Basic Chess Openings Explained

[@mwii__]

I love how eloquent Levy is in this video, whereas, in his more recent ones he’s straight up roasting you.

[@ony6164]

i noticed that too lmao

[@Sajid_A829]

Gets more views, more intriguing and interesting I guess.

[@gara737]

now he's just a phycopath disguised as a chess master

[@timepass4783]

He's just grown more frank with his audience I guess😂 Or maybe people on twitch changed him😂😂

[@Thebigpiigg]

Yes lol

[@rng8072]

if i play anyone and they know what an opening is, i've already lost

[@razvanalexandrubugi2372]

XD

[@devavratpatil5115]

No buddy there are almost 10^120 possibilities in chess

[@rng8072]

so you're saying I have a chance?

[@devavratpatil5115]

Sure, think when advanced player play (say's like GM , IM) they know much more openings than a normal player still they win some loose some there are lots of factors to consider , take a look at gotham sir playlist, it contains like initiative, pawn play spotting weakness etc

[@devanshtomar11th]

​@@rng8072play against stockfish 8, in lichess you might have a chance

[@36Corey]

I just started learning chess and I'm 28. That queens gambit show made me wanna learn lmao. Thanks for your videos!!

[@yannisvh]

i started playing casually a few years ago but just for fun not really learning things and because of the show i wanted to start learning and playing again too!

[@afriendlygoblin]

I'm here for the exact same reason! All i knew was how the pieces moved and the fool's mate

[@cameleonarabic8124]

same

[@RawFruitGuy]

Same.. just now starting to want to learn the lingo

[@buttzpoopindowski6851]

Same!

[@Girtharmstrong69]

Who else plays without thinking ?

[@2troll_02]

Me

[@morto_in_vita]

Meeeeeeeeeeee

[@velvetlines]

me

[@lawiali3313]

Mee

[@cat.8977]

I just impulsively do things and have lost so MANY games because of that.

[@Patrick462]

0:15 Opening Goals 1:36 Danger for Black 2:58 Setup openings (White) 4:27 Theory openings (White) 5:18 Setup openings (Black) 6:25 Theory openings (Black) 7:01 Opening Study is for 1400+ Players

[@christoporusnicholas2511]

Nice, thanks a lot

[@siripras9711]

Thanks

[@pimpcat7772]

Thank you!!!

[@hambobsquarepants6402]

Oh shit you must love it too much

[@bentones1701]

I wish I’d seen this I wouldn’t of wasted 7:01 of my time 🤣 (I’m 616)

[@kareem_xyz]

A Polite and relaxed version of levy lol

[@silphi0M]

Imedieatly what I was thinking as soon as I clicked

[@potatoboy549]

How times changed in just a year. A 5k relaxed Levy to a 1M Levy shouting “G4 G4!!”. I remember when he had around 300k subs just 6 months ago.

[@antediluvial]

@@potatoboy549 ya thats crazy, he definitely feels more vigorous in the recent videos

[@traplover6357]

Best pleb summary of this video: Memorize the London System and Kings Indian and superfocus on them for life!

[@christophermatthew7635]

h5!?

[@jimraynor4383]

I recently started playing chess after PogChamps, and saw a video where Hikaru was teaching fuslie London system. Since then all I play is London, Ruy Lopez and Caro Kann. I will try implementing Indian after this video into my 800 rating games :)

[@12jswilson]

@@jimraynor4383 my advice would be to not play system openings when you're starting out. They're relatively idiot-proof which is nice, but all your games look somewhat similar and that can get stale. In addition, you aren't learning how to deal different types of positions all that often.

[@roberts1711]

I started with london and while its good i feel like it always ends up even in endgame which is good vs stronger players but vs less good players it feels like london gives them easy draw. I watched chessbrah and eric was speedrunning to 3k he was playing vs 1200 to 1500 at start uaing d5 and playing morra gambit and ruy lopez and seems so much more opportunity to win

[@givorenon]

@@roberts1711 lichess opening explorer says that Smith-Morra Gambit stats for 1213 games with average rating of 2300 are the following: 26% white wins, 35% draw, 39% black wins. Eric always plays dubious openings and wins against lower-rated players, but chances are that you will have less success.

[@thomasmacfarlane2966]

This is the calmest I've ever seen Levy

[@videostar75]

June-vintage Levy

[@syaliishi914]

@@learnchesswithayush2495 Why are you linking a video in Hindi to a person who probably... doesn't know Hindi?

