Video Issues

Hi

I am watching videos on the courses on my Android phone. For some reason it is no longer possible to maximise the video, so I have to watch it as a small picture. Can someone please investigate this? 

Many thanks 

Norbert 

Replies

Hi I noticed Chessmood's video format have changed to this recently. When the video starts it will only appear on half of your phone's screen, right? On the bottom right of the video there should be a “<” icon. Press on that then options will appear including one to maximize the video. This works for me with my phone rotated to landscape (horizontal).

Hope this helps,

Alex

Some fun tactics I was quite proud of here. Definitely a 'no u' dynamic going on with that rook

https://lichess.org/IZQM0u18/white#85

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Brilliants are like buses ...

… you wait ages for one and then two come along at once!

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/daily/744160149?tab=review

I was amazed at my opponent's restraint when he didn't accept the first knight sacrifice (the second was obviously more tempting!).

I think I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of ‘Brilliants’ that I've had in my games so I was amazed to get two in one game!  Out of curiosity, does such a move always require a sacrifice of some sort?

Merry Christmas everybody!!

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Chesscoms method of brilliant move is simply a sacrifice that will earn material.

Back in the days (it feels wrong to say this as I’m only 13!) a brilliant move was one that was underestimated by the engine. Basically it was the only good move, that the engine couldn’t find in 3 seconds.

I had only gotten 1 of these, a beautiful positional move where I ruined my structure but put my opponent in an enternal pin. Sadly I can’t find the game now (it was too far back) and I’m a bit upset they changed it. Obviously so more people get it, which will lead to more activity, more sales, etc. But back then you basically had to play better than a (low depth, few seconds thinking time) engine. Pretty impressive.

Enough talking about that!

You played an very Nice game, took me a minute to understand all the point, especially of Nf4.

I reccomend submitting it to the best games contest!

Merry Christmas!

Small edit: Here is a forum talking about how old brilliant moves work: https://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/brilliant-moves-in-new-game-analysis-report

And here is one talking about new ones: https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-play-a-brilliant-move

As you can see, they have completely downgraded it, to the point where I am more excited by a great move (simply because it is the only move) rather than a brilliant move.

However your Nf4 would likely get classified as brilliant even back then. Much Congratulations again!

Looking for a mentor

I managed to get my rating to 1000 with study on my own and then was able to raise it to 1139 using these courses and some others over the last couple months. I feel what I need now is a coach. Some of the prices I have seen online were cost prohibitive. I'm also looking for someone who will play games with me and explain where I'm going wrong and how to take advantage of positions (recognizing the weaknesses and predicting what the opponent is trying to do) and not just analyze my games - the engine does a pretty good job of that. 

Replies

Hello!

There are two things I can suggest:

First, Chessmood has an article on Finding the Right Coach. At the end, there is a google survey where they can help connect you with one.

Second, I myself am looking to get some teaching experience. So if you (or anyone else reading this below 1800) would like someone to give some advice, play some games, and analyze together, I am willing to help. I am a stable 2100 player blitz on chess.com, and I have no other credentials ;)

On the whole, contact me if you want (Lichess ARMANDAS_130), but I do highly reccomend doing the survey. It brought me to meet my current coach!

Good luck on finding somebody!

Book recommendations

Hi everyone! My rapid rating (Lichess) is around 1700 and I have reached a plateau and have nothing else to digest. My goal is to reach 2000 next December (or before that). I have around 9 hours on chess weekly. My weakest part is positional play. What are the best books which you would recommend?

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I have two clear favorite books on this topic.

 Silman’s How To Reassess Your Chess. This book is great for people around your level. Will give you a great introduction and give you a good thinking system for positional play.

After that, a harder book is Grooten’s Chess Strategy for Club Players. I think once you reach about 1900-2000 this would be a great fit, but you can also start it right away. The ideas are well communicated, etc. I still find great use of it myself.

Hope this helps!

You can see the books chessmood recommends here: https://chessmood.com/recommendations 

You can find many good books at the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/texts?tab=collection&query=chess. 
 

