Quality Chess Blog

Hi guys. I am in Delhi at the last day of a training camp with seven wonderful Indian ladies. It is a wonderful experience and I have to say that despite knowing most of them in advance, I have been blown away by the dedication, enthusiasm and skill these ladies possess. I should also add that each and every one of them are an excellent human being. David Llada correctly called me extremely lucky to be allowed to work with them. And yes, I am also getting paid…

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Even when an opening is “unambitious,” it can be dangerous for the opponent. Axel Smith’s look into the 21st Century way of playing e3-systems greatly was the inspiration for this game:

Alvaro Aranha Filho – Frederico Gazel

Brazil

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O c5 6. c4 Be7 7. Nc3 cxd4 8. exd4 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne5 O-O 11. Qg4 Nf6 12. Qh4 Nc6 13. Bg5 h6

14. Bxf6! gxf6

14…Bxf6 15.Qe4 g6 16. Nxc6 Qc7 17. d5 exd5 18. Nxd5 Qxc6 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.Qxb7

15. Qxh6 f5 16. Bxf5 exf5 17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Qxc6 Qxd4 19. Rad1 Qc5 20. Qf3 Rad8 21. Nd5 1-0

You can also see the game here.

Lots of messages lately are about requests for training with Jacob. So, you will be happy to know that there will be a seminar in Germany 10-13/5/2018 in the Wewelsburg.

The entry fee for adults is 259€ and for youngsters (U-18) is 229€.  If there are more than 3 from one chess club, each of those participants get a 30 € discount. The fee includes application -participation in the Seminar, 2 coupons over 15 euros for Lunch, plus water and coffee during the lectures. The only condition of participation is ELO 1800+. This seminar is for advanced players and masters, but if you are under ELO 1800 and highly motivated, you can still apply. There is room for only 30 participants.

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We have had a nice debate between the blog readers about various lines and how to approach playing for a win for Black deep in the comments section of the looking into 2018 post. I doubt everyone makes it to comment #297, so I will make my own little point here as an independent post.

Our main strategy is to be honest with our readers, and one of these aspects include debating things freely and without thinking if it is in line with people’s perception of our company. We propose main lines in our repertoire books, because you do not want to continuously play something that is bad and because you do not need to read a full book to play something dodgy once with the element of surprise.

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Here is an idea for players who have a tendency to give up on solving (Critical Moment thinking – view it like a math problem, you cannot guess, you have to work it out) and just make a move. I did this with Sam Shankland over the holidays and we found it quite entertaining. (Especially in the beginning, before he tired out entirely!)

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Welcome to 2018. May you have the best year of your life!

I do not have a lot of important news to share, so I will go with a bit of trivia.

In December I spent two weeks in India. First off, I taught for five days at the Dibyendu Barua Academy in Kolkata (which Quality Chess sponsors). It was a wonderful time.

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