Chess forum by Grandmasters

Optimal use of Lichess study for long term improvement.

My usage of the Lichess studies has changed a lot the last few months and I wonder what an optimal way to use them would be.
Am I on a good path or should I change stuff?

Right now I have (picture) but I'm not sure.
My idea:

• Analyse my games and check with the openings. See who went off-book first and put that in the opening study if needed.
• If I went off book first, I add the position right before my move in a specific study for that opening.
• In games where I lost, I look for the game changing move and add that to a specific study aswell (right before I made the move).
• In games that I won, I add the game right before the move where I e.g. took a very long time to find the move.

If I add games right before my move I just add that exact position and nothing else (not the entire game or what happened before the move). I also write in a comment what move I did and why it was bad.

I plan to go the opening errors, when I study openings.

I plan to go over the tactic errors when I study tactics.

I do these in the study first before “normal” study.
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Is this good or too time consuming?

(The concern I have is that I do have a hard time deciding what exact tactic the error is from time to time.)

I recently discovered that you can have different options in the studies. There is normal analysis (which I always use) but you also have practice with computer, interactive lesson and hide next moves. I have no idea how I can implement that for further improvement. Any advice?

Replies

Dear Gabriel,

If I understood correctly, you do spend time revising your winning and lost games and identifying the critical moments, mistakes, and good moves.

It's a great idea to learn from your games, especially by trying to understand your mistakes and learning from them.

Practice with a computer sounds a bit wrong, as it doesn't play chess the same way as humans do.

Petroff Defense - Knight sacrifice

More and more, in my online games, when black goes for the Petrov's Defense I face the following line:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.d4 (So far so good but then this happens:) c5

I don't really know how to respond to this. Mostly I go with 6.Nc3 but it feels like the knight sacrifice doesn't really work.

What is a good follow-up for this?

Replies

Dear Gabriel,

This is our U2000 option, and yeah, c5 is the best response. I tried to play against it some Bc4-d3-f4 ideas.

However, if you want to play more solid, you can find that in the advanced Petroff course :-)

When to push f5 in Gran Prix

Today i went to a tournament and played the Gran Prix setup against my opponent. In the middlegame I encountered some issues and ended up in a lost position eventualy(although managed to crawl out). After having analysed it, I have found that one of the biggest reasons of me getting a bad position was that i did not play f5 sacrificing a pawn to open oup the dark-squared bishop. However, I do not seem to understand when exactly is the right time to push. What are the factors i should take into account before deciding to play/not to play f5 in such systems? Here is the pgn of the game:

1. e4 d6 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O a6 8. Qe1 b5 9. Bb3 Nc6 10. Qh4 Qb6 11. Kh1 Ra7 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 e6 14. Bxc6 Qxc6 15. Ng5 h6 16. Nf3 Qe8 17. g4 f5 18. gxf5 exf5 19. Bd2 fxe4 20. dxe4 Re7 21. Bc3 Rxe4 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Rae1 Rfxf4 24. Qxf4 Rxf4 25. Rxe8 Bh3 26. Rf2 Kf7 27. Ree2 Kg7 28. c3 g5 29. Nd2 Rh4 30. Nf1 b4 31. Ng3 h5 32. Re4 Bg4 33. Nf5+ Bxf5 34. Rxh4 Kg6 35. Rxf5 Kxf5 36. Rxh5 bxc3 37. bxc3 d5 38. Kg2 d4 39. cxd4 cxd4 40. Kf3 a5 41. h4 Kg6 42. Rxg5+ Kh6 43. Ke4 a4 44. Kxd4 a3 *

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Dear Andrew,

On the very deep levels, all moves related to f5 are theoretical, and in some positions it might work, in others not - but that's a pure engine thing.
If just try to rely on understandind, the key factor is this - if White, after f5 is ready to attack better, then Black to defend.
That can depend on the number of attackers and defenders, or some concrete resources.

Is there open scilian material?

I have followed both blackmood and whitemood. However, i have learnt the open scilian variation previously, specifically Be2 (from a book by tim taylor) and Be3 before, and have been comfortable with it against different common open scilians, (e.g. Najdoof, Kan, Dragon). I have switched to Grand Prix a few months ago, have not won a classical game in the scilian since. (Not the course's fault, but rather a lack of understanding, im sure).

But Is it ok for me to switch back to the open scilian? i am assuming there are no open scilian material in chessmood?