New article: The #1 Lesson I Learned from My Monk Friends

Monks might not teach us chess, but they do have plenty of wisdom on life to share.

This surprising lesson from them might change the way you view life, yourself, and what you do next. 

A two-minute read, that could leave a lasting impact:
https://chessmood.com/blog/the-1-lesson-from-monks

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it means that monks cannot teach chess but they have plenty of wisdom to share

A wise man once told me you could always measure someone's self worth by seeing how many books are on their shelf :)

Well, I guess I'll sit back and buy some toy dinos (no, I'm not a 3 year old, don't worry), and maybe just a few more books of Jacob Aagaard…haha…

I would literally rather smear dog poop in my mohawk than spend an hour on gratitude meditation.

Mistake in PGN? AntiSicilian Part1: Bb5 move

If we compare video course Anti-Sicilian with 2.Nc3 d6 (Part 1) with PGN we download, there is a mistake (is it a mistake)?

In the PGN: 

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc7 Bg7 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d3 0-0 8.Qe1 e6 9.e5! Ne8 10.Bb5! 

While in Video course Bb5! is played only after 10.Be3 d6:
10.Be3 b6 11.Bb5!

Is it a mistake or was it done intentionally?

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The Rise of Champions

Greetings ChessMood Family,

Re: The Rise of Champions Course

Congratulations to the team on producing yet another excellent and entertaining course for beginners.

I would just like to bring to your attention the following minor issues:

A - Section 2 Video 8 (The rating and the shadow) seems to be broken
B - Section 4 Video 7 (1...c6: Caro-Kann) also seems to be broken

Take Care and keep up the great work.

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👍

Hi Kevin!
Thank you very much for letting us know 😊
 

The issues have been solved.
Thanks again!

LOL this was some very sloppy annihilation technique by me. My opponent had options

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.12.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Simonyetpurba"]
[Black "piedraven"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "180"]
[WhiteElo "1175"]
[BlackElo "1171"]
[Termination "piedraven won by resignation"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/128735586241"]

1. e4 e5 2. d3 Nc6 3. Nf3 h6 4. Be2 Bc5 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bd2 a6 7. Nd5 Nf6 8. c4
Nxd5 9. exd5 Nd4 10. Nxd4 Bxd4 11. O-O Bd7 12. Bc3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qe7 14. d4
O-O-O 15. c5 Qg5 16. cxd6 Bh3 17. Bf3 Rde8 18. dxc7 e4 19. d6 exf3 0-1

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New course: In GM Amin's Mind

The legend of African chess, GM Bassem Amin, commentates on his best chess games!

He takes you on a journey through some of his finest victories, sharing his decision-making process and tons of valuable advice to help you level up your game.
https://chessmood.com/course/bassem-amin-best-games

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New article: How I Raised 400 Rating Points with ChessMood Method

You set a goal. You have a plan. You’re ready for action.

And then, boom! A reality check that hit hard.

This is exactly what happened to Avo.

He decided to experience the grind that most adult improvers face—limited time, limited energy, and big dreams.

His goal? To raise 400 rating points in a chess variant, using the ChessMood Method for improvement.

But this story isn’t just about how he achieved it. It’s about the challenges he faced, the ups and downs, and a few confessions along the way.

We hope you’ll find lessons in his journey to help speed up your own chess growth.

Here’s the link to the article:
https://chessmood.com/blog/raising-400-points-chessmood-method

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Great result GM Avetik. Good Job. You are my ispiration!

