Chess forum by Grandmasters

The best games of January, 2026, and the prizes

Hello ChessMood family, hello champions and future champions! 
Welcome to the "Best games of January, 2026" competition.
Under this post, we invite you to post the best games that you will play this month (up to 5 games per person accepted).

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 December, 2025:

Yacoub Kassim
Kamil CH
Lucifear twm
Gaspar Veres
Andrei Gopak

Replies

A not so quiet Exchange Slav:

https://lichess.org/H7vlt2tij3gX

My january best games go here:

French exchange attack but with white lol https://lichess.org/study/fP8jYMJQ/x2Wp7YmB

i SLP my way to victory from a losing position:

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/147663603802/analysis?move=78

https://lichess.org/zFIkyX0d/white#52

Caro-Kann - Goldman variation:

https://lichess.org/Gxk1Q0ewWrPA

Beat the Modern with the Chessmood/Pasini variation.

Dead on the g-file and the h1-a8 diagonal!

https://lichess.org/Q6m4MujddT1H

Luckily I missed 21.Ng5…

https://lichess.org/O8hwYxVNmLud

https://lichess.org/WJAGzFIQ

Opponent fell into an Anti Sicilian trapand his King went to the center

Grand Prix miniature with a beautiful checkmate!

https://lichess.org/r80lZdcK

Hopton Attack

https://www.chess.com/game/live/162168421233?move=0

Jobava London attack:

https://lichess.org/HcLeVVbJcYXP

https://www.chess.com/game/live/147743430016 beautiful game against FM. He thought i was trying to attack kingside, so he longcastled, and the attack transitioned into a completely hopeless endgame for him

Here is a Scotch game ending with a checkmate. I am getting more comfortable playing the Scotch thanks to Coach Gabu! Love Chessmood and looking forward to the new stuff in 2026! 

https://www.chess.com/game/147850665898

https://www.chess.com/game/live/147914029552 I sacrificed an exchange for a nail in my opponents throat, which was probably objectively wrong, but practically it proved too difficult for him and I finished him off

1. Rook sacrifice, Queen not needed for Windmill-style checkmate forced  in 7
   https://www.chess.com/game/live/147643872912?move=0

�😊�

Insane Minor pieces sacs, castling brilliancies and tactical moves https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/136391753400/review 

One of the best games I have ever played, and even better is that it's against my rival!

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/144907178413/review

https://www.chess.com/game/live/147956411268?move=26 A miniature where the opponent became greedy and allowed me too much activity with a pretty sacrifice in between

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/147960071188/analysis?move=79 a chaotic game in the french where I was piece up, but my king was weak. Even though i had a few slips, i think the game was still good

As I am going on holidays I will not be playing many chess games.
Adding 4 games (the 1st added 2 days ago).

2. https://www.chess.com/game/live/147948866554?move=0 Sicilian 2.Nc3 Nc6
3. https://www.chess.com/game/live/147793846426?move=0 One Scotch with endgame, please!
4. https://www.chess.com/game/live/147515427564?move=0 Opening Principles Model Setup
5. https://www.chess.com/game/live/147501298352?move=0 Scotch unstoppable pawn storm

ThankfulBone vs. PINHON | Analysis - Chess.com

Can you also create a link to the games that have won?

SLP, opponent resigns unnecessarily.  Keep the mood!

