Chess forum by Grandmasters

Caro-Kann Exchange Variation Revisited

Alexey Dreev has been quite successful with the Caro-Kann against our (Modern) Exchange Variation in the following line: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.Ne2 Bg4 7.0-0 e6 8.Qe1 Nf6!? This move was briefly mentioned in the course, but clearly requires more detailed attention in light of its success in recent praxis. I am hoping that our ChessMood GM's can find an effective move-order antidote and share it with us in the Advance Section of the course.

Thanks for all your great work. :)

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Hey Kevin! You know theory much better than many grandmasters :D 
Yeah, Nf6 is a strong move and with GM Gabuzyan we suffered a lot until we found a way to keep the initiative. 
Will record and upload it in advanced section :) 
Thank you for your kind words. 

Regards,
Avetik 

Thanks Kevin D

Dreev seems to have some success with Black in the Caro Kann.

This game(Lendermann vs Dreev) has some analysis at this ChessBase link: https://en.chessbase.com/post/dreev-dominates-gabuzyan-dragoons

Why did Lendermann here play Rae1? and not Rxf3?

A game I like, is:

YuYangyi vs Dreev Blitz Caro Kann Exchange (Chess Mood line) 2016 1-0

[Event "World Blitz Championship"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2016.12.29"]
[EventDate "2016.12.29"]
[Round "4.7"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Yu Yangyi"]
[Black "Alexey Dreev"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[PlyCount "67"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Qc7 6. Ne2 Bg4
7. O-O e6 8. Qe1 Bxe2 9. Qxe2 Nf6 10. Nd2 Bd6 11. g3 O-O
12. f4 Rae8 13. Nf3 Nd7 14. Bd2 f5 15. Ne5 Nf6 16. Kh1 Ne4
17. Be3 a6 18. Rg1 Bxe5 19. fxe5 Qf7 20. Raf1 h5 21. c4 dxc4
22. Bxe4 Qd7 23. Bg2 b5 24. Qxh5 Nb4 25. Rd1 Nd3 26. Qe2 Rc8
27. Rgf1 Nb4 28. a3 Nd5 29. Bd2 Rfd8 30. Ba5 Re8 31. Bb4 Qf7
32. Bxd5 exd5 33. Qf3 g6 34. g4 1-0

(How do you add the pgn viewer to posts/comments?)

Hey guys! 
Just recorded it! :) 
Before we edit and upload I offer you to find a crazy and most unhuman move I have ever seen, that Engine offers in this position. Black to move. 

Hey guys! We uploaded an advanced section, "Dreev Line".https://chessmood.com/course/caro-kann-defenceHopefully you'd love it :) 

https://chessmood.com/course/caro-kann-defence 

Hey guys! Just uploaded a new advanced section in Caro Kann, "Dreev Line".
Hopefully, you love it. 

Hello Everyone,

New PRO member here.  Hope someone can help me here.  In GM Lev Alburt's book "Chess Openings for White, Explained," (second edition), in the line 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.Ne2 Bg4 7.f3[ why 7.f3 instead of 7.0-0? AIburt does not explain 7.f3] Bd7" (p.410).

Would you mind helping me understand why 7.f3 might be preferred in this line?  Thank you.

What a splendid game, GM Gabuzyan!

Congratulation to our mighty coach Hovhannes for todays beautiful win on European Championship in Reykjavik against our Croatian top seed Ivan Saric for the leading position in the tournament! And moreover, he did it in true Chessmood style... :)                                   

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/european-championship-2021/5/1/3

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You see, it is possible to win against the Maroczy Bind. :)

I have been working and analyzing Gabuzyan's games but yesterday game was simply extraordinary. Very well played even if he did not play a5, and knowing him, he just forgot about it. We will have to wait the video of the game, because this game belongs to the "Gabuzyan's mind " Collection.

I do not want to write about Gabuzyan's performance in order to not break or jinx his concentration, but look at the following stats from his last game with Saric in the picture.

He played like Stockfish NNUE. Saric also helped a bit with Bh3 instead of Bf3 allowing the LSB to become a SU35 like in the lesson 2 of the daily lessons:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWArPpAstF0&t=2s

https://lichess.org/study/vCYeFLhn

We will have to call him Gabuzyan NNUE!!!
The only innacuracy made according to stockfish NNUE, was not even real, because the line suggested by the engine leads to a draw!!! Gabuzyan played a perfect game we can say!!!

