r/TournamentChess

So, this Sunday is going to be my first fide OTB tournament. The time control-10 min; +5 sec.

There are a lot of kids (10-14) and a lot of old people (40+). I want to adapt my playstyle for all of them. I already prepared for most of them by looking at their online games. I myself am 2000 rapid on chess.com. The highest rated player in the tournament is 2100 fide elo. The average elo in the tournament is about 1700 fide, which should be about 1900-1950 on chess.com.

Against kids should I play solid positional openings and middle games? And against the older players should I play far more tactical lines, that are also sharp.

Besides, I seem to be a strategical/positional player, although most players my age(17) seem to be tactical.Is it good idea to play tactical positions vs the veterans even though that?

Hi! So you may have seen my post asking what I should play against e4 as black. I have so far settled on playing e5, as it overall seems like it is the best for improvement. I have also overhauled my white repertoire from playing the QG to now playing the Ruy Lopez as I am trying to get more comfortable w/ dynamic chess (I was already fine w/ aggressive chess, but not dynamic chess).

So to get to the point of this post, I have been struggling to find a suitable variation to play against the Ruy Lopez. I have been considering 3 variation, the Archangel, Marshall and Berlin.

The Archangel seems interesting because it is overall quite dynamic but not all out like the Marshall attack. But it also has quite a low win rate for black, and the only real resource on it is caruana's massive course, it also isn't that sound compared to the Berlin or smth.

The Marshall is extremely odd. When it is fully accepted, it seems that you either checkmate or end up playing an endgame a pawn down (which sounds horrible). Also white has many Anti-Marshalls, but those are pretty tame overall. You also need to deal w/ the exchange, and d3 (as opposed to Re1).

The Berlin is ofc very solid. You get to play an endgame a good portion of the time which I love. But idk if it is too passive for me. The fact that it draws all the time doesn't bother me as I enjoy drawing and everyone below 2000 plays to poorly for this to matter.

I think the Berlin would be best practically, the Marshall seems interesting, and the Archangel seems like a good aggressive option. I think I would get Shankland's LTR if I chose the Berlin, Caruana's course if the Archangel, and Ganguly's course if the Marshall (And I know chessable is too high level and you shouldn't use it under 2000, but these openings are MASSIVE and need in depth study.)

EDIT: I will just learn the Berlin for now, maybe learn some other response on the side at some point, but I feel the Berlin is simple and fine for my (low) rating.

Right now, I play no gambits, and am about 1700 FIDE. Someone said to me that at my level, tactics were the most important thing, and to really improve tactics, I should play non-dubious gambits like the Scotch or the Evans to get into tactically rich positions. Right now I’ve been playing mainlines more so, like Ruy Lopez, Open Sicilian, etc.

Is this guy‘s advice solid and should I start playing some gambits, even in classical otb? If so, until what rating does this advice work until I should switch to more solid openings?

I’m currently around 1600 strength and my main goal is to reach 2000+ level by the end of this year. I also plan to play in Paraćin Open B this year in July, so I’m trying to train much more seriously and structure my improvement better.

I've been playing the Queen's gambit and Taimanov Sicilian for around 4 years but i don't like them.

Recently I started learning Catalan and Sveshnikov. I liked the London system and KID as well.

I want to play agressive but I don't think 1. d4 is the best option.

I also noticed my current repertoire is half positional and half tactical.

The biggest thing holding me back right now is inconsistency. In some games I feel like I play far above my level, calculate well, find strong ideas, and outplay good opponents. But in other games I make one bad blunder or calculation mistake and the whole game falls apart.

What should i focus on and which sources should i study from?

Are there any books/courses/resources you would strongly recommend?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I am thinking of buying one of Boris Avrukh's courses on his website, The "QGD repertoire for Black". I was wondering if anyone has bought these repertoires from his website before.

I wanted to know if he is one of those authors that gives in-depth analysis and covers plans ideas etc with plenty of annotations, or is he one of those authors that just dumps a bunch of engine lines without little analysis? The course is quite expensive (40 dollars) so I'm interested to know that before I purchase it, as I don't think he offers refunds. There is also no way to really know what his exact repertoire recommendations are. I know he's a very famous theoretician, but knowing his writing style and depth of analysis is important to me before I purchase this.

Also, has anyone bought this actual course "QGD repertoire for black" and does anyone have a review of it, and can share what lines he gives against the mainlines of the exchange QGD?

thank you

I went from hardstuck 1700 uscf for 5 years to 2000 uscf in the span of 1 year after I changed a few things about how I viewed the game. I’m sure many has figured out these tips but for those who haven’t, I hope this helps you. Add their own advice if you have any!

1. Play your own chess.
   I used to always worry about my opponents style and age. I tried to play more solid when my opponent is young since I believed this is what you do to beat the kids. When I decided I will start playing tactical every game, as according to my style, my results improved drastically.