[@sperinthalakkat9831]

@@learnchesswithayush2495 no f u

[@pasunurusaivineeth3739]

*Do not follow the setup openings blindly.* Be aware that the opponent can still capture the pieces you put forward, based on their opening. Just look out for possible dangers before making a move.

[@floridaman6982]

Yeah the general principle videos are always so peaceful. Sometimes your opponent breaks the “big rules” and shakes up your plans. A big one that isn’t shown is when the bishop that pins your developed knight actually captures and you must double your pawns

[@justlimonika]

Wait, the opponent can play moves that weren't shown in the video? That's crazy

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

I was totally blown away, when my opponent didn't allow me to finish my London setup. That completely ruined my game!

[@AcVinicious]

@@justlimonika xDDDD

[@ivanljujic4128]

That requires thinking and I'm bad at that. B)

[@d4_b345t]

The only opening ive ever seen and learned is the bongcloud, i didn’t know there was anything else

[@danarello2563]

That's funny!

[@vincentling207]

2 Ke2!! the best opening ever.

[@lucyraethornes5983]

What is that lmaoo

[@kirtil5177]

@@lucyraethornes5983 king's pawn goes to center and then the king goes up

[@o.Ojammie_dodgerO.o]

@@kirtil5177 I played a 1400 today who did that and I had no idea what was happening xD (I'm a beginner), so just developed slightly and got my queen out to mate them in the middle of the board. I now realise they were trying to offer them and me playing king out and back again (?) to prevent us from castling for the game to make it interesting? or was it just for fun to launch their king down the board at me? haha I was so confused and got no response when I asked

[@IsaacCE187]

Back in my childhood I used to spend hours and hours playing chess, and just a couple of months back, during the corona crisis, I started playing again. I got the love back, the passion. I am so glad to find great people like you uploading these videos. An easy way to understand the fundamentals of chess.

[@datgirl4601]

Same fam. It's so addictive

[@bobyorke]

Isaac Castanedo - me too 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@TombiDTA]

same here

[@nothanson2429]

Same

[@MandarUchade]

Yeah me to , now I feel like I am left behind 😅

[@3xxiled]

Finally a video that really explains it, without doing complicated quick moves using terminology I don’t understand, thank you!

[@ShreyasGupta07]

Still can't understand how this guy has so less subs and views Edit: Oh man I remember making this comment when this guy had less than 5k subs here, and now look at him, lets go Levy

[@zaaxi7424]

Because his videos are all quite new, I'm sure if he keeps it up his channel will grow fast

[@deserteagle78966]

@@zaaxi7424 He has started to blow up a lot more on twitch these past few weeks, so hopefully that carries over to youtube.

[@datgirl4601]

Chess is (ironically) relatively new in the current online world. It only recently exploded online due to Hikaru so the less views aren't surprising.

[@milesgreenwood5036]

@@datgirl4601 "due to Hikaru" someone's brainwashed

[@weaselsdawg]

@@milesgreenwood5036 It's absolutely due to Hikaru. Until he collaborated with xQc, chess wasn't doing anything close to the numbers it's been doing since.

[@ziwuri]

I know there's a very low chance that Levy ever sees this, but I'd love to see long form content that just briefly explains, let's say, the top 10-15 most popular openings and what to do against them. Would be great stream content, maybe a five part series, maybe just dropping a fat 90 minute VOD on the main channel. Would help out a lot so I don't have to go out of my way learning every opening out there, just see the general ideas of the most important openings to remember.

[@Yepitsmedude]

Agreed

[@jarrodandrews]

That pretty much what Bartholomew does lol

[@Smokeyy000]

Hi u seem like u know a lot about chess so do you also know the site he is using in this video

[@grox9815]

@@Smokeyy000 wee bit too late sorry

[@hellofellowgamers4214]

this would be cool

[@dukepande]

Levy is too polite and civilised here.... It's making me uncomfortable

[@Titou-vp9eo]

frr😂

[@LowSociety]

Why did you let Ron sacrifice himself instead of you in The Sorcerer’s Stone?

[@ccpersandian3235]

say it louder!! JUSTICE FOR RON!!

[@Sleeper519]

@@ccpersandian3235 Because "Ron Weasley and the Sorcerer's Stone" just sounded funny?

