Chess forum by Grandmasters

June Game

Swiss Tournament G45/15 inc.

I had black and she was white. 

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New article: The 1 Thing Every Champion Has in Common

Losing is not always up to us… but being a loser is.

Whenever you think, "This is the end of the story," remember this 1 thing every champion has in common:
https://chessmood.com/blog/one-thing-every-champion-has-in-common

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Your blogs have kept motivating me for so long even when I am at my lowest. I do not have any inspirational stories of falling and getting up yet because right now I just keep doing worse and worse in tournaments. But this blog reminds me that Winners never Quit and Quitters never Win. I hope that one day when I look back on this blog, I will be able to share some of my stories of falling and getting back up. I would love to hear more stories like this as they keep motivating people like me inspiring us that through hard work, it is possible to do great things. Keep up the good work, Avetik and Family!

Cheers, 

Ashwin C

Scandinavian BF5 line

Hi, in this you say that Bf5 is passive and give C4 followed by Qd8, which is passive. What's wrong with Qe4ch followed by Qc2 swopping off queens though?

This queenless middlegame is definitely not crushing for white. White has a pawn center of course, but with accurate play black can equalize.

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Can you please provide the line?

I don’t fully understand what you are talking about.

played at steven Jones home club venue

I was at the warrington rapidplay and it was at the venue of british championship runner up, Steven Jones original club (Padgate Community Center), i got 3/6 in the major u1800 section. He was there.

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In the Lancaster intermediate rapidplay in february I got 6/6 it was an u1750 and i performed at an elo of 2427.

How to win in tournaments I play

I want to win tournaments and earn reputation but should I prepare myself and win

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Yes, definitely. However becoming better at chess and winning more tournaments takes time and effort, which is quite long-term. I would recommend checking out this section of the website: https://chessmood.com/chess-study-plans which gives you a guide personalised to your rating about which is the best path to chess improvement. 

In the short term, do daily puzzles. Train yourself. Maybe even do puzzle rushes on lichess.org / chess.com. However, be careful not to overtrain so that your mind becomes very tired. This will affect your chances to win tournaments. 

Confused by opponent opening

Hi there,

I'm pretty sure that I didn't play this as well as I could have done.  My opponent opened with b4, which isn't an opening that I'm very familiar with (and some of white's subsequent moves also confused me).

In a scenario like this do you desperately try to recall the ChessMood recommended moves (and fail miserably!) or do you fall back to general principles; control the centre, develop pieces, keep the king safe (which is what I think I should have done).

I was never really in trouble (according to the evaluation bar anyway!) but it did throw me off my game a little.

Bonus point if you spot (without the aid of an engine) the “Mate in 2” opportunity that yours truly missed! 🙄

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/111235257349?tab=analysis

PS: If somebody with better formatting skills than me would share how to add bold font and underline, that would be appreciated.  It never seems to work for me.  Thanks.

PPS: OK, bold now working.  Underline???

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Hi! It's the polish opening. btw your opponent was just playing random moves. you should fall back to general principles; control the centre, develop pieces and keep the king safe. 

Just in case you get confused about your opponents opening again, you can see it at chess.com 's analysis board. 

P.S. You can play Dutch against the polish or other side lines. :) 

I agree, your opponents opening was confusing, but only because it was bad. The moves f3,g3,h3 contained little logic. 

The opening 1.b4 is a “real” opening, and here's a helpful forum post about it https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/recommendation-against-1-b4 

Essentially, against 1.b4 I would recommend memorizing the Black moves e5,Bxb4,Nf6,Nc6.

As for this specific game, your opponent indeed played near random moves, and I think you capitalized well by establishing a strong pawn formation in the center. The computer gives you a sizeable advantage out of the opening, and I totally agree.

So certainly when you can't remember a specific opening, yes just fall back on general principles you’ve perfected. But now you have a reason to study this opening, so perhaps it's worth researching 1.b4 a bit so you don't get surprised again. Nice game!

Sicilian Sidelines PGN

Hi all,

Was just wondering if the PGN for the Sicilian Sidelines course will be released or if it has already come out.

Thanks!

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Yes, Gabuzyan was working on an update and when finished it will be uploaded again.

😀

Chessmood Topics

😀

Hey there, 

I've noticed that some topics, e.g: Moodcoins or How to spend moodcoins are being posted every month. So I think before posting your question you should search If the thread has already been posted. 

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Moodcoins

I haven't fully understood the concept  behind Moodcoins. The description says that you can buy courses for them. However, I don't understand how or where. Does anyone know? And how many Moodcoins do one have to have to buy a course? Highly appreciates feedback.

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Here you go:

Try this:

1. Go to the Courses page and pick your course
2. Select the option “Or get lifetime access”
3. Select the option “Buy the course”
4. In the right-hand section titled “Choose your payment method” the last option will be MoodCoin.

Remember that $1 = 1,000 MoodCoin.  So, if the course costs $300 that is 300,000 MoodCoin.

Need to earn some more?  Details are here: https://chessmood.com/moodcoin

Advanced French and Dutch Courses

When will the advanced French and Dutch Courses be released by chessmood?