Replies

Dear Eric,

We don't offer the Open Sicilian opening atm.
So the choice is yours, and I would advise you to play positions or structures that you just feel happy about.

Finding a CM member

😊

Hi all

Anyone know how to search for a particular CM member?

Thanks!!

Replies

Hey dear Ovi,

I asked our technical team if we have such a future or not.
Will update you here :-)

Hi Ovi.

unfortunately, we do not have a search feature or directory that allows you to look up a particular ChessMood member right now.

Searching for positions in openings on chessmood

Is there a way to search for positions in the chessmood openings? I am finding it difficult to review games by having to search through all of the videos to find a a specific position. Is there an easy way to do this? Or do I have to download the PGN files and search through it using a database manager?

Thanks. 

Replies

This is a very possible feature, as there are already several free apps that do this for YouTube chess videos.  I recommend this be something that is offered at CM in the future as part of the new AI development.  It would be wonderful to copy/paste a FEN and find all positions from CM videos where the same position exists!  So cool!

Hey there,

At the moment, I think we don't have that option, but the idea is interesting, and we might consider having that.
Thanks for the suggestion.

French Attack Model Games with this line:

Hi, I've been going through so many videos, but I can't find model games of what's recommended to follow in this line of the advanced variation.  Not much. mentioned on it in the course that I noticed either after  8. Bg5.  

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 Bd7 4. d4 a6 5. Bd3 Bb5 6. O-O Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Ne7 8. Bg5.   

I've played h6 here, but still would like to see what the ideas and plans are to consider in this line if there are any games to follow.  

Thank you.  

Replies

Dear Garry,

Bg5 I also faced it sometimes.
Let me mention, though, that instead of 7…Ne7 - c5-Nc6 can also be played. And then decide on the Kingisde.
However, against a move like Bg5, out of my experience, h5-bh5-g5-Bg3-Nf5 is super decent for Black.
Or if they take on e7, we recapture Bxe7, followed by c5-Nc6.

Adding an image of position so we can all follow easily.

Today (march 18th) daily puzzle

Why does it use the same idea as the one posted on march 17th? In my opinion they are too similar, the puzzle is no doubt pretty but till now they were all made in such a manner that you must “pause the video and think”, not just using the same idea as a scheme. Nevertheless guys keep doing what you're doing you're great and if you need help I suggest making some sort of channel/blog/email address where we can send some nice puzzles from which you can pick daily puzzle.

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Najdorf As a Chessmood Student

Hi Sir I am Going to play a tournament after few days i have a dcent level prep in najdorf so do u suggest me to change the repertoire to accalarated dragon

As u said me that more importantly i should focus on middle and endgames

Replies

Hey there,

If you have a decent prep in another opening, it's not a great idea to change the opening before the tournament, as you won't have enough experience cuz you need to practice it.

Caro-Kann 12. ...Rab8 move

I recently finished watching Section 2 Video #6 on 12. …Rab8 move. While many of the variations seemed logical and I liked them a lot. I have a question on one of the variations

There is this long variation after:

14. Qc2 Rfc8 15. Nb3 Nb4 16. Bxh7+ Nxh7 17. Qd2 Bf5 18. cxb4 Rc2 19. Qe3 Rxb2 20. Nc5 Rxa2 21. Ra1 Rxa1 22. Rxa1 Ra8 23. g4, and White gets the position attached below

In the video, GM Avetik mentions 23. …Bg6, which allows White to ruin the pawn structure and infiltrate after 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. Ra6 and White wins the e6-pawn

However, it is also possible for Black to play 23. …Bc2, and that is no longer possible. 

What would be the next plans after Black plays 23. …Bc2. Does White put pressure on the a7 pawn, start an attack on the king, or do something else?

Replies

Dear Teddy,

I checked the position, and White has an advantage in many ways - check the image.
If worried about this, you can go a little deeper for a few moves, but as you can see, it's all great for White.

 

Caro Kann, when black play 5...Qc7, followed by 6...e5 ?!

Dear Cm, what to play for white after :

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Qc7 6. Ne2 e5

i personally got it OTB and played

7.dxe5, Nxe5, 8.Bb5+ Bd7, 9. Nd4

Replies

Hey Marius,

Instead of Nd4, I advise capturing on d7 and castling, with a very easy game against an isolated pawn.

After one month

Hello all, hello Avetik,

I'm french living in France and CEO of Automotive company.

