Hey Alex, your videos are the most helpful i have found for my rating range. I’ve learned to let the opponent self destruct, much better than throwing loose attacks myself :) Going to start to study caro kann because of you. Thank you for the high value quality content and have a great day!
Wintergatan, I wonder if you could make the different chess moves have different notes? Maybe the Caro should be played in a minor key?? Great explanations, Alex, love watching your games!
Shocked that more people haven't subscribed to this man, his videos are the most comprehensive and not overdressed with unrelated nonsense. Just pure chess with a sense of humour. Hope he never gets disenchanted with this that would be a huge blunder.
Levy has the popularity, Alex has the content. If I want to just watch a fun chess video, I’ll watch Levy. If I’m really trying to learn/refresh my knowledge, it’s a no-brainer watching Alex. Personally I hope he never gets above 60,000 subscribers so that his lessons can pretty much stay secret to the Internet. Realistically, he should have 20M subs
It's just exposure I am quite sure if he did collaborations with the more popular channels he would get heaps of subs . It's amazing how many great channels I never knew existed until recently .
I love ur videos! I asked my dad who’s also an IM if he knew who you were and he complimented you upon watching this video. Ur a great teacher honestly.
I already got my first win with the Tartakower variation you explained in the first game. Got almost the same finish as you did it was really helpful totally destroyed my opponent with your tips. Very much appreciated!
maybe this sounds repetitive, but I have watched several different channels from IMs, GMs, etc. and your videos are simply the best for my taste (direct, simple, easy to understand, nice tone, funny but not a clown and not theatrical either...). Keep it up and thanks for the great and funny content! Also, it's incredible how you keep calm under attack ^^ lol. One day I'll maybe get there. Cheers! :)
7:24 Bro, an even stronger move here was rook takes e3, sacrificing the rook and if they take the rook, then the queen infiltrates and its mate in a few moves. Found the move while watching the video, plugged in stockfish and saw that it was the right move.
That was nice. I usually try variations of pirc but I'm going to play about the next 50 games with just this to see how it goes. Thanks for all your videos. Very helpful.
Without a doubt Alex is the best teacher of the Caro - Kann opening. I really like this opening as it can be learned quite quickly and I think it is a really powerful weapon against e4 white.
Noooo not an annoying voice, it's grrreat, and you're a refreshing addition to learning from the best. Yeah long video but then I eat while watching so time isn't an issue. Thanks Alex - keep it up.
At 7:25 you missed a brutal tactic: Rxbe3. They can't recapture, since you can then just Qxg3+ which leads to a pretty quick mate. Perfect play: Mate in 10. Second best move for white after that would be Mate in 2, so it's a good trick.
At 10:24 he can go Nh4. If Rxh4 then Bf3 protected by queen. If Rg4 then Bxg4 forcing Qg4 Then Qf3. You will have to escape Qe7 or Qd8. He would then be able to move kg2 opening up for rook to slide over further defending his king and adding to offensive capabilities on your king.
You sold me. I'm officially gonna learn & play the karo. Been stubbornly playing the Pirc but I've seen too many of your vids now not to switch. Thank you
Having caught each and everything you've said I must comment to the contrary; your voice in not annoying at all as it's masterfully expressed with an underling Great since of Fun Hummer!! Thanks Alex ans as Always, Blessings friend from Oregon ! : ) 100%
Man I just started playing chess its been 3 weeks I reached 600+ elo More of the thanks goes to u and ur videos u played great role in that Keep growing ⛳🤞
7:00. Alex, you missed it. 1.P-g3 appears to frustrate the battery. What is needed here is the disruptor move. You are looking to sac material in order to give new life to the battery. 1.----R×B displaces the guard or wins a bishop. A further hint that the disruptor sac is worth it is that the rook at e1 and the bishop at e2 form the Murphy Wall hemming in the king. Play it out. I see in the comments that I am not the only one to find this.