It was an amazing story, glad to see. Mine is little bit normal, I am really kind of a person who sees the chess like life. When I was thinking about myself and my relationship, I just wanted to test myself to see how confident I am, so I defided to play chess where I can descrlbe myself as confident. Here is why, my rating is like 1800-1900, but after some long and painfully months, I am hanging out in 1600's now. So, I was the one who should be confident because my normal rating was much higher than my opponents, nothing could surprise me at this level. The plan was simple, I'd beat some opponents, so ensure that when I'm confident, I can be succesful. I have just played 3 games in a row, 3 defeats in the most humiliating ways. I was about to sulk to chess, then I saw your article. I have amazed when I see the advice “dont resign easily and dont hurry up to find a new game, try to learn”. In fact, I can be insecure, but at least I know what I should not do when I am trying to be confident. Thanks for your journey, hugs from Turkey. 

wow avo…that was a lot of hard work! you need some milk & cookies 👉🍪🥛

but seriously. that's a really amazing story…on stop doing so much work for chessmood, you also managed to become, 2200 at bughouse? that's insane. you should chill for a day (vroom vroom around town on your motorcycle?)

well, i've also finally managed to hit a high of 2400 rapid (yay!) and 2300 blitz (i'm not that great at faster time controls haha, so i'm quite proud of myself), and it's really helpful to know that really strong GM's such as yourself also have bad days. that'll help me be less harsh on myself and keep the mood from now on! tysm!

best of luck for whatever crazy stuff you and the chessmood gang decide to do next haha <3

1200 blitz woohoo!

Just broke the barrier!

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👏

Congratulations! 

What do you put your success down to?

ayyy congrats Voran!

Congratulations dear Jessica!

Whoop whoop! Soon you'll be 1500 <3 (enjoy the journey!)

🎶if it's a 7 hour flight or 45 minute drive🎶

Why did my opponent resign? They had options

I blundered overcommitting and not realizing they could connect pieces while my rook was actually pinned

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/128550165003?tab=review

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Your opponent probably resigned because they realized the position was lost. Even though you made a mistake and overcommitted, he or she saw that your pieces were too powerful, and there wasn’t a good way to continue without losing material or getting checkmated soon. Even with your pinned rook, your opponent felt there was no way out of the situation.

Your opponent resigned on move 31, despite having possible continuations. 

Possible reasons for resignation:                                                          

Pinned Rook: As you mentioned, your rook on a8 is pinned against the king. This limits its mobility and creates a weakness.

Weakened King: White's king is somewhat exposed, with the g-file open and the pawn on g4 creating a potential weakness.
Black's Active Pieces: Your queen, bishop, and rook are well-placed and exerting pressure on White's position.
Lack of Counterplay: White's pieces are not well-coordinated, and there's no clear counterplay to challenge Black's position.

Possible continuations:

32.Qg5+: This move attacks your king and prepares to potentially create counterplay.
32.Bg2: This move aims to neutralize your bishop on e3 and prepare for potential pawn breaks.

However, considering the overall position, it's likely that your opponent felt overwhelmed by the pressure and weaknesses in their position, leading them to resign. 

Your opponent likely resigned because their position was significantly better, and there wasn't much hope for you to recover. Here's a breakdown of the key factors:

Your Disadvantages:

Pinned Rook: Your rook on h8 is pinned by the black bishop on d2. This means you can't move it without losing the rook.
Disconnected Pieces: Your pieces are scattered and disconnected. Your king is on g2, far from the action, and your bishop on f3 is also isolated.
Black King's Safety: Black's king is safe on e7, well protected by pawns and the rook on g8.

Black's Advantages:

Connected Pieces: Black's pieces are well-coordinated and working together. The knight on c2 and bishop on d2 put pressure on your king.
Active Rooks: Black's rooks on e8 and g8 control key squares and threaten further attacks.
Passed Pawn: Black's pawn on h6 is a passed pawn, which can be promoted to a queen with good chances of winning the game.

Resignation Justification:

While you still have some pieces on the board, any attempt to activate them or defend your king would likely lead to further material loss. Black's threats are too numerous, and their connected pieces and active rooks make it very difficult for you to mount a defense.

Analyzing the Game:

It's important to go beyond the final move and analyze critical moments earlier in the game where you might have missed opportunities or made stronger choices.  Here are some points to consider:

Move 14 (fxe5): This exchange might have weakened your king's position and opened lines for Black's pieces.
Move 21 (Rh4): This might not have been the best use of your rook. Perhaps focusing on defending your king or activating other pieces would have been more beneficial.

