Chess forum by Grandmasters

The Forbidden fruit

When you were little, you have perhaps read a story about three daughters of the miller and an evil enchanter. 

There was one room in his castle forbidden to enter. Where the daughters tempted? I am sure you know what happened...

 Full story can be found here: https://storiestogrowby.org/story/spellbook-in-the-forbidden-room/

It is a bit like Chess Mood publishing the openings courses supported by deep computer analysis supposedly showing a path to become a grandmaster. have you been tempted, like me, to learn them, despite a warning that they are not suitable for my ELO range. 

It is obvious that most users who are like me bellow 2200 ELO skip the warning and are doing exactly the opposite. Just look at the number of openings posts in the forums versus the rest. 

Especially a good indicator are the posts claiming that the computer is showing a better continuation in the move ##. Who is at fault? The one who has made the forbidden fruit so tempting, or all of us who do not follow the guidance. Most likely, both parties are at wrong. 

While I do not hold high hopes that users will change, Chess Mood should try to do better. I do not want to sound negative, so here is my proposal to improve the situation. 

Personally, I find the best way to learn an opening is to analyze my own games and the model games. This way I get familiar with the ideas and patterns of the opening, but also with the middle game concepts out of the opening and with the typical endgames. 

Usually, I would first find a model game that has already been analyzed online, preferable on YouTube. before watching the video, I would spend two hours analyzing the game, and writing down my notes. Afterwards, I would watch the grandmaster analysis and compare it to mine. I can guarantee 100% that this way you are better equipped to play the opening, and ideas stay much longer in the memory. 

Now how could this be done even better on the Chess mood website? I have a very simple idea: 

1. In the beginning of the week (i.e. Monday), Chess Mood posts a model game in the forum without commentary. 

2. Chess mood users then have 2-3 days of time to analyze the game., without the help of the engines, which is a mandatory requirement. 

3. Friday is the day when everyone uploads his or hers commentary as a reply to the same post, indicating their current ELO range. 

4. On Saturday Chess mood uploads GM commentary, or even better links to a video analysis of the game. 

This way the number of model games would significantly increase in time. Moreover, everybody could see how their commentary compares to other players at the same level, how it compares to higher rated players and finally how it compares to GMS. 

What do you think?

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This is more or less the way I created my repertoire before joining ChessMood. I used the Yusupov books that have dedicated chapters on openings. First they lead you through some annotated model games with diagrams in between where you should think about the next move ("pause the video"). Then the chapter ends with 12 exercises and in the solutions you find more model games. Although the main courses do include more and more model games (especially on the Scotch Game and the English Opening if I remember correctly), the new WhiteMood course does not. But I expect that this course will too in some time.

One thing to add: Not model games in a strict sense, but still very instructive are the games from the Rocketing to ... streams. With opening tree ? it is very easy to download the games and play through them (before or after or even without watching the stream).

Robert, you're right. There were many business/concepts related mistakes we did. I was absolutely beginner. 
And we're fixing now the gaps, as you can see. 
WhiteMood,BlackMood openings for below 1,800 players… 
Tactic Ninja… How to stop blunders, How to win the winning positions and much more are coming. 
We're daily thinking and implementing things to help our students to improve faster. 

Your last suggestion may possibly work, but then we'll need to create a separate pricing plan, as with thous thousands of students, it'll not work. It can work with group lessons. 

Assessing weak pieces

Hi - I started reviewing PRO members materials and I am loving them. In a middle game beginners course, GM Avetik says the red circled pieces are weak pieces. I am an amateur player, but can someone explain why these two pieces are considered weak pieces. In any game, how do we identify the weak pieces. Any suggestions, champions????

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Both red circled pawns are backward pawns (which cannot be protected by other pawns), therefore, they are considered to be weak, and also both pawns are on half-open files, meaning they can be easily attacked by rooks or the queen

Larsen OP_1.Nf3 transposition

Hi chessmood family, My next opponent (with white) in a OTB tournament he'll play against me this line.. 1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 d6 How could we keep the idea of the Larsen OP (like coach Gabuzyan say, use the pawn structure against the enemy bishop) and play e5 closing the structure? White have d4 push and the enemy bishop stay very strong and open in the diagonal! Thank for the help!!

