Chess forum by Grandmasters

FixMood

Hi all,

I tried using FixMood AI by connecting my lichess account.

After configuring the filters and clicking “Show Games” the program started thinking and downloading stuff but after that, it did not show any games. Please see screenshot.

I know this feature is still in Beta so I just wanted to report this in the hope that you guys can help me  😄

Replies

Hello!
Can you provide your lichens account so we can see exactly what the issue may be?
If there were any deviations (not by you) Fixmood won't show them.

Hello! 

Thanks for your question.

We don’t display games with early deviations (before move 4), assuming they were intentional. If your games aren’t listed, you likely stayed on track or deviated early.

Calculation and aims

I was doing calculation training in Sam Shankland's Chessable course, when I discovered a technique that was improving my ability to.see solutions (or at least most of it). Like in the 3Qs (king, pieces, resources) I asked what are the possible aims (or outcomes for both sides). Often it is things like mate the king, win a piece, save attacked material (it can be defensive), promote a pawn… Even positional things might come under that. It is necessary to ask for both sides since an opponent might ignore your threats or combine their defence with a counter. Not everything is obvious and you might discover more during calculation. Some things are more likely than others, or more valuable which might direct a priority.

Why does this help? First it encourages not to get locked into what you see first (e.g. it must be a checkmate) and makes you consider other ideas avoiding blindness. Secondly more difficult problems might involve switching to a secondary goal which is the real win (e.g. the king isn't mateable but by threatening to do so, another goal can be achieved. Too often one goes down a rabbit hole before looking for other things, whereas having more in mind from the go is more efficient. Thirdly you consider how the opponent might react other than mindlessly defend or recapture.

I think sometimes simple tactics with a single obvious aim (which while good training in other ways) make us over focus on just the obvious thing (or that we'd like to do even if not possible or feasible). Sometimes the not feasible becomes feasible though, hence the need to look at multiple aims.

Replies

Thanks for sharing. Good one.

Hey David!

The technique you're describing is excellent! By identifying goals for both sides (e.g., mating, winning material,  or defense), you avoid tunnel vision, prioritize efficiently, and discover hidden opportunities. It ensures broader calculation and better decision-making. Keep practicing this structured thinking—it’s a powerful skill!

Pricing courses

Hello everyone, I was looking at the price of the courses but I noticed that you cannot buy every course individually. For example: if you want to buy only the scale method course, you find a button with: Access all the courses. Is it meant to be like that or are they working on that? Thanks in advance

Replies

you can actually buy courses individually as the picture attached shows. But they are super expensive that it's better to just buy a subscription

Question about a Scotch variation

Hi everyone,

I've been following the Whitemood opening course and really enjoying it so far. However, a variation came up in a recent game that I don't think is covered in the course or the PGN file (unless I missed it).

The game went as follows:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 exd4
4. Nxd4 Nxd4
5. Qxd4 Nf6

At this point, I played 6. e5, expecting the knight to retreat or go to h5, where I was planning to trap it with g4. To my surprise, Black responded with 6... c5. I then played 7. Qe3, and Black followed up with 7... Nd5, to which I replied with 8. Qe4.

I went on to win the game, but I'm curious if I handled the position correctly or if there was a better approach I could have taken after 6... c5.

Any insights would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Replies

I think that 7. Qf4 is the best try for white. There is a small trap where white wins after 7… Nd5 8. Qf3 Nb4 9. Bc4! Nxc2+ 10. Kd2 (they can’t take the rook beacuse of Qxf7#) and d5 runs into exd6 en passent and white should win easily.

I think you played the right moves. This looks a lot like those positions in the course where Black plays …c5 to bother the White Queen (but without …Nf6) and White then plays to keep the d-pawn backwards and weak (Nc3, Bc4, O-O-O etc)

Can I ask how your game continued?

Ive actually faced this before and managed to find the best reply.

You play 7.Qf4 and then the knight has to retreat.

4.. Bb4+ 5 c3 Be7 in Scotch

Hi Chessmood! I wonder what is chessmoods recomendation against 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Lb4+ 5 c3 Be7.

So many intresting moves to play but what is your  suggestion and setup etc?

I could not find any information about this.

Replies

Dear Erik, 

I checked this position. The choice is passive for Black and White has a pleasant edge.

I got attracted to 2 types of ideas:

1. 6.Nf5 attacking g7 and challenging the Bishop and if Bf8 - getting the space advantage with c4-Nc3.