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.12.21"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Alpha_0Zero"]
[Black "supriyokundu99"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "8/P1K5/1P6/2k5/8/8/8/r7 b - - 6 59"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "D00"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Queens-Pawn-Opening-Chigorin-Variation-2...Nf6"]
[UTCDate "2025.12.21"]
[UTCTime "15:40:30"]
[WhiteElo "2354"]
[BlackElo "2386"]
[TimeControl "180"]
[Termination "Alpha_0Zero won on time"]
[StartTime "15:40:30"]
[EndDate "2025.12.21"]
[EndTime "15:46:45"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/146999100768/analysis?move=87"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/306289209.870e1d4d.50x50o.db7bb01d9724.jpg"]
[WhiteCountry "53"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/34444854.187fcaf4.50x50o.bf6eca2b5cfc.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "69"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 a6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O
Qe7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 e5 13. e4 Be6 14. Kh1 g5 15. Bg3
Bg4 16. f3 Bh5 17. exd5 cxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bh7+ Kxh7 20. Qxd5 f6 21. Rad1
Rad8 22. Qe4+ Bg6 23. Qc4 Rc8 24. Qxa6 Bxc2 25. Rc1 Be3 26. Rxc2 Rxc2 27. Qd3+
Kg7 28. Qxc2 f5 29. Re1 f4 30. h4 g4 31. Qe4 h5 32. Rxe3 fxg3 33. Qxe5+ Qxe5 34.
Rxe5 gxf3 35. gxf3 Rxf3 36. Rxh5 Rf2 37. Rb5 Rh2+ 38. Kg1 Kh6 39. Rb3 Kh5 40. a4
Kxh4 41. a5 Rd2 42. Rb8 Rd1+ 43. Kg2 Rd2+ 44. Kf3 Rf2+ 45. Ke3 Rf6 46. b4 g2 47.
Rh8+ Kg3 48. Rg8+ Kh2 49. Rxg2+ Kxg2 50. Kd4 Kf3 51. b5 Rf5 52. Kc4 Ke4 53. a6
Rf1 54. b6 Rc1+ 55. Kb5 Kd5 56. a7 Rb1+ 57. Ka6 Ra1+ 58. Kb7 Kc5 59. Kc7 1-0

[Event "2026 Chess.com Daily Chess Championship - Round 1"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2026.01.02"]
[Round "-"]
[White "StuLast"]
[Black "Alpha_0Zero"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Tournament "https://www.chess.com/tournament/2026-chess-com-daily-chess-championship"]
[CurrentPosition "rnb2rk1/p4ppp/4p3/qp1pN3/2pPnB2/P1b1P3/1PP1QPPP/2KR1BR1 w - b6 0 13"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "D00"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Queens-Pawn-Opening-Chigorin-Variation-2...Nf6"]
[UTCDate "2026.01.02"]
[UTCTime "06:45:12"]
[WhiteElo "449"]
[BlackElo "1420"]
[TimeControl "1/86400"]
[Termination "Alpha_0Zero won by resignation"]
[StartTime "06:45:12"]
[EndDate "2026.01.09"]
[EndTime "16:25:30"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/daily/911049599/analysis"]
[WhiteUrl "https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/noavatar_l.84a92436.gif"]
[WhiteCountry "164"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/306289209.870e1d4d.50x50o.db7bb01d9724.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "53"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 e6 4. Qd3 Bd6 5. e3 O-O 6. O-O-O c5 7. Nf3 c4 8. Qd2
Bb4 9. a3 Ne4 10. Qe2 Bxc3 11. Rg1 Qa5 12. Ne5 b5 0-1

Interesting game e5-ne4 on move 27 was very instructive.

https://www.chess.com/game/live/148051173216?move=0

A bishop's opening/Italian sample game. Where did my opponent go wrong?

https://www.chess.com/live/game/148061220272

Check out this #chess game: cusokmayso vs Edorin97 - https://www.chess.com/live/game/148086840722 

Quick miniature from black's side of Sicilian. Proud of the Re8 move :)

Chess: teonutt vs ThankfulBone - 148097294652 - Chess.com

https://lichess.org/NhnKUjBh/black

The invincible Knight!!

https://lichess.org/OH2HA96m

The two lasers!!

Hey ChessMood,

https://www.chess.com/game/live/148097142152?move=0

https://lichess.org/PE4FlcHd/white

https://www.chess.com/game/148124606128

https://www.chess.com/game/148125441758 (defending and counterattacking masterpiece)

https://lichess.org/T7tmdNws/black (comeback after misclick)

[White "Ansh"]
[Black "Nandini"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ansh"]
[ECO "C01"]
[TimeControl "90 mins+30 secs"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. c3 c5 6. Ne2 Nc6 7. a3 a6 8. O-O Be7 9. b4 cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Nbc3 b5 12. Qc2 Bb7 13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. Bd3 Nb6 15. Be3 Nc4 16. Nf4 Bg5 17. Qe2 Bh6 18. Bc2 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Bxf4 20. Qh5+ Bh6 21. Bc5 d4 22. Rad1 Qc7 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Rxd4 Nxa3 25. Be4 Qxc3 26. Qxf7!! Rb8 27. Qxb7!! Rf8 28. Qf7!! Qc8 29. Qg6 Rf5 30. Bxf5 exf5 31. Rfd1 1-0

In this game I sacrificed my Queen 3 times. This was a classical game.

