Alexandra Kosteniuk’s Amazing Alapin Sicilian

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Alexandra Kosteniuk is a chess grandmaster who was the Women's World Chess Champion from 2008 to 2010. The Alapin is considered to be one of the most solid and respectable Anti-Sicilians, which are opening variations that White uses against the Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) other than the most common plan of 2.Nf3 followed by 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 (the Open Sicilian).
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:13 Ambartsumova
04:42 Arabidze
10:46 Omonova
Game 1:
Alexandra Kosteniuk (2545) vs Karina Ambartsumova (2374), Women’s World Team Championship 2019
1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 d5 6. e5 Nh6 7. Bf4 Bg4 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Nbd2 Qb6 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Nxf3 Qxb2 13. O-O O-O 14. Rb1 Qxa2 15. Qc1 Nf5 16. g4 Qe2 17. Kg2 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Qe4+ 19. Nf3 d4 20. Rb4 c5 21. Qxc5 Qxf4 22. Rxd4 Rac8 23. Qxe7 1-0
Game 2:
Alexandra Kosteniuk (2518) vs Meri Arabidze (2441), Tal Memorial 2021
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Na3 cxd4 8. Nb5 Qd8 9. Nfxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Bd7 11. Qf3 Qc8 12. O-O-O a6 13. Qg3 g6 14. h4 Ng4 15. Bf4 Bg7 16. f3 e5 17. fxg4 exf4 18. Re1+ Kf8 19. Qxf4 Bxg4 20. Bd3 h5 21. Kb1 Qb8 22. Qf2 Kg8 23. Re7 Qf8 24. Rxb7 Bxd4 25. cxd4 Be6 26. Be4 Rd8 27. Rd1 Qd6 28. d5 Bd7 29. Rb6 Qe5 30. Bxg6 Be8 31. Bc2 Rxd5 32. Re1 Qd4 33. Rxe8+ Kg7 34. Qg3+ 1-0
Game 3:
Alexandra Kosteniuk (2520) vs Umida Omonova (2052), Women’s World Blitz Championship 2022
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 e6 7. Nc3 Qd8 8. Bd3 Nf6 9. O-O Be7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Rc1 Nb4 12. Bb1 Nbd5 13. Ne5 Bd7 14. Qd3 g6 15. Qh3 Rc8 16. Rfe1 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bc6 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Nxf7 Qd5 20. Ng5 Bd7 21. Re5 Qxd4 22. Ree1 Qd6 23. Rcd1 Qc6 24. Nxh7 Kxh7 25. Bg5+ Kg8 26. Bxg6 Qxc3 27. Re3 Qd4 28. Red3 Qe5 29. Bxf6 Qxf6 30. Qh7+ Kf8 31. Rf3 1-0
#chess

[@BREAKocean]

That first game was crazy, it's like out of a textbook

[@obscurity3027]

I’m really loving the format you have. Highlighting a bunch of similar games and analyzing the differences is insanely educational. Really well done, man.

[@prakasavigraha6104]

I totally agree. By showing multiple games with the same opening. we get to see the thematic moves. This makes for great content.

[@markalliss9172]

Just found your channel couple days ago been catching up. Love it. Thank you for the best 20 minutes of chess info on KZbin

[@ZorbaPress]

Thank you very much: Same as an earlier commenter, I love this format of showing three games about the same opening variation.

[@ruthxk7844]

Thanks so much for these!! I found them very instructive and entertaining. Will watch more than once so that I can learn!!

[@djentleman7]

Just found you on youtube, a nice breakdown of the games here can't wait to check out some more.

[@iainbozfelt]

Love the presentation style with no complex over- analysis and straightforward game. Makes it far easier to follow, many thanks....

[@psgoforth1]

Great commentary! Thank you; wonderfully played

[@gustavoespejoruiz7096]

this is really good content that stands out from all other chess channels that do only do commentary on single games! i love how you present ideas on multiple games by different players !

[@jwash7614]

Thank you for posting. Keep up the great work. Kudos! 💯👍

[@andrewmays3988]

Brilliant commentary!!! You're the best of the best!!!😇

[@johnproton259]

Really excellent video. Cheers.

[@LBurou]

Liked & subscribed! Enjoying your unique presentations! Concise explanations and the understandable pace of your delivery aren't available anywhere I have seen. Not entertainment, but detailed explanations that are easy to follow. Well worth the time to watch! Thank you :-)

[@jimwinchester339]

Very compelling lesson. Great choice of games.

[@MrMDESTINY]

Thank you for the The Alapin !

[@MajorAddiction]

The games are entertaining and instructive 🙂

[@user-so8pk4fs1g]

Love your videos sammy you have a great way of explaining highly complex positions calmly and informatively ❤

[@mcalmamun2637]

Love you bro.your explanation is very practical.

[@JohnIshIshmael]

Your analysis and commentary are crisp. What a relief from other yakking chess. Hugs and blessings ❣️ ISH

[@yzfool6639]

I like how you explain move. Thank you.