2. 6. Bd3 with castling the short side and developing the pieces. 

It a lot depends on the opponent's moves, but difficult to tell you all the middlegame ideas - focus on the fight for the center, and an healthy development of the pieces!

Redoing the done courses of the booster section

Dear chessmood community ,

How to revise the courses that are done ? Today I wanted to solve the quizzes of the how to find a plan in my position course which I had done months earlier and I succeeded in solving all the quizzes of t training section except 2 position.So if I want to revise a course should I just resolve all the quizzes of the course? and if I fail to solve the majority of the quizzes rewatch the course again ?.Am I approaching it the right way or there is a better way ?

Replies

Dear Ar Ray,

That is a good idea!

If after revising the quizzes you are still uncomfortable the topic it could be a good idea to revise the section!

As well during the course in conclusion videos we do summarize the main concepts and ideas - in order to make your revisions even more easi 🙂

1-1 call

Hi, just subscribed the monthly pro plan, in the description there was a 1-1 call with gm, but when i try to schedule it a message keeps appearing saying that it's only for annual subscriptions.
is it a bug? when i signed up the personalize study plan was for annual subscriptions.
Thanks a lot

Replies

Dear Mattia,

Can you please send an email to our client support team so they can better advise you with technical inquiries?

Thank you 🙂

Hyperaccelarated Dragon

What do you feel about playing hyper-accelarated dragon (e4 c5 Nf3 g6) instead of accelarated dragon and later play Nc6? By this way, we can skip the Rossolimo study. Is there any line we should be careful of while playing this? 

Replies

GM Avetik answer it in old post for Pro members!

I play the hyperaccelerated dragon and I think it is a safe way to play as black. If they play 2.Nf3 and 3.d4 is isn't as challenging. Just be careful with the alapin, Smith-Morra and other dangerous sidelines. Of course, I am not a grandmaster so I recommend watching a introduction video on youtube and studying important lines.

Neo Toppinen9 months ago

PRO Members

Why don't we play the hyperaccelerated dragon?

Why do we play 2… Nc6 instead of 2… g6 in the sicilian? We are allowing a Rossolimo, which means more studying for us. Why don't we play 2… g6 and avoid that? I assume there is a reason, because your opening courses have been really good, I'm just eager to know it.

Chessmood Odysseus9 months ago

Hi Neo,

Yes, you are right, we could do that. But we don't focus on playing tricky lines or fast recipes for winning. We want you to develop, to grow as players and Rossolimo is a great battlefield to be tested in. Also the 2..g6 has some very good lines as White along with the initiative, and it is not our cup of tea once you play against a prepared opponent. 
But the main reason is to play a very sound opening that allows you to grow as a player.😃

In my opinion, hyper-accelerated dragon can avoid the Yugoslav Attack, and Black players can skip the Rossolimo study, too. But instead,  the Maroczy Bind (e4 c5 Nf3 g6 c4) is annoying for Black.

Is it the puzzle or is it me?

Hi all, I'm trying to figure out if Sunday's daily puzzle by Kubbel (screenshot attached) is flawed or if it's my understanding that's flawed. Thanks to anyone who can shed light on anything I'm missing. 

The solution goes as follows [spoiler alert] : 1.Bf5 h1=Q 2.c8=Q+ Bxc8 3.Be4+ at which point 3…Qxe4 is a brilliant stalemate trap. However, Qxe4 isn't forced, and instead Black can play 3…Kb8 or 3…Bb7. In either case, after 4.Bxh1 my version of Stockfish at depth 36 shows a -2.9 advantage for Black.

I generally don't think of puzzle solutions as including suboptimal moves, relying on hope chess for the winning idea. Is the point that it's an excellent example of SLP, laying a clever trap to maybe hold an otherwise lost endgame? Or is there some reason this is actually drawn no matter what (maybe with a stronger engine on a higher depth?). I could imagine a scenario in which the bishops somehow get traded off and black loses one of the flank pawns, leading to a drawn king and pawn endgame maybe?

I ended up trying a different move because of not seeing a forced win or draw, ended up losing the puzzle, and was surprised to find out my initial calculation was the “right” answer. Is it the puzzle or is it just me?

Thanks!

Replies

I think that it is a drawish position after both …Kb8 and …Bb7. In the Kb8 variation you take the queen, bishops get exchanged (because otherwise you just move your bishop back and forth and black can't make progress) and it should be a draw since it are rook pawns. In the Bb7 line, things are a bit more complicated because you lose your bishop. But eventually it is a draw (I think) because the promotion square is not a white square so the bishop cant defend it.

