Paul Morphy: Part 1, Lecture by GM Ben Finegold

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  • Опубліковано 24 кві 2023
  • Check out Ben's Chessable courses here! www.chessable.com/author/BenF... Part 1 of 4 of the Paul Morphy Lecture Series by GM Ben Finegold. This lecture focuses on four of Morphy's games playing the King's Gambit.
    Living before chess had a formal world championship, Morphy was widely acknowledged to be the greatest chess master of his era. He won the tournament of the First American Chess Congress of 1857, winning matches with each opponent by lopsided margins.
    08:30 Paul Morphy - Eugène Rousseau, New Orleans 1849
    17:27 Paul Morphy - Alonzo Morphy, New Orleans 1848
    23:30 James McConnell - Paul Morphy, New Orleans 1849
    29:34 John Schulten - Paul Morphy, New York 1857
    If you're interested in sponsoring a lecture of your choice, email Karen at karen@atlchessclub.com
    Thank you Bill Wei for sponsoring this series!
    Signup or gift a chess.com Premium membership to get access to their lessons, remove ads, improve your chess, AND help Ben at the same time!! Upgrade your chess.com membership or join! - go.chess.com/finegold.
    Buy Merch today! ccscatlmerch.com/
    Watch live at / itsbenandkaren
    Donations are appreciated at: streamlabs.com/itsBenandKaren...
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    #benfinegold #chess #PaulMorphy
  • Ігри

КОМЕНТАРІ • 289

  • @askthepizzaguy
    @askthepizzaguy 11 місяців тому +330

    Big big thanks to Bill Wei for sponsoring this lecture for us plebs with no dollars to spare. Big thanks, the man deserves to get paid and I'm glad he's getting paid. This content is of such quality that it should absolutely continue to be produced if possible. Thank you for making it possible for the rest of us.

  • @Puschit1
    @Puschit1 11 місяців тому +73

    Even Fischer admitted that Morphy could be the better player and that we just don't know because times were so different. If Morphy would be teleported to the times of Fischer, Karparow/Karpov respectively Carlsen and therefore would have access to the same knowledge of the time he was in, that might have supercharged him.
    And some words about Morphys aggressive play style: Back then it was all about showmanship, you didn't just wanted to win, you wanted to do so in the most spectacular manner. It was like every game that had spectators was like a streamer today playing "for content" rather than for safe wins. As a fellow streamer once said, Morphy was a surgeon, not a butcher. And yes, because of his superior calculation skills he was able to walk the fine line between going flashy and risking too much. Remember his match against Harrwitz where he lost the first two games? He then famously announced in response to Harrwitz bragging and teasing him that from now on Harrwitz will not win a single game. And that's what happened, even with Harrwitz dictating the schedule, denying Morphy a day off when he was sick but taking himself days off to prepare something new etc. It's like Morphy had a "play for the audience mode" and a "no-BS-mode" and could switch at any time.

    • @shaktidevii
      @shaktidevii 6 місяців тому +1

      thats very humble of Bobby 🤍 King Fischer Forever Morphy bows down

    • @kevinmalone3210
      @kevinmalone3210 22 дні тому

      With today's knowledge in chess, Morphy would've been at 2700 or higher after getting him up to speed. When he was playing, I'd estimate his rating at around 2500 at least.

  • @Evilanious
    @Evilanious 11 місяців тому +81

    This is going to be good. Ben is a huge Morphy fan.

    • @andrewptob
      @andrewptob 11 місяців тому +45

      No need to bring up Ben’s weight

    • @kenw2225
      @kenw2225 11 місяців тому +5

      Ben looks like my dad as he lost 140 lbs after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. He looks alot thinner in this video vs Oct or so , the last video I watched

    • @andrewptob
      @andrewptob 11 місяців тому +6

      @@kenw2225 Ben does actually look better. Nice work by your dad! 💪

  • @aidancooper9498
    @aidancooper9498 11 місяців тому +44

    I've long been an advocate for Morphy being the best player to have ever lived, I am so happy to hear such a well-reputed educator such as yourself say so as well!!

    • @dodiad
      @dodiad 11 місяців тому

      Certainly the most entertaining.