2. Stick to what you know.
   Similar to 1. I have pet opening lines that I somehow avoided playing for any, bad reasons. At an amateur level, no one knows what they are doing. Just play what you are best at and you’ll know more than most of your opponents.

3. Value time more.
   I always got into time trouble because I believed ‘good moves win games’. Well yes, but at some point I realized the simpler solution for a fraction of time spent is much better than trying to solve every position. This is especially important when trying to navigate the late middle and endgame. The precious minutes you have saved will be immensely helpful!

Hey, I (1800 OTB) was wondering if someone here has resources how to specifically improve good calculation in playing endgames. I always considered calculations (in middlegames) to be one of my strength and I always have very good results when I have to calculate in very sharp positions. I do train this a lot by solving lots of puzzles. But a game I played a few days ago really made me realise that I somehow am disgustingly poor in calculating endgames: I few that with puzzles from sites or even from books you never really train this but still it feels like an important skill to have for me. 

In this game I (1800) drew a 1400 in 80+10:
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/3gDWyScwjk/analysis?move=99

Of course there are lots of opening and middlegame mistakes, but I specifically was disgusted by how many calculations mistakes I made in the endgame ensuing from move 29. WIth still some time on the clock (for context I had around 20 minutes when the endgame began, 15 minutes on move 31, 9 minutes on move 34 and someone else started notated for me after move 41 so around then I got under 5 minutes, but if I look at some 1100 elo calculation mistakes I made it feels like I was playing on increment the entire game) I made the following huge calculations errors:

• rejected 31. Bxe4 because I felt like after Rxe4 I had to play cxd6 where after Rxc4 my pawns felt weak, but I completely missed c6 instead of cxd6 winning completely)  
• while even thinking that I didn’t need to hurry with taking the pawn with 32. Rf1 I somehow tought why not do it immediately: didn’t even consider any other move and c5 just wins instantly, also I missed that I have some problems getting out of the pin after Rf1 Re3; 
• completely miss 37. Rh4 with still some time on the clock and immediately go for this check and go back trick, where I also missed by now 39. b4 would attack my c-pawn (just tought by then it was not possible as it hung a pawn); at this point (move 37) I was feeling very confident and it did look quite good
• after 39. b4 (I was now a bit low on time, but still now in huge time pressure) I panic and completely tunnel visions on a ton of lines where we both trade all the pawns, but I am seeing a lot of lines where I might have to go in 2 vs 3 on kingside bc my f-pawn feels weak and was feeling like I was completely throwing this while I was completely winning; this was all because I completely missed this 41. c7 move
• and at move 41 I not only miss trivial c7 winning instantly I don’t even consider Rxf7 and think I am losing if I don’t trade and then it just becomes a dead draw after trading

So to conclusion: does someone know any ways how to improve calculations in such endgames (like I said currently most of my calculations is just solving middle game tactics but I don’t feel like this gives me enough to be able to calculate in such endgames as it just feels very different).

https://preview.redd.it/sclh3p0l0h0h1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3e41f3fa31e404064a8058369b374b2019146c8d

I have the absolute honor of having the legend himself, Baadur Jobava, as my teammate in the Hungarian Team Championship.

After the championship, we had our season-closing team event. Baadur was incredibly generous with his time, playing blitz games with the teammates, especially the youths. But I had a very specific reason to challenge him.

Earlier that day, I managed to force a 2350 FM to resign in just 21 moves using the opening named after him, the Jobava London System.

You can check out that game here: https://lichess.org/study/VjwFgJIl/vMa0Mb5q

During lunch, I brought up this game and jokingly told him that after a win like that, I definitely earned the right to play a game against the creator of the opening himself!

I figured since I was getting this rare opportunity, I wasn't going to let it go to waste. I didn't want to disappoint him with a dry, boring game, I wanted pure fireworks.

Here is how the game wen: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d6 (At this point, he smiled, looked at me and laughed: "That's the Anti-Jobava London!") 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Bxf7+?!

Obviously not entirely sound of course. But in a blitz game, it is highly practical and forces critical decisions immediately.

After 7... Kxf7 8. Ng5+, Black has a choice. The risky, but promising route is 8... Kg6, while 8... Kg8 leads to a roughly equal position. Baadur pragmatically chose the safe 8... Kg8, and after a tense fight, I actually managed to hold the draw!

Beyond the game itself, I just have to mention what a genuinely amazing guy Baadur is. He is incredibly down-to-earth and literally became friends with everyone on the team within five minutes. He would just randomly pull out a chessboard on his own and start showing us stuff without anyone even asking.

Playing a crazy, tactical brawl against my childhood hero -and actually surviving it- was a surreal experience.

Hey everyone,

This is my usual monthly AMA. A little about me for those joining for the first time:

I’m a semi-pro chess player currently competing in six national team championships and 2-3 individual tournaments each year. I became an FM at 18, and my rating has stayed above 2300 ever since, with an online peak of around 2800. I stepped back from professional chess at 20 to focus on the other parts of my lifes. At that time I started coaching part-time. I’m most proud of winning the European U12 Rapid Chess Championship.