I think that I am right but feel free to correct me if I am wrong!

You can play it out against an engine and learn from it :).

The thing is that black can never move the white king from a1 as they have a light squared bishop and whenever the king gets close it will be stalemate. Engines are not so good at evaluating fortresses like this.

Hope this helps

Samuel 

Counter All Sicilian Sideline course PGN

Hey chessmood family, 

I was wondering (as many other students seem to be as well), when we can get the PGN files for the course? 

Thank you! 

Replies

winning

how to win in life?

Replies

Good Question.

New article: Why Most People Fail at Goals

Setting goals is easy. Hitting them? Not so much. So, what’s missing?
A simple shift.

Discover why most people fail at their goals—and how you can be the exception, crushing your goals in 2025.

The last article of the year is here.

https://chessmood.com/blog/why-most-goals-fail

Your future self is waiting for you with the next click.

Replies

Andrzej, no joke here, you've got more commitment than some 2000+ players I know! 

Keep it up, you'll do amazing <3

Beginner learnings

Sharing some thoughts as I work toward my goals.

Today's learning:

Against Sicilian, my light-squared bishop is often under attack from pawn advances. My instinct is a3 to open a2 as an escape square to prevent it from getting trapped, but the position below shows that doing so can lose initiative and that more aggressive counters may be better.

https://lichess.org/analysis/r1b1kbnr/1pqn1ppp/p2pp3/2p5/2B1PP2/2N2N2/PPPP2PP/R1BQ1RK1_w_Qkq_-_0_1?color=white

Cheers and may everyone win at chess and life!

Replies

Today's learning: 

Watch out for opponent tactics in exchanges. In this position, my opponent just took my knight on e7. Looks like a simple exchange, take back and maybe take/take and we are even. Or is it?

https://lichess.org/analysis/r4rk1/pppqBppp/2nb4/3N4/2BP2b1/5N2/PPP2PPP/R2QR1K1_b_Qq_-_0_1?color=black

For a beginner that's over thinking. This sort of problem concerns stronger players. Perhaps a3 is a waste of time, perhaps not. Perhaps you can allow the bishop to be exchanged for a knight, perhaps not. The only thing that should concern is playing a3 (and h3) for the sake of it when not focusing on the basic aims of the opening (centre, development, king safety).

Being able to work on doing that, avoiding leaving pieces en-prise, learning tactical motifs, basic checkmate patterns and how to checkmate with Q, 2Rs, R and 2B, simple pawn endings (K + P Vs K) is almost enough to get to around 1200.

Rb Ramesh or aagaard calculation

I am at 2100 level want to become god level calculator. Which book should i buy in my birthday?

Replies

Enjoying Shankland's course which is also in book form.

I bought Ramesh's Calc Course on Chessable. It. is. un. solvable. The positions he says are meant for 2000-2400 even stump my coach who is 2350! Overall, the book is very very very tough, probably one of if not the toughest calc book. Some times, the lines are engine lines, so they are pretty much unsolvable, and that is the only con of the book.

hopefully you just want better calculation, as the only way to obtain ‘god level’ calculation is to use stockfish (not really advisable haha).

secondly, i've got both books (paperback), and if you're 2100 chess.com/lichess, i'd recommend just using chessmood's course. 

if you're 2100 fide however, i'd suggest you start with aagaard's book (ramesh's one is VERY heavy content), but take your time and make sure you understand everything. you can even buy yourself the entire GM prep set for your birthday!

after you finish that one thoroughly, only then i would think about doing ramesh's course.

hope you found this useful <3

Chess in Mayfair, London.

I organise chess games in Mercato Mayfair, London every Sunday 7pm, would you like to participate?

Replies

Hi Daniel, what sort of rating level? David

Study Plan

I am not sure about my study plan. Whatever I try, it falls fast because of non-planning. Please give me advice about the study plan. Info ( about me ): 1542 FIDE rating, love to attack, best in openings, good in the middlegame, weak in endgame. Plays 1. d4 as white and 1... c5 on 1.e4, 1...Nf6 on 1.d4 as black. I am better in open positions than in closed, but it's fairly good too. Please help!

Replies

You should make a study plan around solving tactics, going through classical games and playing/analyzing games.