In the first game after g3, Rxe3 is winning immediately, if they try to take back it’s forced mate, or if you don’t see that far ahead it’s still clearly winning after Qxg3+, Kf1, Qxh3+, Kg1, Qg3+, Kf1, Bg4 threatening mate, seems like a very simple attack and you’re hardly down material for it. Understandable to not go into it without calculating but just something I saw immediately as an option since the f pawn is overloaded after g3
Had to come back here and thank you Alex. I thought it was some low level trap like stated in the title, but just used it to milk some free ELO from 1500+ opponent. Thanks papa!
Game 1: I get it that the queen must stay on h3 to cut off the king's escape square. Bg2 allows escape but after qxg2/rxg2 black will be up 3 pawns and a minor piece and should prevail. Game 3: 44:00 If you take the hanging pawn on c3 does it not create a spyhole for white to invade? Staying calm when the queen is close enough to shake hands and there's a rook lined up on your king... big kudos. As players like you say, those who think they are clever are particularly annoying to those of us who really are!
Thanks for the video and the detailed explanation. It really helps me to understand ideas. However, as I was watching the game at 7:28 when you moved the queen to d7 I couldn't help but wonder isn't rock takes bishop on e3 winning on the spot? I quickly checked it with the engine and it's indeed -6.3 for black. Being stuck at 1200-1300 makes me feel, hmmm maybe I am getting somewhere slowly.
Hey Alex, appreciate your content so much and I have your London course which I love. Wondering if you’re making a Caro Kann course and if so when can I expect it? I only play the London the Caro and the reverse London all because of you. You’re the best man keep it up.
Hey Alex, love your videos especially these rating climb ones as they help me a lot to improve my chess... When's the caro kann chessable course coming btw?
@@AlexBanzea Wonderful, I bought your London course, and your Caro course I've been waiting for, for a long time! Cheers to the growth of your channel. You're a dedicated teacher, and a killer tactician when you're A-game is on!! The squeeze of winning the won position, is where I really enjoy your tactical marvels. Good luck to you!
you do not have an annoying voice bruv! I enjoy very much how passionate you are about this game, makes it very entertaining to watch even as a casual chess enjoyer.
Yeah me too lol .. the moment he played g3 I wanted to sacrifice the rook and win 2 pawns and open the king up, I searched up for his account and analysed the game and the sacrifice was top engine move. But I understand him , he is playing against noobs so no need to do fancy stuff
@@AlexBanzea Good,make it as good as your london please...Same format with pawn structures and move orders.Plenty of lines alex,plenty of lines please....always add the important lines later,get that theory going.
At 7:14 Didn't you miss a winning tactic with Rxe3? fxe3 is not possible because of Qg3+ and c5 leads to big problems for white after Qe6 fxe3 Bxg3 or Qxh3.
Oh definitely! I’m just so used to play this when White has Qd2 protecting the bishop, but that was working here for sure! I knew the attack was so good after …Qd7 that I didn’t even look for candidates 😂🙈
I play the Tartakower variation of the Caro a LOT and when I get to a position like the one at 7:02, even if I see mate in like six moves; my opponent LOVES to hit me with Bd3. And I get really tempted to go Bg6 and see if I can get the C U B E. even though it’s performing a queen pin, C U B E is just 2 STRONK
Same, but currently I'm stuck at 800 and I think that's the point where you should know something and the fundamentals knowledge is not really enough to oversmart your opponents somehow
@@zach3541 I think we just reached our actual level of chess, so opponents are equally skilled which means that our chances to win/lose are equal. At this point I think we should start working a little bit harder and besides just playing meaningless games, focus more on theory probably, I'm not sure about that tho lol
Name friend i love your videos. Thanks to you i climbed up from 450 to 820 for 2 weeks, please keep up with these same type of videos. I'm just wondering why don't you go for 10 mins games to allow you not to rush in your explanations?
I'm thining of using this now that I've seen it. I play pirc defense and I have a better win % as black then white. Pirc just has a really ez and safe position and the enemy normally messes up
At 34:38 if he’s trying to do a weird version of the J O B A V A London, wouldn’t the mistake actually be Nf3 Instead of Nc3? since he couldn’t kick that bishop away with f3 then g4 and had to go straight to h3 because he went Nf3?
