Chess forum by Grandmasters

Congrats to Angelo who was captain in today event

he took all the good decisions while having so many différents advices from all the team . And together we won an incredible game with the french against GM Gabuzyan which is always very generous in his comments and have a perfect attitude in all events ! It s a privilege to have access to such a strong player . 

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Thank you very much Denis! I really appreciate your kind words and I also would like to thank all of you for proposing today very good ideas! I agree with you that, we are very lucky to participate in ChessMood events and play & comment together with -very strong- GM Gabu!!

How can I use moodcoins?

Hello, I am new to the site. Can please somebody tell me how can I use moodcoins? I can't find the way to buy courses with them!

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Hello,

You can actually use moodcoins to purchase some specific courses. Just click on the course you want, click ‘’get a lifetime access'' (if you have the option, in some courses it's not availiable), then click “buy the course” and then choose moodcoins to buy it. You will need a lot of moodcoins as 1 dollars = 1k moodcoins but this is the way to do it.

Best chess books.....

🤔

In his last article Avetik mentions J. Hellsten's book “Modern chess Strategy” as one of the best books about strategy. It would be great if he can draw a short list of the books he really thinks best.

At least that would avoid ChessMood members attracted by false titles to buy chess books with doubtful content.

Thanks

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Yes, Avetik is writing the lists, several lists in fact. Stay tuned, we are on it.

Some recommended tactics and calculation books are mentioned here: https://chessmood.com/chess-study-plans/for-above-2000

Full article⬇️
https://chessmood.com/blog/8-plus-method

Share your thoughts under this forum thread.

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Absolutely, too much media today is quantity not quality. No one wants to waste their time with a dud be it a course or a TV show. And worse a bad course can make the student think it's them that is the problem.

Some of the best material here is a difficult topic presented in a simple way to get the point home. Unless it's an advanced calculation course, it's pointless if the example requires understanding why some subtle complicated reasonable sideline wasn't also a good / better idea. Better an example where that wasn't a consideration.

And perhaps the (intended?) undertone here, it takes time to put out good quality stuff which means not always adding something each week, or the latest ‘promised’ course, or some ‘promised’ advanced sideline right now. However I think there can be improvement here by keeping students in the loop as far as progress and not publishing a few chapters then weeks for the rest to appear which disrupts any flow. Any news, even bad news is better than no news. Quality takes time.

🤔

I think GM Garry Kasparovs books are the best. Is part of his legacy to future generations although many chess players, even titled, they see this material as a threat. A threat to their mediocre self-esteem. Many complain that his books are full of long variations. I tell them, you don't need to go to the end of his variations. Just read the prose and get the idea. 

A very good book that is not well know at least in the amateur level is Perfect your Chess, by A.Volokitin (a +2600 Ukranian player) and his coach, Vladimir Grabinski. The examples are very well selected.

For the club player I think the best books are Nunns. Everything he does is smart and as a writer also.

BTW, IM Cyrus Lakdawala who has written more than 50 books is very happy because with the chess boom the number of his potential readers has grown exponentially and he has been able after decades to buy a new house. Is the typical case that the formula: authors name + good marketing = successful business 

If I might ask, what are the best chess tactics puzzle books? I find old fashioned paper nicer than online, when you have a bit of time here and there to get in some mental exercise, especially at age 60. And, also, at my age, I am curious about your opinion of the value today of studying very old examples. I found Yakov Neishtadt's puzzle books fun and valuable, with examples mostly from 1920-1990.

Caro Kan Course?

Hey guys, I am new. Wanted to ask if there is a course about the Caro Kan, Cant find it? Is there one? Found a course for Counter attack for White against Caro Kan… hope u can help me, thanks

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Hi E.H.,

there's only the course from the white side against the Caro Kann, which you already found.

As black two openings are recommended vs 1.e4: The French (for lower rated players) and the

Accelerated Dragon (for more advanced players).

Positional chess

What is the best way to improve positionally?

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Hi, good morning.

I'll tell you what helped me years ago.

First, try to think about the best position of your own pieces.

Second, answer if it's possible to do that, in a reasonable way (mentally, pick them up and put them on the best squares): “Is it logical?”

Third and the last one (and the most difficult too), again mentally, rotate the board, change colours. “Where would your pieces like to be?" and “Is it easy to get that?”. If yes, try your best to avoid your opponent gaining those squares.

Practice it and you'll become stronger on that kind of games.

Trompowsky 1.d4 2.Nf3 3.Bg5

Hi Chessmood family I have a question about "Trompowsky" I face this very often 1d4 Nf6 2Nf3 g6 (we play 2..g6 to keep to our familiar Dragon/Benko pawn structure right?). 

