3 Caro-Kann ideas you are probably missing out

[@AlexBanzea]

You can now...check out my Caro course! www.chessable.com/the-caro-kann-simplified/course/171080/

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

re: Game ends @ 23:00 Waiting move A6; had it been G6 instead=would that have scared White's Q+not to come in?

[@nonnogol]

I have been following Gotham Chess showing the Caro-Kann, describing the lines by there is no "Uhnf." I get nothing out of them. Then I stumble on Alex Banzea Caro-Kann videos, a Romanian IM form Europe, and and learned so much from him and enjoyed his comments. Comparing the Chess match with actual "LIFE." Alex also explains the game while playing, focusing on the viewer, the person that is watching, the non-experienced player. I use to play the Caro-Kann, yes I know it's back and better now, but I was still not convinced. After watching your CK videos and playing online I am starting again to enjoy it and winning with it. Thank you for your hard dedicated work for the Chess Community. Keep it up! You have earned my subscription and likes 🙂👍.

[@neeru7298]

I love your jokes man, they make content even more enjoyable. I went from 1250 to 1400 in the last week after implementing your Jobava London suggestions

[@LeHaxerino]

@A why would it matter? He/she still got higher rated by the same amount, no matter the website

[@MaverickJohnson007]

Thanks Alex! The Jobava London and Caro Kann videos are fantastic!

[@AlexBanzea]

Thank you sir!

[@nishantgarg904]

The a6 idea in classical variation is a phenomenal move. As a caro-kann player, you want to enjoy a nice slow, positional game and getting into the Tartakower I've noticed can get uncomfortable pretty fast. Using a6 as a waiting move is awesome as it allows you to transpose back to an advanced or exchange kind of structure and the move certainly doesn't hurt at all as being a caro-kann player you should know a6 is a very helpful move as your ultimate goal will be the c5 break and a6 protects the b5 square from knight jumps.

[@scottr9364]

Thank you Alex! Yesterday I tied for first in my section of a USCF tournament. Three games were Caro-Kanns. Your ideas won me some prize money. 😊

[@hesido]

Your channel took me from 900 to 1150 using Caro-Kann in black with 60% win rate. It's now fallen back to 1100 because I'm trying out different things and doing careless stuff but thanks!

[@astronemir]

My favorite video of yours was when you skipped all traps and just (almost) pre-moved standard opening Caro-Kann at

[@AlexBanzea]

Will keep that in mind, thanks!

[@alirezashaloo7847]

I went from 1580 to 1720 in the past two weeks after watching your Caro rating climb and I really regret that I knew nothing about you the moment I took chess seriously. Love your channel and good luck ! 😃🇮🇷

[@banzaiburger]

Awesome video Alex. Will you be covering that a6 line in your upcoming course?

[@AlexBanzea]

The course will be only Tartakower!

[@banzaiburger]

@@AlexBanzea cool. Looking very forward to it's release in mid-July

[@Lacross93]

Love the Videos Alex keep them until 2500!

[@jaybingham3711]

Implemented early a6 several months back. It's deployment was always required eventually anyway to kick the (pp?)B (or part of a minority attack). And since that pin necessitated certain extra defensive moves, the extra early pawn push actually ends up being a fine way to do away that hassle. Any quicker development that it might afford white I haven't found to be significant.

[@planezero]

Please leave a link regarding aforementioned radar @ 36:56 Much oblige..

[@GlassOfWater87]

can't wait for the caro kann chessable course. I'm gonna study it harder than my final exams 17 years ago.

[@AlexBanzea]

Lol!

[@tychobrailleur]

36:55 Where do I get a radar? I seem to have misplaced mine.

[@davidvoid5718]

I like the reasoning in the middle and end game plus the tactics

[@Daniil_Noobov]

Thanks Alex for your new ideas in the Caro. Will definitely try them out. And that a6 move really opened new dimensions.

[@astronemir]

Alex Banzea, professional comedian and chess enthusiast! 😂

[@King_Matt65]

Awesome channel, you explain stuff very well.

[@pieter2548]

I have been playing chess more often lately, I have watched chess videos, mostly from Gothamchess, until I found yours, the way you explain es WAY BETTER than Levy's, I applaude your dedication and will buy in the near future your course. Thank you.

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

Alex > Levy, by a lot lol. Danya is really the only one who comes close imo. I am a brand new player (started less than 2 months ago) and am almost to 1000 elo just from Banzeas Caro and Jobava courses and kings Indian videos for any non D4 with the black pieces. I absolutely love when I get the black pieces I almost never lose with black

[@hassansahir8227]

Very intresting coaching and intresting analyesing thank u

[@TheFenrirulfr]

I love doing these weird out-of-theory moves, almost as much as i hate playing against them. I love magnus' weird Q.a5+ Check in the Fantasy caro kann, as he played during his 9 win-in-a-row tournament. I did it the day after he did it, and i completely finished a guy all across the board, then wiped it down.

[@Mdroudian]

07:31 Pee-pee on the pee-pee... Are we still talking chess here? LMAO

[@dabaws1938]

Hey man, I really appriciate your content! Keep it up!