[@luckyducki]

He looks nothing alike

[@Keegan3005]

@@luckyducki god you're fun

[@luckyducki]

@@Keegan3005 yeah it's very very fun to liken celebrities to each other

[@danb6118]

Really helpful and well made video: - Clear and concise - Different levels of complexity but keeping it "simple" throughout - Good starting point to delve deeper Started on specific openings (your videos) but good thing I found this as they feel like a continuation of basic concepts (for total beginner at least).

[@GothamChess]

Who is watching in 2024

[@froilanrosal4381]

pleasee do a video about what to do if you don't enter the main line

[@lando990]

why didn't you teach me bongcloud theory!

[@babysroundhead]

Mee

[@matthewerickson2006]

I'm really appreciating your coaching material. Your getting really good at teaching and making concepts understandable.

[@amenodorime5439]

You're

[@johnny888777]

@@amenodorime5439 nobody cares

[@MrZt2]

He was a chess teacher so that shouldn't be surprising

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

@@johnny888777 You are wrong.

[@zlaikqamvs8280]

@@mikeymcmikeface5599 nobody cares

[@winfried3208]

My god Levy is so calm it's creeping me out

[@Earthling409]

My ELO could very well be -2500, I'm a negative GM

[@sstormylie9470]

If I pay you 5 yen, can you teach me to become a GM?

[@Earthling409]

@@sstormylie9470 Your wish has been heard loud and clear. Now there will be 2 whole seasons in which I fail to make your wish come true. Yet I still try. (You can't expect much from a god who is a negative GM)

[@sstormylie9470]

@@Earthling409 Thank you Yato

[@ropey1663]

@@Earthling409 can I learn how to be a negative GM?

[@Earthling409]

@@ropey1663 It's easy, just listen to Baka Mitai while you play

[@LukeinTX]

very good, thank you. I studied this video carefully after losing 3 speed chess games last night and won 3 games this morning using your openings you describe. I wrote down the openings for both black and white and used them. I am getting back into chess after many years of not playing and I never have really studied the game but now I am. Ive even bought a couple of books and they are useful as well. What I am seeing so far is without a sound opening strategy your chances of winning or even preventing a disastrous game are slim. So after this morning I m back up to just over a 1000 but hope to continue to improve my game and my rating from your instruction and the books I am reading. thanks again.

[@thenerdgamer5778]

3:42 Ah yes, the famous "hat" pattented by fuslie, very nice.

[@notstevelam]

ROOK BROS!

[@Patrick-jw8qb]

lmaoooo

[@ERICLAU0304]

after suffering from opponent's opening trap for 5 years, I finally found the perfect opening strategy: London system and King's Indian defense. Thanks a lot man!

[@kangurukanguru7799]

so much information in just 9 min, thanks so much! greetings from germany

[@Erb_____88]

Man levy was so wholesome at this point

[@alexhackworth8015]

This version of Levy is like a freshman during their first week of uni - current levy is like the college senior who just did ket before their final exams

[@sk_555]

I know right! "It's like I'm streaming" :')

[@basebutter]

Bro this video is such a stark contrast to your more recent ones in terms of tone. Homie really came out of his shell over the last few years

[@MrJamesHWard]

You're a great communicator and chess teacher. I'd love in the opening to also recognize when I can deviate from opening principles because my opponent made an opening error. A title like, "Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist," I think would be tantalizing to watch. Examples of breaking the rules in the opening, mid, and endgame would all be fun and educational to watch.

[@glennurquhart2989]

Hadn't played chess since high school. Got back into it because of Covid and retirement. I consider myself a beginner, not very good. I have a lot to learn before I decide to go online, but I'm having a lot of fun with Fritz 17. Queens Gambit series was definitely a shot in the arm for the chess world. Thanks for your videos, I always learn something...

[@peteriliev757]

It's so funny seeing how much he has changed

[@nardwuarbutfemale]

I was always a noob in chess but after watching the queen's Gambit I'm trying to improve my game lol

[@Kasiarzynka]

Same, I started and finished watching it with the "so this is how these pieces move" kind of knowledge but even though I had pretty much no basis for understanding these complex plays, I still found each match fascinating. And just a few days ago I started learning it and so far I lose against humans, blunder against bots, and my brain pretty much hurts from puzzles, lol. But I'm having so much fun.