[White "Ansh"]
[Black "Ankur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ansh"]
[ECO "B23"]
[TimeControl "3600+30"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. O-O e6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nb5 Nge7 9. Bb3 a5 10. a4 O-O 11. Nbxd4 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Qe1 Rab8 15. Nb5 Bxb5 16. axb5 Bxb2 17. Qxa5 b6 18. Qa7 Rb7 19. Qa4 Bxa1 20. Qxa1 d5 21. Qf6 Rc8 22. f5 (22. Bd4 Kf8 23. Qh8+ Ng8 24. Qg7+ Ke7 25. exd5) 22... dxe4 23. fxe6 Nf5 24. Rxf5 gxf5 25. Bd4 Kf8 26. e7+ Ke8 27. Bxf7+ Kd7 28. Qe6# 1-0

In this game I sacrificed my a1 rook due to his weak dark squares then I played rxf5 and won.

Chess: ASM0310 vs leedar - Chess.com

Instructive game by pressuring on the Queenside with bishop pair and active pieces

Chess: goooodtimes vs ASM0310 - 147524907992 - Chess.com

Throughout the game the Light-Squared Bishop remained trapped and I won (though I made some mistakes)

[White "Ansh"]
[Black "Ayan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ansh"]
[ECO "B23"]
[TimeControl "2700+10"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. f4 d6 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe1 Bg4 10. Qh4 Bxf3 11. Rxf3 e6 12. f5 Nd7 13. Bg5 Bf6 14. fxg6 fxg6 15. Rxf6 $1 Rxf6 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17. Ne4 Rf4 18. Bxd8 Rxh4 19. Bxh4 1-0

Game in which I won a piece using a nice pin

https://www.chess.com/game/148137567774
 

https://lichess.org/OFI6vkg1/black
 

Probably the best game I have ever played as an 1950 Rated Player.Combination Of position,Tactical and Strategic Breakdown.The courses that helped me most in this game were

1.Tactic Ninja

2.Caro kann from Blackmood openings

3.Silent stratergy

4.Speed boat adventures-Power your rooks through open files(Very underatted but valuable as seen in the game)

Hello, kind of messy French but I am happy how did I handle the position. I just finished Tactic Ninja and the opening courses and started to play it.

https://www.chess.com/game/live/148171154728

https://www.chess.com/game/148185592468

https://www.chess.com/game/148185592468
 

hit em with a smothered mate 

https://www.chess.com/game/live/148201659112?move=0 a chaotic game in the steinitz french where we were racing for the other persons king, and in the end he found a beautiful queen sacrifice, but i had a cheeky reply kept for him

https://lichess.org/XB67Aabm/black

Not the soundest but still a fun attack 

brutal smith morra attack

CosmicKnightmarez vs. SmellDeFeat | Analysis - Chess.com

my best SLP ever ..OTB FIDE rated game.. ..blundered free piece and then have to give away queen ..move 13 opponent blundered free knight (mating matador course tactic) so he has to give back knight  ..   .. SLP course  + bishop pair course in action 

Nice game playing against the French

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148302666410/analysis?move=0

An almost entirely clean benoni with a cool Qh4 idea(i think)

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148431915556/analysis?move=0

This game speaks for itself

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148465049990/analysis?move=0

The fireworks do compensate for inaccuracy in this one

https://www.chess.com/analysis/collection/games-to-be-sent-4EoM1YXg/4eXXcychK4/analysis

a clean and quiet french game

January 2026:

1. French attack: dangerous ks attack https://lichess.org/OwrPe4jj/black

2. Making the king afraid of opening of the position: https://lichess.org/lKt9ggx1/white#25

3. My best petroff: https://lichess.org/jmnaLNIZ/white#44

4. A tough fight https://lichess.org/bgqqQgy2

5. My nicest and shortest ruy lopez exchanged variation https://lichess.org/fACZVNvV

Here is my maroczy bind with a brilliant knight sacrifice and a small grind in the endgame. Here:

https://www.chess.com/game/148383614286

A nice Dutch Attack - Stonewall System game. 

https://www.chess.com/game/live/148432554174?move=0

Let me know your thoughts.

