Chess forum by Grandmasters

Small Update in Accelerated Dragon

Hi, I just like to share you a small update that I found on the opening Accelerated Dragon. A few years ago, One 2100+ Fide rated played Accelerated Dragon against me in the Classical OTB tournament. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O. At that time I didn't have any knowledge about this opening. So I felt comfortable with 8.f3 and I played it. After 8...Qb6 I took some time. I found Black's plan(9...Nxe4) after Bb3. After spending a few minutes, I found the interesting move 9.a3. Then my opponent thought that I didn't see Nxe4 and I am setting a trap for 9...Qxb2 with Na4 Queen Trap. But That's not true. He played 9...Nxe4. Then I immediately played move 10.Nd5. And Black will lose a piece in all the variations. After that game, I used this trap many times. I also won against one 1900 and one 2000 Fide rated players using this trap. Later, One day I showed this trap to my friend. He said f3 is a mistake, then how does your move a3 work here? Before that, I didn't know that f3 is a mistake. So I started to analyze with the help of an engine. Then I found the move 9...e6 which is not easy to find for dragon players. Because in most cases we won't play g6 and e6 which weakens dark squares. So this move is not easy to find. After 9...e6 Black's Nxe4 is unstoppable and also an advantage for Black. I saw the f3 variation in our course, that's why I wanted to share this update. I hope it will be somewhat useful. Thank you

Replies

Nice of you to share, Veera. I was aware of this 9.a3 tricky move only after watching Plichta chessable accelerated dragon course :) and I have in my pgn also e6! as the best response. Luckily nobody played 9.a3 against me yet! Also in the line with f3: 9.Bb3 Ng4 is the recommended CM line afaik, but I didn't like the endgame after 10.fxg4 Bxd4 11.Bxd4 Qxd4 12.Qxd4 Nxd4 13.Nd5 Nc6 and now 14.g5 I think white has small plus here. So after investigating now I like this one 9...Nxe4 10.Nd5! Qa5+ 11.c3 and now 11...Nf6! 12. Nxc6 dxc6 13.Nxe7+ (white wins back the pawn but now black is at least equal with good plan coming up) 13.. Kh8 14.Nxc8 Raxc8 15.0-0 c5! black's ideas include c4, Rfd8, Nd5, b5 and exchanging dark sq bishops is favourable. Imo this is much more fighting line for black. So the tricky f3 Qb6 line...

While we're at it, the course spends too much time on f3 Bc4 and no time on Qd2 d5 which is played a lot in various forms. Oh easy, it's just a dragon up a tempo. Just try winning it at the 2000 level without the right plan, not easy. There was some talk about redoing/updating the course a la Benko. What happened to this in the plan?

Double fail of shame

In an over the board game it was getting late... What did Black (~2070) to move play? What did I as White (low time) reply?

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g5 aiming for a mating net with g4 looks interesting. But perhaps they played Rh1 and you didn't capture?!

You might appreciate this puzzle which I missed during a puzzle rush today: https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/733616/practice

Interesting rook endgame resource

Black (me) played Rh4 here and eventually got a draw (after Ke4). What did both sides miss?

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Ke4 doesn't look very threatening. Surely Ra6-a7+ is the way to go.

So the engine suggested move was Rd6, the idea being that if Rh4 then Rd4 and now the threat is f5 Rxd4 f6+ going into a winning pawn ending (the check giving a free move in effect). The other idea which was useful in some variations was if the king gave up control of f6, then there were ideas of playing f5 and after gxf5 the White king now has a hidey hole on f6 and Black is in trouble.

