little bit after the game and he said that he thought that black has no problems after this move. he thought that Bf4 was best but then f6 and black was fine, is this really the case or does white have any advantage in this endgame?

would love to hear your thoughts about the position,

with my best regards,

Lourenco

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Feedback on Woodpecker method

Hi, what do the trainers here think of the woodpecker method for improving chess? Going through a large number of puzzles first and then doing it again and again in less and less time. This is supposed to train pattern recognition.

This seems quite different from our usual method of training for tactics, which is to solve a new set of puzzles regularly.

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Dear Luke,

That method, of course, has a point. But in my opinion, chess tactics are so different, and training patterns in the same situations can be a little less effective than solving lots of puzzles and seeing tactical ideas in different scenarios. 

French e5 . Playing b3 against bishop coming to b5.

https://www.chess.com/game/live/137201228812?move=0

Good day guys.

b3 seems like it stops Bb5. 

Whats the best way to play against it?

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Dear Druva,

B3 is actually not a great move for White as it doesn't improve anything but weakens some dark squares on the Queenside.
In the game you posted here, you have actually got a decent position and c5 that you played was the right response :-) 

Crushing d4 Sidelines : London System

A 1650 OTB player, I particularly enjoyed this short course as I face the London System regularly. However, at my level (perhaps because of some YouTube  course!) white often chooses to place his bishop from f4 to g3 after black‘s Nh5, inviting the exchange in the hope of opening the h file (white‘s pawn still being on h2). Normally I wait for white to short castle before trading. Any thoughts on the best way to proceed? The knight / bishop trade must be advantageous for black, so maybe just fall back on the long castle option outlined in your course?

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Dear David,

To be able to properly advise you, I will ask you to put here an image or moves of a concrete position - as the right answer may depend on some specific details.

Thank you! 

Overcoming Tilt??? Any advice?

Hey everyone, 

Needed a place to let things out and hear from people that may have experienced this or that perhaps are currently experiencing it.  

I started playing OTB games about a year ago. Never played in any tournaments USCF, FIDE or otherwise OTB before so I gave it a go.  I was enjoying it.  First tournament I got a preliminary rating of 1120 or so.  Throughout the year I played in a few quads and some weekly club tournaments and slowly made my way up above 1300.  Entered the year with a few tournaments planned and in February I hit a peak of 1431.  I'm about 1800 on Chess.com rapid so kept thinking to myself, alright it shouldn't be to much longer. I'll get up there sooner or later.   OH NO NO NO NO…. March came at me hard.  My last 10 OTB games have resulted in 7 losses and 3 draws.  No wins!!!  5 of the losses and all 3 draws have been to players rated much lower. Some 300 to 400 lower.  

Last night was my most recent loss.  I thought I played a solid opening and I tried not to be negative, but no matter what I've been doing, in all those last few games, I've just doubted everything. All my moves were never good enough.  I talked myself out of sound ideas and good tactics.  Forced tactics, thinking I've gotta make something happen.  Last night I had a mate in 4 and even a mate in 2, but I just couldn't get myself to play it.  Ended up losing the game.  I completely gave up and can't seem to shake it.  

I haven't been playing much online either.  Decided to take a break OTB and just focus on my courses and training, but not sure when I should get back at it.  

Here are the moves from my last game.  Check it out and maybe someone can come give me a good slap in the face so I can snap out of this slump that I'm in.  lol. 
 

Trying for Positive Vibes, but it hasn't been easy.  

All the best to everyone and thanks for reading and giving me a place to “vent.”

Your fellow ProMember, 

GP

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. c3 Nf6 6. Nf3 c4 7. Bc2 h6 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Re1+ Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. b3 b5 12. a4 b4 13. bxc4 bxc3 14. Nf1 Bb4 15.
Qd3 Re8 16. Ne5 Bb7 17. Rb1 a5 18. cxd5 Qxd5 19. Bb3 Qxd4 20. Bxf7+ Kh8 21. Ng6+
Kh7 22. Nf8+ Kh8 23. Qxd4 Nxd4 24. Rxe8 Nxe8 25. Bh5 Be4 26. Ra1 Bxf8 27. Ne3
Nf6 28. Bd1 Nb3 29. Bxb3 Rb8 30. Bc4 c2 31. f3 Rb1 32. Nxc2 Bxc2 33. Rxb1 Bxb1
34. Bb5 Bb4 35. Kf2 g5 36. Bb2 Kg7 37. g4 Bc2 38. Kg3 Bd6+ 39. Kg2 Kf7 40. Bc4+
Kg6 41. Bxf6 Kxf6 42. Bb5 Ke5 43. h4 Kd4 44. hxg5 hxg5 45. Kf2 Kc3 46. Ke3 Kb4
47. Kd4 Bxa4 48. Bc4 Bd1 49. Bd5 a4 50. Ke4 Bf4 51. Kd4 a3 0-1

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Dear Garry,

I read your thread carefully and will try to help.
I noticed that you mentioned at some point that you stopped playing and decided to only focus on trainings, but that is wrong as the right way to grow is the Study - Practice - Fix - Repeat method.
Below, I will post links to several articles that can help you:
https://chessmood.com/blog/5-crucial-steps-to-stop-bad-results-in-chess
https://chessmood.com/blog/how-to-handle-painful-blunders
https://chessmood.com/blog/risks-of-playing-chess-when-you-dont-want
https://chessmood.com/blog/things-you-should-give-up-to-enjoy-chess-fully
https://chessmood.com/blog/detachment

Good luck!

