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Dear friends, Thank you for your great support, you can't imagine how much I appreciate it. Your eager to learn and trust you put in me to help you achieve your goals has been my driving force, and the reason for the existance of this book series. So, at last, Volume 2 of "The process of Decision Making in Chess" has been released! In two words, it basically transforms the theory from volume 1 into practice, with tens of case studies and examples. The book is aimed at different levels, from beginners to experts. Each level has its own examples and a projection of the taught material onto the specific level of the reader. You can download the free samples of volumes 1 and 2 as a bundle here: http://www.chess.com/download/view/free-chess-ebooks---new-release , at the downloads section of Chess.com, or here: http://store.payloadz.com/details/1365707-ebooks-non-fiction-the-process-of-decision-making-in-chess-free-samples-of-the-series.html and later it will also be available on my website StrongerChess.com- further updates will be written in the forum. Have a great read, I hope you will find the new book just as useful as the first. Please, feel free to comment and share your opinions. -Philip Ochman

Here you can give your games for general discussion and analysis of our group members together with me. I'll break the ice by submitting a recent game of mine. The theme- don't get into panic under pressure:

Hi dear chess friends! I've collected some useful links for my chess students, take a look: 1) My YouTube channel is updated regularly, you're welcome to subscribe and watch all the videos there http://www.youtube.com/user/spochman1 2) The Goodreads page is a great place to share your reading experience of my (and others too) book, feel free to have an open discussion http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6952302.Philip_Ochman 3) I'd be happy to be your friend on Google+ , feel free to add me https://plus.google.com/+Philipochman/posts https://plus.google.com/+Philipochman/posts/bzF2FKgA5px 4) StrongerChess.com's tweeter account collecs all the most relevant and interesting chess news and posts them on the front page of StrongerChess.com, you can follow us here https://twitter.com/StrongerChess 5) And here are some nice selected videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--KTldzVOOQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McmiGvwFl_Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWAn2qldaF8 https://plus.google.com/+Philipochman/posts/f2k7j32DBKH More are found on the YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/spochman1 Thank you all as always for being so awesome and for your participation in our team matches! -Philip Ochman

This is a timely topic and while most federations have tip toed and toyed with online rated play at best, given the current global scenario all federations are not seriously putting plans in place to try mainline online rated tournaments ( Sitges and Fide seem to be the first out of the gate with trials ). But are organizers and more importantly players seriously ready for this given the number of new artificial elements that can affect your play/output ( connectivity issues and overt cheating being the two most serious issues to over come ). What do others think ( Especially this whom regularly play over the board events ).?

Ladies and gentlemen and chess players of all ages and skill levels, per the chat announcement, I am looking to put in place our own internal club ladder tournaments. These will be unrated games and will give our members of all levels a chance to play against their group peers, try out different ideas, learn, improve and have fun while doing so with no risk to ratings. The end goal is improvement and as you are improving to move up the ladder in your section and/or get promoted into the next section above to play against stronger players. As you can see from the image we plan to have sections to fit all interests but I need your feedback to make sure what do put in place works well for our club members in general. Please let me know your feedback _

@All. There are a few things that were historically always good about this club and along with you guys I will look to get up and running again asap ( for example ...Internal Tournaments, Matches against other clubs, Vote Chess Matches, Posting regular puzzles ) but I wanted to quickly poll the group to get feedback on what you guys feel you would most like to see. Please list your top five items you would put at the top of the list that you want us to get started asap ( and don't worry if the list goes over 5 the more feedback the better ).

All: If you can please type out your support for having me added as an SA to be able to move the group forward ( create internal tournaments, vote chess in addition to other initiatives live the internal study groups ) etc I can have chess.com put this in place and we can re-engage/re-energize our group. I humbly ask for your support in this effort

Fellow study group members. I try to play OTB ( over the board ) matches/tournaments whenever I can and as any OTB player knows, time/the clock is a huge factor in your OTB game play/performance. Historically I am a slower player and while steadily improving in this area, in my most recent tournament, more than half of the games were lost due to errors made while in time trouble. In my post mortem of my tournament performance ( post game analysis with my opponents and game review with stronger players ) it was suggested that I work to improve my ability to calculate ( stronger and faster ). I am currently working my way through Aagard's book on calculation and considering the "Woodpecker Method" but I though I would ask the group what you guys are doing, have done to improve your calculation?