Thank you,

Glenn

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

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148442170146/analysis?move=0

Sicilian, no flashy move but relatively clean

https://lichess.org/p7P52Dt0/white

https://www.chess.com/game/148490466276
 Sacrificed my rook on f7 in a position no one expected.

https://www.chess.com/game/148509485346, my first time beating a 2700-plus player with an unconventional bishop move

The Scandinavian - modern is a favourite opening for black for me.

This is an example why.

Check out this #chess game: mdAsharf01 vs peterbago - https://www.chess.com/live/game/148544959102

I had an idea of playing against the dark bishop.

Check out this #chess game: peterbago vs markie2008 - https://www.chess.com/live/game/148545707074

https://www.chess.com/game/148556154508 an interesting win over an fm in the french with two brilliancies

Apocalypse Attack vs Caro-Kann:

https://lichess.org/S2ClrfX6U0RZ

Perfect game in sicilian Nc3 Bb5 line

https://lichess.org/STZh3GLS/white#0

Crazy game against somebody rated 150 higher than me in USCF. I was white

https://www.chess.com/a/2VqyTRYBGR1qx/analysis

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/163946115008/analysis

https://lichess.org/BbNp5ceJ

attacking against Nf6.

Brilliant

#Chessmood @Avetik Gregorian

https://www.chess.com/game/live/164000663874

Hey who knew I'm about 1800!

https://www.chess.com/live/game/164022657134

This was on the way to be a great game.   Two Brilliant moves.  Then it took a hilarious turn when I forgot what to do after forking the Q and K.

I enjoyed this game https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/164034062768/analysis?move=124

when will this end?

Small miniature https://www.chess.com/game/live/164042725580?move=0

I played with white.Was played in OTB Classical.1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. a4 O-O 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. c3 Qc7 9. Re1 a6 10. Nbd2 Rb8 11. Nf1 Rd8 12. h3 b5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Ng3 d5 15. e5 Nd7 16. d4 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nb6 18. Bc2 h6 19. Nh5 Nb4 20. Bb1 Nd7 21. Bxh6 gxh6 22. Qd2 Bf8 23. Rc1 Qb7 24. Ng5 Nc6 25. Qc2 f5 26. exf6 Nde5 27. f7+

Quick attack

https://www.chess.com/game/164074663914

https://www.chess.com/game/live/147512063196

😀

Hii ChessMood, just asking when will the best games of January end?

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/147789103490/analysis

Modern Benoni with black – strong queenside-attack crowned by a nice sacrifice – 28…Nxb2

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148392614762/analysis

Another one-sided attack

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148507395584/analysis

Tried an unconventional opening line, it worked out at the end. 18. d6 was the winning touch, but then I had to work much to convert

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148509263404/analysis

I show this one especially for the final few moves, complicated stuff

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/163955922248/analysis

Here the four-move sequence beginning with 15. Ra6!! is the interesting part

A positional game in Catalan

https://www.chess.com/game/live/164072461250?move=73

A attacking game in Dragon

https://www.chess.com/game/live/164123549856?move=0

A attacking game in the Dragon

https://www.chess.com/game/live/163995159442?move=36

https://www.chess.com/game/164147383152

Gaining an advantage from my opponent's mistake in the opening and smoothly converting the win

🎉 Hello Champions!

Thanks for sharing your top games of the month.
You showed creative ideas, solid strategic thinking, and scored several strong wins. The games were full of useful and instructive moments. Great job! And now, let’s get to the prizes!