    • @elg7365
      @elg7365 6 місяців тому

      There is no way to compare

    • @gmatsue84
      @gmatsue84 29 днів тому

      @@elg7365 Distance between one and his peers is one of the best, among many, ways to compare, and one that makes the most sense.

    • @elg7365
      @elg7365 29 днів тому

      @@gmatsue84 actually this would be the way only or you have a good amount of data. There is no comparison between that era and this. This is a different game .

    • @gmatsue84
      @gmatsue84 29 днів тому

      @@elg7365 The point of using gap is exactly so that you can compare different games

  • @josephbarbarie692
    @josephbarbarie692 10 місяців тому +9

    I love that Finegold is carrying the torch for the aesthetic principle in chess. Chess, like any pursuit, must tickle the artistic sensibility -- not just the competitive.

  • @pawnpusher
    @pawnpusher 11 місяців тому +45

    Didn't Bobby Fischer say in an interview that Morphy was the most talented player who ever lived? Clearly a genius

    • @zachhaywood1564
      @zachhaywood1564 10 місяців тому +5

      Yep, Hikaru too.

    • @mitchelllevine5664
      @mitchelllevine5664 10 місяців тому +1

      He said Capablanca was the most talented, although Morphy was his favorite

    • @LuxuryItIs
      @LuxuryItIs 9 місяців тому

      Most talented
      1. Morphy
      2. Fischer
      3. Capablanca
      4. Kasparov
      5. Lasher

    • @mitchelllevine5664
      @mitchelllevine5664 9 місяців тому

      @@LuxuryItIs Not sure who Lasher is, but I’d say Capablanca, then Fischer

    • @LuxuryItIs
      @LuxuryItIs 9 місяців тому

      @@mitchelllevine5664 Emanuel lasker. You can definitely make the case that capablanca was more talented

  • @KancerKowboy
    @KancerKowboy 11 місяців тому +33

    You can't go wrong with Morphy, one of the most interesting chess players of all time!

  • @jackwisniewski3859
    @jackwisniewski3859 11 місяців тому +49

    What timing! I was actually binging your previous paul morphy lectures earlier today! And ive been looking into the kings gambit as well, this is great. Btw Ben, my family has noticed me watching your lectures and have nicknamed you "panda".

    • @RahdoBound
      @RahdoBound 11 місяців тому +1

      Wow what a perfect nickname

    • @TylerHumphrey05
      @TylerHumphrey05 11 місяців тому +4

      Is that similar to googling?

  • @SkepticalCaveman
    @SkepticalCaveman 10 місяців тому +9

    I want to see a movie made of Morphy's life. He deserves to be known by more people.

  • @kevinstrand4596
    @kevinstrand4596 11 місяців тому +7

    Gonna be awesome. I'll never get tired of Morphy games.

  • @black44443
    @black44443 9 місяців тому +2

    Oh my god, thank you so much for this lesson! I just had my FIRST EVER SMOTHERED MATE, because I remembered the pattern of this video!
    That's the coolest thing I've ever done in chess, thank you so much, GM Finegold!

  • @davido4263
    @davido4263 11 місяців тому +2

    Thank you to sponsor Bill 🥇💰. Thank you GM Finegold another awesome video

  • @jashyotes
    @jashyotes 11 місяців тому +8

    GOoooooooooo Billlllll Wayyyy

  • @robdaniels5966
    @robdaniels5966 11 місяців тому +3

    NEW PAUL MORPHY LECTURE BY BEN?!? What a day to be alive I’m hype

  • @ABadGamble
    @ABadGamble 11 місяців тому +7

    I gotta say I am loving these lectures on the old masters! I am trying to use the King's Gambit as my main opening currently.

  • @dudemanaric
    @dudemanaric 11 місяців тому +1

    Thank you Ben and Bill so much

  • @henrynavarra3260
    @henrynavarra3260 6 місяців тому +1

    I agree with you completely sir. bravo, bravo!!!

  • @jackslater8688
    @jackslater8688 3 місяці тому

    Thanks Bill!

  • @pelicans456
    @pelicans456 4 дні тому

    Four-part Morphy lecture, good idea Bill Wei

  • @ibazulic
    @ibazulic 11 місяців тому +2

    Another fantastic lecture by Ben. Go Ben!

  • @SenatorBluto
    @SenatorBluto 11 місяців тому +2

    I love Ben lecturing on Morphy!!