I've seen Alex say on this video and others that the pawn cube is winning by force, but I don't understand why. Is there a video that explains that? (P.S. ... In case you see this, Alex, I did buy your C-K course on Chessable, with the video even.)
Instead of going 15...Qd7, what if you play 15... Rxe3 16. fxe3 Qxg3+ Isn't that almost winning on the spot? Even if white doesnt take back on e3 and rather plays c5, I think it would be very strong.
on 6:35 when he plays pawn g3, is it a good attacking move to take bishop e3 with rook? the idea being if he takes with pawn your battery is undefended and if he sees that its a free bishop.
first game, after move 15 - what about rook e 3? opponent has to capture with the pawn which makes the king ultimately vulnerable and for us queen follow up check any good?
You can now...check out my Caro course! www.chessable.com/the-caro-kann-simplified/course/171080/
Hey Alex, your videos are the most helpful i have found for my rating range. I’ve learned to let the opponent self destruct, much better than throwing loose attacks myself :) Going to start to study caro kann because of you. Thank you for the high value quality content and have a great day!
too kind!
Omg marble guy :D
Wintergatan, I wonder if you could make the different chess moves have different notes? Maybe the Caro should be played in a minor key?? Great explanations, Alex, love watching your games!
What are you doing here lmaoo
Didn’t expect to find you here! Still rocking the marble machine X shirt.
Shocked that more people haven't subscribed to this man, his videos are the most comprehensive and not overdressed with unrelated nonsense. Just pure chess with a sense of humour. Hope he never gets disenchanted with this that would be a huge blunder.
Levy has the popularity, Alex has the content. If I want to just watch a fun chess video, I’ll watch Levy. If I’m really trying to learn/refresh my knowledge, it’s a no-brainer watching Alex.
Personally I hope he never gets above 60,000 subscribers so that his lessons can pretty much stay secret to the Internet. Realistically, he should have 20M subs
It's just exposure I am quite sure if he did collaborations with the more popular channels he would get heaps of subs . It's amazing how many great channels I never knew existed until recently .
This guy is underrated , legit helped my caro kann
I love ur videos! I asked my dad who’s also an IM if he knew who you were and he complimented you upon watching this video. Ur a great teacher honestly.
I like your channel quite a bit, it's like a perfect mix of the calmness of rosen, wit of levy, and strategic ideas of agat
I already got my first win with the Tartakower variation you explained in the first game. Got almost the same finish as you did it was really helpful totally destroyed my opponent with your tips. Very much appreciated!
Been watching your vids, I must say it's very instructive theoretically and helps with my games. Keeping it simple and easy
at 10:51 you can take a pawn on d4 and than if opponent takes a roock you will just mate with bishob to h2. and tanks this video helped me much :)
i see no mate, the bishop is still guarding the h1 so queen can't go there to deliver checkmate...
@@renzandrewg.deguzman9666he said bh2
But still there’s no mate
maybe this sounds repetitive, but I have watched several different channels from IMs, GMs, etc. and your videos are simply the best for my taste (direct, simple, easy to understand, nice tone, funny but not a clown and not theatrical either...).
Keep it up and thanks for the great and funny content! Also, it's incredible how you keep calm under attack ^^ lol. One day I'll maybe get there. Cheers! :)
7:24
Bro, an even stronger move here was rook takes e3, sacrificing the rook and if they take the rook, then the queen infiltrates and its mate in a few moves. Found the move while watching the video, plugged in stockfish and saw that it was the right move.
I saw the same thing
That was nice. I usually try variations of pirc but I'm going to play about the next 50 games with just this to see how it goes. Thanks for all your videos. Very helpful.
Let me know how that goes!
I wonder what should I do if all players in my rating range watching your video. Best instructive chess videos at least for me
I went from 600 to 1000 in around 2 weeks thanks to these videos. Huge thanks. Your teaching style is so easy to process.
Without a doubt Alex is the best teacher of the Caro - Kann opening. I really like this opening as it can be learned quite quickly and I think it is a really powerful weapon against e4 white.