1st Prize:  Thomas Maes

A fantastic, complicated game.
With the power of the space advantage, you locked the opponent’s pieces on the Queenside, and despite the fact that it was already an endgame delivered stunning pressure on the opponent’s King.
More than impressed!
https://lichess.org/H7vlt2ti#63

2nd Prize: Gaspar Veres

You crushed the reversed Benoni!
While being up an extra pawn, you immediately felt the weakness around the opponent’s King, and by using the weak squares, executed a Brilliant attack! Great game!
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/148392614762/analysis?move=24

3rd Prize: James L

Great GP Game.
In the structures with Black’s bad light square Bishop, you executed fantastic positional ideas, with the improvement of the pieces, and at the right moment traded the opponent’s defender Bishop, starting a deadly attack. Masterpieces in this variation.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/164074663914?move=0

4th Prize: Tina Vehl

Amazing GP Attack!
Once the opponent lost their dark squared Bishop, you felt the weakness on their Kingside and immediately pushed the pawn, creating devastating pressure. Good attacking skills!
https://lichess.org/zFIkyX0d/white

5th Prize: STM Ten

The positional masterpiece.
The blockade of the opponent’s Bishops was insane, and by using the Knights for the weak squares, you clearly demonstrated the concept of Knights sometimes being much stronger than the Bishops! Great job! 
https://lichess.org/STZh3GLS/white#71

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

French Attack Exd5 Question

in the french exchange, I have tried to play Nc6, Bf6 and Ne7.

However, I have been having trouble doing this setup against the c3 Knight, the bishop on d6 often blocks the defense of the d5 pawn. If I play Ne7 first, the knight now blocks the development of the bishop.

I have tried going back to the blackmood course for the french exchange. But I don't think I understand how to solve this issue.

Replies

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3

sorry if it wasn't clear, this is the position i am referring to. What am i doing wrong?

Dear Eric, 

Often, to Nc3 we can reply with c6, and just play positional chess, as it makes it hard to do our regular ideas.
Here is an advanced event on French that GM Avetik made, which can be helpful as well https://chessmood.com/event/french-attack-advanced

Interesting

Hello, Chessmood

I see in most of my games whenever I knwo the plans and ideas of chessmood lines I do good but if I play a new opening I dont know the positions or plans I mess up why is this because so many people became titled without knowing openings. Thank you.

sincerely, pawn

Replies

That's why you need to know well the middlegame concepts, watch a lot of commented games, understand the 7Q method - so in situations where there is nothing to do, you can understand the correct ideas :-)

When to use 7Q method

I finished watching the 7Q method course a while ago, and I find it quite helpful as in the videos I am able to come up with the plans most of the time, but in a real game, when should I bother taking time to ask the 7 questions. Obviously asking them every move would take too much time, especially in a blitz game, and if I ask them only if I am unsure of what to do, I could still potentially miss resources when I don't ask the 7 questions, as sometimes the intuitive plan is wrong. So when in a real game should I ask the 7 questions? 

Replies

Well, in some middlegames out of openings, you may know the plans-ideas, and just follow them.The 
7Q method is for situations when you really don't know what to do - and applying it may help to choose the right direction.

I seek a chess player who was "with Korchnoi in the Philippines"

I recently joined chess.com. Playing chess again brought back an old memory of meeting a chess player who I'd love to reconnect with.  

Around 22 years ago, I went to Richardson TX for some HP (Hewlett-Packard) training.

The instructor of the class noted my little chess computer. Next day he brought in a chess board and we would play at lunch or over dinner.

I never won a game. He was a fantastic player. Near the end of the week, he offered me a draw.  I accepted.

On Friday, after the class ended, he asked if he could play my chess computer.

He used a longer setting.  As he played he talked about his experiences---including going to the Philippines with Korchnoi.

(Whoa!)

It was only last year that I joined chess.com; so, I only recently remembered that week and the guy who was so good.

I'd love to find out who he was. I can't recall his name. Wondering whether someone might know him, or maybe he will see this note.

I only have a few clues:  I think he was in his thirties or forties back then; worked for HP as a tech teacher; went to the Philippines with Korchnoi.

Thanks!

Replies

Maybe this good player?

Eugene Torre - Wikipedia

Training Ideas w/ a Sparring Partner

Hi ChessMood family,

Besides playing training games with your sparring partner, what else have you found helpful? Analyzing OTB games? Solving tactics together? Would love your opinions. 
 