[@davidel6469]

Love the content dude

[@disclaimer5911]

The metaphors are what make u a great teacher. I remember your jokes and apply your teachings. I dont know what video it was but it was on the jobova London and when the opponent mirrors my 3rd move with the bishop u explained what to do perfectly. You said that black bishop was a bad actor. And what do you do to a bad actor? You throw tomatoes at him. Tomatoes being pawns in this case.😂 Keep explaining things like that lol

[@jonshive5482]

27:50: What a scream. So simple and effective but so unusual us wood-pushers would hardly consider it. Ah well; some cats got it, some ain't.

[@gerardorodriguez-uf9rx]

Great stuff. Love your games and teaching. Yea. And the jokes too. 🤣

[@Raul-cz8rx]

Hey alex banzea I just finished my entrance exam today and it was hard due to one of the prestigouse university I took for the entrance exam. Ive been watching your videos about caro kann theories and vienna gambit. I gain knowledge by watching videos on how you play with your style and I havent play chess due to busy studying for the entrance exam. I gain elo because of that and im planning to get into 1500 elo above. Im currently 1209 elo on rapid and havent play chess for weeks

[@DmyBy]

38:56 why not the bishop check?(15 Qb3 Bb4+)

[@AlexBanzea]

I wanted to trade queens!

[@pedrixi97]

I love your videos. I've learned a lot from them! Thank you so much!

[@kevinwalden4288]

that apartment door analogy was perfect!

[@KenBeans]

Let’s move on…………. to the following game 😋

[@brajeshpawar9375]

I understand this is supposed to be a joke but, can you, please, explain me the joke?

[@gregsmoluch9859]

that was perfect Alex when you get a little more serious hahaha, very good content

[@jonathansampson7450]

Amazing content always dude!! Really loving the new editing and thumbnail game is 🔥🔥🔥

[@ChristianSoschner]

I enjoy watching.your videos. I like your sense of humor. Keep up the great work.

[@fili24]

I think the c5 variation is inferior because of dxc3 where white should keep the pawn if Nc6 is played. If e6, go a3 and play for either a kingside mating attack or a queenside expansion

[@DrakoLykoi]

4.dxc5 e6 5.a3 Bxc5 6.Qg4 Ne7 7.Nf3 Qb6 8.Bd3 Bxf2+ etc...let the fun begin!

[@fili24]

@@DrakoLykoi not qg4 nf3 , b4 or bd3

[@volodarsenal25]

Hi! Was watching your video actually for the first time. I do love the Caro and like your video. You asked about should you keep going until 2500? Yes, definitely! Will be following this way

[@Edouard7800]

Hi Alex, watching a tons of your content but i don't realize when the maneuver with the knights moving to F8 then g6 (?) i don't know if it's exactly that but you know the classical maneuvre with the knight. What is the indicator the we should do that bc i never do lol but it's interesting idea

[@AlexBanzea]

it's only when you have doubled pawns f7-f6 (tartakower variation)

[@Edouard7800]

@@AlexBanzea thanks sir, the greatest

[@onii-chan2811]

Really something to learn when to pawn break

[@3for5spotshooter]

You are hilarious and love your commentary. And I learn stuff too. 😎👍

[@brett4756]

Love your analogies! ❤

[@dalerabdukarimob555]

In game 2, bro thinks he’s Hikaru🗿

[@hellotehre]

cant wait for the caro kann course 🙏

[@m42orion12]

Alex,where is that course...i need it now sir.Course of the year 2023 remember i said that,it can't be far off now.

[@timt8027]

19.00 what do you mean with " narmally" ?

[@Kitty_Hawk1]

Alex, how to play against 1. d4 on the Caro Kann?

[@МиколаМатешко]

Opponent finds the resign button after doing pp on the pp LMAO

[@richardfredlund8846]

I always play c5 against the advance. learned Caro from playing the computer, and have never really played the human mainline Bf5.

[@sanfordbaslee2282]

enjoying the content! thanks for sharing!

[@sid5537]

Art of surprising openings: Plays Caro Kan.

[@lekajbernard322]

do you have any rules for when to go for f6 pawn break?

[@AlexBanzea]

It could be interesting ‘if you are fully developed’

[@lekajbernard322]

Thanks for the response. I usually avoid this pawn break since it weakens the pawn on e6 and I don’t like babysitting it. I’ll try to use it more often.

[@dragonore2009]

In all of your Caro Kann videos, does anyone know if Alex covered the Breyer variation yet?

[@AlexBanzea]

What’s that?

[@DrakoLykoi]

1.e4 c6 2.d3 with 2...d5. Now usually 3.Nd2 e5 but sometimes 3.Nf3 willing to go into a queenless middle game. I play 2...e5 sometimes for variety.

