I LOVE playing against the Caro-Kann. As White, I never feel I am in danger.@aufheben , just my 2 cents. For a White attacking opening against the Sicilian the Grand Prix is good. The Yugoslav is a good attack against the Sicilian Dragon.
For solid Black Defenses the KP Caro-Kann and QP Semi-Slav Meran Variation are good.
B5 you want to maintain the threat of taking the pawn and get the bishop to cover his pawn and diagonals from the middle of the board.The power of passed pawns
"In the diagrammed position it is White to move and draw. White has a powerful passed pawn on g7 that forces Black's bishop to control the g8-square, but White is a pawn down and Black also has a powerful passed pawn that just attacked White's bishop on d3. Should the bishop go to b5 or to c2"?
B5 you want to maintain the threat of taking the pawn and get the bishop to cover his pawn and diagonals from the middle of the board.
B5 you want to maintain the threat of taking the pawn and get the bishop to cover his pawn and diagonals from the middle of the board.
@Pidto Files After 48. h4 what should have happened in this game?White bishop to E2 is also a good move. The bishop then blocks the black pawns advance, maintaining diagonals and can potentially take the black bishop.
Rook to B1. mate in 2@Pidto Files After 48. h4 what should have happened in this game?
Wolfgang Unzicker vs Mikhail Botvinnik (1954)
Amsterdam Olympiad Final-A (1954), Amsterdam NED, rd 9, Sep-22
French Defense: Winawer. Retreat Variation Armenian Line (C18) · 1/2-1/2
Breaking news: Dubov leaves Tata Steel Chess Tournament
What do you guys think of this Black Dutch opening where Rapport and others are playing Be7?
It doesn't look very good for Black at all. Like the kind of opening I'd slap out in a bullet game and instantly regret it.
I'm struggling to see much good about it actually. I really like playing Maroczy Bind formations, and this looks kind of similar; but it just doesn't feel like it does a good enough job of fighting for the centre.
Must not like playing knights much, I’m guessing.. You can aggressive and defensive with two moves. Knight B8 C6, Bishop, E7 B4. Covers bishop with knight, challenging Queen (white)
Rook to B1. mate in 2
It doesn't look very good for Black at all. Like the kind of opening I'd slap out in a bullet game and instantly regret it.
I'm struggling to see much good about it actually. I really like playing Maroczy Bind formations, and this looks kind of similar; but it just doesn't feel like it does a good enough job of fighting for the centre.
Of course you can! The Grunfeld was actually what I was trying to learn when I started.If I can throw in my 2 cents...
e4 or d4...
Play whatever feels right to you. I can't play d4 - it just feels "wrong" and off balance. I hate d4.
Against e4, the Sicilian works nicely - as you know, a LOT of top players play it.
Against d4, I play the Grunfeld.
The English is pretty easy to play as black. Just mirror what White is doing until you're ready to go in a new direction.
The 1.e4 ideas sound good. I remember when I found out about the Halloween Gambit and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.Awesome!
Given your style, I'd say go for 1.e4. Maybe look at the Smith-Morra Gambit when Black responds with the Sicilian. It leads to some big attacks (1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3).
And when Black responds with e5, maybe you could try the Vienna Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3). I don't know much about it, but it has a reputation for leading to all out attacks from White.
For Black, I'd say to try the Sicilian against 1.e4. Pretty much any variation that you get comfortable with will have plenty of activity and tactics.
Against 1.d4 and 1.c4, it's more difficult to get a very active game without being worse. Maybe the Queen's Gambit Accepted or Albin Countergambit would offer games that you like, but I think it may be best for you to use games against 1.d4 and 1.c4 as opportunities to play some slow games. There's lots to learn from having to maneuver around a congested board and pick and choose pawn breaks.
I have the second highest subscription on chess.com, which is something like $3-$4 a month, I believe.
I would pay that much for the analysis tool alone, much less the unlimited puzzles. It also allows you to watch so many lessons a month too, but I don't take advantage of that.
I'd definitely recommend getting a subscription. The difference between being able to use the analysis tool once a day vs. at will is pretty huge!
Took you up on this, got the platinum one as well(2nd highest) and it made a HUGE difference.
Not only are the unlimited puzzles helping a ton tactically, but the game analysis has been awesome. Just seeing the best move in positions I'm always in(and making the wrong move) has helped me win a lot more games.
Magnus about to clinch Tata Steel with five wins and seven draws... and only gain 3 rating points to get to 2868.
2900 is so far away! I just can't see him doing it.
It's mathematically impossible.If it were anyone else, I'd say it can't be done. It is, however, Magnus. He's 31! He's got YEARS left in him at a top level. Regardless, he had an excellent tournament.
Ding Liren | Rating | 2799 |
Levon Aronian | Rating | 2772 |
Anish Giri | Rating | 2772 |
Wesley So | Rating | 2772 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | Rating | 2767 |
Alexander Grischuk | Rating | 2764 |
Richard Rapport | Rating | 2763 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Grand Swiss | 2761 |
It's mathematically impossible.
My favorites: Ding Liren and Aronian[TBODY] [/TBODY]
Ding Liren Rating 2799 Levon Aronian Rating 2772 Anish Giri Rating 2772 Wesley So Rating 2772 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov Rating 2767 Alexander Grischuk Rating 2764 Richard Rapport Rating 2763 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Grand Swiss 2761
My dark horses: Giri and So
They'll only win in an eclipse on the Dark Side of the Moon: Tabatabaei and Bacrot. @Harbour Dog