  • @CleverSmart123
    @CleverSmart123 11 місяців тому

    Great content as usual. Thanks to Bill Wei for sponsoring it. Looking forward to the next episodes.

  • @monkeygrip2412
    @monkeygrip2412 10 місяців тому

    Great video. You have earned my subscription from this video. Paul Morphy and the Kings Gambit always wins my heart! Thanks for the amazing games!

  • @bine35
    @bine35 11 місяців тому +1

    can't wait for the rest of the series

  • @N_B_123
    @N_B_123 11 місяців тому +1

    Great lecture series, thanks!

  • @barelymaster1113
    @barelymaster1113 11 місяців тому +6

    Not reupload? Go Ben!!

  • @kokki2008
    @kokki2008 9 місяців тому

    Thank you Bill and Ben.

  • @shaktidevii
    @shaktidevii 6 місяців тому

    Awesome! Looking forward to this lecture series :)

  • @chriswaudby1084
    @chriswaudby1084 10 місяців тому

    Excellent Morphy to me is immensely fascinating so I'm hyped for this series thx Mr finegold 😊❤

  • @andrewmacintosh1388
    @andrewmacintosh1388 10 місяців тому

    I love this stuff. Thank you for doing this for us.

  • @danielroberger2374
    @danielroberger2374 10 місяців тому

    Amazing mr Ben Finegold.

  • @MrSupernova111
    @MrSupernova111 10 місяців тому

    Beautiful games! Thanks Ben!

  • @imlangheinrich8213
    @imlangheinrich8213 11 місяців тому

    Great Video Ben! :)
    Thank you for your Input on the Kings Gambit. I am playing the kings gambit from time to time as well.

  • @SayDizzle2001
    @SayDizzle2001 11 місяців тому

    Definitely want more parts to this. Love it.

  • @Blaisem
    @Blaisem 11 місяців тому

    A new video, and it's on Paul Morphy? Oh boy...!!! THANK YOU BILL WEI!

  • @pschneider1968
    @pschneider1968 11 місяців тому +2

    It's so great and I'm grateful to you and your sponsor that you publish these fantastic lecture videos! 🙏
    That's a big service to the chess world: lecturing about these great players of the past. I love Morphy's games, and am happy to own Maroczy's Morphy biography 🍀♟

  • @Kap3z1
    @Kap3z1 11 місяців тому

    Morphy lectures are the best.

  • @Halibut86
    @Halibut86 11 місяців тому

    The last game shown here is nice, I love those forcing moves
    sacing an exchange to set up a brutal pin

  • @PsychedelicRealities
    @PsychedelicRealities 11 місяців тому

    Thank you sponsor, thank you Ben, go Ben, great stuff like always!

  • @justinwagoner1517
    @justinwagoner1517 11 місяців тому

    Thank you! 👍

  • @NelsonBoy2734
    @NelsonBoy2734 11 місяців тому

    Love the lecture and the topic. GO BEN!!! GM Ben Finegold is an excellent teacher of chess. 99999

  • @kapa1611
    @kapa1611 10 місяців тому

    great lecture 👍! and thanks to the sponsor! the more he pays, the more we learn! :)

  • @FWCC1
    @FWCC1 8 місяців тому

    Love this Ben, great job.
    Paul Morphy an Enigma.
    Morphy was so good he lost his mind,yes?
    Morphy: The Pride and Sorrow of Chess

  • @nunyabusiness8538
    @nunyabusiness8538 11 місяців тому

    Thanks Ben I learned a lot

  • @zachmorgan6982
    @zachmorgan6982 23 дні тому

    Murphy always chose the coolest mate. It was always with great substance and style

  • @msizimanqele2811
    @msizimanqele2811 9 місяців тому

    If i were to take a test after this lecture I'd ace it no doubt the way it was explained is out of this world ❤🤞💯

  • @capt.malickbilal1554
    @capt.malickbilal1554 5 місяців тому

    Thanks!

  • @shemchazai
    @shemchazai 7 місяців тому +1

    "morphy was so good that it doesnt even make any sense" idk why but i cant stop laughin, luv your vids!