Thanks 

Replies

I would say mostly playing the games, training the openings - like practicing new ones, then analyzing.

Move trainer

Hello, Chessmood team

I recently bought a Chessable move trainer course and the I am learning the opening faster than ever and also I remember everything. Even if it isn’t helpful for learning for some people it is amazing for reviewing the lines. It would be amazing if chessmood had such a tool as reviewing the lines would be way easier it is harder to do in the pgn as the lines are all mixed whereas if each line were separate it would be easy. I think it is something to add to chessmood as it helped me so much and it’s also pretty fun. Thank you

Sincerely, Pawn

Replies

Hey there,

We are planning to have this type of future :-)

BlackMood - French Attack - Avoiding the paradoxical move

I am trying to learn the reasoning behind all the BlackMood openings. 

My questions are in relation to Section 4 – French Attack vs 3.Nc3 in the BlackMood Opening course.

The recommended moves are as follows:

1.e4,e6; 2.d4,d5; 3.Nc3,Nf6; 4.e4,Ng8 (Paradoxical move)

The reasons for not recommending 4. …., Nd7 instead of 4….., Ng8 was clearly explained in the course.

The episode explains that the 2 big moves after 3.Nc3 are Nf6 and Bg4. The recommended move for this course was Nf6. It appears that Bg4 was too complicated for students of this course.

My questions: 

1. What are pros and cons of Black playing c5, Nc6 and Qb6, instead of 3.Nf6? (On the face of it, it appears that this would avoid the moves Nf6 and Ng8 for black which results in reaching the same position after making 2 moves.)
2. Not playing Nf6 allows white to keep the pawn on e4 instead of moving it to e5 or defending it. Is it important to force the move e5 at the loss of 2 moves for black?

Thanks in advance for explanations.  

Replies

pros- if white just plays what we expect its great we have a tempo up c3 is not possible and we can win a pawns.
cons-just one line i think i analyzed after c5 exd5 exd5 white is playing french exchange variation tempo up they played nc3 and we have played c5 so they can follow the exchange variation's attacking setup against c4 but as white against c5, and c4 is said to be a bad move in opening. additionally nc6 after e5 attacks both d4 and e5 forcing the d4 pawn to be there
Just my point of view. plus ng8 confuses the opponent.

French Exchange - White routes bishop to c2

Hi Chessmood Legends

I have a question about plans in the French exchange if White makes an unusual, but reasonable, bishop journey:

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Bd3 Nb4! (looking to win bishop pair) 6. Bb5+!? c6 7. Ba4 (the bishop looks redundant for now..) Bd6 8. c3 Na6 (now our knight is bad too) 9. O-O Ne7 10. Bc2 (and the bishop is strong again).

In the game I played 10…Bf5 to immediately exchange off the LSBs, followed by 11. Re1 Bxc2 12. Qxc2 f6.  And we had a long battle for a draw.  

My question is what are the plans against this idea for White to preserve this bishop?  If correct to exchange the bishops, should we also abandon ideas of queenside castling (thinking we are a bit slow after the knight had been kicked about) and just hope to play with a better bishop?

Many thanks for any insight - I see a couple of masters have tried this line.

Replies

In this case, after trading the Bishops, the Black Knight can come via c7 to e6, which wouldn't be a bad position.

Improving Tactical Vision

Hi everyone, 

I am at the 2100 otb elo but tactics have been one of my weakest points in my game for a while and I continue to miss “simple” one or two move tactics often that even players hundreds of points lower-rated would find (check out the example below from a game, where I missed this tactic even with 40 min left on my clock!), even during classical games! As I am missing these simple ones sometimes, more challenging tactics feels a lot more impossible both during the real game and during training and I am unable to solve them a lot of times.

I have already done the tactic ninja and mating matador courses, and have worked through other tactic books such as the woodpecker. Is there anything I can do to improve my tactical vision besides solving puzzles daily? Should I do more "simple" puzzles that don't really require calculation, or some harder puzzles with tactical ideas that are not obvious?