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Hi Furiosi This line is fully covered in the Larsen's Opening course, section 3. You will be well prepared!

English OP_ Botvinnik line sacrifice refutation with 7.d3...

Hi chessmood family and team, in my second tournament I played a 1817 elo player and used this idea against me. 7. d3...( maybe he was scared to enter in the sacrifice line). I don't know how to responde and this is the theory line that I found! It's interesting but black need some move to castle....I managed the pressure but I lost the game...I didn't feel comfortable with black in that position! please help me! 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. e4 a6 6. Nge2 b5 7. d3 Rb8 (very important to avoid the pin of the white bishop) 8. O-O d6 9. f4 Bd7 (white plan is f5 push) My question is (For coach GM Gabuzyan and chessmood family): what are our plans and idea? How to finish our development? I felt that It was a sharp and difficult position!

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Hello Furiosi Alessio, What do you play against first move e4? I looked at the last position, it looks very similar to closed Sicilian positions but in my opinion much better version for black, cause white's pawn on c4 is a kinda target and we have a nice square on d4 for the knight, also whenever he plays f5 we get another square on e5 as well, it's not really easy for white to attack, whenever he pushes a pawn something weakens. I prefer black's position there.

Instead of Bd7, which is a good move, I would have gone already for Nd4, and make this square ours. It will limit his dark square bishop and if it gets exchanged we can have a passed pawn on d4 when they take on c4 and our rook will be very happy, if they don't do it, we can take also on c4. The positions may be similar to the Benko, but here you will have the pawn on a6 which makes it equal in pawns. The game will get very sharp but I believe that having a pawn on d4 will be very difficult for white. I hope this helps a bit too.?

Sicilian - Alapin - 2.c3

Hello champions! ?
 

We’ve already emailed you about the launch of “Countering the Sicilian Alapin” course, which shows you how to react against 1.e4 c5 2.c3.

If you missed it, here’s the link to the course ?

https://chessmood.com/course/counter-sicilian-alapin
 

So why did we decide to launch a separate course? 

Well, the Alapin is one of the most important Anti-Sicilian sidelines and is especially super popular at the amateur level. So we wanted to give you in-depth and practical coverage of this opening.
 

In the old course, the focus was more on opening theory. But from our streams, we noticed that on low levels players don’t know how to deal against 2…Nf6 and often don’t follow theory.
 

In the new course, you’ll see how you can get a better position if White strays in the opening. Here the focus is not just on theory but also on moves you’re likely to face in a real game.
 

So even if you’ve prepared the Alapin from the old course, you can build on that knowledge by preparing for the moves you’re likely to face in a real game. 
 

At the same time, we’ve also shortened a few variations so that you can prepare a basic repertoire against the 2.c3 Sicilian fast and go deeper later through our advanced sections.
 

Apart from that, you’ll also learn to play against: 

• The Delayed Alapin (2.Nf3 with 3.c3) 
• The dangerous Smith-Morra Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.d4)
• Passive options for White after 2…Nf6 
   

We highly recommend you watch the course as it will help you understand the Alapin on a more deeper level. 
 

If you have any questions related to the course, please ask them in this thread. 

Enjoy the course!

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Thank you Chessmood ?

Thanks for the improved course! Just one thing I noticed comparing my pgn files in section 2 - 4.Nf3 video 9 around 0:25 there is mentioned again 9...Be6 move vs 9.0-0. Imo in this case it's not a good idea, as white has 10.Ng5! and we cannot take on b3 cause Nb6 and f7 would be hanging. Black would have to go then 10..Bd5 but then 11.d3 white gains some edge, cause e4 is good square for the N and Be3 is also coming. Thus i suggest an improvement 9..Bf5 with e6 coming next. Of course white now has tricky 10.Bxf7 but black is ok if he knows couple of moves.