  • @KingChronoss
    @KingChronoss 11 місяців тому +1

    I miss your live lectures with the students. Please go back to teaching at clubs. the way your style of comedy bounced off the kids was pure gold

  • @seansartor
    @seansartor 11 місяців тому

    Very good presentation. That Kings Gambit is a wild ride 🥳🤪🤣🔥👊🏾

  • @lobsterfork
    @lobsterfork 11 місяців тому +1

    Uncle Ben reminding us all to respect the morph.

  • @juan-ramonmunuera4080
    @juan-ramonmunuera4080 11 місяців тому

    Thank you...❤❤❤

  • @jfryer485
    @jfryer485 4 місяці тому

    At 20 mins 0 secs is a position I get often playing the Kings Gambit. Good to see its a good position to have.

  • @heckheckle7040
    @heckheckle7040 10 місяців тому

    I love seeing Morphy games

  • @glenncooper3524
    @glenncooper3524 11 місяців тому +1

    Thumbs up immediately!!! Exclam❗

  • @f.d.3289
    @f.d.3289 8 місяців тому

    33:05 "And this is called the Falkbeer Countergambit, named after a famous chess player, Mr. Countergambit."
    God I love this guy.

  • @jonathanmoorman4112
    @jonathanmoorman4112 4 місяці тому

    “And, they didn’t have a lot of good internet service in the 1850s…” 😂
    Love your videos! Love me some Paul Morphy.

  • @keithwald5349
    @keithwald5349 11 місяців тому +10

    Putting aside any question of what Morphy's effective FIDE rating would have been, and putting aside his games against amateurs, consider just his games against the world's best, right around or near 1858. The question I have is, how did he become so dominant immediately, without years of practice against strong players? Even Fischer and Carlsen spent quite a few years climbing the ranks against strong opposition before they reached the very top.

    • @MrDoggyz0r
      @MrDoggyz0r 11 місяців тому +1

      time machine

    • @karmaic8282
      @karmaic8282 11 місяців тому +11

      Morphy was insanely gifted when it comes to memory, giving him a huge advantage thanks to the available writings of the time. He memorised virtually every single piece of Chess Literature partially due to his ability to speak four languages. He could also recite the entire Louisiana legal code from memory. He used his amazing memory to memorize the entirety of existing chess knowledge (far easier at that time), then built on top of that with his natural abilities. He probably also did what young Fischer did and played against himself using openings from these books.
      "Fluent in French, English, Spanish and German, he read Philidor's L'analyse, the Parisian magazine La Regence, Staunton's Chess Player's Chronicle, and possibly also Anderssen's Schachzeitung (at least, he knew all of Anderssen's published games) . He studied Bilguer's 400-page Handbuch - which consisted partly of opening analyses in tabular form, and also Staunton's Chess Player's Handbook. 'These books,' considers Fischer, 'are better than modern ones; there has been no significant improvement since then in King Pawn openings, and Morphy's natural talents would be more than sufficient for him to vanquish the best twentieth century players.'" -Kasparov

    • @MrSupernova111
      @MrSupernova111 10 місяців тому

      @@karmaic8282 . Thank you for the extracts!

    • @karmaic8282
      @karmaic8282 10 місяців тому +1

      @@MrSupernova111 No problem, if you're interested in this check out Kasparov's full series. A gold mine for Chess history facts and games. I'm only half way through the first volume and it's given me a whole new respect for players like Morphy and Steinitz.

    • @MrSupernova111
      @MrSupernova111 10 місяців тому +1

      @@karmaic8282 Cool! I actually have them in my Amazon wish list and plan to get them soon. Thanks!

  • @kmarasin
    @kmarasin 11 місяців тому

    I love it when I get to play Philidor's legacy in a game, especially against players who've never seen it before, you look like a wizard.

  • @TheNameOfJesus
    @TheNameOfJesus 11 місяців тому +8

    Modern chess players have computers, books, coaches, and the Internet to develop their skills. Morphy had none of these things. In fact, I read that Morphy's parents didn't let him play chess on any day but Sunday, because chess was a gambler's game. This is why I admire Morphy so much - he was self-taught under difficult circumstances. Can Ben name any other chess masters who were completely self-taught?

    • @zmo1ndone502
      @zmo1ndone502 10 місяців тому

      I bet money he could. Dude remembersfamous and non famous games move for move. Gm'shave crazy memory skils

  • @fess04
    @fess04 11 місяців тому

    awesome!!!