[@billwindsor4224]

Yes, I agree with the other commentators: your format of analyzing an opening with three sample games is excellent 🏆🏆! New subscriber here - thank you!

[@yohandekerrohan1575]

Stunning games 👍🏻💫

[@prakasavigraha6104]

First time viewer here. Loved the content. Sub'd.

[@sarmah8738]

Good chess. Subscribed.

[@deranel3700]

Fascinating game

[@dirkhebgeennaamachter9056]

Alexandra too masters cooking, a true chef

[@mikestubbs1708]

thanks FOR THE COVERAGE HERE; ALSO FOR THE pgn OF THE GAMES! CHEERS!

[@basem30basem39]

Perfect Show more of this player alapin

[@Claire--0777]

Also your videos are very good for chess beginner now im better at chess

[@johnnemoSG]

Greetings Sammy. Me and my 4yr Old daughter are true fans of yours.. I can thus Viuch that your content is a real trasure for anyone n any age!!! Ohh, also.. Stay Sporty My Friend 😊😊

[@youngd5510]

Tuesday upload? This is spicy 👌 🔥. Remember I wished you had more time for 2 videos a week, maybe 1 Tuesday with less games and 1 Sunday with some more games?!

[@BREAKocean]

Can you do dutch defense or sveshnikov or panov botvinnik

[@mohamedshakir1642]

Do u use any apps to understand the analysis like AI or something ? Your veidos are very instructional

[@LuhTorah]

How do you get your commentary?

[@mickdonedee1]

Your first game review matches the 2nd PGN in the description section.

[@princekervie7408]

Hi sir Sam. Can you upload a King's Indian clips from the greatest player who use that opening . thank you in advance sir .

[@ytmndman]

Great opening. A useful trap to know is that instead of ...e6 in the third game (around 11:28) if black plays Bg4, you can play Be2, and if black thinks they can win a pawn with Bxf3 Bxf3 Qxd4, you play Bxc6+ and win their queen on the next move.

[@brucelittleboy3594]

You've posted the wrong Game 1: Alexandra Kosteniuk (2545) vs Karina Ambartsumova (2374), Women’s World Team Championship 2019 1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 d5 6. e5 Nh6 7. Bf4 Bg4 8. Bb5+ Nc6... None of the games posted corresponds to the fine game shown. Scrolling down, I see that somone alertly has already pointed this out.

[@simonesartori9488]

Thanks for the very instructive video. The transcription of the first game in the comment is wrong. It belongs to a different game (Women's World Team Championship 2019). Here the right one: 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Bc4 Qd8 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 e6 11.Qa4+ Nd7 12.O-O-O a6 13.Bb6 Qc8 14.Rxd7 Qxd7 15.Bb5 axb5 16.Qxa8+ Ke7 17.Rd1 Bd3 18.Bc5+ Kf6 19.Bxf8 b4 20.Nc2 bxc3 21.bxc3 Qd5 22.Ne3 Qd7 23.Qb8 h5 24.Qf4+ Kg6 25.Qg3+ 1-0 (Kosteniuk, A. - Ambartsumova K. European ACP w Blitz, 2018)

[@champsog]

How did she castle in first game when bishop was there

[@jonathanespinola7556]

More videos Sam please..

[@michaeltellurian825]

You forgot to mention in the first game, after the knight slithers inconspicuously to its new home, Black's queen is embarrassed by her royal, but tenuous position. She is forced to flirt with the previously celibate bishop and he succumbs to her shocking behavior by trotting aimlessly after her.

[@douglasdubose5769]

Instead of a6 why didn’t black play Bg4 skewering the Queen and winning the exchange?

[@CGoldthorpe]

Watch this video then redo it.

[@mitchelllevine5664]

Your commentary is worth watching for the masterful Stan Lee-like hyperbole alone, @sammy

[@roqsteady5290]

In the first game, 8...Qd8?! is a mistake, 8...Qa5 is better, then 10...e6?? (10...e5 +/= is better) cutting off the light square bishop from defence of the king is a losing blunder, which Kosteniuk doesn't take full advantage of. None of which is surprising given it is blitz game. And incidentally game 1 in your comments is an entirely different game in a different variation (2...g6) played a year later!? Still interesting game!

[@user-uo4jt4nm7e]

Garry Kasparov’s beautiful Grunfeld 😂

[@abdulraheemjunejo7671]

How is the castle possible when bishop is staring at b1

[@stevenlatus6936]

The black Bishop strikes at b1. The white King passes through d1 to reach c1 and neither of those squares is hit by the Bishop. The white Rook passes b1 on its way to d1, but that doesn’t matter.

[@markchawndal3623]

First game? How could she Castle long? You can't Castle through a check. The light square bishop of Black was seeing through the Castle route.

[@stevenlatus6936]

The black Bishop strikes at b1. The white King passes through d1 to reach c1 and neither of those squares is hit by the Bishop. The white Rook passes b1 on its way to d1, but that doesn’t matter.

[@user-xk1ff7bq1j]

Hm... Interesting long Castle... Almost looks illegal lol

[@bcask61]

I would let her win all the time.

[@Claire--0777]

Second