[@elroyjacobs8126]

Wow. You explain everything so clearly. I'm a 1400 - 1500 player. I recently got the Artur Yusupov series. I've been so busy at work that I've only done about 7 chapters of the 1st book. It would be nice if someone that explains like you would do a video course on Artur's books. Endgame and tactics I nail in the book. Strategy and positional play kills me, however.

[@mrwilson.1]

Any advice on getting to 1000? I started a few weeks ago

[@elroyjacobs8126]

@@mrwilson.1 Do tactics. Solve them first in your mind before moving the pieces.

[@katielui131]

Can you do a chess openings breakdown, in like a tree diagram or whatnot? I recognise that there are many different variations but I think it would be helpful for beginners like myself to have an overall idea of what's out there (how many roughly so that I know how doable it is to learn it in what breadth and depth), probably even just the names would be good (white/black common openings, what's good to play for black in response to white's what, why etc.) love your vids!

[@scrappyspj]

That was a very interesting video. I'm just getting back into chess after about 20 years away from the game. I played to a reasonable level in my teens and early 20s and have no problems with remembering the open ideas but I don't really remember any lines, and I'm not really sure where to start. In the distant past I used to play e4, the Sicilian Dragon against e4, and the Nimzo-Indian against d4.

[@GothamChess]

Honestly? I think you'd benefit tremendously from my 1. e4 course. I specifically made it to NOT be heavily theoretically and put players in uncomfortable, defensive positions very early on. Check it out in the description of the video. However, if you're looking for free resources, you might consider drilling a few good aggressive London videos like Jobava-London. Watch a few Eric Rosen videos, and it'll show you how to play those positions.

[@aykay1303]

the Queen's Pawn London Opening doesnt always work, especially if your opponent plays a 2-move check with the bishop

[@robertgreenhalgh2503]

Feels wierd to see levy being super professional about a lecture.

[@MrWithinsGift]

My parents are getting old, so to keep my dad's mind sharp, I told him I want to get a professional chess-rating and I need to practice any chance I get. At the time I said it for his sake, but strangely I thought why not and I found your video. There was this gap of perspective I could not fathom about how pro chess-players thought about the game that you so simply explained. Your video helped a lot. Thank you. I will remember you as one of my teachers.

[@andrewturner6453]

Terrific introduction to chess openings explaining the difference between setup and theory openings. Wish I’d had the benefit of this lesson many years ago but better late than never. Thank you!

[@TheRealSarthix]

6:11 bro predicted his future 😭😭😭

[@tobyn123]

The kings Indian has got me from a miserable 130 to a 205! - I've been playing for two weeks now and I'm loving it!!

[@thecooldoodc.o3276]

hows it going

[@tobyn123]

@@thecooldoodc.o3276 bit of a slump at the moment tbh - I got up to 600 elo in rapid and 500 elo in bullet but lost both scores this last week with a number of sequential losses, currently reading Levy's book and trying to learn some more fundamentals..

[@thecooldoodc.o3276]

@@tobyn123 dont give up king, you will make it with your determination, im sure of it :) but do you still enjoy playing?

[@tobyn123]

@@thecooldoodc.o3276 Thanks G - I love it! I'm kind of obsessed 😅

It's so nice to watch your old videos and see how much you evolved as a content creator. Keep up the excellent work!

[@hibye-by3yb]

I just got into chess from 'The queen's gambit' and i was looking for simple easy openings that i can just memorise and use constantly while i learn the game. The king's indian and the english are my go to openings now. I hate King's pawn e4 opening stresses me out

[@rob__rob_5131]

Vienna is the most solid opening for me that I've learned from you.

[@adasaja157]

Same here, l also vienna opening user

[@jorglueke8458]

I’d really like to see something about the impact of pawn structures on opening play. That transition to the middle game is much easier if the pieces are in the right spots for the structures that come out of the opening. So for me as white I’ll play a Colle if they keep the light squared bishop back and play e6. If it comes out early I switch to playing c4 but then the structures also depend on whether they play the pin Nc6 Bf5 etc. Anyway given a general idea of what the pawn structure will look like how can I use that to make a middle game plan out of the opening

[@GothamChess]

Right... well if you just watch videos for your openings, they probably won't go that far into detail. Hopefully a book or deeper course goes into the structure of the position. You actually described quite a correct approach. In general in positions where they keep the bishop back on c8, you can try for a knight-hop into the center and perhaps a quick attack with the two bishops... there's all sorts of games with the Bd3/Bb2 double sacrifice on the king. In positions they play Bf5/Bg4, you can attack them on the queenside. Or, an alternative would be to play the London, since it's a slightly more aggressive Colle. Might be easier to operate when the bishop is always on f4.