  • @snookslayer4559
    @snookslayer4559 7 місяців тому

    That was fantastic. Well done GM Finegold. Never knew there was a recorded game of Morphy vs Morphy (dad). That was memorizing to watch, though most Morphy games are. Thoroughly enjoyed the vid. Edit - I just realized 1848 ??? Morphy was only 11 yo at the time? Incredible.

  • @Erael
    @Erael 11 місяців тому +3

    My Top 5 of "The Greatest Chess Players of All Time":
    1. Paul Morphy (because he had a PhD at a time the best players were just in elementary school of chess)
    2. Magnus Carslen (because he is the best at a time where all super grandmasters useing AI and super computers solving chess)
    3. Garri Kasparov (because he has remained a chess champion for over a decade, at a time when chess was already very advanced)
    4. Bobby Fischer (because he beat the nation of chass at that time, UDSSR and of course he was a genius)
    5. Emanuel Lasker (because he was the first 18th century chess player that played modern strategic type of chess with a deep understanding of the principles of chess. Also he was the longest period of time chess champion of the world)

  • @josefserf1926
    @josefserf1926 11 місяців тому +1

    GM Ben Finegold is absolutely right about Morphy. Truth matters. So does humour.

  • @dannygjk
    @dannygjk 11 місяців тому +2

    Hopefully you will cover a few of his positional games. A lot of his fans don't know that his positional play was quite skilled when required.

    • @MrSupernova111
      @MrSupernova111 10 місяців тому +1

      Good to see you still kicking! Cheers!

    • @MrSupernova111
      @MrSupernova111 10 місяців тому

      Ben covered one of Morphy's positional games in a previous lecture.

  • @jsj297
    @jsj297 11 місяців тому

    Love the Ben Morphy lectures won’t lie. Wish I could afford another 4 part series after this one. Ben’s Man crush is fascinating to watch. Haha j/k it is great content tho.

  • @JimJWalker
    @JimJWalker 10 місяців тому

    27:51 I have only been able to do that pattern a few times, but it is one of my favorite checkmates.

  • @louyep101
    @louyep101 11 місяців тому +1

    I made a little Alonzo Mourning joke in my mind just before Bensaid his. Finally, I am on the same page as a GM 😆

  • @annaclarafenyo8185
    @annaclarafenyo8185 11 місяців тому +1

    The King's Gambit has been analyzed to the end, meaning the full tree from the gambit-accepted position is known with exact evaluation, win/lose draw. This was a very long computer search. The results are surprising, and I don't think a lecture on the gambit can be complete without a discussion of the known perfect play for the line.

  • @wixom01
    @wixom01 11 місяців тому

    @28:40 you show a smothered mate. I have been very fortunate in my 50 years of playing chess to have actually delivered a smothered mate twice, both in tournament play. So satisfying for this 1800 rated player.

  • @Elbownian
    @Elbownian 10 місяців тому

    Found mate in 2! Moving on up!! Road to 800!!!

  • @L33TTechReviewer
    @L33TTechReviewer 4 місяці тому

    First time viewer, awesome video and great recap of morphy games excited to see more. Only one criticism but.. why is the chair moving so much?

  • @user-qw2fu6xd2c
    @user-qw2fu6xd2c 11 місяців тому +1

    just got morphy 25 games to memorize on chessable and this is the third one.... and i so happend to be on the third one. Guess I will play along with the video.

  • @jayteegamble
    @jayteegamble 10 місяців тому

    14:55 wow at that combo!

  • @andrew_owens7680
    @andrew_owens7680 Місяць тому

    Movin' on up to the King side! I spit my coffee. To a deluxe position on the h-file! I'm movin' on up!

  • @pnutbutrncrackers
    @pnutbutrncrackers 10 місяців тому

    2:32 -- That's a great point -- the disparity between Morphy and the best contemporaries. Good criteria, Ben, I think.

  • @eversonllanzana5963
    @eversonllanzana5963 11 місяців тому

    Nice. It's been a while since you made a lecture on Morphy.

  • @moondigit007
    @moondigit007 9 місяців тому

    Thank god for those annotaded Morphy games, who compiled them for posterity. Do the original notations are still archived somewhere ? They could be worth something.