I also enjoyed watching the game yesterday. I was a bit worried for Gabuzyan as he tends to play too quickly but in this case time pressure was helping him as the oponent made a mistake on the move 40.

Why do we miss tactics?

I've been working on tactical problems (50 a day which takes 2-3 hours). I've noticed that certain problems are harder to see than others so am trying to work out what is it about a puzzle which means a solution can be seen quickly, or in other cases can't or a mistake made.

We'll assume someone told us there was a tactic or it's a puzzle. Otherwise "I wasn't looking (hard enough), or gave up too soon (including the urgency from the clock)" are common reasons to miss tactics in games, perhaps also I thought there might be something but couldn't see enough and didn't want to risk it. Plus there is the blunder problem of being so self-absorbed in your ideas you overlook what the opponent has.

For a puzzle, let's assume there is a real solution and not an error. Many, particularly older, collections of tactics, not only have some errors, but overlook that the obvious line has a deviation line that is just raw calculation to a better position, and we didn't solve the position because of that (we are assuming there is something more or the raw calculation without winning something isn't the point, particularly if the position is already superior).

I think the following are common categories of why after staring at a puzzle (as opposed to being too quick) we miss the solution:
1. Didn't evaluate all the resources / hazards for both sides
2. Didn't re-evaluate after moves being made (how does the position change - the 'delta')
3. Cut-off too early
4. Overlooked quiet moves when the opponent is helpless
5. Assumption of move (particularly recaptures) when it is not forced
6. Incorrect visualisation / forgetting
7. Lost material count / sticky pieces
8. Inexperience with the theme / resources
9. Ignoring 'impossible' or illegal moves

I should really post examples of each, but I don't have the time to do so. However after the explanations anyone working through tactical problems will probably notice these issues.

1. Resources are important (problems with the the position or advantages). The recent solve with a grandmaster event (there is another this Tuesday) helped me see this. I really think there is no course or book that properly states this either, at best they will talk about themes, or loose pieces etc, and not really about evaluating the landscape before solving. Worse too is 'laziness' conditioned by solving puzzles that are too easy and of the sort sacrifice the queen and mate which makes us assume that tactics are just about forced sacrifices that the opponent must capture. Noticing all the resources are important, and perhaps it's worth having a list of what to look for. Similar to resources are hazards, and again only one place has every mentioned about hazards http://www.neoneuro.com/downloads/chuzhakinssystem.pdf

So off the top of my head (probably not a complete list) resources are:
. Bad king position (back rank, open files to king, under-protected king, king in the open, mating net, lack of moves) - also useful for stalemate tactics not just checkmate
. Open lines (or controlled lines) that can be exploited either to attack something, move pieces into attacking positions (including change of direction of rooks to occupy a 7th rank / get behind pawns / double along a rank against a target, and access of a different diagonal of the bishop ('Karpov's billiard balls') again as attacking or making batteries) - lines that can be opened, especially discovered / double attack
. Useful squares and outposts
. Pieces in forkable positions, or with 'one leg in the fork' that needs another move to attract another piece into the fork. One or both of the legs may be attacks rather than just capturable pieces
. Pins / potential pins, pieces vulnerable to skewers (rooks / knights / pawns / kings from diagonals, bishops / knights / pawns / kings from files/ranks)
. Material build up against a point
. Running pawns (either to attack or promote) and pawn promotion, especially pawn on the 7th
. Defender can be diverted, captured or replaced with less effective defender, or lines of communication closed to cause under-protection of pieces or key squares
. Overloaded (or vital) pieces or pieces that can be overloaded, helpless positions where nothing threatening can happen so pieces/pawns can be brought in for free or zugzwang

Not all resources may be exploitable, some might be impossible due to another piece in the way for example (see impossible moves)

Hazards overlap with resources, but the main ones are (not covered under resources):
. Un/under defended pieces (loose pieces drop off)
. Equal attackers and defenders (or if more defenders, the defenders are precariously places or easily dealt with)
. Pieces with limited mobility
. Pieces deep within the position / hovering around key tactics (especially the king) including cutting it off

One example of not considering all resources is seeing there is a piece that can be captured in sacrifice which is helping defend the king, but to occupy the now available spot takes two moves with the queen. Failing to see that a first possible move with the queen attacks a loose rook prevents the solving of the combination.