By reviewing the game with a chess engine or stronger player, you can identify critical mistakes and areas for improvement.

By focusing on these aspects, you'll be better equipped to handle complex situations in future games. 

NEW ARTICLE: Chess Time Controls: Which is Best Suited to You?

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coach loved it. I will make a new account on lichess so i will play only training games like this and for the main account I keep my ratings. I am a player who wanna keep both ratings and game. so I will use new account for training 5 min + 3 sec increment time control and old account is just for rating and rare games. Another point is that I can't play freely when i play with my normal account. I feel worried about rating and losing so for that Dummy Account is best and useful for my chess skills.

thanks for the lesson. 

I prefer 15+10

yes, i like g5/3 as you recommended in the article much better than g3.

Can we change chessmood Sunday tournaments from g3 to g5/3? 

Before reading this article, I had no idea which time control suited to me. I used to play mostly blitz and rapid 3 to 15 minutes but without increment. Now I will switch to 3+2, 5+3, and 15+10. 

Thanks for sharing excellent article !!.I learned a lot.  

Very helpful article, thank you coach. The most important part was Dr. Grigoryan's advice, "concentrate on becoming a better chess player, and your rating will follow". It sets the focus on the right thing.

(As for me, I play 15+10, but even that's fast for me.)

Before reading this article I preferred 10+0 time control. Now I am going to try 5+3. I am more concerned about improving my game than I am about just having fun 

I like 5+3 too! 

Can we have this time on our Sunday tournaments?

Okay, it seems many want 5+3 control on Sunday tournaments. 
Let us think about it :) 

Hi Maestro, great article. I've been playing some 5+3 games as you recommend, and I will keep doing that, especially for practicing the chessmood openings. That said, I also quite like 10+0, which I've always believed might help me in OTB rapid tournaments, of which there used to be a lot in my region (i.e. before the coronavirus), usually 30+0, so no increment, meaning that time management becomes more important. What do you think of online 10+0 games? OK or too slow?

Following GM Avetik advice, I have stopped playing 10+0 and 30+0 games. Now I play 5+3 for blitz games and 15+10 for rapid games. I am happy with the change as it allows me to train and improve in winning "winning position" as he recommends

Sir, if our purpose is both improving your game and practicing the new opening reportoire, is it good to play 60+0. 

Is there just one suitable one time control?

I can't play faster than 5 0 and I lose a number of games with 0 inc, so 5 3 is about as slow as I like to play. If people didn't play nonsense at 1 0 I'd play that just to get through a lot of opening lines. Blitz I'm generally looking to practice openings rather than anything too serious and fills odd moments. I will blunder quite a bit at this speed as I'm relying on instant judgements and not always aware of lurking problems. I think Chessmood puts far too much emphasis on blitz.

15 0 is a good speed to practice a bit of thinking, but the game itself doesn't last too long so it can be played once a day (when time allows).

30 0 I don't play online, but is good over the board for a tournament that lasts one day.

45 15, 60 15 are good online time controls for long play

My preference for over the board chess though is 40 moves in 2 hrs, 1 hr finish. I think league speed of 35 moves in 1 hr 15, 15 minutes finish, or 60 10 means players become weak in their endgames.

Hi! 5+3 is not one of the default time controls available on chess.com, so should I switch to 3+2? Or maybe 5+5?

Hi there! Here's my preferred time controls Online play - chess_com or lichess If have 1-1.5 hour for playing session, then I usually go for one 15+10 game to warm up and train my calculation and then the rest 3+2 for opening improvement and just for fun. I analyse after each game what I did wrong in the opening and mostly run built in analysis of chess_com for blunder check. I don't like bullet (completely agree that it harms improvement) and games without increment as it's really annoying to lose on time in completely winning positions (I'm not a fast player :)) and also when low on time it turns into premove scramble which I dont like as well For live OTB play I like both classical 1h30mins+30s with or without added 30mins after 40moves and also rapid play (12+5, 10+5). Though I prefer classical for improvement purpose.