[@MJ-jf7zw]

​@@GothamChessTani just won against Duda in last round of titled tuesday. Would be interesting to see your analysis of the game

[@Adyman182]

My beginner/intermediate strategy - the seven games, as I call it: As white, play e4 - utilize a response for every common opening: e5 - Use the Vienna Gambit c5 - Counter Sicilian with the Alapin e6 - Counter French with the Wing Gambit c6 - Fantasy Caro-Kann d5 - Counter Scandinavian with Tennison Gambit, ICBM As black: e4 - Scandinavian Defense d4 - Englund Gambit For other responses to white's e4 it's more likely a blunder than strategy by the black, for knight openings as black I mostly try to duplicate.

[@Filchmeister]

I would love to cover the french and what kind of sidelines you feel will throw opponents off the most!

[@skriabinfly]

Levy sells a video series and pgn that covers e6 and b6 for Black. Not quite French but similar. Link is in every Gotham video including this one

[@serhiiperehonchuk9733]

Levy, you are so calm in this video

[@SkyyWalker2137]

I honestly love your twitch and I have to say your tutorials are probably the best quality out there! I’m really surprised that you don’t have more viewers. I think you should do more tutorials like that because they honestly make me want to play more chess.

[@maiteoliveraharris7300]

A few days ago I decided I wanted to understand how chess pieces move. I am 39 and have never played chess or seen anyone play chess in real life before. I even signed my daughter up for a chess extracurricular a year ago and managed to never see her play or express any interest in the game. And suddenly here I am trying to remember some of these openings and finding the fun in all of this thanks to people like you and all the others that are breaking down the game for us newbies. Huge thanx!

[@SmartStr33t]

I've been playing for ages: I think it was about 10 years ago that I started building on my childhood like for the game. I'm getting better at finding good moves, my puzzle rating on chess.com is around 1300, but I don't really have any openings strategy other than playing e4 for white and e5 for black, then trying to develop into the centre moving each piece only once if possible. The idea of set-up based openings appeals to me because I'm not someone who plays enough to study every possible permutation. My strategy recently has been try to swap down as much as possible because it's easier to understand the position and have control with fewer pieces.

[@d0pekid806]

i have started playing recently and after short time of doing the openings like you described it, i learned the london set up. im only around 1600 rating rapid&blitz (lichess) but so far its been really effective, its really nice to alwayshave similar ideas in the midgame and basically never end up lost from the opening. if its getting "stale" you can still switch it up later, i do sometimes, although i dont really know other openings or theory, also it can get a bit dangerous if youre playing with black and/or the opponent is challenging you really early, you will have to change things then, but still really recommending set up based openings, particulary the london, good luck in your upcoming games!

[@SmartStr33t]

@@d0pekid806 thanks, you too.

[@scryb]

NO WAY THIS IS LEVY LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. So much growth in one year, love to see it.

[@ult1873]

"If you're looking for relationship advice, you've come to the wrong place."

[@Oxidized92]

After 2 years of on and off chess phases I’m finally making the bridge from beginner to intermediate and I must say these videos truly help me learn how to improve. I understand your newer content is more entertainment based however I implore you to continue to create free chess lesson videos as they truly are a blessing.

[@zacharyrichied3237]

Bought your e4 course a couple nights ago, your content is top notch!

[@hamoodhabibi2039]

What a refined gentleman

[@JulkaBorghouts]

5:34 The Kings Indian set up is my favorite

[@aznrandall]

@@JulkaBorghouts bring me back so I can play this vs my friend. He always beats me

[@mazenmoftah5605]

polite levy is scary

[@swimmerfive6567]

Gotham, you have all of my respect. Every time you have an opportunity to plug yourself, you ALWAYS without fail mention how many other options we have. Thanks for the great introduction video!!!

[@waltercfrosenbaum]

I love how serious you are in these videos.

[@jojono1077]

I present to you the rare calm and respecting Levy

[@NathanielDickison]

I would love to see Levy now remake this video

[@nolann2382]

What I want to know is who dislikes videos like this, he takes time out of his day to make great videos to help beginners and then 250 people dislike?

[@colin8923]

I just got "fried livered." I'm glad I know what that attack is now.