Mister Gaby, Just to let you know I studied your new Alapin section up to the advance bit and for the first time picked up most of the ideas on my first studying. You are very good presenter. Very clear, structured and you answer all my questions as I am actively learning. Unlike Mister Avetik, who speaks too quickly and does not allow time for the learner to follow and only half explains points, you provide excellent coverage. I always need a second showing of Mister Avetik video and to sit down by myself and workout what is not included. I have always accepted the Sicilian Moria and have always played the line I worked out before seeing in a book 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cd 3 c3 dxc 4 Nxc3 Nc6 5 Bc4 e6 6 Nf3 d6 7 O-O Nf6 8 Qe2 Be7 9 Rd1 e5. First game after watching your Alapin and a 2300 player plays the Morra I play your suggestion transposing to the Alapin I play Be6 and get an easy draw !

Thanks very much for the new Alapin course! May I ask a question about the 3.d3 line. After 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 e5 (the original Alapin course recommended g6) 5.Be2 d5, I've actually faced this position many times. I also got very similar positions when I was playing 1.e4 e5 before. Here my opponents almost always play Nbd2, they never play exd5. They will secure the e4 pawn by Qc2 or c4 (forcing Black to exchange the d5 pawn or close the center with d4). The pawn structure in the center is fixed, then they go Nf1-g3-f5, or h3, Nh2-g4 and start a kingside attack. I've been crushed many times when I castle kingside and faced this attack. My question is: What is our strategy when they maintain the e4 pawn and go for this kingside attack? Thanks, Alex

French Attack - Exchange Variation featuring Bb5

I've come across this Bb5 move during a number of blitz games recently (in the midst of various exchange variation move orders). I took a look back on the videos, but do not believe this Bb5 move for white was covered in the French Attack videos. Any recommendations on what to play against this move? (Or will another video be released for this move?)

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5. Bb5 was my old White repertoire, too. Taken from Christof Sielecki Keep it simple 1. e4. And since IM Sielecki is quite popular on Chessable and YouTube, you will face this line quite frequently at lower and intermediate levels.

Dear Joseph, this is a simplifed course and as such we can't cover every move. (Otherwise it would not be simplified). Everything will be dully covered in the main French course.
Then in he full course, if we miss and important variation we will gladly add it or correct it, but please understand that it cannot be done in the simplified course. We want to provide a simple opening rep. to get started :) 

Chessmood - French for Black

Hi, Yesterday I encountered this move order: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.exd5. This throws us outside of our Chessmood Repertoire. Against the Exchange we normally go for a Nge7 setup. Not that this move order causes any trouble for Black, but how would you respond?

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Just 4. ... exd5. The downside of White's move order is that now the c-pawn is blocked.

Doubt in the Benko Gambit course

I have a doubt in the below position. Why not c4 idea Nd3? In the game Qa6 was played with some same ideas.

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Another doubt in the same section. Image below. Why not here Ra4? preventing Ne3. 

Sidhart we cannot see the pictures. Can you post them again?

Hey Sid in Benko we normally try and exchange the queens to gain better endgame and we must always try and do it if we get an opportunity to do so and abt that Ra4 move even I had this doubt earlier and I find it good , I really don't know why ra4 was not played

Thanks for the updating the pictures. Now we can see them. I asked Gabuzyan to reply to you, we will get back to you soon.

Black pawns are connected and great ..the moment it reaches c4 alone it could potentially become weakness .unless there are clear advantage can be seen we want to keep it in c5 . exchanging queen is simple here and reduces white's coordination ....white queen does well in keeping white pieces together and better in Benko , if we can trade Black queen almost every time it favors us  

Hi Sidharth,

For position 1 there is a specific logic. C4 is a move that is being played sometimes. But it's good up to my opinion if we can avoid it. The thing is on c5 it's protected and is formulating a strong pawn chain. Controlling d4 square. If the bishop of white goes to e3 it's limited by c5 pawn. Knight can never go to c6 square from b4 or d4 squares. 

Meanwhile, once you play c4 it may become a subject of an attack and is losing so many benefits for black. It's just smarter to trade of the queens and focus with all pieces on the queenside pawns.

To summarise c4 is possible, but if we can we should try to avoid playing it.

For position 2 Ra4 I would say is a nice alternative and seems to me that can be played as well.

Love these questions!

Webinar: Attack with opposite colored bishops

Dear Champions,

We finished our webinar about: Why and how to attack with opposite-colored bishops.

Here I am attaching the slide with the main points that we discussed.

If you still have any questions you are welcome to ask here :-)

Good luck!