Then White plays 3.Bg5 and if Bg7 then likely 4.Nd2 which I understand is quite commonly played.

But it looks to me like we got move-ordered into a pure Trompowsky that doesn't appear to be covered in the course, and White does not play Bxf6. 

Can I ask what's our strategy against this line, or did I miss something in the course explanations. Thanks.

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Hi Alex,

that's the Torre, see here:

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-channel/opening-doubt

playing against Nf3

What should i play against Nf3 ?

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If you play the blackmood opening lines you can answer 1.Nf3 with 1...e6 and follow it up with 2...f5 (or you can play 1...c5 with various transpositions, e.g. into the Sicilian main CM-repertoire, if White plays 2.e4, or into the English CM-repertoire by Gabuzyan, if White plays c4)

Hello Josef, I have completed all the opening courses and my main way is 1. Nf3 c5, so if white plays 2. e4 then 2. … Nc6 and going to the accelerated dragon or rossolimo of the sicilian (depending on oppponent's next move), or if white plays 2. c4 then 2. … g6, going to the Chessmood setup against the english opening with pawns on e5 — d6 — c5, knights on c6 and e7, fianchetoed dark squared bishop and light sqared bishop on e6. If white plays 2. e3, with an intention of playing d4 in the future, I usually play 2. … d5 and then something like a reversed catalan.

Did anyone change his opening shortly before an OTB tournament

Hello Chessmood Family,

I have an OTB tournament in 15 days. Do you think I could change my opening repertoire in this short time? Because the people I will play against are going to study my games, so I must change my opening

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French Attack Main Course

Hi, I have been watching the Starter for Blackmood Openings and I have loved the recommendation with the French and Dutch. I would like to go more in-depth but there are no main courses like the Whitemood openings. Do you have an eta for these main courses for the French and Dutch attack?

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Hi Luna! Welcome to the family and to the forum! 
It will be published this year. At the moment we still did not record it.😅

Please check this thread for more info:

https://chessmood.com/forum/threads/french-defense-main-course?reply_id=17616&page=1

french Schlechter variation problem?

french Schlechter variation. i was having a discussion with a friend and i said a3 was the best move for humans in this variation going e4 e6 d4 d5 Bd3 Nf6 e5 Nd7 c3 c5 Ne2 Nc6 a3 then he said c4. i checked with the engine and it was nearly 2.00+ advantage for white. i wasn't sure how to punish it since there were 0 games played like this on both lichess and masters data base (exepect for one). can someone maybe tell me how to play against it? it will save me some time for sure.

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Hi Geeta,

In the mentioned position center is getting completely closed and White's getting nice chances for a flank attack after castling.
f4-f5 ideas or if required g4 can also be needed, but that's already more concrete. Overall with pieces and pawns White's getting a very powerful game on the Kingside, due to the pawn on e5 which gives them a space advantage.

what to do when I lose importan game

Hello ChessMood family, what can I do to change my mood after losing an important match so that I can continue playing in a good mood?

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Benko Gambit 4.Nc3

Hello, I've been encountering 4.Nc3 against the Benko Gambit a lot recently, and I couldn't find it anywhere in the course. Does anyone know what the move/recommendation is after this move? Thanks.

Armandas

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As a note, the variation I currently play against it is b4, followed by d6 and the regular development of the pieces in Benko. However, I find it is hard to crack open the queenside, and white gets some good active play, as well as our c8 bishop is very hard to develop. Any ideas?

Puzzle error?

Today's (14 th September) had a 3 move stalemate which is good if it didn't have be2+ that forces the black king to take and stalemate us in 1 move

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Hi if 1.Be2+ then simply Kxe2. The Bh6 is still on the board so there's no stalemate.

New Black Mood Openings

Does anyone know if the new black mood opening course will focus on the Accelerated Dragon and the Benko or will it focus on other options for black?  I have had a lot of success with the white repertoire especially since the shorter white mood course came out.  Thanks! 

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Well, on February the 8th, Avetik send an email to all promembers explaining that in the BlackMood  openings, new openings will be offered. If you did not get the email, please leat us know, since all promembers should get the email. He said: Also, soon we’re uploading the BlackMood Openings for below 2,000 rating, and I’ll offer you a new repertoire compared to our main courses.

Now, that said, the new openings will be different because learning the sicilian /anti sicilians and benko with all the maroczy and transpositions it is a very daunting task for beginners.

The only thing that I can say regarding the openings is that they are very fun and with attacking spirit... I am sure that you will all enjoy it.

Still, we do not forget anyone and for our most advanced students, we have good news: Avetik already recorded some new section derived from forum questions in the Caro-kann, with its advanced section too.

And the Benko reloaded recordings are starting too... Good things are coming very soon... 