Is 3+0 a good substitute to 5+3 if I don't have much time to spare?It is because I would usually play 10+0 when I have time.

As always, very helpful article. Thank you, Avetik!

Thanks to this article, I learned new things and saw some of my own ideas confirmed. I have been using Classical tempo and I think I will continue this way for a long time from now on. Maybe when I get a little stronger I'll switch to Rapid, but I think it's too early.

I love playing classical, with the time to think and make calculations (and, of course, I still lose! ) But the suggestion of playing lots of blitz/rapid games with the aim of e.g. practising new openings, not worrying about the end result or ratings, is a very good idea. I'll try it!

I don't even know what 5+3 or 3+2 means. Is it 3 minutes for the whole game, plus 2 minutes per move , or what?

And why do the recommended time controls seem to be so fast? I'm used to 40 moves per 2 hours myself.

I want to improve my middlegame, tactics, and stop blundering. I still don''t know what the best time control to play is.

😃

i thouhot online 15+5 no 5+3

😀

I like playing rapid 10+0 the most.

Because my rating is already 1760.

Thanks to Chessmood

I prefer 15=10 but I'll try. 15+5 now hanks to chessmood

one-on-one GM call

I have a one-on-one GM call booked for tomorrow. I forgot to add a link to my LiChess study with my OTB games. Can I get the link to the GM doing the call?

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Hi Dear Michael,

I will be doing the call - you can post the study under this thread, or send it to my lichess Gabuzyan_ChessMood.

See you tomorrow :-)

KFmood

Keep fighting mood (as a variant of slp)

Dear Cm family, i would name this one as “ keep fighting” even not in a good position the whole game; i succeed (or does my opponent help me) to fight back to slight inferior position, activate my bishop, and finally push my opponent to fault. https://lichess.org/g8P10VZ8/black#0

wish you all good end of year celebrations.

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Very nice one!

Opposite-colored bishop endgames are tricky sometimes, pawn quality is more important than the quantity in some occasions.

Happy new year :-)
 

How do I deal with the KIA

I have been playing against the KIA a lot lately and want to know how to play against it 1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4.d3

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I don't know terribly much about the KIA, but whenever I face something unknown, especially when White goes for Bg2, I will wait for E4, and play the closes Sicilian setup with e5 and Nge7.
I find it works well, we already know the ideas, etc.

The King's Indian Attack (KIA) can be tricky to face if you're not used to it. Here's a breakdown of how to approach it, focusing on the early moves you provided (1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. d3):

Understanding the KIA:

White's idea in the KIA is to develop their pieces harmoniously, castle quickly, and then try to launch an attack on the kingside. They often aim for a central pawn break with e4 later on.  

Your Options as Black:

There are several good ways to play against the KIA. Here are a few common approaches:

   Classical Setup (…Bg7, …Nf6, …O-O, …d6, …e5): This is a solid and principled approach. Black develops naturally, controls the center, and prepares to challenge White's central control.
   Modern Setup (…Bg7, …Nf6, …O-O, …d6, …Nc6): Similar to the Classical setup, but Black keeps the option of playing ...e5 or ...e6 later, depending on White's moves.
   Early …d5: This immediately challenges White's control of the center. It can lead to sharp and tactical positions.

Specific Responses to 1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. d3:

In this specific position, here's what you can consider:

   4...Bg7: This is a very common and solid move. Black develops their dark-squared bishop and prepares to castle.
   4...d6: This is also a good option. Black supports the center and prepares to develop their pieces further.

General Tips for Playing Against the KIA:

   Control the center: Don't let White dominate the center of the board. Try to establish your own presence there.
   Develop your pieces actively: Bring your pieces out to good squares where they can control important areas of the board.
   Be aware of White's kingside attack: White will often try to attack on the kingside, so make sure your king is safe and you have defensive resources.  

   Don't be afraid to play actively: Don't just passively defend. Look for opportunities to create counterplay and put pressure on White.