[@AnthonyMW]

talking to the chat even when they aren’t there 💔😢

[@wyatthauhn34]

best resource for learning openings (specifically e4, it’s my favourite opening move)

[@TheFlok22]

Really cool to come back and watch the progression of your content. Compared to your videos now, you seem so stiff and choppy here. Thank you for all of the great chess content Levy! Keep going!

[@donren5332]

I was stressing so much about learning the theory that i didn't even consider there might be some universal openings.. i'm like 800ish player i'm looking for an easy way to survive opening as my mid game is much better. so thank you man.

[@erecno7979]

I can FEEL him reading off the script...I love that his recent content is much more casual

[@nickmoore5105]

Just shows how nobody is great from the get go, anything worth doing you have to do it and learn as you go.

[@egz3637]

you can tell he was trying to be as nice as possible. If you compare this video to a stream clip even from at the time(like the one where he beat Peter Svidler), the difference in everything is huge.

[@dotaprorussian3679]

2 years ago Gotham was so polite and formal xD

[@notnotcharles3022]

I feel so good that an IM called me advanced for literally having a solid opening repertoire lmao

[@tariqelamin5847]

Why is he so respectful, I want the new version

[@RantyCat]

Can you make a video on pawn structures, pawn storm and pawn break? In middle game. I just don't understand when to break with pawns and keeping a certain pawn structures as they say. Also, I don't understand the isolated queen pawn thing and what's all about... Would be really helpful if made a detailed one on this. Thanks.

[@jakobkinz123456]

The problem with what your asking about is that these concepts are match specific. The factors which decide when to break pawn structure are as nuanced as chess can get, and only through experience will you be able to fully understand these concepts. I would say to watch Daniel N because his pawn theory is very traditional and comprehensive, and yet he can build the most vicious attacks with them.

[@YorkyPoo_UAV]

This video is only 2 years old and I'm like who's this smuck where is my Levi

[@philhastings]

Excellent vídeo. Very helpful. I Will be using the setup openings on my online recreational games

[@brass4235]

@GothamChess (Levi)- Opening Question- I've been told that the Ruy Lopez opening and it's variations is a great opening to accomplish the 3 main principles of an opening. 1. Working to control center squares, 2. Development of minor pieces, 3. King safety. I'd like to get your thoughts on this. Finding that in most cases I have to play with the B on b5 to avoid danger, unless I play Bb5xNc6 (exchange). I 'usually' like to keep my light squared bishop. So I'll drop to Ba4, and Bb3 losing tempo. 'But is it losing tempo', as I'm making my opponent make multiple outside pawn moves in the process...? Would love your thoughts on the Ruy Lopez

[@twosnakse]

This is wonderful, probably the most I’ve ever learned about openings in 10 minutes!

[@AjaySolanki-vw5xb]

1️⃣one pawn or two in the center, both knights, bishops, castle , queen down to connect rook, you can also do queen side castle 2️⃣set up based opening, theory based opening. Set up based. Played the same way no matter how the opponent plays. Because you set up that way. Theory based. E4. Kings Indian opening. D 5, k f 6 , g6, b g7, castle as black…(good against any white opening)…

[@hanitjagtiani7734]

You are such a good teacher. Have been learning so much from you. Thank you

[@TCS088]

I play London as I don't have the time to prepare massive opening base. As black, I play French against e4, and Semi-Slav against d4. I like closed positions, which is what I achieve with these openings.

[@azizgerma2855]

I was playing the e4 opening before i know that there is something called opening , and then I realized that I was playing the ruy lopez and some time i move to the Italian , through the time i figured out the pattern and the basic theory's​ . Now i play the a sicilian against the e4 openings and the king's indian against any thing else .

[@kengoold7157]

Hi mate, ken from down under here, been playing chess with my boss at work, I'm a hack, no rating but grew up playing the game and play pretty well I think, guessing I'd be around 1000 or under. I'd like to think my strength is I'm more abstract than trained players, because I don't know classis openings and how I should respond, a strength and weakness, but I do know opening strategy and development very well and how to attack, I like aggressive games because I only have a lunch time to play so I go in hard, love aggressive play. I just wanted to say how much I like you channel and I'm learning heaps, particularly love the fried liver attack. Awesome work Gotham, absolutely love your work, love the way you present your videos. Legend.

[@CSRunner7]

Great video. My main confusion is on the centre pawns. I’m never sure when it’s best to trade pawns or just retain and defend them if taken. I’m also often worried would lead to potential queen swap that I like to avoid.