Hey Slobo! 
Somehow we can't get in touch and can't make a 1-1 call, during which I give directions, study plan to all our members. 
Please message me on my personal e-mail, which you have, we'll try to have a call. 

Before that study our courses- you'll like it, especially when you love attacking chess.
About studying endgame part you'll get directions here: https://chessmood.com/we-recommend 

Cannot browse

cannot browse chessmood videos today anyone else having same problem

Replies

Is the site down??

Recent Tourament

Hi Chessmood PRO family, I recently played a chess tournament (7 rounds).

In the 6th round, I was on 4.5/5, and I was playing a WGM with Black. I had previously in the game outplayed here, offered about 3 draws, declined 1, and then had a dead drawn position with about 1 minute (30 second delay) on my clock. I made an exchange that left me with an only move in a rook endgame, (on move 81) and I couldn't find it, and lost the game on about move 100. I was 5 hours in. This loss dashed my hopes of first place (hefty 7 grand) and I instead ended up with about 70 bucks. Any advice on how I can improve my stamina and not commit these types of blunders in my future (and hopefully much more important) games?

Replies

Dear Ashwin,

First of all good tournament anyway! 
Losing a game after 5 hours of tough fighting and not finding an only move is a very tough professional situation, and GMs as well are often making mistakes in similar spots.

About increasing the stamina - it's a good idea to do a physical sport which helps to have a better physical shape and strong stamina in the long run. Being well prepared physically is a strong requirement for professional chess players.

The best games of December, 2024, and the prizes

Hello ChessMood family, hello champions and future champions! 
Welcome to the "Best games of December, 2024" 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 November, 2024:

Aron Bekesi
James L.
Tomas Hanak
Jake E.
Ben TheFury

Replies

https://www.chess.com/game/live/126825542413

https://www.chess.com/game/live/126901808629
 

french exchange , checkmate by black on move 13 ! white helped me a bit… lol 

https://www.chess.com/game/live/127060745007
 

a rare chance for me to sac the queen to force mate in a sicilian with white . 
i m adding a picture of the best move black should have played to prevent mate according to the post  game evaluation of chesscom which clearly demonstrate why we should not accept blindly the engine suggestions ( especially when a full game is evaluated in 5 sec )  … it s say +2.39 with Rc7 instead of axb3 but its  still mate in 2 ! 

Beating the Modern:

https://lichess.org/UfXRMt4FeCJQ

Guimard vs. the French Tarrasch

https://lichess.org/fhl4RPT8sg05

https://lichess.org/kXqRxUrb/white#0

Strong break in the Vienna with 11.e6! 

3…Nf6 was already a big mistake, but I failed to recognize that 4.fxe5 would have given me an almost decisive advantage, with complete central domination

https://www.chess.com/game/live/127083579571

Positional domination in a generally very tactical opening. I had a little fun at the end with delivering the most visually pleasing mate

https://www.chess.com/game/live/127161011017

A Dutch attack where my opponent defended well but eventually erred.

https://lichess.org/CbtfpnQm/black

https://www.chess.com/live/game/127164583149
 

a wild attacking game plenty of tactics 

https://www.chess.com/game/live/127168845169

killing with black mood opening

I beat a WFM that watches chess mood! Philidor opening. 
User: AryaB007 first game under Rapid!

It is not letting me copy and paste.

Winning a piece in the early middlegame but sacking it back for activity. After the sacrifice, black could have saved his c5-knight with the awkward 18…Qc6, but even then his position would've been hopeless

https://lichess.org/Asdd7Ugg/white#0

Thank you.

[Event "Online Game"]
[Site "Chess.com iPhone"]
[Date "2024.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pencil_and_Ink"]
[Black "drivera17"]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
[WhiteElo "1120"]
[BlackElo "1076"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.c3 Bg4 6.Ne2 e6 7.Bf4 Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.O-O O-O 10.f3 Bh5 11.Nd2 Nc6 12.Qc2 Bg6 13.Rae1 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Ne7 15.f4 Ng6 16.Qh3 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.f5 exf5 19.Qxf5 Rae8 20.Ng3 Nh4 21.Qg4 Ng6 22.h4 e3 23.h5 Ne7 24.Ne4 Qc6 25.Nf6+ Kh8 26.Nxe8 Rxe8 27.Rxf7 Qh6 28.Rxe7 Rxe7 29.Qc8+ {1-0}

Sent from my iPad

French Attack taking down the Schlechter.