Grandmaster's Mind

Love the idea. Are you taking requests? Here's mine anyway: - Jan Timman: super strong player from the Karpov/Kasparov generation. Acclaimed author, study composer, chess artist, and all around living legend. - Nils Grandelius: maybe the best presenter on Chessable. Very engaging and great at communicating what he feels about a position, particularly the practical aspects. - Arturs Neiksans: puts out excellent free content on YouTube. Also very engaging, with interesting positional insights. His style is perhaps a little different than some as he seems to be attracted to slower opening systems - Matthew Saddler: another one who puts out great free content on YouTube. Unique background with his groundbreaking, and continued, study of modern engine play. Would be interesting to see how he managed to apply it to his own chess.

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Hi Peter,

Good requests for sure, just wanted to tell you regarding Matthew Saddler that his last Chessable course is exactly about this. Specially the latest one he explains how he managed to apply it to his games. Lots of personal insights, if you haven-t seen it yet, it is very interesting.

Ginger GM Simon Williams on the Dutch perhaps - even invite to help with the advanced repertoire?

Been looking at GM Ashley's Chessable course on geometry. He's an entertaining and clear presenter, so possibly some of his games or as he's not an active player, some of the games he's seen over the years would make a good addition.

Why are grandmasters better?

Listening to the (free) introduction of GM Kuljasevic's course on Grandmaster's thinking (https://thechessworld.com/supercharge/grandmasters-thinking/) - link will be active for the next 15 hours [not promoting it or making any claims to the quality, but the introduction is interesting]. He mentioned 5 things why he thinks GMs play better: 1. knowledge of opening / middlegame plans 2. tactics 3. _exchanges_ 4. time management 5. endgame knowledge Notice number 3. Those GMs live on Chess Street :)

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French Attack question

In the French Attack variation with 3.e5, after I play .. Bd7 and White plays c4 and we exchange pawns on c4 and I play ..Bc6, I've had a couple of games recently where after I play ..Nd7, intending ..Nb6, White plays d5. The first time it happened I ended up getting mated with an eventual exf7#. The next time, I took the d-pawn and we exchanged pawns and bishops, leaving the White queen on d5, and I could figure out how to proceed (it was blitz). Any suggestions? Thanks!

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Hello! I have one opponent who plays like this, let me cut my pgn analysis specifically on this line

Hi Randy,

Let me mention that this position is not dangerous. This shouldn't happen super-often however Nc5 move is possible after white Queen is on d5.
It's also optional to start with Ne7 instead of Nd7 and make d5 little harder. I have faced this ideas few time during the streaming events, and throughoutly explained while playing. We are planning to add the model games like that in very near future. So will be easier to see and play!
 

Good luck!

How to name the new Exchange Course

Dear ChessMood Family 🤩 

Most of our courses are named on your suggestions. 
Like: 
Tactic Ninja 
Mating Matador
BlunderProof 
Spartan Shield 
WhiteMood and BlackMood Openings, and others... 

The following week is coming a new course about exchanging the pieces. It's a big course with 20+ sections, which will teach you how to make decisions when it comes to trading pieces. 

How to name the course? 
Any ideas? 
 

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Dear ChessMood Family, 1. Wise (Smart, Clever) Merchant (Trader) 2. Simplify Smart 3. Smart Simplifier Have a great day.

Exchange Mode ON 😀

Based on the film "trading places" how about "trading pieces"

1) To trade or not to trade? 2) Trade/exchange like Pro/GMs/Professionals 3) Favorable/smart trades 4) Wise/smart trades/exchanges 5) (Smart) Trading strategy 6) Good and Bad exchanges

Trading Wolf... because we have to be smart like a wolf in trading pieces

Trading Talisman

Sac Power Sacrifice for Positions Strategic Sacrificing Trading Pieces

The Titan Trader Correct Exchange Exchange par Excellence

The Merchant - Trading for Profit Arms Dealer The Bazaar

If there will be a course on the space advantage (probably a good idea), can I be the first to suggest the name 'Space: The final frontier'?