I started playing chess in January 2025 (one year ago) and I used to buy courses on chessable and to be honest it helps me a lot moving from 600 chess.com rapid (I play only 15'+10) to 1110 and then in November/December big tilt and back to 900 !!

is it the openings, the pawn play, the endgame, the tactics, difficult to know and difficult to find a path in all the products in chessable marketplace! 

By chance, I looked at Noel Studer videos on youtube and his nextlevelchess channel and he presented chessmood and then decided to make a try.

two first weeks on rise of champions (I like a lot the fun, thanks Avo) and then now on tactics Ninja, blunder blunderproof and in just 3 weeks I rise again to 1022 elo.

Still a lot of work to do to achieve my willing to be 2000 with a milestone at 1500 and also still difficult to understand my weaknesses but I will continue with the tactics, the blunderproof and certainly with the endgame roadmap and let's see. 

I will come back end of February to let you know how will be the second month

Everybody around me (speaking English!) will be alerted by me about this so nice and useful progress plateforme that is ChessMood!

Kind regards, cheers

Raynald the woodpusher

Replies

Hello team,

Status: 2 and half months after starting using Chessmood: 1130 chess.com ELO in rapid (15+10) with a start at 972 = +158

less blunder, more vision still sometimes (often ^^) just a bad move with a pawn, a piece transforming a winning or egal position in a loose one !

Decisions in middlegame stay the more complicated for me. I just started yesterday the silent strategy course, hoping it will help me in this part of the game.

For the openings, I learned (before chessmood Pirc as black and Stonewall as white) and I still use it because chessmood openings with a e4 move I understand it is better to progress long term but too much lines to know and with the work in tactics, middlegame, endgame, it is too much.

Thanks again for the courses and let see at next status my improvements (or not)

Cheers, Raynald

Problem on online games

Before a blitz tournament I play some blitz games online and I play BADLY, I hang pieces, I lose winning positions, it feels like I haven't played chess for years, my online rating goes up and down like a rollercoaster.
 

But when it comes to the real OTB tournament I'm beating 2200 fide rated players and play the opposite of what I was during my online games.
 

It's just discouraging seeing me lose online games and it makes me wonder if I'm even going to play well on the tournament. It makes me lose confidence.
 

How am I even going to explain that I mess up online games but ace OTB tournaments?? If you can give some tips/advice, I'd appreciate it )

Replies

Maybe your not good at fast time controls I suggest you switch your online games to rapid (10+0) is perfect.

@ fluffy goldfish

Chess Time Controls: Which is Best Suited to You?

because when you do online it is 2d board but when you go for tournmants it is 3d board it happens to me same

It happens a lot to many people,
1. The board views, sometimes the 2D board registers the piece to your mind and might not allow you to focus on long line, while the real board allows you to focus on combinations more but sometimes harder to focus on pieces- It is recommended to set board view to a 3D board which is realistic or mimic the moves you play in the computer to real board and calculate on the board.
2. A mind out of focus, sometimes your mind imagines the tpurnament ahead and not on your practice rounds- It is recommended to not play online the day before, instead play until you have your tournament day after tommorow, if you lose a lot on your last day analyze it on the day before and when playing say to yourself 'The person who lost a lot was me 48 hours ago, now I'm stronger than I was then, atleast a little bit stronger, I can do this.' if you won then spend the last day practicing puzzles, watching courses how to build strategies, etc. And when playing say to yourself ‘I’m in good touch'.

Perhaps this happened because you approached your online games and OTB tournament games with different mindsets.

I highly recommend the following article by GM Avetik Grigoryan:

https://chessmood.com/blog/golden-method-to-increase-rating-in-chess

While the title of this article is “Golden Method to Increase Online Rating in Chess”, I think the advice from this article extend beyond just increasing online rating. It offers advice that can help structure our online games into effective training sessions, which will be beneficial to anyone seeking to improve their chess.

Hope this helps :)

some players play online stress-free, so they make lots of mistakes coz they are not fully focused. on the other hand, OTB is more formal and players pay more attention and care more about rating. Maybe that is the reason y.

CT-ART Follow up

Hello ChessFam, I have a question, I have finished Ninja Tactics and I'm working on finishing the 777, once I do, I see Avo recommends CT-ART, and to do it since the level 1, I have a question, the CT-Art10 from level 1 has all of them themed puzzles, and they are quite a lot, meaning that for a while I will not be doing mixed puzzles, should I keep doing the themed CT-Art puzzles since level one then do mixed puzzles, where? another plataform recommended? I see CT-ART has themed puzzles only not mixed.