I can confidently say that the Endgame Roadmap won me this game once it was mine to convert.  I was able to think clearly and quickly about goals - thank you ChessMood !

https://lichess.org/study/sgXReSjL/VwB0SdaH

Sicilian Grand Prix attack:

https://lichess.org/NvRCJwWjtgIP

https://lichess.org/ruTGXb3FXOex

Good evening,

I played very nice logical game as black against London system.

Please enjoy!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/127374000299

https://www.chess.com/game/live/127440015563

It's always good to get f5 in the Grand Prix. Then I missed the obvious Bxg5 with 16.Qh5?? (I was afraid of hxg5, but then I would have Nxg5 with double threat of course…) but thankfully my opponent didn't find the best defensive move - f6, and I didn't miss the second time.

https://lichess.org/Z7clXnka/white#0

Dear cm  family, i m quite convinced on this one: gran prix against a modern.

closing down Bg7 diagonal, and then attacking on the KS (as usual in this setup)

winning everything (material and king's crown) at the end.

https://lichess.org/voZvmYOp

I just played this interesting game in the lichess thematic arena with Gukesh-Ding game 11 opening

https://lichess.org/cc948cnQ/black#1

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/127495167573?tab=analysis

My 2100 opponent ignored opening principles.

https://www.chess.com/game/live/127498200113
My 2200 opponent kept his king in the center.
In all reality, this game featured a complex double piece sacrifice, which was sound, however I did misplay it.
Was still an extremely fascinating struggle.
I will add my annotations here soon.

An Accelerated Dragon's player dream comes true (d7-d5 in one go).
A sweet mate in the end.

https://lichess.org/2yVBRwcXYrn9

French Advance leads to interesting complications.

Nice positional win in the French Tarrasch - Guimard. With a tactical finish.

https://lichess.org/UgrooCWDGgok

Trying a new gambit I recently discovered in an online course:

https://lichess.org/YNll2pwVLjOO

https://www.chess.com/game/live/127669247137

Antisicilian Christmas Carol !

parasztakigyalog vs Vladimir7591: French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch System • lichess.org

Winning in the Schlechter French 3…c5 4.exd5 cxd4?! line with an opening trap shown in the French Course

https://lichess.org/nxQyXYaz/white#0

Defeating a 2650 in the rossolimo with 97% accuracy

https://lichess.org/Jyu4o5YZ#0

Positional pawn sacrifice in the opening leading to a viking attack:

https://lichess.org/ec4EiG3g9eyY

Dutch Attack taking on a Colle System

https://lichess.org/study/SnHlWENo/seSUZKee 

A brutal king hunt with a knight and queen sacrifice

https://lichess.org/Xf9Za5LL/black

Very nice game with a very nice ending against a National Master.

https://lichess.org/qSQ0vJsx/black

Another nice attacking game in the Dragon

https://lichess.org/o5sOy4cx

nice win vs 2400 in 13 moves

nice positional game followed by queen sac for mate 

https://lichess.org/Jss61SVE/black#0

https://lichess.org/9LA9buMI/black#0

Attacking like a viking,sacrifised a knight as well!

https://lichess.org/92EynH5T/black#0

Super Messy and Complicated game

https://lichess.org/3UOJ9Mx5/black#0

Found Mate in 4!!!

https://lichess.org/d6flSAWu/white#0

A Nice and Complicated Endgame

https://lichess.org/y7KZbYerMFXC

Crazy Comeback!!!!

https://lichess.org/y6Yb88oG/white#0

SLP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Missed Bxh6 sacrifice several times, finally played it at the last opportunity. Better later then never :)

https://lichess.org/heRXm3uz/white#0

https://lichess.org/wuQZgPyGhDxo

Dutch Attack on the KingSide

Pasini strikes again 😃

https://lichess.org/hg9hhwsVBdW1

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/127735199777?tab=review&move=0

Attack like a viking against the uncastled king. Mate with the pawn!

https://lichess.org/DozQ2c9b2n6h

French Attack versus my pet hate line, 3 Nc3

I just played a weekend swiss tournament in my hometown with classical time control (60+30). I did pretty well, 4,5 out of 6, and also gained some rating points. (I did even better at a rapid tournament two weeks ago, gaining around 35 rapid Elo. It seems that your courses are really helpful!)

I want to show here the two most interesting (but not the most accurate) games I played, with added commentary and engine analysis.

