Chess forum by Grandmasters

daily puzzle

can't find the daily puzzle for today, please fix it

Replies

Move order trick in 1. b3 - transposing to rare Sicilian line

Hi, ChessMood family.

My friends know that I am playing chessmood openings, and he found a bug in our move order, and I got a bit confused in our blitz encounter.

In 1. b3 line, we are playing 1. b3 c5 2.Bb2 Nc6, but here when they play 3. e4 which was not covered in the courses, it transposes to rare 2. b3 siclian line where it was recommended to continue with 1. e4 c5 2.b3 g6, but in 1.b3 line when they play 3.e4, we cannot play …g6 bc he already developed his B to b2.

Someone please let me know if continuing with our English setup like ….c5, …Nc6, ….d6, …e5, …g6, …Bg7, …Nge6 and …Be6 is the correct plan or is there something better.

 Also, when we play ….e5 and then …g6, do we need to worry about f4 by white? 

Replies

Indeed, this is a rare sequence, but out of my experience, the English setup can be fine. Also, you can try 3…Nf6 with some 4…d5 ideas, but you might need to investigate that type of options, as it's out of our repertoire. 

FixMood seems broken

Hi,

Fixmood seems to have stopped showing my chess.com games, starting from about May.  I pretty much play only chessmood openings, so it's very confusing.

Chess.com username : fuzzbeeq

Replies

New article: What I Learned About Setting Goals From Monks

Most goals don’t fail because of lack of effort.
They fail because too much pressure is placed on the outcome.

Read about what allows progress without sacrificing peace in our new article 👇
https://chessmood.com/blog/goal-setting-lessons-from-monks

Replies

Hi Avo , great article ! as usually 

I'll do what I've always done :
“I will finish this course.”
“Then I will finish that one.”
“I will play X games per week.”
“I will analyze my games every Sunday.”
and so on ……..That's all 🤩

in life , instead , .....we are not even the controller of the hair we have on our heads……

do you know what I mean , dear friend (brother) Avo?

Avo what about the other functions of AI section ?

Have a great year Avo expecially for your business 

Riccardo

 

I will finish the Chess Mood course.

Since this will take me more then a year (so much content) I will spread it over two or more years.

I will play 1 or 2 games otb per week, if I cant play otb I will play 1 or 2 games online.

I will analyse my games every monday.

I write my goal(s) here so tat I am acountable for them, since goal settings at the beginning of the year (hidden new year resolution ) one is always in danger of stopping with them in a few weeks, months, like I have been doing many years.

I wish you and your Chess Mood crew all the best for the upcoming year(s).

My plans: To be checked in one year from now 😁

a) Daily

1. Two rapid games on chess.com or Lichess with analysis
2. Ten minutes review my openings
3. Ten minutes tactics puzzle from books (writing down the answers and variations)

b) Weekly

1. One endgame from the book : 100 endgames you should know (Gift from my wife)
2. One hour in depth calculation puzzles from books, advanced level, writing down all analysis
3. One game guess your move, game from books like Botvinnik, Capablanca, Alekhine games
4. One game from Chessmood classical games

c) for 2026

1.Chessmood courses study:

    a) Scale Method

    b) Navigating won position to victory

    c) Mating Matador

    d) Silent Strategy

    e) Fearless warrior

    f) Saving lost positions

2. Chess Mood openings with white

3. Play thirty OTB games in open tournaments

I put theses tasks on my ePlanner…. so I've got a reminder !

Happy 2026 and thanks to the chessmood team who has bulid the courses and keep our morale high thru smart advices, mails and events.

My goal in 2026: 
2800 Chesscom and 2300 FIDE 
Plan? Finish the Mastering Middlegames book, Ramesh RB Calculation, Shankland Calculation, and Dynamic Decision making, My 60 Memorable games once I am done with this and tons of Blitz + Analysis, I WILL Be at the 2300 FIDE Level  and once 2026 ends I will send a message on this forum. 

Good afternoon!

I said to my teammates that I will cross 2100 FIDE classical (current elo 2013) 31.12.2027. They gave me 50:50% chance 😑😑😑😑

My plan is to train 3 times per week for 2h + playing and analyzing league games once per week + some light fitness training 2 times per week for 35 minutes. I will also play 2-3 Swiss classical tournaments per year and a lot of rapid Swiss tournaments with my friends and in the free time I will mainly focus on top quality sleep and relaxation and I will just enjoy being in the chess community because I think it is privilege, that most people dont have.