Example Line (Classical Setup):

   Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. d3 Bg7 5. O-O Nf6 6. e4 O-O 7. Nc3 d6 8. a3 e5

This is a typical position arising from the KIA. Black has a solid setup and is ready to fight for the center.

Remember, the most important thing is to understand the basic ideas behind the KIA and choose a setup that you're comfortable with. Practice playing against it, and you'll become more confident in handling it.

How to Analyse Longer Games

Hi,

I was wondering if there would be an update as to how to analyse longer games - in https://chessmood.com/chess-study-plans/for-above-2000 section 4. Fixing it says that a future article will be written for analysing classical games. While the article is still yet to come, how what would you say is the best way to analyse slower games?

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H,mmmmmm just analyze it 

Analyzing longer games requires a structured approach to extract valuable insights. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you analyze classical games:
1. Preparation

   Choose a game that interests you, ideally with a similar opening or pawn structure to your own games.
   Set aside dedicated time for analysis, free from distractions.

2. Initial Review (10-15 minutes)

   Quickly review the game to get a sense of the overall flow and outcome.
   Take note of:
       Opening choices and pawn structures
       Key moments, such as attacks, counter-attacks, or transitions
       Endgame strategies

3. In-Depth Analysis (30-60 minutes)

   Focus on specific sections of the game, such as:
       Opening: Analyze move choices, pawn structures, and development.
       Middlegame: Examine strategic decisions, tactical opportunities, and pawn breaks.
       Endgame: Study the conversion of advantages, pawn promotion, and king activity.
   Use chess analysis tools, like engines or tablebases, to:
       Evaluate positions and moves
       Suggest alternative moves or plans
       Provide insight into strategic decisions

4. Pattern Recognition and Connection-Making

   Identify recurring patterns, such as:
       Pawn structures and associated plans
       Piece development and coordination
       Tactical motifs and combinations
   Connect the dots between different parts of the game, recognizing how decisions in one phase impact others.

5. Reflection and Application

   Reflect on what you've learned and how you can apply it to your own games.
   Update your chess knowledge and strategies accordingly.

6. Review and Iteration

   Periodically review the game to reinforce your understanding and identify new insights.
   Iterate on your analysis, refining your thoughts and incorporating new knowledge.

By following this structured approach, you'll be able to effectively analyze longer games and extract valuable lessons to improve your chess skills.

IMPROVE!!

how do i improve this?

Replies

Well, you could start by making your query less vague!  :-p

Seriously though, what is your question?  Did you mean to post a link to a game?

I don't know, but the answer is probably to practice tactics haha

Improvement Strategies
To enhance your chess skills and avoid similar mistakes, focus on the following areas:
1. Analyze Your Games

   Review your games, especially losses, to identify mistakes and patterns.
   Use chess analysis tools or work with a coach to gain deeper insights.

2. Endgame Skills

   Study basic endgames, such as king and pawn versus king and pawn.
   Practice converting advantages into wins.

3. Strategic Understanding

   Learn about pawn structures, piece placement, and controlling key squares.
   Study master games to develop your strategic thinking.

4. Tactical Awareness

   Practice tactics regularly using tools like (link unavailable), Lichess, or Tactics Arena.
   Focus on common motifs, such as pins, forks, and skewers.

5. Time Management

   Practice playing with a clock to improve your time management skills.
   Focus on making efficient decisions during the game.

6. Study Chess Fundamentals

   Review chess basics, such as openings, middlegame strategies, and endgames.
   Study chess books, videos, or online courses to deepen your understanding.

7.Join a Chess Community

Participate in online chess forums, social media groups, or local chess clubs.

Engage with other players to learn from their experiences and gain new insights.

8.Set Goals and Track Progress

Set specific, achievable goals, such as improving your rating or mastering a particular opening.
Track your progress, celebrate your successes, and adjust your strategy as needed.

By focusing on these areas, you'll be well on your way to improving your chess skills and becoming a more formidable opponent.

Revise

Hi  im going through ur course   but i am not able to revise as ur video is good but it has not pdf, so that i can review it latter, this leads to loss of tactical idea which u thaught.   What should i do

Replies