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MattduCouloir

@mattducouloir.bsky.social

Chess and guitar enthusiast from Canada.

20 Followers  |  31 Following  |  78 Posts  |  Joined: 02.12.2024  |  2.167

Latest posts by mattducouloir.bsky.social on Bluesky

Often when I read a chess book, I go over a full game and donโ€™t remember anything of it the next day and wonder if itโ€™s the best usage of my time for chess training. Canโ€™t say that about this book, the notes on each position teaches you so many thing ! Great book.

29.09.2025 21:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I really like Nate Solon and Eugene Perelshteyn book Evaluate like a grandmaster. One of my fav is Polgarโ€™s How I beat Fisherโ€™s record. Other than that, two of my favorites are french translation from Euwe and Larson books that are a bit hard to track down where they come from.

29.09.2025 00:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

In a game, Iโ€™d probably develop my dark square bishop with Bf4โ€ฆ Because itโ€™s a puzzle, I am tempted by g4 to kick the knightโ€ฆ

24.09.2025 10:48 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

To better answer the question : simplify, play often, review your games, play the opening fast to have some time for critical moment (identify those and use your time then).

21.09.2025 01:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Iโ€™m not a good blitz player, but my best results came when I decided for a few weeks to get better at Blitz by playing the same time control often, blitz the opening and non important moment, simplify and take my time when really needed (but not too much). Gained 100 pts quick (and lost it after).

21.09.2025 01:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I donโ€™t see a clear tactic, my instinct is to go Qe5 to trade queens and try to push that passed pawn and activate our bishop.

21.09.2025 01:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Bon matin Joe ! Je parle franรงais (langue maternelle) et aussi anglais avec assez dโ€™aisance puisque je travaille dans les deux langues.

06.09.2025 14:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

23. Good habit to look to move your king as a candidate move when R/Q are aligned. Overall, I haven't seen your other games but from this game maybe you would get great results by simplifying a bit your game and following good principles, but maybe I just say this because that's how I play haha.

06.09.2025 13:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

19.Bxd4 here is weird. There's less stuff on the board and after the trade you are worst because their pawns are on dark squares to perfectly complement their light square bishop. 20. f4 exf4 21.gxf4 Qxe4 is fine tactically, but it leaves your king weak without a clear attack.(2)

06.09.2025 13:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

No I meant some analysis for that game, I found it interesting. 10.dxe4 : why not Nxe4 to not block your knight + Bishop even if it fits means a different pawn structure. 12.Bc1 I'm sure the computer likes it, but I'd play Qd2, keep it simple and develop. (1)

06.09.2025 13:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I bought S. Williams course and played that version of the English too when I started, but eventually moved to 1.e4 to try to follow the opening principles more and get more exposure to tactical positions. I can give a few recommendations if you would like, but Iโ€™m far from a GM haha

05.09.2025 23:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Because of the description mentioning Sicilian structures, I imagine itโ€™s Bg5 to later take on f6 and play Ne5. Black seems to be a move too late to stop it.

31.08.2025 20:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

First instinct was to promote and threaten mate on h8, black has no checks so must go Bxe8, Rxe8 and we are up a full rook. Not sure if itโ€™s the right move, but I can say that I am really bad when playing in increment and have dropped whole pieces. What did you play ?

30.08.2025 15:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I love it so much when Iโ€™ve finally done my house chores etc and allow myself 30-45 minutes to go over some games or tactics on a real board, with some nice coffee. We want to know whatโ€™s your next one ! I am finishing Retiโ€™s Modern ideas in Chess (I think itโ€™s good, not great) for the Chess Dojo.

30.08.2025 14:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If it is as they say: Guns aren't the problem, people are the problem. So why are we letting problems have guns?

29.08.2025 00:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 230    ๐Ÿ” 23    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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I am rewatching old Saint Louis Chess club coverage of the 2014 Sinquefield cup to see younger Carlsen and Caruana go at it. Man, live coverage was so much more interesting before the eval bar. Really interesting to hear Seirawan, Shahade, Finegold discuss the positions with human eyes.

29.08.2025 00:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I have made some small ones for myself (basically just importing openings PGN and adding 5-6 notes) but have been wanting to create a more ambitious one to submit to the annual contest they hold each fall. Hope you are able to achieve where I failed haha. What kind of course will it be ?

07.07.2025 19:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Amazing, phew I almost lost mine (137) today haha.

14.06.2025 03:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Downloading the @chessable.com app and getting notifications greatly helped me keep my streak alive @chessable.com ! Currently studying Vizualize 1 and the Beginner Evanโ€™s gambit course from Han Schut. Posting this for the #ChessableSummerChallenge. My username is MattduCouloir.

10.06.2025 21:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Beau travail !

10.06.2025 01:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I am completing steps 4 right now after starting from the first 1 around 2021 or 2022. I was really really bad tactically and it has really helped. I love how each steps slowly adds one more move to calculate ahead, so step 4 is usually 5 moves answers. Great for calculation and visualisation too.

12.05.2025 01:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I thought it was winning at this point when I saw it, but havenโ€™t tested against an engine. With the passed pawn + active kingโ€ฆ

06.04.2025 16:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

That was kinda fun haha.

25.03.2025 15:02 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I bought that Nunnโ€™s book (course?) on Chessable pretty early after becoming interested in chess, I love how the chapters are divided. I never really tried CT-Art, my main tool for tactics have been the Steps method (still completing that 4th step).

22.03.2025 11:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Awesome game, congratulations to the player !

15.02.2025 04:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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โ™Ÿ๏ธBASIC PAWN ENDGAME TECHNIQUES: FLANK INVASIONโ™Ÿ๏ธ

Today we master a pawn endgame technique that beginners often struggle with.

โ“Black to move. How to evaluate the position?๐Ÿค”

Answer in the thread! ๐Ÿงต๐Ÿ‘‡

#chess #chesspunks #Day42

11.02.2025 19:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I also say a draw. You can let the white king invade, but play Kc7 after Kxa7 and the game will end in a repetition. Nice thread !

12.02.2025 04:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Playing Rapid like it's Bullet haha.

07.02.2025 19:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

That + other metrics should probably work in most cases, like weight class in contact sports. Having people with no expertise on the subject take very radical decision (no Trans in women sports) is definitely an issue... like most of what these people are doing anyway.

06.02.2025 20:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Lichess in light mode (not dark) is still the prettiest and fastest place to play chess online in my opinion.

06.02.2025 20:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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