The first one, from round 3, is really complicated and it features a Petrosian-like double exchange sacrifice:

https://lichess.org/study/KYGZmyAe

The second one, from round 5, started off in a peaceful anglo-catalan opening, but then fireworks came in the middlegame:

https://lichess.org/study/wTgqXthj 

https://lichess.org/8DLe89QY/black

3. Nc3 French with 4. Bg5

Exchange variations are not always boring:

https://lichess.org/KHjlnBSQBovU

Sicilian

https://www.chess.com/live/game/128363413071

Positional grind in the Maroczy! I was playing Black.

Chess: YeahTrue vs RightAtom - 128118609601 - Chess.com

https://lichess.org/CMCqOKlbOAxK

Good evening,

I played very nice game against Alekhine defence.

Please enjoy!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/128423595791

Interesting Dutch !

98% accuracy as black in a very tactical KIA game

https://lichess.org/hNM5V7p5/black

Funny game in rapid OTB tournament, won in just 11 moves https://lichess.org/broadcast/vilnius-open-rapid-2024/round-8/fyfywusN/s6tEYNEp

funny game in dutch https://www.chess.com/game/live/128981611439

Even though I flagged (I am totally definitely very understanding and fine about this) it was still a brilliant game.
https://lichess.org/9DWH7Rg4/white

https://www.chess.com/live/game/128459558907

watched attacking course 

thanks Hovannes 

it always enjoyable to attack 

https://www.chess.com/live/game/128460228181
 

I’m definitely in the right mood!!

thanks guys 2 in a row 

Nice little idea against the French (Bf2)

https://lichess.org/drZeq6yg/white#43

https://www.chess.com/live/game/128561007823
 

Avi,

love the en passant gambit 

easy attacks 

thanks 

Here is a closed sicilian - no blunders, strategy only, little tatic at the end - played on Lichess, 10 min , 2000+.

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/127652982125?tab=review interesting rook sac !? in french shlecter against NM 

https://lichess.org/AtqTFFpw/white#0

nice queen trap vs strong opponent

https://lichess.org/RZumJ0SV

Destructive attack

https://lichess.org/iwAzdy295ig9

WWP

https://lichess.org/szSN0In2jnSk

Good afternoon and also Merry Christmas to everyone!!

I played very nice game as black in French-counterattack! 

Please enjoy!

Hello CM family,

scotch 8. h4 

variation with c4 and a Bishop pair ending where white was having the initiative.

https://lichess.org/YsPs6DtV

and merry Xmas.

https://lichess.org/mgBdchRo07m1

I played very instructive endgame as white in closed Sicilian 2… e6 variation.

Please enjoy!

https://www.chess.com/game/live/128781226403

Exciting Scandi

https://www.chess.com/live/game/128800445661
perfect scotch game thanks to Avi’s beautiful coaching

Huge and more or less accurate attack with black in Caro Kann Tartakower

https://www.chess.com/game/live/128852547943

French defense, with 3. e5 Ng8 where White did smaller inaccuracies, selected 0-0-0 and became victim  of “sacrifice” (after a nice manoevre Ra4! → Rb4), played on lichess (10+5 and app 2000 level).

Crushing the Modern 3.f4 a6 line. As a fun fact, instead of resigning, my opponent could've played further with 38…Kg4, and if then I automatically take with Rxc5, it's a beautiful stalemate! Being on my last seconds, I probably would have fallen to that trick. But as it seems, my opponent didn't watch the SLP course 😉

https://www.chess.com/game/live/128896372231

A Jobava London game with consecutive knight sacrifice attempts:

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

After haveing watched the wolf on chess street (some lessons, not all yet :-) , I payed great attention to follow what I have learned and this payed off (compared to my last study trip where I followed Simon - the ginger - presenting some of Karpov's masterpiece when I crushed in my trial to copy his style).

In this “french”, there is a nice white squared bishop xchange and a funny little walk with the king.

It is not who makes the first mistake, but who makes the last one! Beautiful checkmate in the centre of the board.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/128869374187

https://lichess.org/2CbAFmno/black#0

A very dynamic and explosive game

https://lichess.org/cydQg6VO/black#0

Simplicity at its best

Today I managed to deliver two well built thematic attacks in the Grand Prix g6-setup, pushing f5 and playing the standard Qe1-Qh5-Bh6 idea.