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Opposite square bishops in attack, couple of my games

Hiya! While waiting for today's lecture on OSB in attack, I checked if I had OTB games with this theme over the last year and sure enough these 2 fits the bill I think. Hopefully would be useful for someone ? https://www.chess.com/a/22rubAeQ6ZT2S https://www.chess.com/a/23kdkTGhCZT2S

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I think this is the position one should start thinking how to attack with White in the first game

,2nd game - Black to move. How to organise the attack?

new alapin sicilian section

If i am not wrong you have a section about the alapin sicilian for black in the part about the anti sicilian and on complete alapin for black course. What is the reason? I am very happy with this but i asked why there 2 sections

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Hey :) You will find more informations here: https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-channel/sicilian-alapin-2c3

Thinking Process

This was mentioned in the Q&A session, so I guess there will be a blog or even a course on thinking at some point? Right now is there any advice to nurture a good thinking process say for the 1800-2200 FIDE range of player in long play especially? (i.e. that will be the rating of most of the opponents) I believe I compensate a more structured thinking process by longer time controls, meaning I use a lot of time and in shorter time controls am more prone to blunder. Avoiding structure can have its benefits in terms of creativity as well and not being in a psychological position that you're reacting to the opponent, particularly when you have the initiative, and if the opponent has serious threats or ways to combat the plan that didn't come to mind when the opponent moved, they are noticed later in the thinking. Also in OTB there is the time where the opponent picks up and moves the piece which often alerts one to their threats, where as online it's instant so it must be remembered to check what the move just did. One the common faster time control blunders as time gets low is getting over-focused on an idea and forgetting to consider what is happening elsewhere and what the opponent is doing. This happened during the play the GM event where I forgot about my kingside pieces assuming they were still untrappable. Maybe this is rigor of thinking process or just pressure under time (slow browser wasn't helping either). Does trying to stick to a rigid process help as a checklist here (i.e. check what your opponent played, what are they trying to do, is it a blunder, how does it affect your plans, ...). The problem is such checklists can either be exhaustive and so not practical, or trite and obvious. The trade-off in low time (one sided) is missing potential aggressive options as you're more focused on what the opponent is doing?

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Hi David, I am attaching a screenshot of my thinking process cheat sheet for OTB. Somehow copy-paste into message doesn't work :( The checklist items are listed in chronological order. I would start at the top and proceed to the end of the list. In case of shorter time controls, you can do just a few items (bold )from the list. Which ones? Depends on the needs of the position. P.S. - Is there anything that I have missed?

Interesting topic! I will be very interested to hear what Avetik and/or Gabuzyan have to say about the subject. When I read David's post the thing that sprung to mind was Jacob Aagaard's four types of decisions (automatic, simple, critical, strategic). What I've heard (from his interviews) and read (in Thinking Inside The Box) about this makes pretty good sense to me. Regarding my own playing at longer time controls I'm definitely not a fan of checklists, with the exception that I try to force myself to do a quick blunder check (checks & captures) before making a move. I'm a big believer in tapping into your intuition and combining this with explicit reasoning and concrete analysis to choose a move. If a move doesn't feel right, then you'd better double check your logic before deciding to play it! Sometimes a move will start to feel right only after you've looked at a few variations.

On the subject, this book has just been published https://chess.co.uk/products/think-like-a-super-gm-michael-adams-philip-hurtado which compares the thinking of various levels of players when solving around 40 puzzles. This also might be a good format for an event, where a GM thinks about test positions which have already been recorded being thought about by several Chessmood members of various levels. The final video is made by combining the event with the videos of the participants with a section or two on suggestions how to think and analysing the differences between the various levels.

One more doubt Sir..

What if he plays london system with c4 instead of c3.. Delaying c3.. For eg d4 Nf6 Bf4 g6 e3 d6 Nf3 Bg7 h3 O-O and then he plays c4 instead of c3. And then After tht I need to know how to continue for black if he plays c4 followed by Nc3 or Nbd2

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Sir I didnt get any reply for this question

Hi Sreenath,

That is a playable position and not a very concrete line. Usually, I am trying to make their ideas with e5 to fight for the center.
As well if possible we can still try to get the opponent's dark-squared bishop.