2. Similar to missing tactics is not looking how the position changes after moves are made. For example squares might become available, defenders move or disappear, pieces move into spots they can be attacked. For example a clearance sacrifice could free up a key square to perform a double attack. See impossible moves.

3. Cut-off too early is when we stop calculating a line, when keeping going would have yielded something. This can be down to problems visualising and missing changes in the position, but sometimes it's also tiredness (there must have been something simpler). The converse is going down a rabbit hole when something simpler is available. This is a problem with searching depth vs breadth. Some of this is helped by evaluating resources which otherwise might have to be discovered by unnecessary search and the temptation of seeing something new and going back to an earlier position arises. Practice and better intuition help here. Cut-off is also a problem when we think we've won something but the position isn't quiet and a counter-attack that needs dealing with now (or earlier) is available.

4. Some tactics are very difficult because they require 2 or 3 quiet moves and with the usual 'I go here, he goes there' are very easy to miss. Recognising the opponent can't do anything and asking questions like if I had 2 moves, what would I do, are useful.

5. Assumptions about opponent's moves particularly recaptures can lead into a false solution. There is the question about rechecking for things missed vs checking the solution there and then. Also by evaluating the opponent's resources, opportunities for defence or counter-attack can be better spotted.

6. Not an easy one to solve though practice helps. Visualising is harder for some than others, particularly those who don't think in pictures and so other parts of the brain may appear to occlude the visual feed. Forgetting resources or discovered ideas is easy given human's can't track more than about 4 pieces of information. Being able to pay attention to what is important and what isn't as well as being organised with the search and when to go back and recheck/recalculate are part of this.

7. Lost material count is similar to forgetting or bad visualising. Have we got an advantage of material yet, or did we sacrifice too much? I find instead of trying to work out what is left from the position, 'cross off' pieces that have gone from the initial position (without mentally moving them) which is easier as you can see it. Sticky pieces are pieces that have been moved or captured but are still in the mental image. Sometimes rechecking or working out the material count can help eliminate them. This is also related to noticing what has changed in that new lines will be open and closed, defenders will be moved or captured and so on.

8. Inexperience with the theme is more due to building intuition and knowing what to look for. Having solved many problems before helps.

9. Impossible or illegal moves are worth considering. Purdy mentions jump moves for example. Questions such as if this piece wasn't there or moved, or if the pin was broken, what could be done are useful to ask even when they are not possible right now. The opportunity for discoveries and clearance sacrifices may be possible.


Finally remember the basics of working out tactics which get overlooked - at each move look for checks, captures and threats - it's often easy to overlook this.

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Add to 5. Failure to consider alternatives e.g. if a king check, assuming the king will only go to a particular square or ignoring a potential interpose.

Can we really beat comps?

I defeated Daniel Naroditsky bot with black pieces with my favorite KID. I felt  happy because i  just woke up and defeated Danya. But on the otherside it seems quite strange. Can we really defeat comps? This game is not baked.

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We might be able to beat comps at a low level like 2200 or 2300.  But it is next to impossible to beast stockfish or leela at its full strength.

Just so you know in King's Indian defense there is no mate for Black on the kingside (that is if leela is white) and white is always slightly better

Benko Gambit and 2.Nc3

Hi!

I've been trying out the Benko Gambit and really liking it so far. I have run across a couple of players who play 1.d4 -> 2.Nc3 and I was curious if there is a way to steer the game into a similar flavor somehow. I didn't notice anything in the course or via forum search.

My best idea at the moment is if I know 2.Nc3 is coming maybe try 1..c5 instead.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

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Sorry about that, the Opening Courses haven't been updated in awhile.

Crazy maroczy game against GM Narayanan

Hi guys,

Just finished RTU open tournament and started analysing my games. I want to share my 1st round experience against 2600+ GM.

I want to ask how to play against this maroczy Bd4, Qe3 idea as I don't think this was covered in the modern maroczy course (correct me if I'm wrong).

Anyways in the end I missed big chance to gain an edge (time pressure and stress mostly) and blundered horribly. Here goes, any insights are highly welcome!

