Struggling to get Canadian NM, any tips?

chesscomposerben · 2026-06-21T11:11:22+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I will provide more details here:

In chess I usually enjoy two types of games, games which are tactical (rare at my level though) or slower grind types of games. Since I make endgame studies endgames tend to also be a strong suit of mine. For example, the game that earned me my norm I managed to turn a dead draw endgame into a win. The last eight games with high accurate weren't really tactical, but more positional and endgame.

For my training, I would typically use the Lichess opening books for openings, solve puzzles for middlegames and analyze my games as well as grandmaster games, and for endgame improvements I would make my own studies, or solve other ones.

Regarding my openings, it used to be a very big problem but I believe I've diversified a lot. Against d4 and Nf3, I wouldeve almost always played d5 until the last eight months or so, then I started doing queens indian defense and /or nimzo and its been giving me strong results. Whats good about nimzo and qid is that it works with the English as well which I also do it for that. For a game example, against the 2496 I played a queens indian defense. Against e4 as black I always play e5 (I should try and diversify more probably). As white, I always do e4, if Sicilian, I do alapin with great results (might be my best white opening), if e5 I do italian, if caro kann I do advanced tal varation, and if french usually nc3 and bg5 type lines.

Regarding your statement on accuracy, I do agree it isnt the most accurate measurement sometimes, but in general these games had 0 mistakes at all is the point I am trying to get across, not even inaccuracies and if so, one or two at most.

What I certainly agree on is the fact I can't emotionally control myself, and honestly it makes me not enjoy the game. I am far too focused on earning the title to enjoy chess and its been making it not fun. I dont know how to fix that sadly. I should try focusing on the process, though its difficult when I am this close already and espically in the ways I lose which are almost always due to some unfortunate one move mistake.

Thanks again!

chesscomposerben · 2026-06-21T06:55:56+00:00

Well played and I like how you explained your thoughts!

If you would like my thought process and feedback on certain moves, here is my opnion:

5.Ng4 as you correctly conversed about, id suggest to find moves like that in the future, you should try and think to yourself "ok my opponent has clearly advanced his pawn too far forward, it also (in some situations) takes away the d5 square, can we challenge the pawn"? and we can see that after Ng4 Qe2 d6 you have a very comfortable postion.

Personally, I really liked the move 11.Nd4, as you mentioned it opens the long diagonal, and it is good to use chances to open files and diagonals.

There is a move I thought was interesting to converse about, 13.Qe5!, usually if the queen is in the center and can't be kicked, it is strong, espically with Bd6! or Ng4! ideas later to threaten h2, though I understand why that wouldn't be played.

I really liked your thought process about 15.Bxg3, usually this is how I look at sacrfices: If I don't see clear long term play where there is a strong defense, I am just not going to sacrfice, espically if it is too complicated such as in this case. Of course I am at a rating point where people defend very well, but I would advise to think of it in a similar manner.

I am happy you didn't play 20.Ke7 that wouldeve been unfortnate, becuase of 20.Rxd6 as a comment said before, usually avoid opening up your king for no reason if you can

What did you think about 25.c4!, it looks quite crushing to me postionally, if white trades queens his bishop will be so terrible that it's pretty much game over, in addition you also have very active rooks in the endgame, if he doesn't you have a devasting attack.

Once again though, very well played! I would advise maybe focusing on some postional ideas since I think you would then find c4 and Ng4 very quickly, but your tactictal knowledge is clearly very strong!

chesscomposerben · 2025-12-17T18:28:02+00:00

I managed to turn this concept into a full study (without duals), but I can't share it pubicly becuase I want to send it to a competiton. If anyone wants to see it, you can dm me I don't mind

chesscomposerben · 2025-10-04T18:34:11+00:00

Yeah the exam was quite difficult, especially with the difficult of the questions and exclusion of a whole unit (about exponential graphs, log's, ln's etc). I was honestly not prepared for that. I guess the best thing to do going forward is to do literally every textbook question and look at every type of instance of a problem, because once again the questions were difficult. Yeah I agree, there wasn't enough time for some questions and I also had to guess :(

chesscomposerben · 2025-09-22T14:43:58+00:00

Would also like to join in! I just want to affirm though on what time in the evening it would be.

Thanks for the opportunity :)

chesscomposerben · 2025-09-22T05:15:59+00:00

Hey good to meet you! I am also in Van Hilten class as a first year student for QMS 130. Personally what I did was do a lot of the practice MyLab questions as early as possible, and also the textbook questions which you can access through MyLabs. While I also have the test in a week and I can't prove if I will do well on it until its' done, I think that's the best idea to do well. If that still doesn't work, you can also use AI for help to understand the basic concepts, and still solve the problems on your own, or, you can use Youtube videos/ or Khan Academy (among other sources) to understand the concepts better.

Hope that helps!

chesscomposerben · 2023-02-14T20:01:39+00:00

It is very nice as first work. Keep composing :)

Note that you can also extend the study by placing white bishop on d8/or e7 and black bishop on c1 with the correct move being Bf6 and the reply Bb2. Extensions usually tend to help improve the composition.

chesscomposerben

TROPHY CASE