In the first one, is fascinating that one misstep from black (pushing d4, thus making a strong piece of my light squared bishop) changes the game completely:

https://www.chess.com/game/live/129046378977

In the second game the attack just flows naturally. I also did a nice sac with 15.Nxh7 when if Kxh7 then 16.Bg5+ Kg8 17.e5! dxe5 18.Ne4 would not only win the piece back, but would completely destroy black's defense. My opponent tried a queen sac instead, but threw in the towel a few moves later:

https://lichess.org/hINesyR0/white#0 

https://lichess.org/RQxPP1QB/white#0

Saving a lost endgame

https://lichess.org/2imU904V/black#0

Crazy Knight Endgame

https://www.chess.com/game/live/129142380883

https://www.chess.com/game/live/129278011617

My first time trying a Dutch Attack in a classical game - enjoyed this opening very much !

https://chessdrop.com/games/9cabb0d7-3554-4a3f-a017-8816dd793c2a

A satisfying OTB French attack in a 70+10 game, with an endgame to convert:

https://chessdrop.com/games/6554cb6a-aa71-496d-9728-296e46cdeb26

A fighting win in the Scotch, classical time control, with seconds to spare on both sides.  I now understand from peeking at the advanced courses that 10.h3 was best.  But I was pleased with resourcefulness in the finish:

Black timed out on the increment without playing 28…g6, remaining moves are included to show example of finish:

https://chessdrop.com/games/e7ab1fc6-b6eb-47c8-b26c-134b664287d5

A French Attack against the Schlechter, with bishop and rook combining to pressure the White King leading to win in the endgame:

https://chessdrop.com/games/4da18498-4df7-4e80-bfd8-8af7fb28ad02

SLP after inaccuracies in French exchange, classical game 45+30:

https://chessdrop.com/games/71853f33-3579-4211-9054-fd792085f4f5

Dear CM family, in this french attack,  black get rid off his bad c8 piece and got a good one on e4: with an uncastled and exposed king,  white wasn't able to defend.

https://lichess.org/pSKfTRmm/black

happy new year.

Wild Vienna Game with nice mate at the end

https://lichess.org/D8uwo7yY/white

I forgot all my opening stuff and mouse-slipped a couple of times, but this game was sooo fun. I was black

[Event "Live Chess Game: FunWakefulAvenue vs CuteBetterFirebird (me)"]
[Site "ChessKid.com"]
[Date "2024.12.30"]
[Round "?"]
[White "FunWakefulAvenue"]
[Black "CuteBetterFirebird (me)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Rated "Rated"]
[WhiteElo "1278"]
[BlackElo "1357"]
[TimeControl "15|1"]
[Termination "CuteBetterFirebird (me) won on time"]

1. e4 e6 2. Bc4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 cxd5 5. Bb3 Ne7 6. Nf3 Nf5 7. Bg5 f6 8. Bf4
Nd7 9. Ba4 a6 10. Bxd7+ Bxd7 11. O-O g5 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. Nc3 h5 14. g3 h4 15. g4
Nh6 16. h3 Bd6 17. Qe2 O-O-O 18. a4 f5 19. Bxg5 Rdg8 20. Nb5 Qb8 21. Nxd6+ Qxd6
22. Bf6 fxg4 23. Be5 gxf3+ 24. Kh1 fxe2 25. Bxd6 exf1=Q+ 26. Rxf1 Nf5 27. Be5
Rh6 28. Bf4 Rhg6 29. Bh2 Bc6 30. Rg1 Nxd4 0-1

https://lichess.org/Yzbrkjx2

A very satisfying end-of-year win with the Scandinavian.  I've not studied the Chessmood White vs Scandivian course yet but this was a short and sweet game… with a fun mate at the end.  70+10 time control OTB

https://chessdrop.com/games/6cf46a59-c646-4375-985c-ad41ea5a9370

😀

https://www.chess.com/live/game/129340361413

a nice mate to end it 

Powerful attack in the Grand Prix a6-setup, with exchange sack on f5

https://www.chess.com/game/live/129377581307

Happy New Year to all!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/129365565249
 

strong attack against the Sicilian with a great tactic

https://www.chess.com/live/game/129366764535
having fun with a gambit and finding a crushing sac. Brilliant middle game

Nice queen sacrifice in a french defense

https://lichess.org/sf33kdYD/black

https://www.chess.com/game/live/129430343645

English Tactic!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/129444755495
 

my opponent didn’t play great but i played 99% accuracy thanks to avi’s elite coaching. this is a fun game to look at

Check out this #chess game: marcelbasile vs MTineer - https://www.chess.com/live/game/129324192337

Check out this #chess game: MTineer vs Kalle_W - https://www.chess.com/live/game/129323073451

https://lichess.org/VTSz016P

This was an OTB game in a tournament after Xmas, that's why I have created a lichess study: https://lichess.org/study/Xt6UpM4M

I tried a new opening and got a good game, but then I blundered a full piece (maybe even in an instructional way) on move 13 and the position was lost.
But then I switched on the SLP mode, avtivated my pieces and managed a mating attack !