What will be our repertoire against White's 1. Nc3 , 2. Nf3?

I played an OTB tournament yesterday, i got crushed using Dutch as Black, i think im doing something wrong. The game was:

1. Nc3 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. e4 fxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. d3 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. Nfg5 b6 8. Bf3 Nc6 9. c3 Bb7 10. d4 Na5 11. Qd3 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 Nc6 13. h4 a5 14. Ng5 g6 15. Nxh7 Kxh7 16. h5 1-0

Any suggestion, or should i play French against it instead of Dutch?

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Dear Eric,

Against this setup, I don't recommend 2…f5 - instead, you can play 2…d5! 
No,w if e4 - with Nf6 you will transition to the French.
If White continues with 3. d4, the problem is for White that the Knight on c3 blocks the pawn on c2, and White can't properly fight for the center. You can play there with either e6 - than c5 ideas, or 3…f5 in the Stonewall style. 

Suggestion for Chessmood website

Hi everyone, but especially this post is for chessmood staff.

Although your website is the most amazing chess learning platform in the world, there is one aspect of the technical side of the website which could be improved. That is, it would perhaps be very useful if you could have a ‘dark mode' which changes the background to some darker colour which would be easier on the eyes especially late at night.

Thanks!

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Confusion in the Silent Strategy Course

Hello everyone!
 

I have a doubt. In the Silent Strategy Course, section 3 video 9 at 1:16 GM Gabuzyan says that white has 3 defenders of the weak square. Doesn't the queen count as a defender? It can defend from c2.

Please help clear this doubt.

-Ved

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As GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes says in the video, “we are speaking about the minor peices.” 

He then counts the 3 minor piece defenders and attackers, before going on to illustrate the trade that would help Black to take the weak square.

When thinking about infiltrating a weak square, or taking an outpost, it is the minor pieces (especially the Knights) that would love to be there. The Queen not so much. That is why in the examples, the focus is on the pieces.

Hope that helps!

New podcast with Dr. Rao Srikumar: The Joy is in the Journey, Not the End

What if your worst blunders weren’t caused by the game… 😊

In our latest podcast episode, Dr. Srikumar Rao — who calls himself the “FedEx guy” — delivers timeless principles for emotional clarity, fulfillment, and performance.

A must-listen episode for chess players and deep thinkers:
https://youtu.be/rA4F4nyElLA

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New article: How the Small Trips You Take Shape Your Life and Chess

Every move you make—on the board or in life—is a trip.
But are your trips taking you closer to your goals? Not always.

What if one question could change it all? 🤔
A question that could transform your life and your chess. 

Read today’s article to find out how ⤵️
https://chessmood.com/blog/life-chess-trips

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Very nice analogy! The idea that being conscious about all the little trips can profoundly influence the overall long journey is powerful. Thanks GM Avetik!

Sounds very interesting

My best game rating (2100) and accuracy (100%)

Lies, damned lies, and statistics!  It was only a 6-move game 😂

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/daily/797448859?tab=review

Do any of you high-ranking players get quick games anymore or are they all 50+ moves? 

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They are usually pretty long up here XD but the exceptions are really funny.

Twice in classical (just last year) I had a lost position as early as move 7 (!!).

But the majority of games are usually decided between the 15-25 move phase I’ve learned. Worth spending extra time there!

Hopefully your opponent wasn’t too happy with the result ;)

https://www.chess.com/game/137250737750 Yes I sometimes get quick games haha.

There are a few notable instances of top grandmasters losing focus early. This game happened at the 2023 World Rapid Championship: https://www.chess.com/events/2023-fide-world-rapid-chess-championship/08/Ganguly_Surya_Shekhar-Madaminov_Mukhiddin 

Nice win yourself Poker. I've heard of that trick before but had never actually seen it done in a game.

Look who got a new milestone!

1300 blitz! Yeah!

I actually lost a friendship over bullet and blitz lol. She was so resentful that I ‘wasted’ her advice flagging it up in the blitz and bullet arenas instead of playing slow, ‘virtuous’ chess. 

I give ten thousand shits…wait, no, I totally don't. I'll retire from blitz and bullet when I'm dead.

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french attack 3. e5

Dear CM coach-community, what do you recommend against 1.e4-e6 2.c4 d5 3. e5.

i had an otb games where i played 3..d4, 4.d3 c5 5.f4 Nc6 with a closed center but was not confident with the position.

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Dear Marius,

The pawn on e5 is too advanced and without a supporting pawn. I like the idea of playing 3…c5 followed by Nc6 moves.
As an alternative you can take on c4 at first and then play with c5.