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Dear Ar Ray,

Thanks for your interest but we never provide any release date. We take a lot of time in selecting the best lines and this course is going to be very important. We always try to do our best and we expect to publish it this year, but we cannot say the date. 😅

 

Chessmood openings

How do you download the PGN and PDF files to the chessmood openings? And how do you manage to transfer them to lichess? I have managed to download them, but I can't open them in lichess, only in word in text format. Does anyone know? Highly appreciates replies.

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Hi there,

I think there is an issue with the pgn files on Lichess.  See here:

https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/null-error-when-important-whitemood-pgn-files-into-lichess

Stonewall, move order

I found a very instructive game when Carlsen applied the Stonewall. I understand most of his moves (at my level :-) but the move order with 4. … c6 before d5 I do not understand. Any ideas why 4. … c6 has been played first?

I have attached the pgn.

Best Regards, Kurt

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Hi Kurt,

💪It's basically the same, but with d5 first if White takes on d4, we must take with the e pawn normally. If you play c6 first, you can take with the c pawn. That should be it, don't you think so? More options.😅

NEW ARTICLE: How to Use the Bishop Pair – 11 Key Concepts

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Thanks for sharing very useful & instructive article !!

Avetik- yes that sentence. Now I understand :-)

Great article!

Perhaps a minor error in the last 11th example where it writes “4.Bd5 trying to close the d-file”.  

Thought I'd help. Apologies if incorrect. 

Question about the franco-sicilian defense

I've been struggling lately against the Franco-Sicilian Defense. Normally, when I face the Sicilian with ...e6 or the French Defense, I play the ideas from the courses. However, whenever I face the Franco-Sicilian, I'm confused because it's already too late to play the ideas of the Grand Prix. I may be missing something, but as far as I know, this topic is not covered in the courses. Any advice?

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Yes, it is not covered in the courses yet. You are right. We must do an update in the future.

💪Still the advice is to go d5 and play a good Benoni for White. 😀

In GM Nils Grandelius mind

to whom it may concern,

as far as I see, the question No 2 in the quiz at game 5 is not working properly.

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Thanks, we will check it out.

First Classical Tournament

At the ripe age of 49 I'm up to the big smoke this weekend in New Zealand for my first Classical tournament,  90+30.  Looking forward to it, having only played Rapid tournaments so far.. and good to know ChessMood's got my back! 

Cheers :-)

Tom

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Break a leg!

Good luck, Tom!

Best of luck! I expect to hear your results!

exciting to hear, hope you have a great time 

and home.  phew!  3 days, 2 games per day, my first experience of this format, my brain is mush!

I played well, had a couple of wins, a draw (4 hrs), a loss against a 2300 player who played the Orthoschnapp gambit against my French and shredded me with superior piece activity, and the 6th game, yesterday afternoon, I was a pawn up, had 30 minutes on the clock vs 2 minutes on my opponent's, then my damn phone started ringing in my bag and I forfeited the game.  I was certain I'd switched it off but hadn't triple checked.  Painful!!  I left it in the car for today :-)

Looking forward to going through the games with Coach Edo and continuing the learning!

Thanks for the support :-D

Tom

French Defense Problem

what to do if opponent play c5 before we play Bd3 in french defense, I mean e4 e6 d4 c5

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This was a little discussed here:

https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-channel/e4-e6-d4-c5-977

In short- go 3.d5.

Sparing partner

Hy! My nick  on cc is TomoRobo. My rating in rapid is 1900+ on cc. I would appreciate if someone on my level or better than me will play with me games, because I want to test some new for me openings and varations.

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Hi Tom,

There is a dedicated thread for ‘sparring partner’ posts.  You'll have better luck if you post your request here:

https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/studysparring-partner-1362

Good luck!

Hi!
Please post your message in the dedicated thread that we have in order to look fo sparring partners and study companions. 
https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/studysparring-partner-1362

Also check out the previous posts in the thread, maybe you can find a suitable partner.😄
I will delete this post in 2 days, please copy your message and post it in the above thread.😅

Should I take the challenge?

Just got an invitation to play in Saint Louis robin tournament ?

I didn't play professional chess for 8 years!

Should I take the challenge and crush them with our ChessMood Openings? 

1. Yes

2. No

3. Of course! 

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I would love to see ChessMood openings in action. Who else would be playing and what time control?

Coach! I can tell by your post that you want to play! Do it! And give us all an example of the right mood in action! Follow your heart, and we are all with you!

You go for it, Avetik. I am sure! 

If you can and are feeling the least bit of want to of course you should! We will support you either way! I always dreamed of playing a tournament but I know you have done that already! But if you still feel the drive why not! I know the whole Pro Member group would be cheering for you!

3!

🤣😉

Of course! But if you're In the right Mood. 

P.S. Right mood Right Move!!!

Just asking but… did you play? 

Deferred Wing gambit

Please help! My friend who likes crappy openings has been playing this as white against me. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. b4!! Please help! If I take with pawn he‘ll play d4. If I take with knight he’ll go c3-d4. Please make a video on this chessmood team!

Sincerely, Pengcheng 

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It is already there:

https://chessmood.com/course/crushing-all-the-sidelines-of-sicilian/episode/6787

Best, Thomas