Petrosian64

Rossolimo doubt in Bxc6 line.

I recently faced a tricky a4 move in a game.

The game continued as follows: 

1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. 0-0 Nf6 7.h3 Nd7 - In the course it was mentioned that now we are going to transpose to our main line with ...Nd7, ...e5 followed by ...b6 and ...Nf8-e6. 

But my opponent played 8.a4

This move order confused me initially bc in the course, under the early 0-0 chapter, we planned to play 0-0, Ne8, Nc7, Ne6 (or Bg4 then Ne6, or e5 then Ne6).  But in my game after 7. …Nge7 8.a4, our N is on d7. So are we supposed to go …Rfe8, …Nf8, …e5 and then …Ne6 or was there something better?

Can someone please clarify the plans for us in this line.

Replies

Thank you “Little Bobby” for this line and it is a very intresting option with a4 for white.

I can only give a few answer but here we need GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan expertis or GM Avetik or chessmood team.

For the specific moves against 8 a4 play a5 a give sample line but we need to analyse it after 9 Na3  Qc7 (I think before we try to with our setup with Nf8 e5 Ne6 ideas before we play Nf8 we need to control e5 square also we need to close the center before make slow maneuvering play). It is also important prevent white open up the position10 Nc4 ( 10 c3 is intresting also) e5 11 Be3 b6 12 Qd2 h6 ( important to stop Bh6 ideas for white) Ba6 ( with the idea of 0-0-0 Avetik explains in a video about a4 and a5 that gives idea of 0-0-0 cause in other line white can play a3 with b4 ideas.

So what do GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan say? if this is a okey line?

It is intresting to analyse 10 c3 cause it is difficult and white gets easier positon so maybe im wrong? 10 c3 e5 11 Be3 b6 12 Qd2 h6 13 Nh2 (Maybe with idea of f4 but im not sure) Nf8. So it is important to understand positions better. 

Event(pgn)

Hello, 

 Just quick request if IM David Shaniya could provide us the pgn for the January 24 event. It will help understand ideas better. Thank you

Replies

Redirected this to him, and will see if that is doable :-)

hello :)

I will share it during the week 😉

Please add alternative options in daily puzzle

Today's (27-01-2026) daily puzzle was from Troitzky. In the end of the puzzle I played Nd6 instead of Ng7, both leads to Mate in 2 but it said it's wrong but it's the exact same - next move Nf5# 

So, please consider this feedback and add alternative options. Thanks!

Replies

New article: Why You Feel Lazy and How to Get Motivated

You are not lazy.
Your Minions are just resting on the beach!

What? 😵‍💫
Minions? Beach?

Sounds weird, but it all makes sense in today’s article, promise 😄
https://chessmood.com/blog/minions-motivation

Learn how to bring your Minions and your motivation back.

Replies

I want coaching with low price and please give me some discount 

Hi Avo,

your Minion-story made me smile and there is so much truth in it!

Thank you for making me think about my motivation and (somtimes) lazyness.

I wish you and your friends at ChessMood all the best for the future!

Greetings from Austria,

Chris

😀

Thank You Coach

your Minion-story made me smile and thinking (which should be good) but most of all acting (which is better)

Claudio

Thank you Coach. My minions have been on vacation since Christmas but your story really helped and they are back behind the board now.  Let's get into action. But what happens when my minions feel like nothing is changing. 

nice story. i thought yesterday of an idea of “how to get motivated” and remember this one:

sometimes when you are lazy: you can think of a past situation that was not fun or that was really boring: then you can say yourself: now studying chess is much better that this past boring/unfunny/sad situation : let's start studying chess!

Hello and thanks for the article to reflect on. 

by coincidence I heard yesterday a podcast (in German .. in case someone is interested) about 

trigger and glimmer 

which might be related to the “Minions”  (or beyond?) 

well for a quick search found this one in english with more references.. 