Thanks

P.S. I still ended up winning the game, but I played Qc3? instead of the right move. My opponent (who was around 200 points or so lower rated) told me after the game that he thought he was going to resign after I picked up the queen and everyone around me was surprised I played Qc3 lol

Replies

The Myth About Chess Tactics and Solving Chess Puzzles

How To Solve Puzzles To Improve Your Chess

How to Calculate less and find better moves

5 Easy Steps to Evaluate a Chess Position Like a GM

I like chesstempos puzzle and lichess puzzle. 

Good luck!

My advice on this is to solve daily tactics, 10-20 minutes, depending on your available time. 
It helps you always to stay in more or less a tactical shape.

New article: The Night I Stopped Being Lazy

If your child seems lazy, this story might change how you respond.

An uncomfortable truth every parent should think about. 
Read this story before calling your child lazy 👇

https://chessmood.com/blog/the-night-i-stopped-being-lazy

Replies

This is one of the most heart touching stories I’ve heard. It’s not about heroism or failure. It’s deeply real and grounded in simple true practical experience. Many of us may encounter moments like this, but what truly differentiates you is how you stood there with honesty, acceptance, and reflection. That is remarkable.

Thank you, Coach Avo. This is what makes you so special. I’m grateful to be a tiny part of your journey.

�😀�

Wow Mr. Avetic, i play on chess.com under the name @the-chess_legend and I play bullet on there :D so would you like to play daily sometime? This is a good article :D. My name is Sam

Fearless Warrior Section 8 (Smart exchanges)

In the Fearless Warrior course, in Section 8, in the quiz for the 4th video (Exchanging multiple defenders), there was this quiz position. Bf5 was marked as correct, but why is Bb5 wrong? Doesn't it also exchange a defender by targeting the knight on d3?

Replies

It's still good, just technically doesn't allow c4, which is stall bad for White.

Need guidance for rating improvement

I completed all the courses under Rating Booster and Middlegame mastery section. I spend almost 5 hours daily studying and practicing chess but still I am stuck at Fide rating of around 1550 since last 3 months. What could be the reason , is there any tool which will pinpoint my mistakes exactly? How should I progress, please suggest some ideas?

Replies

Hey Arjun,

I would be happy to help, but this is a large topic that depends on many questions I might have.

Did you take a 1-1 call, or don't have that option?

Our client support team will contact you :-)

Hi Arjun and chessmood improvers! 

Practice with this also. Important to know basics. 

Practice chess positions • lichess.org

Chess Endgame Simulations - Interactive Chess Endgame Training

Caro kann doubt

Hi chessmood family! 

In the course, it is said that Caro Kann with Black's early e6 is too passive and Avetik sire mentions the following plan - f4 ,  Qe2  , Nf3-e5

But in practice, I am not able to get an advantage if Black is playing it in the following way:

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 e6 6. f4 Bd6 7. Nf3 Nge7 (not Nf6) and And later black are playing f6. 

Let us say 8.0-0 0-0 and now Ne5 is not good because of f6.   

How should we tackle this …Nge7 followed by …f6 idea of black?

Replies

Caro Kann with early e6 - Chess forum by Grandmasters

Robatsch (modern) defence

Team,

I'm coming across this opening quiet often and having a lot of trouble with it. How do you like to approach this opening? Any suggestions would be great.

Replies

The Modern is like the Pirc. In one of the streams I think Avetik recommend 1.e4 2.d4 Nc3 3.f3 followed by Be3-Qd2 with h4-h5 ideas and attacking on the kingside. 

Another system that I personally like is the Austrian Attack with 1.e4 2.Nc3 3.f4 4.Nf3 but this variation has a lot of theory and leads to very complex positions. 

Hi Kevin.  Try 4 BG5!!!  1.e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 nc3 g6 4 bg5!  Why?  Strong move BG5!  Austtians lots of theory.  F3 ECT  black I think can go into Kings Indian.  And c5 Gambit by black is why samiech no longer played.  Read up on Bg5.  Called Byrne line.  Shirov as white played it in 1992 with an awesome game!  Marc

Hey Kevin1 The Material is ready already, will record it soon, when I am back from the USA. 

Hi Hovhannes and chessmood!