[@michalp4437]

You make me “smarter” with every video… 😂 I used a6 and black bishop deploying to the king side against e5-d4-c3 pawn line and it was like slicing through the butter… 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 a6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Bxf3 c5 8.c3 cxd4 9.cxd4 Nc6 10.Be3 Rc8 11.O-O Nge7 12.b4 Nxb4 13.a3 Nbc6 14.Qb3 Qc7 15.Rc1 Nf5 16.Qa4 Be7 17.Nd2 O-O 18.Bg4 Nxe3 19.fxe3 Bg5 20.Kf2 Qb8 21.Nf3 Bh6 22.Nd2 b5 23.Qb3 Nxd4 24.exd4 Bxd2 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Qb2 Bc3 27.Qb1 Bxd4+ 28.Kf3 Rc3+ 29.Ke2 {0-1}

[@CosmicDeanNewWorld]

Mid July , good to hear!

[@jorgedigiano2645]

Un video espectacular!! thanks my master :D

[@koenfrontatie]

Thanks for explaining this stuff so thorougly! PP on the PP

[@davebrowne8042]

when is your Chessable Caro-Kann course being released?

[@AlexBanzea]

Mid July!

[@chillguywholowkeydoesntgivea]

Could you make a video on the nimzo Indian

[@coachRJ_]

21:10 wow amazing

[@onii-chan2811]

Getting better is really hard

[@lunalove2259]

Alex, I love your videos. You make me better at chess.

[@RC-qf3mp]

Look at Gukesh’s awesome London victory today!

[@namk98tr39]

Bro i love your content and you are my favourite chess youtuber by far and thus the only Romanian guy that i'll trust with my wallet

[@ZmajevKralj]

As a 2000ish player I would love to see some content about 2000. Maybe not necessarily up to 2500 but 2200 or or so would be great.

[@Heyutana]

He already did that, have a look at the speedruns

[@ZmajevKralj]

@@Heyutana I meant more. More is always better ☺️

[@DDfactzz]

Hey Alex ily channel it helped me a lot to progress i hit my pb 1568 like 3 weeks ago then i tilted to like 1300 and now i can't just push back im so stuck chess feels very demotivating now. Do u have any recommendations so i find a way out of this?

[@nictamer8754]

Take a break and after that try to limit the number of games you play. Also maybe take small breaks between games to recover from tilt

[@thedudede]

love your videos man they have helpwd me alot, would really appreciate if you could post more in the 1500+ range😚

[@vtbrez]

With that said: we can move on to the, following game

[@BoxFunk]

The fact tha alex is the same age as me got me mindblown, great content btw, im trying to get outta 1100's hell hole

[@luca8285]

i really enjoy your videos and you are also really funny 🙂

[@thestin1204]

I learned alot from you bruhh.😁

[@jimdaily737]

I am 1300 on Lichess and I'd say 99% of people playing white against the caro-kann play the advanced variation

[@AlexBanzea]

go 3...c5!

[@tiltingyet4888]

He says he needs to speed up a little bit then premoves the rest of the game

[@lgaynor1]

Hey Alex, where can I buy a chess radar? Hahaha!

[@Oggi7777]

Thxx.

[@diegozagazeta7362]

PP on the PP I’m weak 😭😭😭

[@DrakoLykoi]

The Caro-Kann crushes so easily...or is it Alex? 😁

[@Kyle-ys3cv]

Pretty sure I’d take my chances sleeping with no door in Bucharest over any randomly-selected U.S. city.

[@rv706]

Does the a6 idea somehow come from the Slav defense?

[@AlexBanzea]

Nope

[@rv706]

@@AlexBanzea : One year later, it's clear to me that my comment was silly. The CK presupposes e4. The Slav has very similar Black configuration (c6 & d5) but, being a d4 opening, is a different beast altogether.

[@sk1e]

top chess youtuber

[@pieter2548]

Please keep going up the rating ladder. :D

[@skid3339]

Was that a Anatoly gym reference lol

[@vereda7972]

Hi Alex, I think the Bots do a better job than people, and your opening principles can be really challenged from the advanced and up.

[@AhmadMuslim-cx9zb]

Good video

[@cookiemonster-nk3xb]

Alex will beat the crap out of Levy as a Chess Instructor..and whip the donkey hair out of Hikaru and his manners.

[@aberrant322]

do the halloween gambit!

[@FloydMaxwell]

Capa was indeed the third wcc

[@LLawlietKris8]

I like the joke about Romania

[@joshuamodiba853]

Ahhh my favorite Caro Kan + memes

[@Kellogzh]

I'm only watching your videos for the weird metaphors :D

[@strykah41]

Heres an idea, why dont you collab with other chess content creators

[@bloodmoney88]

it's never magic, it's practice. I'm a musician, not a magician. Even magicians have to practice... a lot.

[@nedaskontenis7396]

Will buy a radar after this video

[@irinelstoica6208]

Sunt blocat la 1200 pe rapid, trebuie sa imi imbunatatesc inceputul de joc, si chiar ma ajuta videoclipurile tale. Tine-o tot asa!

[@danielgranados3427]

I love your jokes

[@simonlundkvist3476]

🎉🎉🎉

[@JerrySuneagle]

Keep climbing the ratings please - but watch your time - you make me so nervous.

[@davidbatchelder85]

I have tried your plan, I have lost 12 games in a row using your training. You do not crush everyone, or yoour picking the games. This is very fustrating to say the least. I am pissed off

[@watchdominion00]

Pp on the pp 😂😂😂

[@chiragmaan1887]

👌