Noooo not an annoying voice, it's grrreat, and you're a refreshing addition to learning from the best. Yeah long video but then I eat while watching so time isn't an issue. Thanks Alex - keep it up.
At 7:25 you missed a brutal tactic: Rxbe3. They can't recapture, since you can then just Qxg3+ which leads to a pretty quick mate. Perfect play: Mate in 10. Second best move for white after that would be Mate in 2, so it's a good trick.
Thanks he plays this move in another video, I was wondering if I was missing somthing.
your voice is insanely calm and actually helps me pay attention
You're a legend and your explanations are crystal clear thank you
At 10:24 he can go Nh4.
If Rxh4 then Bf3 protected by queen.
If Rg4 then Bxg4 forcing Qg4
Then Qf3. You will have to escape Qe7 or Qd8. He would then be able to move kg2 opening up for rook to slide over further defending his king and adding to offensive capabilities on your king.
You sold me. I'm officially gonna learn & play the karo. Been stubbornly playing the Pirc but I've seen too many of your vids now not to switch. Thank you
You probably the only one that i can watch chess vid for 1hr plus without fast-forwarding. Thank you for the great lessons!
Agreed
Having caught each and everything you've said I must comment to the contrary; your voice in not annoying at all as it's masterfully expressed with an underling Great since of Fun Hummer!! Thanks Alex ans as Always, Blessings friend from Oregon ! : ) 100%
Man I just started playing chess its been 3 weeks
I reached 600+ elo
More of the thanks goes to u and ur videos u played great role in that
Keep growing ⛳🤞
7:00. Alex, you missed it. 1.P-g3 appears to frustrate the battery. What is needed here is the disruptor move. You are looking to sac material in order to give new life to the battery. 1.----R×B displaces the guard or wins a bishop. A further hint that the disruptor sac is worth it is that the rook at e1 and the bishop at e2 form the Murphy Wall hemming in the king. Play it out.
I see in the comments that I am not the only one to find this.
In the first game after g3, Rxe3 is winning immediately, if they try to take back it’s forced mate, or if you don’t see that far ahead it’s still clearly winning after Qxg3+, Kf1, Qxh3+, Kg1, Qg3+, Kf1, Bg4 threatening mate, seems like a very simple attack and you’re hardly down material for it. Understandable to not go into it without calculating but just something I saw immediately as an option since the f pawn is overloaded after g3
Had to come back here and thank you Alex. I thought it was some low level trap like stated in the title, but just used it to milk some free ELO from 1500+ opponent. Thanks papa!
You improved my chess more than any other content creator! Gained 200 elo in around a month. Thanks Alex!
When you have a day off from work and Alex uploads an hour of Caro content, you know it's gonna be a good day.
Too kind sir! Thanks 🙏
9:10. Black's queen has the king in the snake hook, a kind of 'king on the block' position.
Game 1: I get it that the queen must stay on h3 to cut off the king's escape square. Bg2 allows escape but after qxg2/rxg2 black will be up 3 pawns and a minor piece and should prevail. Game 3: 44:00 If you take the hanging pawn on c3 does it not create a spyhole for white to invade? Staying calm when the queen is close enough to shake hands and there's a rook lined up on your king... big kudos. As players like you say, those who think they are clever are particularly annoying to those of us who really are!
Thanks for the video and the detailed explanation. It really helps me to understand ideas. However, as I was watching the game at 7:28 when you moved the queen to d7 I couldn't help but wonder isn't rock takes bishop on e3 winning on the spot? I quickly checked it with the engine and it's indeed -6.3 for black.
Being stuck at 1200-1300 makes me feel, hmmm maybe I am getting somewhere slowly.
Same idea
You are the sole reason I actually improved in chess love your videos
"this is why we love the game of chess, it's literally never boring, unless maybe you play the petrov"
Hey Alex, appreciate your content so much and I have your London course which I love. Wondering if you’re making a Caro Kann course and if so when can I expect it? I only play the London the Caro and the reverse London all because of you. You’re the best man keep it up.