French advanced quesy

Hi all, I am looking for some advice:I am black, chessmood 1e4 e6 2d4 d5 3 e5 Bd7 4 Bd3 a6 5 Bc2. What should I do here? I am thinking he is planning a4 so I was considering. 5..a5. Any suggestions? Stick to .. c5 or ..a5 or something else? Thanks

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5.Bc2 is not a legal move there. I guess you missed out a move or two?

I like a5, but both options are perfectly playable. With a5, your bishop on a6 will be very useful later. c5 is also a very good move with more usual themes. 

You can try both in your games, see what works best and then explain us how it went… Altough I doubt that you will face this variation a lot, I never did… 😀

Hi Paul,

I have faced this idea, and replied with a5- followed by Ba6 if a4. Bishop on b5 controls the important diagonal and Black can plan regular French style ideas like c5-Nc6-Qb6.

How to play against 8...Be7

In the anti-sicilian course, there was a line 1.e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. f4 d5 4. Nf3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Qe2 Nf6 8.f5... In the course, Avetik only analyses e5 and Nxe4 but my opponent played Be7 and got a good position and then won the game. Please recommend how to deal with this Be7 move. https://www.chess.com/game/live/59009410201

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Hi Rahul,

You can take on e6. If f pawn takes then you get nice target on the e6. And if Bishop takes you can take on c6 and create doubled pawns. After that you develop with 0-0 and d3. Pressuring on weak doubled pawns.

In Sicilian Gp with 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 e6 3 f4 d5 4 Nf3 dxe4

Hi! I wonder about the position in the picture: What will white play can you give me some ideas? From 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 { B23 Sicilian Defense: Closed } 3. f4 d5 4. Nf3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Qe2 Nf6 8. f5 Be7 9. fxe6 Bxe6 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 In this section Avetik says black can do 2 moves but miss 8 Be7 seems okey? https://chessmood.com/course/sicilian-defence-part-3/episode/801

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Hi Erik!

This position looks practially very easy to play for white, as Black has doubled weak pawns. I would go for 0-0 and d3 development. Lately trying to pressure on the weaknesses of opponent.

New success story: Becoming FM and gaining 116 elo in just 3 events!🚀

Ever feel like something is jamming your full chess potential?

Maybe it’s self-doubt, past failures and even unpleasant childhood memories. Everyone faces them in some form or the other.

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Today, we’re launching the transformation story of this student, FM William Graif! Discover:

✅The mindset shift that helped overcome unpleasant childhood memories.

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✅How he conquered his failures and moments of self-doubt.

✅His journey of winning the Junior Championship of his country with a round to spare, despite being seeded outside the top 10!

✅His visit to the ChessMood office.

✅The McDonald’s story with GM Avetik, and Chicago Blitzers. 

✅ How William raised 116 elo in just 3 tournaments and achieved his FM title!

Get practical ideas to shatter your mental hurdles by reading the full story!👇

https://chessmood.com/feedback/william-graif
And under this forum thread, you can share your thoughts and congratulatory wishes to William.

Replies

Great Job William👏👏👏

great inspiration, hopefully one day I'll achieve it too, was so close 2260 😅

Well done William, you can be proud of yourself. Now we hope to see you achieve the IM although combine this with work is difficult. It's curious these tournaments in Budapest, because I remember the youngest GM ever, Abu Mishra, won his 3rd.GM norm in Budapest and the other, GM Keith Arkell in FB said not to go to Budapest because is packed with underrated indians and your rating will fall not to 2400 (he is a senior english GM) but you'll have to struggle not to break the 2300 floor 🤣

Congratulations William! Thank you for sharing so many insights! 

Congratulations William! I wish you come back to Budapest to achieve the International Master title!

quiz answers????

Is there anyway to see the quiz answers if someone is constantly getting it wrong? Thank you and love the quizzes! Tim

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I agree there should be a hint, or a give up after 3 tries.

Send it to the team to debate it, but the temptation of the dark force (checking the answers without proper thinking) may become too strong. We'll see what we can do about it… 😀

How to download a pgn on iPad ?