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-glimmer-5323168?__cf_chl_tk=dGug8rjkGYdnekwEvcXsXLIkc_7Dy2bkjvWBpdQE7f8-1768728202-1.0.1.1-pnLTg_t2xVuSymZrukv4V2z3YnkEeFYNV5ksgkHE0FU

anyway in short (well my understanding so far) and the relation with our game of chess 

here is my point: 

To some(?) extend with playing chess one is looking for kind of “stress” and how to react to it  

and either we get scared and freeze or opposite to it what we want to be in focus (flow) and calm and enjoy..

may be this concept can be applied to chess (and our fast and slow responses ):  

thus training for (chess) glimmers  

Perhaps Avetik discussed this also in another blog post 

have a nice sunday.  

FEN converter from image

I just started using chessvision.ai. From what I see there is no fee, and I can use it to convert positions in my ‘bugs’ to FEN and it will set the position up on lichess(which I use) or on chess.com (if you  prefer) To me it is useful if I cannot figure out a solution , I can at least see the correct move sequence and hopefully that will impriint the useful ideas in my head-hope this is helpful to others as well

Replies

saving favorites

has it been discussed to add the ability to save a particular position / section of a course as a personal favorite? 

for instance, game 38 of the 100 classical games should be a must save for any french player.  i guess i should for now just create an internet browser folder with my favorites, but thought this might be a fun (easy to add?) feature.

thanks for your considerations! 

cheers,

Nathan

Replies

Chessnut

😊

Hi Team!
What do you think of the Chessnut range? Advantages/disadvantages? Would you recommend this purchase for a 1400-1500 rated player? If so, which model? Thanks!
Mitch

Replies

Lichess study - Mistakes (why I lost)

I want to use the Lichess Study function more/better.

I have been thinking about making a study (or studies) for the games I lost with the reason why I lost them.

My idea is to organise them by tactical mistake, time issues, strategical, …

Right now I have put some categories in a test study so it was easyer to show you.

My idea is to add the game right before I made the mistake so I can go over them from time to time (when I e.g. want to study a certain tactic topic. I will also review my mistakes in that chapter.)

I would add them right under the specific title ofcourse.

Besides those studies, I also have a study for whitemood openings and one for blackmood openings.

And I am also thinking about a study for my lost games, where i post the full game for review. But that would be a study for each time control.

Is this logical? Managable?

Replies

To be honest, I am not sure if it's helpful or not.

On one side sounds reasonable to classify, but it looks very time-consuming :-)

If you are enjoying it, and it feels helpful, keep doing :-) 

Scotch Game Shankland Line

Hello! I have a question in our spicy line with h4 with the Scotch Game. In the variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 ed 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc6 bc 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. h4 f6 9. c4 Ba6 10. Rh3 Nb6 11. Re3 and Shankland gives the move 11...f5, saying that white will lose a pawn either on c4 or h4. He ends the line there, claiming the White has to prove the compensation for the sacrificed pawn. My engine suggests to just go b3, give up the pawn, go Bb2, and a weird sequence of moves that leads to (according to the top line of my engine) an [about-equal] endgame where we having 2 rooks and 2 pawn versus Black's LSB, Knight, Rook, and one pawn. What does GMs Avetik and Gabuzyan think about this? Thanks, Ashwin

Replies

And to keep in mind most of us and our opponents aren't 2700, so the question is how easy is it to find the right moves for both sides or have the line in your prep.

Ashwin, what book or course are you referring to?

Also, can you tell us what's your rating?😅

I checked this line and as you say b3 it is a good move since it threatens to play e6 or g3,  we can play Bb2 maybe Rh3 if Qxh4 and together with Bb2 we can put lots of preasure in the KS. 

Of course, if we follow engine lines to the end all games will end in a draw, but we never faced this line and if we do, normal moves like b3 and Bb2 are the first ones that come up. 

I am sure that you will be more prepared than the opponent because they will be very unfamiliar with these structures if they manage to remember the right moves. 

Hello A D,

The question you are asking is super deep and advanced. It's impossible to record and cover very deep engine lines, and if our students want very deep analysis we suggest them to work on that with the engines on their own.
The knowledge we provide in the courses is good enough to build a healthy foundation and understanding of the lines. But super deep engine line move-by-move preparations is not what we are aiming for, as it will be out of interests of 99% learning in Chessmood.