All: As we are all members of this chess "Study Group", I wanted to reach out to see/organize an internal study group for mutual benefit, learning support and knowledge starting. Many of us are working individually in a structured or non structured way and we could all benefit from coming together for discussion. If you are interested I am happy to organize and we can help one another get better at this game we all love

I know this sounds unbelievable and you think I am the troll, but this is REAL!!! Ok, this is an official site by: GM Hrant Melkumyan, GM Avetik Grigoryan, GM Zaven Andriasian, GM Samvel Ter-Shakiryan, and GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan. For the first 500 members, courses are FREE!!! So you need to hurry up! Click ( my referral link ):https://chessmood.com/r/8NqW1Y5Hps9ubgj57Ow4Ytf4qVBZ6J6L By signing up and confirming your e-mail here in first 500 you will get free courses and I will get 1000 mood coins, so that's how you help me and you at the same time. You can do this referral thing too, it's 100% legal, no pishing or something like that. If you go PRO* you will gain features of 1-1 calls with GM Avetik Grigoryan and 1-1 blitz games with GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan! If you pay, you will get features of playing simul game with GMs. * premium membership Thanks for supporting me with this @PawnstormPossie

Very glad to be the official distributor of American Chess Magazine in Canada️! I already tried to read few kinds of chess magazines, but ACM really the best! 150 pages of the intersting information, the new variations and clear analysis, which will be very helpfull for coaches and chessplayers. Let me know if you are interesting!

Anyone, can you please tell me more about Kings Indian Fianchetto variation I want to play it: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0 I think it leads to solid positional play. Thanks!

Vote Chess Protocol 1. Voting cannot take place before the 24 hour mark. RationaleThis gives those willing the time for analysis and presentation so that the best moves are considered. 2. Only moves that have been part of the discussion are eligible to be voted on.RationaleIf you have a good idea let other consider it also.Your ideas give rise to other ideas and promotes more through analysis.This rule along with #2 is to prevent drive by voting.3. No cheating. The only computer aid allowed is the use of databases.4. Own your vote.When you vote post it to the comment section. The easiest way to do this is to cut and paste the vote report. Rationale It shows you have the courage of your convictions. You are more likely to contemplate your chosen move when you own it.It helps to police and identify the drive bys by process of elimination.

will there be one? i think

Solve the challenge below: Diagram 11.6- white found the d5 weakness in black’s camp, but alas, it cannot be used! It is merely an “irrelevant weak square.”Challenge: if the d5 weakness can’t be used by white, should black try to eliminate it anyway?

Solve the challenge below: Diagram 11.5- black observed a big weakness on c6. That weakness can function as an outpost for the f3 knight in two moves or even for the c1 rook in some variations. Challenge: can black deal with the weakness (eliminating it or removing the opponent’s ability to take advantage of it)?

Solve the challenge below: Diagram 11.4- searching for weak squares as part of our positional observation, we immediately see the “black holes” in our camp- all of black’s dark squares on the kingside and center are weak, due to the checkers-like pawn structure, with pawns on light squares. The problem for black is that our dark square bishop has been exchanged, leaving us with no easy way to compensate for our weaknesses. We call this type of position a “dark square weakness complex.”Notice that a similar situation happens for white too, though not as severely; his light squares are a bit weak (c4 mostly, and the a6-f1 diagonal is unavailable) with no useful way to compensate for those weaknesses since his light square bishop was also exchanged. Challenge: Can black fight back for the dark squares after all, or if not, is there a way to divert attention away from his weaknesses to those of white?

Solve the challenge below: Diagram 11.3- positional observation shows that white has a weak c3 square; it’s currently contested, but black has an easy way of not only fighting for it but possibly occupying it in the near future: …Nd5! and later possibly …Nc3 to force white to give up his strong b2 bishop. Challenge: after the suggested Nd5, is there a way for white to deal with black’s plan?

Solve the challenge below: Diagram 11.2- white has two “real” weak squares (that the opponent can successfully use to his favor), c4 and f3. Another weakness is the g4 square, also associated with a threat, however that threat is manageable. Challenge: what is the best way to deal with the threats related to white’s weak squares? Are there weaknesses that do not need attention in advance, before the opponent uses them?

Solve the challenge below: Diagram 11.1- typical for the Berlin defense, black has an unprotected weak square at f7. Challenge: does white benefit from attacking this weakness?