Which program should work on iPad ? My computer is out of date . I used chessbase 2007 on a laptop 10 yrs + ago . Can I avoid a buying new pc ?

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Hi Denis!

In my iPad I use Chess Studio to edit pgns. You can also split your screen with the 2 apps, one watching a video, in the other taking notes… 

It is very cheap but very powerful with many options. Of course a PC with Chessbase is better, but on iPad this is the easier way to go I believe. 😀

Coverage of Simplified BlackMood for non- 1.e4 1.d4?

Hi, the course description for the simplified BlackMood openings states that with just two openings we'll be ready for: 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4, 1.Nf1, 1.g3, and 1.b3. I only see coverage in the course for 1.e4 and 1.d4. I'm under 2000, but I face 1.c4 quite a lot, for example. Will there be instructions for those other White first moves as well? Or if I'm missing where it is, please point it out to me! The course description also mentions the GreyMood Openings, but I don't see any mention of this in the course....?

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Hi Ken,

Everything is in the works. Avetik is recording the GreyMood openings and it will be available soon.

The same goes for the Advanced versions of the French and Dutch attack. (Recording not yet started though)

As for 1 c4, you just go, with the usual Dutch setup and the same for Nf3,  we play with e6, f5, Nf6, and adapt the order to the opponent moves. Normally you get a transposition. 😀

If against c4 you want something much more detailed in the advanced Black repertoire, the course by Gabuzyan explains perfectly how to play against the English, https://chessmood.com/course/english-opening-1.c4-how-to-play-for-black

💪

Accelerated dragon game

https://lichess.org/mSlxDBFUyVif Hi guys i tried the advanced maroczy bind setup in that game. Let me know if that was a correct strategy overall. Looks like i can feel better this opening lately. Tx keep the good chessmood for good chessmoves!

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You played an excellent game with some slight different move order at the beginning. The only remark: After 11..Bg5 we play h6 and we will get the DSB💪. 

Puzzle rush benefits

Interesting article here: https://www.chess.com/blog/LogoCzar/the-puzzle-rush-experiment note the chess.com thread that pointed me here also pointed out some sites you can play it at (I'm not a great fan of the lichess implementation) for free. https://chesscup.org/ and https://blitztactics.com/ Note that I'm not so sure about the findings particularly as many of the easier puzzles are too easy and seem to be automatic already. For weaker players this might be very beneficial (note the danger of relying on intuition solely in real games). Note that David Milliern who is quoted in the article a lot isn't that strong a player, so how much applies to 2000+ players is unclear. Also interesting is the finding that 2hrs+ training (really? Surely need harder puzzles) temporarily improved calculating abilities, but the question would be either how to make it permanent or to reduce to a more management 30 mins - 1hr regime. I've noticed the following sequence goes on (though changed by what I see on the board): Locate the enemy king - can I give check or mate in 1 or two - might be against the king, might be a discovery tactic Look for knight forks, skewers, pins Look for other loose pieces and double attacks Try attacks against queen, rooks, bishops I notice that when I miss or go slow on the easier tactics, it's often down to the following reasons: Something was just outside my view or I hadn't seen it yet Two ideas were promising, I chose the wrong one or didn't look for the other Harder tactics usually because of more complex calculations, more interactions or counters to take account of.

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Note I also like the levels test at blitzchess, since you get to repeat the puzzles every 3 minutes or so. Something like this would be useful in chessmood, though I feel many of the tactic ninja quiz puzzles are too difficult for this, although simpler versions such as in the course or having levels might alleviate that.

Thanks for those sites, they look useful! Heisman emphasizes the importance of drilling simple tactics, even for stronger players (maybe they need to do it less frequently than new players). The goal is not to solve them, but to *recognize* them instantly. He likens this to learning the multiplication tables -- you memorize these basic patterns so that: 1) you can eliminate unsafe candidate moves very fast; 2) you use them as fundamental building blocks of more complex combinations, allowing to you stop calculation once you reach a simpler pattern you recognize. It's also a great warmup (as Avetik mentions in the Blunderproof course!)

