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Chess forum by Grandmasters
The Bird Opening (f4 - Nf3)
Is there a recommended defense against the Bird Opening in any of the courses? I just tried looking for something but haven't been able to find a response in the courses I've checked so I wanted to ask. Unfortunately, I've been coming across it a few times this week online and I just had an OTB game against someone who played it. Maybe its becoming trendy for some reason. Any suggested plans or setups against it? Thanks fam!!
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vs the Bird is in Blackmood Openings:
https://chessmood.com/course/blackmood-openings/episode/6182
YAAAY 1900 LICHESS
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Congrats! Celebrate it!
The grind only gets tougher…
🙂
It will only get better from there
Witcher rap
I was bored one day so created this rap song with suno AI about my chess style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJso40VCILU
Looking forward for coach ‘Gangster’ Gabuzyan rap, that would be funny!
Replies
Haha that's pretty damn good!
Lol. Better than some of the commercial stuff out there.
If you're up for doing a Chessmood one I have an idea for the chorus
Chessmood
Right mood,
Right move,
Cogro!
Let's go!
X2 or x4
another attempt this time with rock
https://suno.com/song/5e2ee634-d1e0-43df-86c7-a80218ce3c83?sh=tYLgPFbEquHOm5oX
problem with queenless middlegame now
1,
I have huge problem with queenless middlegame ,and i don't know if any chessmood courses are for that or can provide skills for playing that actully . I just change my black opening to e4 e5 recently , and suffer against queen trade in middlegames ,especially early middlegames so any recommandations?
i check the bishop and rook courses in middlgame mastery it looks quite close but i am not sure for now
maybe classical courses also can be added to study that things?
2,
i am also bad at endgames so i probably will study chessmood endgame courses. is there any practical endgame courses here please recommend,also is endgame skill mostly calculation? or that's mostly about endgame knowleage
3,
i play open sicilian and i am considering to change to chessmood close sicilian,is close sicilian suit attacking styles,is it quite easier to outplay not prepared opponents ? also is Nc6 Bb5 easy to play it actully looks hard for me .open sicilian is quite hard in main lines so i want to know can this provide more chances in my level
4,
is middlegame mastery topic in chessmood about positional play? I see the silent stratagy course and things inside looks like many are the same as the middlegame mastery courses actully ,can somebody explain thank you
5,
btw is e4 e5 opening a good choice as black ? looks hard because i never played it before,what do you think about it ?
a few questions,so thankful if you can reply
Replies
Hey brother,
1. For the Queenless positions, as you mentioned, we have 100 commented endgames that should help you a lot to understand that endgames.
2. In the future, we are planning to have courses about practical endgames - now we have 100 games, and the Endgame mastery section
3. This really depends on how you feel and know the positions. I am very happy with my win rate, but if the opponents don't know much,it's even harder for them :-)
4. Brother in Booster and Middlegame mastery we might sometimes have similar topics, but we try to make the level of difficulty different - While in booster it's simplified - in the Mastery we might dive into deep complex details.
5. This is a funny question : - ) It's an opening choice and relies on your feeling to the positions - play if like them, and don't if not.
Daily Puzzle Display
I love the daily puzzle. Instead of looking for ‘mate in 3’, it is often "I'm in a losing situation, how do I get a stale mate'. The move components are somewhat obvious, but the subtlety is that one must play then in the proper order.
HOWEVER, I never get to enjoy my solution because when one makes the final move the board is completely covered by the ‘Good Job Screen’. Is is possible to just have a small sign come but to leave the board visible so I can better appreciate the final position.
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French Attack with the retreat Ng8 line
French Attack, 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Ng8 and now if 6,Qg4 what then for Black , 6 .. ..c5 looks awkward with the attack on the g7 pawn so white can play &. dc. Can we try 6. ..Ne7 to aim at f5 but then 7. B g5 our Q is cramped and what is best for the Nb8? I found this Qg4 on move 5 quite awkward and would appreciate your advice.
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Dear Derek,
The BlackMood repertoire is quite simplified and is meant for a U2000 rated level, while Qg4 is quite complex. I am on my own streaming this line on our private events and have never met Qg4 in the last 3-4 years.
However, I checked the move, and I think one of the options is to play 5…h5 6.Qg3 Ne7 and if 7.Bg5 now Nf5 works as it attacks the Queen on g3 accordingly!
Repertoire for 2000+
Hello ChessMood Users,
I have played the Benko Gambit for 3+ years now. Sadly, almost no one goes for the Modern Benko Main Lines or the h4 variation, but insteas for one of the many sidelines. I am quite annoyed by the structures arising from the Benko by now.
Has anyone got suggestions against d4 against 2000+ opponents? Preferably something without heavy theory…
Replies
This may be a bit counterintuitive, but I switched to the KID some time back, playing some “sidelines”, which were main line structure just without the theory.
I found it easier to learn than Benko, (and paradoxically less theory) and I can help share it with you if that interests you.
If you are interested, let me know and I will share my Lichess account.
How to handle queenside castling plan for 4...Bc5 Scotch?
Recently, when I play Scotch, Black plays queenside castling after 4…Bc5 followed by Nf6, Qe7, Be6. I am unsure how to continue the plan from White side especially because B tries to break the center by playing d5. Anyone have faced similar positions before?
Replies
Hey there,
At the end of this video GM Avetik talks a bit about the ideas, and if you check the next video as well he briefly explains everything
https://chessmood.com/course/scotch-game/episode/634
Good luck :-)
Sicilian setup
Does anyone know how to deal with this setup?
Replies
It was a Grand Prix versus 2..Nc6, right?
The position you posted is exactly the reason, why in the advanced course 3.Bb5 is
recommended (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5).
The problem for white is that black doesn't have any problems ;-) That's because they could
play d7-d5 in one move. Grand Prix Attack is another story after black played d7-d6. Then it is really dangerous
in my eyes.
In the position above I know 9.e5 and 9.Qe1. The latter being our normal Grand Prix move.
But the position is considered fine for black in any case.
Question from blog
Hi, what alternatives do you suggest? And at what elo range could someone possibly start playing that move without risk? Thanks
Replies
Well, that depends on where you are right now. The Blackmood course is good up to (and even over!) 2000 chesscom blitz. If you're higher some than that the sicilian acc. dragon is for you.
e5 in almost any sicilian is dangerous. You're severely weakening the d6 pawn and giving away d5 as an outpost. Unless youre trying to play the Sveshnikov, dont.
Rise of Champions | Happy Pawns | Question
Hello Everybody,
I just watched the Happy Pawns video from the Rice with chamignons course and find it great.
I have one qustion left:
I can not get the difference between “Limit oponent's pieces” and “Protect squares and territory”. What is the difference here?
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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