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French problem

after 1.e4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.e5 Bd7 4.Nf3 a6 5.c3 Bb5 6.Bxb5+ axb5 7.h4! and the king side attack is stopped and my opponent quickly played Bd2 to prevent b4 and I was squeezed for space and lost a bad game. I looked it over with the engine and it didn't help. It just said after 7.h4! White is better and every line I put in it shows an easier position for white to play.

Replies

Hi Eli se,

After h4, you can try to play Bxf1 Kxf1 and h5 - bringing the Knight to f5.
Against a very strong prep, it cannot be so easy, but this is our U2000 repertoire, and if you are chasing more engine-wise equal positions, you can take a look at our advanced openings, or once we have advanced French and Dutch.

Event timing

Hi CM team!  My son is mainly in school during CM live events.  He watches the recordings, but misses out on the 1-on-1s and the simils.  Any chance these events could be move to early evenings in the future, or perhaps times and days of week could be mixed up – AM and PM, weekday and weekend?

Replies

I have the same problem I am in school and usually miss these events.

Dear Joshua,

We have students worldwide and tried to pick times more or less convenient for everyone.
I am very sorry to hear that the school schedules are conflicting; however, we have events on Saturdays as well (if suddenly there is no school that day)

We might have some other timings in the future.

I crossed 2100 on chess.com!

Check out this #chess game: studlyhunglow vs Edorin97 - https://www.chess.com/live/game/165951178026

Just wanted to share my happiness :D Didn't have a successful OTB blitz period since December, but now tactics training (Ninja + Matador) really made me quite fast and it translates into my online games.

Hope to stay that. Now hope to get into the advanced material.

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Great work!  How long have you been studying with CM and what was your rating when you started with CM?  

Good job brother! Tactic ninja and mating matador are both amazing courses 

Congrats Brother! 

Keep going!!!!

Does this checkmate have an own name?

The point is to move in with bishop, then move out and checkmate with queen. In my experience many people fall to this.

Check out this #chess game: peterbago vs Uruguay3 - https://www.chess.com/live/game/163938789058

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Scholar's mate

�🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣�

the “you fell for it” mate

The best way to describe it would be a scholars variant, ive experienced it multiple times before in the line 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Nf6 5. Qxg7 Rg8 6. Qxf7#

its a scholars mate in the line 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Qg4 Nf6 5. Qxg7 Rg8 6. Qxf7#

it is a four move mate

Scholars Mate

Oppent blundered a piece on move 7 how to win

How do I win as white after my opponent blundered a piece on move 7 in the Evan's gambit

Replies

If you up a piece or even up an exchange just trade of pieces to enter the winning endgame

The 1st rule in the winning positions - Don't relax until he didn't resign and shake your hand :) 

If your opponent blundered a full piece by move 7 in the Evans Gambit, you’re already winning. The smartest approach is usually simple: finish development, castle your king, and avoid unnecessary complications. The Evans Gambit is designed for rapid development and attacking chances after the pawn sacrifice with 4.b4, so if Black loses material early, White’s initiative plus the extra piece should make conversion straightforward. (Wikipedia)

Often the best plan is to centralize your pieces, trade when convenient, and transition into a winning middlegame or endgame rather than forcing tactics.

Funny how the same idea applies outside chess too — when you already have the advantage, the best move is simply to play solid and finish smoothly. The same goes for travel planning: choosing reliable options early can make the rest of the journey effortless, like booking a premium SUV through https://sherbrotherpakistan.com/product/rent-a-landcruiser-v8/ service for comfortable long-distance trips.

Would be interesting to see the exact position though — sometimes there’s even a forced mate hidden in those sharp Evans Gambit positions. ♟️

Dutch against d4 c4 then d5

Hello Chessmood Family,

I played with Blackmood opening a game as black which started as follows:

1- d4 e6

2- c4 f5

3- a3 Nf6

4- Nc3 b7

and here, he pushed 5- d5…. 

Is there a video from the courses where this is explained ? I was completely lost and I simply took 5- ….exd5 but things got quickly out of control and my position collapsed, while trying to keep playing the Dutch.

Any clue how to deal with this d5 move? Shall I just push e5 instead of taking exd5?

Thanks for any answer you guys can provide and if there is a video in the courses, that would be great.

Take care.

A.

Replies

I am not sure.

Check this event.

https://chessmood.com/event/dutch-attack-advanced