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I raised this question on more than one occasion so maybe it will be covered eventually. :)

See my penultimate post in the following thread: https://chessmood.com/forum/pro-members/na4-in-modern-maroczy

In any case while waiting on an update I did a deep study of the variation myself and determined that 13.Qe3 is best met by the counterintuitive 13...Bd7!, a key line being 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 e5!? 17.dxe6 Bxe6 18.Qxd6 Rfd8 19.Qf4 Rd2 20.Bf3 Rxb2=/+ and Black is slightly better.

I know I just scratched the surface, but hopefully that little tidbit pointed you in the right direction.  Your game was very instructive by the way and maybe 14...Rfe8 was slightly more accurate than the immediate 14...Nd7,  nevertheless as the game went and with a little more luck you almost caused a big upset.

First, let me congratulate @Paulius_Juknis for being -4 with the Black pieces against a  such a strong GM on move 36! You told us that you were in time trouble and nervous, we feel you! You played a very good game until your unfortunate Rg8. I am sure that next time you will be more lucky.

Being on the move 36 with such a good position and not making any big or medium mistake during all the game means that you are playing very good! One thing for sure is that it is not about the opening, because you reached a very good position. I spent a couple of hours analyzing your game and learned a few things.

I also always appreciate @Kevin_D suggestions and you sure posted a good reply too.

I believe that the position after Qd3 is very interesting and I do not see anything wrong with the moves Be6 and Ne7 or Ng4 attacking the Queen and forcing some trade (kind of usual moves here)

Let's see, after Qd3 Black would like to play: 13... Nd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 with equality, but the problem is that White can play Nd5: 13... Nd7 14. Nd5 with a decisive advantage to White. That is why by playing Be6 before Nd7 solves the problem: 13... Be6 14. .. Nd7 15. Nd5 and 15... Bxd5 captures the knight. We see that Nd7 becomes a serious threat after playing Be6.

Paulius, you played very good moves all the time, maybe on move 20...Nf6 would have been better than h6, but nothing major here either. I liked your Qc5 very much.

I also found your game on the chessbase website in their coverage of the RTU tournament. :-)

Reaching 2000 fide rating as quickly as possible

How much time does it take for a 1200 to reach 2000 fide elo,if he spends 6 to 8hours a day,what all should the 1200 player work on exactly to reach the 2000 rating barrier as quickly as possible,chessmood gm team,please reply if u guys see this,everyone are requested to share their opinions

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Hi!

This is the age old question that everyone wants an answer too, but the truth is, no one has a crystal ball and can see the future.

Everyone has a unique journey to partake in for their chess improvement. The things I have learned to apply at 1400, or 1600, or even 1800, will be different then the concepts you have learned to apply at those same levels.

That being said, there are many basics we all need to not just learn, but learn to apply in our own games. We need to learn to develop our pieces, castle early, not give away our pieces for free (maybe this one is just me hehe) etc.

So what can we do to accelerate our growth, when we dont even know which things we personally need?

First we need to be playing games, and immediately analyzing them. We need to check our openings against our PGNs. We need to find the patterns of our mistakes and work to eliminate them. We need to break down what we are thinking during our games and fix the deficiencies in our thought process. And we need to do hundreds, maybe thousands, of other things as well.

Since there is no "one size fits all" method of improvement, we need to find trustworthy sources for material in all aspects of chess, and work hard on the material aimed specifically at your personal needs. As an example, for me personally,  this would be middlegame planning and ideas, as well as recognizing tactical patterns. 

It also helps to have a supportive community to encourage your development and show you that you are not the only one working on getting better, and at times struggling to improve. 

The piece that most people want to skip, but I personally find the most important, is having a coach to help guide you in the direction you need to improve in. We may see something in our games that needs to be worked on, but because we are often times emotionally tied to our games (I am sure I am not the only one like this, right?) we often times find it harder to be objective with our selves, where a coach will realize that the issue we see in our games is actually just a symptom of a larger problem, and he can help us fix it faster.

We are blessed here at ChessMood, that we have such a visionary in @GM_Avetik_Grigoryan, and that he put the pieces together for all of us to grow in just this way.

So in conclusion, it is my opinion that the fastest way to get from 1200-2000 is to focus on your particular games and use the ChessMood methods to improve. Take advantage of the material that you need to improve with first. Hopefully you have a coach to help you narrow this down quicker, but even if you dont, I am sure many here in our community will give you feedback to help you work more efficiently. 