Okey i understand i can work on this position more. I like your postional ideas. I get a good position with it. Iam not sure if can press this position more than that. Any suggestion? Have you seen any player with style of pressure position like this or postional game that you are inspired of? 

 Yes you are right I train mostly middlegame now. I have seen  all your courses. I play both advanced chessmood repertoar and repertoire under 2000. Only one opening i do not play is Benko gambit yet. I have seen that Benko gambit is okey.

 I have seen your course and also read Modernized Benko Gambit- GM Milos Perunovic and i did a digital study about the book. 

2025 i study many chess books. I have played alot of games with chessmood repertoire and get good games also against higher ranked players.

Any good tip to study middle games position? I play more different position than before and analyse almost every day. I like dynamic position and mostly play dynamic positons. I play badly with Knights and closed position and slow maneuvering games. Any good recomendation to train also position with good knight against bad bishop? I have study a book  with Ulf Andersson game and some Catalan Opening and some boring Kramnik games :-). 

I play chessmood repertoire and analyse positions arising after the video end. I have made many studys about different variations.

I train tactics every day and see games on chessbase.

Im buying courses and see good youtube videos.

I analyse classic book like now Chess structures- Mauricio Flores Rios

Winning chess middle games structures- GM Sokolov but this is a tough book for me after every 1h study im a very tired. 

Often he like Nimzoindian position and im not playing so much this position as black except when im white in Sic Grandprix Rossolimo position. Bxc6. I try to lern position and ideas with reversed strategy. GM Avetik Grigoryan, GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan, GM Simon Williams, GM Arthur Neiksans, GM Stuart Raven, GM Milos Perunovic are some of my inspiration in chess. I lern from you all alot and listen and analyse but i never trust anyone. 

Petroff doubt

Hi Chessmood family! 

In a lichess rapid game, my opponent played 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Be6.

not committing his N's position on move 8 or playing 8. …Qe8, 8. …b6. I think this 8. ….Be6 is a flexible move. 

How should we continue as white? 

Do we start with 0-0-0 or Bd3 or h4 directly and wait. 

What is our plan?

Replies

Hi Little Bobby!

Make Coach Avetik happy and proud.  Play like him!

 “Strike first, strike hard no mercy” - “Cobra Kai” :-)

See this game how he play. Lets later see what GM Avetik or GM Gabuzyan say about it.

GM Avetik_ChessMood vs playforwin64: Petrov's Defense: Nimzowitsch Attack • lichess.org

There are two ways to mate in Chess Puzzle 28/1/2026

😕😕😕❓❓😀

Almost at the end of the puzzle, there was two ways I could win. But they only put one move that was correct and another was wrong. Could you guys explain why?

Replies

😭

By the way, both of the moves were still mate in one

It considers Kg7 correct but Kd6 incorrect when both paths go to f5 square.

By the way, it's 27/01/2026 puzzle but they don't change today yet

Hi guys! If there were two correct solutions at some point, feel free to message our support and we’ll add 500 MoodCoins to your account 🙂

No Daily puzzle for today (28-01-2026)

Where is the puzzle for today

Replies

Yes, 29-01-26 also. No new Daily Puzzle. It shows the one from 27th only

That’s true, but they’re still celebrating Avetik’s birthday, so let’s give them a break haha  😅🎉

Hi guys! The issue has been fixed, and you can now solve today’s daily puzzle 🙂

2 Answers in the Daily Puzzle

In today's Daily Puzzle there are 2 correct answers.

1.a8=N g5

2.Nb6 cxb6

3.c7 b5

4.c8=N b4

5.Nd6 exd6

6.e7 d5

7.e8=N d4

8.Ng7 (System accepts this) d3

9.Nf5#

8.Nd6 also mates.

Please fix the issue.

Replies

Your answer should be correct!

it would be great if ChessMood would make it multiple answers correct like on lichess. They probably will change it because so many people have had issues with this puzzle. either that or make the puzzles without other winning options

Exchange Sacrifice - event PGN

Hi guys!
How are you doing?

Hope you enjoyed the lesson on Exchange Sacrifice on Saturday!
I’m attaching the PGN in case you’d like to revisit the positions or analyze them in more detail.

Replies

Thank you so much coach David!