Thanks for understanding,
Good luck!

only one game on chessbase 13 Bb2 Chekurov S- Vujic Mihailo 0-1 Eu-Ch U16 (6) 1993

A simplier line is 9 exf6 2. Agenda

GM Avetik 11 Re3 explains about this 13. 10...Nb6 and about 11.. 0-0-0 but not 11..f5

About Scotch 4....Bc5

Interesting for CM members is the following link : https://en.chessbase.com/post/a-fresh-idea-against-the-scotch Good read ! 👍

Replies

There is 2 games mentioned in the article of GM Gabuzyan with white which ended in draws

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Bc5 5 Nb3 Bb6 6 Nc3 Nf6 7 Qe2 a5  8 a4 Nb4 9 Bg5  h6 10 Bh4 d6 11 0-0-0 Qe7 12 f3 Be6 13 Nd4 0-0-0 only one game on chessbase now Ramirez Aucejo Hector- Gonzalvez Tamarit Ruben 0-1 Montserrat op ( 6) 2022-09-02

The computer want to play 14 Ncb5 with the idea of c3 little better for white. In the game 14 Nxe6 was played. Intresting to analyse this position more.

Benko - Opening Fear

Hi Chessmood family! 

I am in love with the Benko gambit, and I use the ChessMood course recommendations. But my local tournament friends know which lines I play since we get paired against each other frequently. 

Now, the problem that I am facing is that the Benko gambit is the only line that I play, which is not objectively approved by the computer. So when we play in classical events, they can come prepared for the round with heavy computer analysis. 

Recently, one of my opponents prepared: 

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. g3 g6 8. Bg2 Bg7 9. Nf3 0-0 10. 0-0 Nbd7 11. Rb1 Qa5 12. Bd2 Bd7  13. h3 Qa7 14. e4 Ba6 15. Re1 Bd3 16. Rc1 c4 17. b3 Nc5 - At this point, GM Gabuzyan sir stops his analysis, saying black has good compensation, but my 1900-rated opponent is prepared with:   18. Be3 Nfd7 19.Na4 in the first game, 

and in the second game, he played even stronger 

18.e5, which is very annoying. The game continued with: 18. …Nfd7 19. e6 fxe6 20. dxe6 Nb6 21. Bg5 Qa5 22. Ne2 and later Bxe7, while there is 22. Bxe7 directly  also.

1. Please suggest how the Chessmood team will continue in the 18. Be3 and 18. e5 position in 7.g3 fully accepted mainline
2. Now most importantly, please shed some light on how and why the Benko gambit will work as a main weapon. How does a strong GM be so confident when they play the Benko Gambit in OTB tournaments against strong players who will come with deep preparation? 
3. Do you have deeper and deeper preparation? Because this position is objectively better for white, slightly deep computer preparation can easily lead to a bad position for Black. 
4. Or are you also afraid of such opponents and use the Benko gambit only as a side weapon, and use some other mainline fight? 
5. If so, then what do you suggest? Because if I have to study another mainline for 1. d4, then it should be at least related to other …g6 systems so that I don't have to spend time preparing different setups against 1. d4 sidelines. 

Replies

Hey there,

Dear friend, I am stopping at the position where there are no very concrete moves, and this is one of the most advanced lines.
If we try to go 40 moves deep in any course, every single one will become 50 hours, which is not our approach.
At this depth we advise people working with the engine for further investiagations. Benko is not a gambit wherethe  engine gives equality, it's al based on the practicall approach. Thanks for understanding.

If you play the same opening against the same opponents regularly, it does not matter what opening you chose – they will prepare for you.

Perhaps you should add the Dutch Attack to your repertoire, to give them something new to think about! Good luck.

Scotch 4.. Bc5 variation with 6.. Nge7 and 7.. a7-a5

I just encountered the following:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. d4 exd4

4. Nxd4 Bc5

5. Nb3 Bb6

6. Nc3 Nge7

7. Qe2 a5!?

It appears this move actually playable. How do we best counter it?

Replies

a4 would be my initial reaction its quite typical when black pushes a5

 We could also go bg5 instead of Qe2, though I prefer Qe2 and a4 in response. Maybe Be3 first and if a4 by black take on b6 followed by Nb5 threatening some nasty checks on d6 if black takes the piece.