Good luck and #COGRO!

GM Jay

I would focus more on practical matters. The most you can get from a victory is +18elo and the most from a draw is +9, only if you have these results with a +400elo player! That means that you get +18 if you beat a 1600 fide. Can you do that?

In practice you can get +30 maybe +60 in every tournament if you improve and play above your elo rating. How many tournaments do you play per year? So you need about 10 carefully selected tournaments where you will get +40 each to reach your goal. And that takes time and a lot of effort!

I got +117 in 4 tournaments since I started here. I used chessmood openings in most games (more than 60%) depending on the opponent (I haven't memorized all the openings yet). And I played only regular time control tournaments, over the board.

My point is, if you play good chess you will get there. If you study as hard as you say, you will play like a 2000 player and then you will need more games!

Don't become obsessed with rating, concentrate on mastering the fundamentals and enjoying the learning process. 

Error in English 5 Nf3, video 17 analysis

At 4:55 it mentions the knight is being trapped with Qb6. The knight isn't trapped as it can go back to e4. I suspect the move f5 has been missed before rounding up the knight with the queen. Looking at it, the queen will probably then go to f6 rather than b6 with fxg4 added first (depending on what White plays) since capturing the f2 pawn is then a threat if the knight sacrifices itself for the b pawn.

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Most likley not trapped, but after Ne4, white will still struggle to find decent responses to Ng2 followed by Qb7, in which white will fail to hang on to the d5 pawn, as well as having to address light square hollowness caused by Ng2 prior, which I suppose will be just responded to by building a wall of pawns on light squares. (f3, e4 etc, similar to topical catalan lines where white goes Bc6 and then f3 and e4 to cover up the light squares)

Yes, I had the same question. ...Qb6 does not trap the knight. Stockfish says ...f5

Thanks for the answer. I have another question in the same section 5.Nf3, in the 6.d3 with 7.Nd2 idea (video 20).

As you can see here: https://imgur.com/PNkRrQc

This was one of the options mentioned by GM Gabuzyan. After Bd2, he says "As well, we can be trying to go for more active variation with ...f5" But as you can see Stockfish doesn't seem to like it. Is this a mistake?

By the way, I'm learning a lot with this course, one line even seems to refute what an IM once told me!

Alternatives to sicilian against 1.e4?

In a previous forum post, I asked if we should have alternatives to ChessMood openings.  GM Gabuzyan said that we should, once we master CM openings.  I am looking for an alternative to the sicilian against 1.e4, got any ideas?

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Why not ask first what replies to 1. e4 (ChessMood repertoire for White) do you find most difficult to play against (besides 1. ... c5) and start exploring this reply a bit further. 

I do prefer one more opening in cm. I prefer Najdorf or Classical . It's not full course but can be full if all support my request. Najdorf is cool opening if coach provides us amazing lessons on it. 

https://chessmood.com/course/2-sicilian-defense-najdorf-variation

Hi Brody,  I have thought about your question for way to many years and it has hurt my progress.  I would highly, highly recommend playing something.  Like the accelerated Dragon (its all ready mapped out for you.  and you will learn how to study an opening if you listen) for at least 1 year.  Then change if you and your coach are honest about the following suggested questions to ask yourself.  Best way to answer it:  1. What is my rating now?   2. How Long have I been playing?  3.  what positions do I think I like and understand?  These 3 questions are better than which Opening to play.  Why Like GM Avetik wrote in his article about changeing your repertoire, you can't go to the doctor and ask what are the best pills.  They don't exist as they are specific.  You can play the caro Kann sharply or positionally.  I would also suggest having a strong player help you with question 3.  They may say hey you do like to attack.  Or wow how do you know about triangulation in the endgame?  Then you play openings and positions that give you the opportunity to get those positions.  So, if you are maybe below 1600 and just starting out like under 5 years playing STAY WITH CHESS MOOD OPENINGS!!  If you are 1600 to 2000 Ask GM AVETIK who may ask you another question Like: (I don't know for sure but) How well have you learned whatever you play now?  and What don't you like about what you play?  Also like one person wrote they are 66 been playing for a long time AND are 2166 or something high like that.  They will answer the above questions easier for themselves.  Why? Experience!  Another harder example is I am 1867 and play the Accelerated dragon for 2 years and chess for 7 and always loose to Moroczy Bind even if I studied it a lot vs stronger opponents.  NOW that is a question!  If you like "attacking play" and have learned the anti sicilians well, then I would choose a sharper sicilian like Sveshnikov.  I am coming back to the family because I believe in GM Avetik has a plan and well thought out products. Though sharp and good for developing players I would play 1...e5 to 1.e4 and Open Spanish, 2 knights vs Giucco Piano ect.  Why?  Open positions don't close!!  again open positions don't close!  In French you have to play closed, semi open and Open positions and learn about levers ect.  If you miss 1 move playing a common sense move in 1...e5 is probably more correct then say a "common sense move" in a Najdorf position.  But I would recommend really learning what you are paying for and after a few years of playing it you will know what you like and don't like THEN ASK.  So the question maybe the main line with Nc3, Be3 and attack is too sharp or Moroczy I have bad results and have studied it throughly and tried many lines and still loose now what to try?!!?  Good Luck in the "Black and white Jungle".  