  • @charmainattwood977
    @charmainattwood977 9 місяців тому

    I love your chair Ben. Makes you look like a green winged demon chess bat 👍 plus Paul Morphy is the greatest 😮❤

  • @hideomituns2184
    @hideomituns2184 24 дні тому

    I never understood and appreciated this until Cecil Purdy mentioned this in Action Chess:
    Development is all about the rooks. Anybody can develop the minor pieces. But to make the right pawn exchanges and bring out the rooks and queen to destroy the opponent's structure, expose the king, then checkmate with remaining pieces... Nobody really did that until Morphy came along.
    1. Develop quickly
    2. Pawn exchanges that favor open lines for your rooks and not the opponent's.
    3. Sacrifice to open lines to the king.
    4. Calculate to checkmate.
    Morphy didn't care about the typical pawn structures that modern GMs study and use daily. He just wanted the pawns out of the way so his pieces were more active. Of course this requires accurate calculation which is why beginners like closed games that slow the pace down and reduce calculation load.

  • @donovan665
    @donovan665 11 місяців тому +1

    Great lecture love Morphy, Go Ben!

  • @ayalatxaluma3789
    @ayalatxaluma3789 4 місяці тому

    aint easy to measure genius !! genius does not contradict the measuring, a genius makes up a new ruler by definition

  • @stevefitz7934
    @stevefitz7934 11 місяців тому

    Great!😃

  • @griffinbur1118
    @griffinbur1118 11 місяців тому

    Morphy + king’s gambit->hell yeah

  • @MuhammadIqbal-dp2es
    @MuhammadIqbal-dp2es 11 місяців тому

    Best chess player ever

  • @zmo1ndone502
    @zmo1ndone502 11 місяців тому +1

    This Morphy guys seems pretty good

  • @alanworcester5258
    @alanworcester5258 11 місяців тому

    Let's go!!!!

  • @theophilegaudin2329
    @theophilegaudin2329 11 місяців тому +5

    Barnes wasn't that bad at defending... Probably why he was the best opponent of Morphy (even though Morphy has a plus score against him as well)
    The Barnes defense game is nice to see, how Barnes slowly strangled Morphy, move by move, avoiding direct lines.

    • @Puschit1
      @Puschit1 11 місяців тому +1

      Nonetheless Barnes was an overly aggressive player which is why the games of Morphy vs Barnes were such a delight to watch. It was like the both wanted to remind each other every move who the attacker was.

  • @frankojudoka
    @frankojudoka 10 місяців тому

    If Morphy plays his style today against stronger defenders, it’s hard for him to win. The position at 13:45 is -3.9 on Stockfish. At 14:10 the position suddenly got even. 14:49 Stockfish suggests d6 which is +0.2. 16:11 QxN was Stockfish suggested move. 18:34 Qh4# is Stockfish suggested move -1.2. At 19:24 the position is even. Black lost ground according to Stockfish.

  • @nuka.quantum
    @nuka.quantum 10 місяців тому

    Mr. Counter-Gambit!!

  • @jabronijihad
    @jabronijihad 8 місяців тому

    ben showed me the truth in morphy. easy goat

  • @spectralanalysis
    @spectralanalysis 11 місяців тому

    Go Ben! But stay there

  • @negus8810
    @negus8810 11 місяців тому

    Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.
    Morphy was a time traveler.

  • @ghost79ish
    @ghost79ish 4 місяці тому

    I saw your top 10 greatest players video. Morphy is #1. Fact.

  • @kevinmalone3210
    @kevinmalone3210 3 місяці тому

    Morphy was in the same category as Capablanca. He was just naturally gifted, a child prodigy in chess.

  • @TylerHumphrey05
    @TylerHumphrey05 11 місяців тому

    I was thinking of Alonzo mourning and Ben’s weird brain made the same connection and I felt close to him for a second.

  • @lorddoom9855
    @lorddoom9855 11 місяців тому

    Nice work, go Ben, etc…… Mostly etc.

  • @Jahjaga
    @Jahjaga 10 місяців тому

    Great lecture, but why were all the games in the King’s Gambit?

  • @Vepporizer
    @Vepporizer 10 місяців тому

    I kinda wanna go back in time with my knowledge and become a grandmaster

  • @GM4ThePeople
    @GM4ThePeople 11 місяців тому

    good