What’s probably most unique about me is my unconventional chess upbringing. This shaped my style into something creative, aggressive, sharp, and unorthodox. My opening choices reflect this as well: I prefer rare, razor-sharp lines over classical systems, often relying on my own independent analysis. This mindset gives me a strong insight in middlegame positions, which I consider my greatest strength.

Beyond the board, I’m passionate about activities that enhance my performance in chess and life. I explore these ideas through my blog, where I share insights on how “off-board” improvements can make an improvement in your game.

Let’s go!

I recently played a tournament and was 1970(USCF), after playing 3 rounds with 1600s I drew all of them and I'm now 1930(USCF) and probably back to 1850 FIDE. I felt bad about this performance and thought I was playing worse because they were lower rated event though. I had the advantage for 1 move in each of these games, so physiologically how should I feel playing underated players like them in the future? Each game was above 91% accuracy

Today was my first OTB match in a long time and I lost against a 1549 rated player. I lost because I hung my queen, and I almost cried. I had reached the end of the middlegame and he was in a much worse position but then that happened. I still have 3 matches left, but I’m devastated.
Any tips?

I played a rapid game where my opponent tried the Scholar's Mate against me… despite being rated over 1700 😅

I ended up punishing the opening attempt, but the most frustrating part actually came AFTER the game was basically over.

I couldn’t help making a video about it — curious if you guys have dealt with disrespectful opponents like this too

Good day. I’m fide 1600-1700 in rapid and classical and i am having a hard time calculating in dynamic positions or even winning positions. I usually just use my intuition based on positional factors and other emotional decisions. I try to solve puzzles but i just want a formal maybe 4-6 sessions just to have formal training.

Any suggestions? Hopefully not so expensive.

For white I am messing around with the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit against the Scandinavian for white (e4 d5 d4 with the plan to gambit the f pawn)

And as black against d4 I like the albin counter Gambit (d4 d5 c4 e5 xe5 d4)

They are fun to play online and blitz/bullet but I worry they are too unsound to play in slow tournaments.

I'm currently 1750 USCF and trying to get to 2000 but question if I need to play more soundly to do so or if these are viable against strong players.

Like if you saw these lines are you happy or scared or what?

Edit: alright I knew the lines for BDG were subpar but didn't realize they were THAT BAD. thanks y'all lol.

As for alabin I'll still play it occasionally but yeah not for the high level tournament play haha. I appreciate all the input :)

I last played a FIDE norm tournament in 2006, when I was 17. Now in 2026 I kind of 'wake up' from a figurative coma and see that there are chess streamers who have cameras streaming their whole games when they play OTB FIDE rated classical tournaments.

Back in 2006, I never saw this. I only recently learnt about what smartphones are. I am guessing that these streamers on YouTube hook up some kind of gadget that shows the board, but also their face a well as their opponent's face.

Now I have no idea how this works, I am guessing that all of the streamer's opponents consent to being filmed. But hypothetically, what happens if one of the streamer's opponents refuses to give consent to be filmed, then the streamer's fans in the comments organise to harass and bully the opponent off the board? Would that usually be seen as taboo?

I am only asking in general terms. I truly have no idea what this environment is like, what the rules both erittnw and unwritten are, but it looks like I have a lot to catch up on as I come back to playing FIDE norm classical events.

The reason is that I hate being on camera when doing anything, especially playing OTB, I even try to hide my social media photos so no one sees my face. I also am paranoid given I was doxxed 2 months ago.

Hi everyone,

I am a 14-year-old player from Japan aiming for the GM title in the future. I am looking for a serious training partner for an Opening Study Exchange.

My main focus right now is researching the Sicilian Najdorf and the Grünfeld Defence.

How it works:

1. We pick a specific line in the Najdorf or Grünfeld together.
2. We both spend time researching it independently.
3. We connect on Discord to share our Lichess Studies.
4. We will explain our findings/ideas to each other (via voice or text) and play training games from those positions.

I believe that explaining our preparation to someone else is the best way to truly master a line and identify "human" resources that engines might overlook.

Note: My English is still a work in progress, but I want to try discussing ideas together!

If you are a dedicated student of the game who wants to improve through mutual teaching, please DM me or comment below!

I’m in GMT+9, but I can be flexible on weekends. Let’s get stronger together!

Edit: My rating is around 1600 FIDE / 2200 chess.com.

Important Note: I have school exams starting next week, so I will be away for about 2 weeks to focus on studying. I will check and respond to all DMs/comments after my exams.

In the Scotch gambit, in the main line with Nf6 e5 d5 Bb5, one very rarely encounters Nd7 instead of Ne4. But engines like Black in all continuations (0-0, Bxc6 or Bf4). Anyone aware of good discussions or videos on this line online? And why it’s not played more often? Since White doesn’t get much good play gambiting the e pawn, it seems Bf4 may be best, but I see only one 2200+ game with Bf4 on Chessbase database.