Wouldn't it be better?

Wouldn't it be better if the tournaments are on different days rather than Monday or Wednesday

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I mean like on Sunday evening or Saturday night am just telling my opinion as am a student and has classes Monday - Saturday so..

Daily Study Updates (Started from 17-08-2021)

I liked the idea of Abhi Yadav. It is a good way to get motivation for work. Link to his forum: https://chessmood.com/forum/main-channel/daily-study-updates

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How to take my prize if i won prize tournament.

Yesterday night(Timeline Asia/Calcutta) I have stood 2nd in prize tournament.so can anyone tell how to take my prize(15K Moodcoins). and also can we use  it for pro membership. If yes then Please tell me how to use it for pro membership?

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you can  contact chessmood.com/contact mentioning the email you used to register in chessmood.com but do this after getting confirmation message to your chess.com account from chessmood

Anti Sicilian with Nc3 !? Part 1 Mistakes in Section 1

Hello CM family!

I found a mistake in the Anti Sicilian with Nc3 !? (Part 1) Section -1  video 14 8... e6 ,minute 1:14.

GM Avetik play Be3 ,but it's a mistake ,because of the strong d5! and we  lose  material.

I hope this could help.

Bye!

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Lost OTB game in caro recommended line, any improvements?

Hi chessmood,

I'm participating in strong RTU open in Latvia and played this game against IM in the caro-kann variation. Played mostly as recommended in the courses but I think this variation is strategically dodgy for white, especially after white's g4,f4 black played quick b5 with very fast minority attack I just didnt know what to do.

So please any improvements in this variation, txs

Replies

You should have played g5 right after b5 and then Qxb5! Actually he can't play b5 immediately, he should bring his rook first Rb8.

I think you missed the point of the opening! I am an intermediate player, but as far as I know this pawn structure means that black goes for a queenside attack (minority attack to create weaknesses) and you go for a kingside attack. I didn't see the kingside attack! All your forces were ready but you never created any weaknesses at his king!

Next time attack the king and create weaknesses there! That will make him forget his attack and he will start to defend!

Hi Paulius, according to my notes you played according to the repertoire until 16. f4 where the repertoire ends. In the game Kotronias-Olsen, 2018 Black first played 16. ... Rab8 and White responded with Qb5-d3 and played f4-f5. So I am wondering whether White can risk answering 16. ... b5 with 17. Qxd5 Rab8 18. Qd3 Rxb2 19. f5. If not, I think White should temporarily stop b5-b4 with a2-a3. And maybe it is better to play the queen on the b1-h7-diagonal where it supports f4-f5.

I think that I can help here because I prepared this line as Black for a simul against Avetik 10 months ago. This move 16...b5 was a novelty 12 months ago. It is the line offered against our line by Erwin l'Ami in his chessable Lifetime Repertoire.

16... Rab8 is in our repertoire but not b5. Still we will reach very similar positions.