I think there is a lot to this stuff. I do regular (chess.com) puzzle rushes - usually the 5 minute one. I don't do 2 hours a day, well not usually anyway :-). But I'll often do 2-3 rushes and have done over 1500 in total. I think it helps overall sharpness. I'm also certain that I've improved how well/fast I can recognise some of these tactical patterns and have felt the benefits in blitz games. Yes, many of the tactics are very easy. But they start getting more interesting as you get into the 30s. I also find the easy ones quite interesting. The key is to really push the pace. Then you'll find out how well these easier patterns are embedded in your subconscious mind.

Delay Alapin

Hai GM,

Any suggestion variation to meet delay Alapin

1.e4 c5

2.Nf3 d6

3.c3

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2. ... Nc6 and stop placing your pawn on d6 so early.  You may be able to play d5 straight away and the Knight is NOT going to d7.   :)

I do believe that 3…Nf6 is one of the best moves, easy to understand and to study. Yes, I would go 3…Nf6. 💪

Can't Open my courses

Hi, the wonderful chessmood team😀😀 Recently when I tried to open the course:- 1. Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon I wasn't able to see the videos even though I had bought them with my mood coins and also I can't open my other courses which I bought with my moodcoins. I hope the problem is resolved very soon. Cheers Vedant

Replies

Hi Vedant, please use the  
https://chessmood.com/contact

page for this kind of personal questions regarding your account, payments and such, instead of the open forum.

If you prefer, you can also send an email to [email protected]

and explain your case. (Just copying and expanding a bit on the the above text will be enough.) 
Thanks! 😀

Should I practice ChessMood opening recommendations before I have had time to learn them?

Hi, I am roughly 2050 chess.com and am wondering if I should start playing the ChessMood opening recommendations from the step-by-step openings course before I have looked at many lines. It might be good to test them out to learn things about the opening while playing and gain experience but I might be crushed in the opening and lose a lot of rating because of it. My old repertoire is 1.d4, caro-kann and slav so it is a very big change in style.

Replies

Presumably you're talking online blitz in which case why not? I tend to start by going through the courses first, building my PGN files as I go, but I don't think that's the only way to do it. For some initial inspiration you could watch a few model games from https://chessmood.com/course/rock-n-rolling-with-black and learn the theory gradually when you review your blitz games. Also, you don't have to adopt the entire repertoire right away. You can do it piece by piece. You might even settle upon a hybrid repertoire that is a combination of ChessMood openings plus your own favourite lines.

I just started the black opening course and after the first 2 sections only , I went on lichess to play 5m+2 to try some ideas with the French . I was able to maintain a 1930 level winning most of games with black ! ( I m 1600 for blitz on chess.com . (1870 rapid ) . I m a Dutch player but no experience with French ( I play the exchange variation with c4 as white with very good result usually ) . I m trying to check after each game where it went away from the minimum I known. I m also writing down the game on a note book ( just started that on feb 19 ) and the some main moves and recommendations from the course . With minimum work, I feel very positively about this new opening for me .

Interactive Quizzes within Courses

Hi everyone, I am just going through 'Tactic Ninja' and realized today that there are new interactive quizzes within the chapters in addition to the questions/quizzes normally included in the course. Is that something new or has it only been added to 'Tactic Ninja'. I think it's a lovely idea; and for the developers; maybe it would be lovely to be able to resize the board. I don't know whether ChessMood wants us not to be able to draw lines etc., but that could be a nice addition. What do you all think?

Replies

Hi Selim,

💪Thanks for your kind words, we are doing our best and the interactive quizzes are being added constantly to most of the courses. Of course, we will improve the functions too and add more cool features but at the moment we are very happy that we have quizzes! 😅