I recently came back to chess after a break and even dealing with extreme adversity right now I am still managing to play extremely well and am very proud of my progress. This was a great game I played against the french defense https://lichess.org/AWlCpg2H

edit: I just played a game against a 2079 on lichess and beat him with the dutch! https://lichess.org/OTM8edCN/black

I was bored, and decided to play some bullet.

I sacked my queen, both rooks, and 2 pieces :D

A 24 move win in the Grand Prix.

https://www.chess.com/game/live/129745125173

i am from eygpt my name is anass i played a rapid game i made 2 blunders but i win my rating 707 now i love all your courses

https://www.chess.com/game/121921954986

For preparation for a 12+3 OTB 9 rounds tournamemt I played this French exchange (10+5, both opp app. 2000) with no blunder, no mistakes :-). My opponent was so attracted by the idea of a pin with B on f5 that he missed the attack.

https://lichess.org/YQ93Sjyw/black#46

Hello champions!

How are you? Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! May this year be the one where you crush all the goals you set. Thank you for sharing your games—it’s always a pleasure to go through them and see your brilliancies!

Now, onto the prizes:

1st Prize: Samuel Marsden. First, it’s crazy how your Knight ended up on e3. Later, you got your dark-squared Bishop into an active position and opened up a file for attack. The best highlight was the finish with a Queen sacrifice. Well done!
https://lichess.org/Jss61SVE/black#0

2nd Prize: James L. Your patience stands out in this game. First, you got each piece into the game with Rf7-Rf8. Then, you calmly gave up a Knight on f4 and got your army to launch a mating attack. Even though you were down material, your victory looked inevitable. Great job!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/129142380883

3rd Prize: Kurt. You really made your opponent feel the absence of the dark-squared Bishop! In the end, it looked like White was getting some counterplay, but you calculated and calmly finished off the winning game. Nicely done!
https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/share/?p=Ykvtak5ZSVB2Fm17uyu2LGyl3/usAX/f6rN/Q69+Xb10hNDSADCuXkbJbxYfTPdQ

4th Prize: Sriram M. There was one small inaccuracy in the middlegame, and you were quick to take advantage of it with a nice idea. After you got a winning position, you gave no counterplay for your opponent to make a comeback. That was really impressive. Well done!
https://www.chess.com/game/live/128118609601

5th Prize: Saphira Bond. The exchange sacrifice Re3 started a dangerous attack. 19…Ba6+ was a brilliant hidden resource—surprising but powerful! The final position shows the power of an unchallenged Bishop in an attack. Great job!
https://lichess.org/qSQ0vJsx/black#44

Congratulations to all of you!

Thank you once again to everyone for sharing your games.
All the best for next month’s contest!

Keeping track of opponent's threats

This game seemed noteworthy while I was playing it due to how well my opponent created tactical opportunities to punish my errors.  https://lichess.org/study/O6v4hW9Z/MuRYLSaA

I can see where I should have played different moves, but I have a couple of higher-level questions.

First, how does one keep track of all of an opponent's threats?  During the game, I would notice a threat, then forget about that threat as soon as the next move.  I'm not saying that's why I lost this game, but it is a pattern I have noticed with blunders in other games.  I'm sure for some players this is not a source of much difficulty, but if it is (or was) for you, how did you overcome the problem?

Second, in situations where an opponent has multiple tactical possibilities, is there any particular way to evaluate the situation more quickly and accurately?

I realize the best solution to both problems may be prevention; don't get in overly complex situations in the first place, at least in games with short time controls!  But once the game has gone there, some advice on how to proceed could be helpful.

Replies

Dear Andrew,

The way we see the opponent's possible threats is by noticing the resources on the board.

In the Tactic-Ninja course, GM Avetik explains how to see the resources and I do as well in the calculation course.

So first of all you need to notice the resources for you and your opponent on the board, and based on that you may understand their potential threats.

About the second question - if the opponent has many tactical resources, you need to calculate them and only then you can evaluate the positions. To follow the right steps of calculation - I described the sequence in the Calclman course.