I have also faced this abnormal 7. ... a5 variation, and the best continuation according to my opinioin is the following: 8. Be3 Bxe3  9. Qxe3 a4  10. Nd4 a3  11. b3 0-0  12. Nxc6 Nxc6 (+0.4 advantage) orelse    8. Be3 a4  9. Bxb6 axb3  10. Be3 bxa2  11. Bd2 0-0  12. Bc4 d6 (+0,3 advantage). Anyway this may not be the best solution but I would be glad if this was helpful for you. 

Avetik recomend in his course if 6.. Nge7 7 Bg5 

10. Review of the 2nd section

Sicilian Accelerated Dragon mixed-up course

Hello,

I'm studying the Advanced Black Repertoire and I've noticed that the course "Sicilian Defense - Accelerated Dragon" has some sections not in order now.

Examples - “Minor Lines” is 2-1-3-4 in order; “Super Re8” is upside down (going from 7 to 1).

Is it possible to fix it for better rewatching? Thanks!

Replies

Dear Edvinas,

In general we are going to remake this course, so it comes back with updates or some better solutions 🙂

New article: What Champions Search for (and Where)

Ever caught yourself studying what’s easy… instead of what’s needed?

That’s the “streetlight effect.”
And it might be the biggest reason your chess (and life) growth slows down.

New read: What Champions Search For (and Where)
https://chessmood.com/blog/what-champions-search-for

Replies

good stuff

🙂

nice article

Great article

Funny article . Let me search over here in the light even though my keys are elsewhere in the dark . Good one and thanks for the encouragement 

Dear Avetik,

I want to become a teacher, just like you. However, I don't see myself as a chess coach, rather as a maths teacher (I love maths and I have the passion of explaining things to people). The problem is, I don't know where to start. I started studying economics this year (I'm 18) and I discovored that I loved Algebra and Analysis. Where can I start teaching things to people? How did you do it as a chess coach? What was the first (maybe risky ?) step you took?

Please give me your honest advice, 

with best wishes, Vincent

😁

Dear Avo 

I've been living in the dark for a long time now and I'm always searching for what I need to know...especially in chess.

Cheers …Greetings to Gabu 

I am not afraid of the dark, go there often, but keep forgetting my lamp, so I hit my head all the time.

Usually hurts a lot. 🤕

I have a passion for chess and ChessMood but I much prefer study to live games. In live games, I still struggle sometimes to keep the chess mood when I lose and I also struggle when I win but my opponent is obviously troubled. 
 

Dynamic positions where everything is hanging, and where the answer is not “flashy”… that's my kryptonite! Trying to calculate lines that don't have forcing moves in them too

I'm still a beginner and for some reason I just have a constant rating of a 1000 in rapid lichess without any improvement. Every time I make that mark I just go down, but it gets worse in chess.com as I'm rated there 400. Both my account names are Yesmar7

In light I forged my key
for doors I dreamed but never knew,
to find what darkness kept.

The dark place I will go next is in positional chess

Good article and i need to go to little more heavy training!

One problem i need to fight against the dark places :-)

I enjoy everything on “chessmood pro” so no problem to study from your site!

Your site bring lights for me!

I will solve tactics and finish some good books i have this year 2026.

I have study so much openings already. I will study that too but not so much like before.

I need to train middlegame. I will study this book “Chess structures A Grandmaster Guide- Mauricio Flores Rios”

I will also study Winning middlegame- Ivan Sokolov

This could give me more ideas i need for middlegame. This should be a good goal under 2026 to become better.

New article: Do You Know Your True Rating?

Do you know your true rating?
We bet you don’t.

It’s not on Lichess.
It’s not on Chess com.
It’s not on FIDE.

But it decides everything.
Discover the only rating that really matters in our newest article 👇
https://chessmood.com/blog/true-rating

Replies

Thank you!

"But to help you become a champion of your journey.
In chess and in life."

😀

Perhaps not the best example while rating of 2400 might indeed be a ‘number’ on its own…

2750+ GM in chess - you're probably going to have a career playing the game and possible do very well from tournaments and appearance fees even if you don't get right to the top.