Alex symphonies continue to amaze
you are the best, do more caro-kann videos also for 1600+
Hey Alex, love your videos especially these rating climb ones as they help me a lot to improve my chess... When's the caro kann chessable course coming btw?
April it’s supposed!
@@AlexBanzea Wonderful, I bought your London course, and your Caro course I've been waiting for, for a long time! Cheers to the growth of your channel. You're a dedicated teacher, and a killer tactician when you're A-game is on!! The squeeze of winning the won position, is where I really enjoy your tactical marvels. Good luck to you!
Thank you very much for the instructions and in such a funny manner! You definitely deserve more subs!
you do not have an annoying voice bruv! I enjoy very much how passionate you are about this game, makes it very entertaining to watch even as a casual chess enjoyer.
Literally just won a checkmate in 12 moves after watching this video.
I watched a lot of chess trainer but you are one of the best, chill, fun and never forgeting we are pretty noob :D
Absolutely love this channel 🙌🙌🙌
Thank you!! Amazing content. Love to see your channel grow!
I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for introducing me to the Caro-Kann
Hi Alex :)
After 15.g3 I was very obsessed with rook takes e3, is it a bad move ?
EDIT: It's the best move ! Forcing mate in 10 (or 2 if king goes h1)
Yeah me too lol .. the moment he played g3 I wanted to sacrifice the rook and win 2 pawns and open the king up, I searched up for his account and analysed the game and the sacrifice was top engine move. But I understand him , he is playing against noobs so no need to do fancy stuff
what if i dont take the rook, just pawn c5?
@@landakmdk8478 then Qd7 and I think white is rolled
I love your lessons. Greetings from Cluj-N. 🙂
Bro u teach is such detail love it bro i love your content
Alex, what is wrong with an exchange sac with the rook on e3 at about 7:30 in the video? Follow up with Qg3? Great content, as always….
That's the top move with #10
Very nice vid. Why is the Caro Kanin better than the Scandinavian defense in your opinion? I’m new
“This is why we love the game of chess - it never becomes boring - as long as you don’t play the Petrov.” :)
Awesome, I watch your videos and improve. Thank you
i fucking love this guy
What about Rxe3 fxe3 Qxg3+? Instead of bringing the Queen to d7?
I saw that too but I think he wanted to stay instructive
8:00
Can we think about taking his bishop on e3 with our rook to weaken the g3 pawn? It would be undefended if he captured the rook
Yep. That’s a clear win
And what to do after pawn c5?
@@pierredijon7134 capture pawn g3 with queen
@@micahsencounters I mean you take the bishop with the rook and I play pawn to c5
@@pierredijon7134 tru I like that move a lot I didn’t think about it. Maybe u found the best move
23:56 brief banzea disassociation
11:59 hilbilly attack XD we have all been there havnt we
I will master the caro kann....Alex,your videos are pricless.Cant wait for that course next month.
Will delay it a bit for May I think. I don’t wanna rush things, so prefer to take a bit of time to make it really good!
@@AlexBanzea Good,make it as good as your london please...Same format with pawn structures and move orders.Plenty of lines alex,plenty of lines please....always add the important lines later,get that theory going.
At 7:14
Didn't you miss a winning tactic with Rxe3? fxe3 is not possible because of Qg3+ and c5 leads to big problems for white after Qe6 fxe3 Bxg3 or Qxh3.
Yea he did, stock fish says its brilliant
Oh definitely! I’m just so used to play this when White has Qd2 protecting the bishop, but that was working here for sure! I knew the attack was so good after …Qd7 that I didn’t even look for candidates 😂🙈
7:10 Sacrifice the rook Rc3. If pawn takes, you can carry-on with the battery, otherwise you gained a bishop for free…
Imagine getting smoked by a guy who is teaching live with a timer of 5 mins
Oh no, there's a Danya video and an Alex video and only one lunch break!?