Just stay with us, learn and please: Do win lots of rating !! Nothing makes us happier!!

Dear Coach and CM members,

i ve just heard in the black mood french attack, ed5 https://chessmood.com/course/blackmood-openings/episode/3909 that Avetik said "in the main course i will recommend you Bb4 instead of Be7.. what is this main course on the french attack ? 

How I work on Concentration.

In the bottom, I am sharing my opinion and my experience about power of spells. 

Many works a lot but never improve. Even if you have right contents such as chessmood and many other. I think there are many reasons of not improving but I thinking biggest one is Concentration. Now a days people are seriously suffering from lack of concentration. Even guys GMs works on their concentrations skills.  This is because they are also human and no matter you are a GM or amateur you must work on your concentration skills. There are many ways by which you can improve your concentration. In the bottom I am sharing what my culture teaches us. It does not mean you are forced to follow me. I am sharing it for good knowledge. I think God is one and one call him Shiva another person can call him Jesus. Those people who truely believe in Spiritual things will never waste their time in case of names of God. They respect all religion because they know all religion have same God with different names. Now let's come back to topic.

First Method and most effective one:

Power of Spells that can open your mind in a way in which you never expected. There are even scientific proofs that spells of Lord Shiva improve concentration to the next level. You can google it if you want. In the bottom I am sharing the benefits of this powerful spell which can help you in concentration and memory skills.

Benefits of Om Namah Shivay

https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/and-more/benefits-of-chanting-om-namah-shivaya_1853404.html

After reading the above post if any of you feel interested about how to chant spells in most effective way then let me know so I will guide you from which I learnt from best mentors. It's not gonna be super complex task but it will change your intelligence level.  The reason behind that is most posts are in Hindi Language so it's impossible for a foreigner to understand what the author is trying to say. So instead of learning from wrong mentors on youtube I can share you the right idea in translated forms from the right mentors or I can say my spiritual mentor. 

The spells I love:

Spells of Lord Shiva: Om Namah Shivay, Namah Shivay.

Spell of Mother Durga:  Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Viche

Note: There are many deep things you need to know in order to work on spells in right way because chanting spells in right way with pure dedication matters.  I am not an expert in this field of spells but I know from where to start and how.

Second Method:

Now let's go to the topic by which you can improve your concentration without the spells. Because some people do not like to chant spells of different cultures. But the method I am sharing in the bottom is not based on any religion but it's an art by which you can improve your concentration.

1. So what you have to do is take a paper and make a dot on the paper with red or blue or black pen. Then paste it on the wall in a way so once you will sit in front of it then it will be clearly  visible to you. Like in the pic I shared. The guy sitting in front of point can see the point without moving his neck. 

2. You also need a met so you can sit on it. In these things met should be new and it can be used only by you not your family member. 

3.  You also need a hanKee so you can clean your eyes once the tears will come. 

4. The max time you need to spent on Point Concentration is 10 to 15 mins. Don't do more than that in the beginning. 

5.  Try to avoid non- veg things during you will work on this skill.

6. Room should be clean also  and if possible choose a room in which not many people comes. So it  will become empty.

7. Choose a time in which there is pin drop silence in the home. Best timings are 4 am or 5 am in the morning and 6 or 7 pm in the evening.

8. Turn off the fan so when you wwill try to focus on point then no air will annoy you because if air touches your eyes then it will be troublesome for you to focus on point well.

9. Now sit down on mat and start focus on the point. Don't try to think of any thoughts. In the beginning many thoughts will come in your mind but do not try to force them to go away. They will soon go away from your mind. Within few weeks you will see difference in your concentration. 

10. During you focus do not try to close your eyes. Try to focus and if tears come a lot then use hankee to clean it for a sec then again start looking at the point. Within some weeks tears will not annoy you because your eyes will be concentrated on the point so well.

11. When you will do this training then sometimes you will see light on point instead of the real point. So , don't be scared it's a sign that now your mind have no thoughts. When light comes if means are doing alright.

11. Now, how to understand that you are successful in this method. When you will see only light on the point instead of your point and it will stay for 10 or 15 mins then you are successful in this method. 

That's all guys. Try any of these methods. It will be super useful for your concentration. I am still searching for right video in english on these topics but still I found no useful video in english format. Once I will find it then I will paste link here and it will be useful for you all. 

Good luck.

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Wow

Super!!

Thanks, Abhi for your valuable advice. It will help us in our life as well as chess!

By the way, are you Indian? Your chess.com id says you are from the US?

Thanks for sharing, Abhi

@skipper_chess it's abhi_mary_1997 on chess.com and lichess

Anyone who started to apply the methods I shared?

Amazing post! 

How many of you tired the above methods?