2400 IM or GM in chess - club players might fawn, but you're one of many these days and in chess (unlikely other sports if you were at that calibre) the GMs I know are struggling and it's the coaching, books/videos and sometimes drinking that gets them through. At best you get some free tournament entry and conditions for a free hotel stay. A few outliers making good money from streaming or a chess site or a coaching empire, but they are the exception not the rule.

The number alone doesn't say who is happy though as there is far more than a chess rating to life, or chess enjoyment itself.

Sure the 2400 might be a step and some self-reflection, and proper thinking and planning before taking the next step might lead to better results long term. Someone who gets 2750 very quickly and now can't hold it and feels a failure, or worse aims at it and burns all bridges ( a la Napoleon Hill advice), goes on to achieve it while everything else is in a miserable state (health, family, friends) and then is very unhappy in the end perhaps is losing more than winning despite appearances. It's like those ‘council estate’ lottery winners (sorry for the term) who become millionaires out of poverty overnight and then blow the lot or have mental health problems because everyone now wants a slice of the money or is jealous.

The difference the article might be trying to get at is being successful externally (made it, having all the trappings) vs internally (happy with their goals, didn't let it get to their head), but this is orthogonal to 2400 and 2750 as a comparison. Similar to you could go all in to make it to the top in any field you have aptitude for, but need to spend so much time and deal with so much …. that you lose out in the rest of your life even despite financially secure or better so the whole package needs thinking about.



 

👍

Wow amazing The perfect Confidence boost I need. But I wanted to ask I am a 8th grade student how do I manage chess and studies

Hi Avo , I totally agree that people are not measured by numbers.....numbers have neither soul nor heart.

Be humble , play with heart , for reaching the top of the mountain

Avo, thank you for continuing to emphasize that ChessMood students should be good, humble, kind, emphatetic chess players.

In a world dominated by social media "influencers" who tout materialism and their successes plus egos, these ideas resonate louder than ever!

That’s such an interesting perspective! It reminds me that the real rating isn’t always the one shown on a leaderboard — it’s the one that measures focus, patience, and growth. Just like in research, where numbers don’t define depth, understanding comes from persistence and curiosity. Sometimes, to improve in both chess and academics, you need to pause, reflect, and maybe even buy literature review resources to see the bigger picture.

This is very interesting, I would like to know if the fun you have while playing is measured in this real rating as well, like i remember i drew with an opponent who was rated(me not yet) i was having a lot of fun when i was on the losing side but he never had fun even though he was winning, so i managed to put my fun into the board and drew, was i rated higher?

You've put the dots on the i's. The world doesn't teach us to chase numbers, titles, external validations, but we too often forget to listen to our soul. True success is not measured in ratings, money or followers, but in inner peace, in the love we give, in the gratitude we carry. It's a trap to think that 'more' means 'better'. I've learned that true victory is to climb without losing your roots, to win without sacrificing your values. Thank you for reminding me: success is not on the board, but in the mirror of the soul. Thank you, lesson, for telling me to look:
it's not the board that matters, but the soul's journey.
To climb, but to carry my roots within me,
to be a human being, not just a trophy on a display.

New article: How to Improve Chess If You Only Have One Hour a Day | The 4 Principles

“I only have 1 hour a day. Can I still improve at chess?”

The answer is YES.

No fairy tales.
No GM hacks.
No magic shortcuts.

Just 4 principles to follow and real stories as proof that it works.

Full breakdown inside the article 👇
https://chessmood.com/blog/improve-chess-1-hour-a-day
 

Replies

Dear, Avo

It's a great blog, but when we talk about the formula where we study-practice-fix. I don't understand if we are talking about, I play a chess game and then fix my mistake, or I watch a course and take a test and fix the ones I wrong. Because let's say for example I did the course “Happy Pieces” how would I put this in practice in real game because if it is opening, I can tell my opponent what to play and then we can practice that position. Thank you so much for your time! I enjoyed the article!!

Sincerely, Pawn

One of the things I feel left out in the study plans and these cycle is serious tournaments. How do you combine the study plans with actual serious tournaments? You certainly cannot study a new opening before a tournament for example. The way I see it, tournaments have fixed dates. So it makes sense to organize it in a way that the cycle is not broken. Can we have Avo's opinion ?(or an article maybe?)