I'll go with Alex's video then.. 😄
I play the Tartakower variation of the Caro a LOT and when I get to a position like the one at 7:02, even if I see mate in like six moves; my opponent LOVES to hit me with Bd3. And I get really tempted to go Bg6 and see if I can get the C U B E.
even though it’s performing a queen pin, C U B E is just 2 STRONK
I've literally climbed from 480 to 600 in a week because of your videos. Thank you so much!
Same, but currently I'm stuck at 800 and I think that's the point where you should know something and the fundamentals knowledge is not really enough to oversmart your opponents somehow
@@aki7162 yeah I’m stuck at the elo aswell they seem to know an unspoken secret 😭
@@zach3541 I think we just reached our actual level of chess, so opponents are equally skilled which means that our chances to win/lose are equal. At this point I think we should start working a little bit harder and besides just playing meaningless games, focus more on theory probably, I'm not sure about that tho lol
@@aki7162 I am though !! I’m thinking much more but not learning theory tbf
I've been through that too u guys just need to play more at the end u will get better just play more
Looking forward to your Caro Kann course!
as someone who only plays the caro as black, i really appreciate the content
Very instructive video
Name friend i love your videos. Thanks to you i climbed up from 450 to 820 for 2 weeks, please keep up with these same type of videos. I'm just wondering why don't you go for 10 mins games to allow you not to rush in your explanations?
Great video, thanks Alex!
15.... Rxe3. Is a much stronger and crushing move than Qd7 with a mating attack which white can hardly repel.
When is your Caro Kann course coming out?
amazing video, another 50000 times of watching you explain it to me and I think I might get it :)
@Minute 18:00 GM Fineglod would call it suspicious.
Great content yet again. I love your videos
I'm thining of using this now that I've seen it. I play pirc defense and I have a better win % as black then white. Pirc just has a really ez and safe position and the enemy normally messes up
After Black plays g3, couldn't White do Rxe3? Thereby grabbing the b3 pawn with a Q check?
At 34:38 if he’s trying to do a weird version of the J O B A V A London, wouldn’t the mistake actually be Nf3 Instead of Nc3? since he couldn’t kick that bishop away with f3 then g4 and had to go straight to h3 because he went Nf3?
I've seen Alex say on this video and others that the pawn cube is winning by force, but I don't understand why. Is there a video that explains that? (P.S. ... In case you see this, Alex, I did buy your C-K course on Chessable, with the video even.)
Dude has the South Park smile going on in the thumb nail this must be good
Instead of going 15...Qd7, what if you play 15... Rxe3 16. fxe3 Qxg3+
Isn't that almost winning on the spot? Even if white doesnt take back on e3 and rather plays c5, I think it would be very strong.
7:18 does the rook sac work here? It looks good.
Why can't you take the dark square bishop with the rook after g3?
at 7:15 taking the dark squared bishop with the rook looks beautiful why not do that?
on 6:35 when he plays pawn g3, is it a good attacking move to take bishop e3 with rook? the idea being if he takes with pawn your battery is undefended and if he sees that its a free bishop.
first game, after move 15 - what about rook e 3? opponent has to capture with the pawn which makes the king ultimately vulnerable and for us queen follow up check
any good?
Am I missing something with rxe3 on move 15 in the first game ?
Can you some time introduce Sicilian defense to us ... I love it very much ❤️
Love to play Stafford Gambit coz its fun
The Tartakover?!? Can u pls explain that thx
I was wondering, in the first game, after 15. g3, could you have played Rxe3 fxe3 Qxg3+
Nice video thank you.! Just in 7:00 I would go Rook e3. Easy piece win 🙂
great video. thank you👍
7:27 after g3 is Rxe3 an option?
Please do not stop on Carro Kan course. Make Slav course also and take my money 💪🔥
Do you have a video on how to deal with the Tal variation?
I recommend 3…c5
Instructive!
In game 1 when they play g3, what are your thoughts on rook takes bishop?
07:15 How about black rook takes bishop on e3?
30:19 is there any reason u didn't go rc1+ forking queen n king thus making a queen while taking his queen out....or just to flex backrank with rook ?
that would have been good too!
your videos are just FANTASTIC,