Against 16...b5, without knowing the best moves Avetik, facing this line for the first time, played during the simul f5, which is the best move by the engine (I also checked it with very powerful engines after the game).

https://lichess.org/VIfWFxiv#35


f5 is good because it (VERY IMPORTANT too: is not analyzed in said Black Repertoire)


• threatens to play fxe6

  • ⚫ 17. f5 Qc7 and 18. fxe6 captures the pawn. Thus f5 eliminates the threat of Qc7
  • ⚫ 17. f5 Rab8 18. g5 Nh5 19. Qd1 g6 and 20. fxe6 captures the pawn. Thus f5 eliminates the threat of Rab8
  • ⚫ 17. f5 Rfb8 18. g5 and Black cannot play 18... Nd7? because after 19. Nxf7 Kxf7 20. Rxe6 Qxe6 21. fxe6+ captures the queen. As a result f5 eliminates the threat of Rfb8
  • ⚫ 17. f5 and Black cannot play 17... Rab8? because after 18. g5 Nh5 19. fxe6 captures the pawn
  • ⚫ 17. f5 .. 18. fxe6 Qxe6
• enables f6

  • ⚫ 17. f5 and Black cannot play 17... Rab8? because after 18. g5 Nd7 White can play 19. f6
  • 
    
  • 
    

  This line is becoming trendy, but after f5 I have some analysis, 17... exf5 18.gxf5 which threatens to play Kh1. 

  We are getting a good attacking position with attacking possibilites. I am attaching a picture with some arrows as it highlights the following moves for White...

  I hope that this helps... And remember after f5 Rab8, which is the usual move, is not good for Black... I hope that this helps and next time you will know more about this line than your opponent for sure...
  

Chess Psychology

I am so new in Chess Psychology so my teammate suggested me to read this amazing book. It was like boom for me. Now I feel more confident about my future chances of getting 2000 elo in 2022. I strongly recommend reading this book. It will change your life.

https://www.ichess.net/shop/champion-psychology-a-book-for-future-chess-champions/

If anyone knows more books on chess psychology then kindly write the names with author. I learnt  a lot chess and still learning and slowly but surely results are coming online because there are no OTB in India. So learning about psychology with chess will be boom for me and others also .

Replies

There is a book, Mind Master by none other than Viswanathan Anand. It is his autobiography, but he shares a lot of tips about psychology.

Where did I make a Mistake

Yesterday I played a rapid game. I gave a Piece in the Opening with thinking to open his king.  So was that sacrifice correct or wrong.

https://lichess.org/vWw1DtBHY21U

Replies

H3 was the blunder. If you didn't push, it would be about even I think

The sac you made... You have no backup plan and no conpensation

Rossolimo - 5. O-O 6. c3 leaves a hole

Preparing for a potential opponent. Against the Rossolimo he has two games that go 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg6 6. c3?! which I imagine is quite common from lower rated players.

Computer suggests the amusing 6... Qd3 occupying the hole, now 7. Re1 (the move he played after 6... Nf6/Bg7 in the two database games) 7... Bg4 8. Re3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qd7 10. Re1 Rd8 11. Rd1 (fourth move with the rook) f5 = to slight Black favour.

Replies

Hi David,

This line with the move Qd3 after c3 is also in the Rossolimo repertoire but one move before, I do not remember the exact video but it is there since I have the following analysis... Playing it one move later does not change the incorrect timing of c3 and the good move Qd3 as you pointed out.

Where should I practice my endgame?

I can practice my opening and middlegame by playing online, but sometimes, the endgame is just winning for me or it doesn't even go to an endgame. How should I practice my endgame?

Thank you

Replies

Simple endings can be practised against a tablebase app e.g. (7 piece) Lomonsov Tablebases . For more complicated endings try requesting a sparring partner. Also try a book such as Rate Your Endgame.

Can I Become a Pro Member using Chessmood Coins

Hi,

Is it possible to become PRO Member using ChessMood Coins.

Replies

An idea for the ChessMood coins

First a disclaimer, I don't have a lot of CM coins :) only 68k.

Now, in the past some people were asking how to spend them and there aren't too many options. I have a idea!

ChessMood could propose one to one training sessions that could be bought by CM coins. Different session options, could have different prices. 

To make it more interesting the training sessions would be streamed/recorded for others to watch as well, which would even more enforce the sense of community.

What do you think?

Replies

I am not sure why do you think a personalized training seession with a GM should be free. It takes many years of hard work and sacrificies to get the title. 

Actually paying with CM coins is close to free as you can not exchange them for the real money anyways.

Yes,

This could be benefits of Earning ChessMood Coins