English_Botvinnik System

Hy everyone, tomorrow I'll have a OTB tournament and I'll played against an experienced player. I know that He'll played english OP as white and I'm prepared with line and plans. I have a questione about the line which our opponent doesn't allow the pawn sacrifice... 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. e4 a6 6. a4 d6 7. d3 Nf6 8. Nge2 O-O 9. O-O Rb8 10. f4!? (Is it good?), what is our plan if opponent push pawn (f4 - f5 and so on) 10. h3 (it is the move on the theory and I know idea and How to responde) I feel these pawn pushes like a strong attempt to attack my king, I don't have e5 anymore to control the square f4. is there a danger? Someone help me!

Replies

I don't see any immediate danger for your king. Your have no weaknesses on your kingside, and white's pieces are not yet aggressively placed. Also, any premature f5 push will give you the e5 square for a knight. I think this is a position where white goes for a slow build up, so you have time to manoeuvre and create some play of your own. If necessary, black can sometimes play f5 to block white's f-pawn.

Hi Alessio,

F4 in my opinion is doable, though it's not a concrete danger. Black can try to go for the ideas on the queenside with Nc7 - pawn b5.
Positions are playable for both sides, so overall in different situations we show model games, which can help you play better in that middlegames.
 

Good luck!

E6 second move in scandinavian

good day, after e6 second move in scandinavian should we take the pawn?

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Hi Druva For me ...dxe6 helps Black develop with Bxe6, thus I would play 3.Bb5+ and after c6, 4.dxc6, bxc6 5.Ba4 Black had fractured pawn structure. If instead Black play 4..Nxc6 then Nf3, 0-0 and d4 and if Black allow Bxc6 where they capture with bxc6 then do it to fracture the pawn structure. Hope that helps

Hello Druva!

Yes, it's not a dangerous sacrifice at all! Take the pawn and play an active game, I like 3.d4. 
Many players make a mistake when getting extra pawns in the openings: they are playing passive. 
So just accept the pawn, and get active development of pieces.

3...Ne7 in our 3.Bd3 French repertoire

Today I faced this move in the French (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 Ne7), how should we focus the opening in this game? I know that this move is not covered and it should not be good, still, in order to stay in our lines what could be the best approach? Thanks in advance for your reply!

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One thing I notice here, what's going to be guarding his king? We get a lot of firepower on the queenside and the centre is unsafe so Black castles king side. He also has to watch out for attacks on h7. Ne7 presumably to come to g6 is awkward and invites h4-5. The fianchetto Bg7 weakens the dark squares. Just Nf3 and O-O per engine seems reasonable and Black will have to cede something.

Edo, Ne7 is just a very bad and passive development. After 3.Bd3 usually our next moves are 4.Ne2 and 5.0-0 
But after 3…Ne7 we can even play 4.Nf3, as after 4…de4 5.Be4 there isn't Nf6. 

Mating Matador K+2P pawn race mate

Noticed this one was absent even though it's common. Was this because it's in the endgame and thus covered (to be covered) in pawn endings?

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Tactic Ninja

I have finished the Tactic Ninja course as always it was great experience. I also completed the Epilogue section ( Step 1 & 2). Now i am planning to do 10-15 mins daily practice with the course as suggested . My question is should i go through by section wise or I will only work with the Quiz part ?

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I would just work with the quiz first. See how fast you can finish the 777 problems… It is a good way to refresh your memory or even to warm up before your blitz session…

Mating matador, remembered this game

Thanks for mating matador course, nice to repeat the basics, just finished it and remembered one game shown to me long time ago about unavoidable mate. Can treat it like an exercise or just watch the game, white to move https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1673496

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Closed sicilian classical OTB game, analysis

Continuing the games from Lithuanian chess league (team event), next I played vs 2230 elo guy. He surprised me a bit with closed sicilian - was expecting Grand Prix from him and didnt remember chessmood variation :) as this was second game of the day and had little time to prepare. So here's my 6th round game. Any suggestions welcome https://www.chess.com/a/MJ6PXkb8ZT2S

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Thanks for sharing your game, only suggestion i would like to give is that, as i like bishop pair :D I wouldn't take Bf3 rather than that i think it was a good game, good luck for next games :)