[@venkyman4985]

This guy changed a LOT in course of 1 year.

[@Malconomics]

Thanks Daniel Radcliff this has helped me heaps!

[@metroboomin8895]

Finally we know what he did after hogwarts

[@WindyNight114]

The vibe in this video is so mellow. OG Levy?

[@TeamAwesomeDK]

Thank you Mr. Potter, I'll be sure to try and remember this

[@SuperZbros]

If you have trouble applying all of this, what I did is focus on one specific point and just played until it was second nature, he says at the beginning you want you move a pawn or two to the center and develop your knights and bishops, so I focused on doing that and just played, sure I was clueless after the opening but I got very very comfortable with those concepts, which I’m sure have 1000 different reasons why you should abandon those concepts based on position, but we aren’t GM’s we are beginners, gotta build the base first even if it’s flawed at the highest level.

[@chessmeal]

This question could be the idea of a video as well but what books do you think an intermediate player should read/study for opening theory/ what are the first few openings they should learn to develop their gameplay?

[@GothamChess]

Well, you gotta choose what fits your style. Are you good tactically (e4, and some aggressive d4 lines)? Are you a bit lazy tactically and want to play more positionally and slow (London, English)? Do you like written resources like books with physical board, or do you like online? Evaluate the preferences and decide. I recommend NOT doing extremely theoretical stuff with thousands of variations.

[@simrethdhingra4409]

Buy Levy's courses.

[@xtraeckerson1011]

First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you. As a new-ish chess student, your videos are really helpful for me in my journey to improve my chess. Just hearing about the distinction between Set-up based openings and theory-based openings was huge for me. I do have a question about The London System. In this video, it looks like 1.d4, 2.Nf3, 3.Bf4, 4.e3 is the "standard" sequence.. But in your 10 Minute Openings video on the London, you preferred 1.d4, 2.Bf4, 3.e3, 4.Nf3 (moving the Bishop out on the second move and delaying the Knight until AFTER e3. (In fact, I remember wondering why in that wideo you specially said to delay Nf3 until after e3. I am not sure that the reason was stated.) I do recognize that you did mention the sequence of the London openings moves could be varied a bit. But I am very curious why in this video, Nf3 was the second move and in the London-specific video, you recommended delaying Nf3 until at least the 4th move after e3. Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[@MrChefjanvier]

Best small intro to chess openings, ever. Thank you!

[@steveblomerth]

What a great and supportive way to give people a means of getting started in playing chess.

[@tijgertje0003]

Hi Gotham, I have a question. Right now I'm learning openings, but most of the time after I've set up my pieces I get stuck. I don't know when to attack or which way to go. What kind of material should I study to get better at transfering from opening to middle game (and middle game in general)? Thanks in advance, I trust you will have some great advice. Great content btw, I've already learned a lot!

[@philip6419]

DON'T study AFTER set-up.. just 'attack'! THAT is the correct move.

[@vaisakh03]

Staright to point and very informative

[@mcmuffincakes]

Is there a good book anyone can recommend for learning chess? Openings, theory, any topic, honestly

[@agumon51]

Ditto this. I would like to know as well.

[@stewie772]

Very clear and concise explanations. The visuals went hand in hand with your description of each move. Well done! Subscribed!

[@chetheflin7447]

A GothamChess subscriber here. Great channel! I’m U1200 on chess.com. I play the London System with White. I didn’t know the King’s Indian is a system opening. I am looking for a system opening for Black. I tried the Hedgehog, but discovered that White needs to cooperate by taking on ...c5, so maybe the Hedgehog is not a system opening. I’m curious about the Hippopotamus, as it looks like no matter what White does, Black can play the same moves. Would you recommend the King’s Indian over the Hippopotamus? Thanks for the video!

[@GothamChess]

Yeah, probably, but you can try both. Hippo is SUPER passive. So if you don't master the pawn breaks and structures you will get a garbage position and might get overrun.

[@alexandrmaximenko3794]

Damn, old Levy is so sweet :(

[@kudo1891]

is the danish gambit an instant loss against someone that knows what they're doing as black ?

[@GothamChess]

Uh... not at all. This gambit has been played many times at the top level, it's just not considered main theory. Also, unless you run into a 2000+ player, I highly doubt people know exact theory and they will definitely be thrown off. By all means play it, and study it deeply and look at a few GM games + computer analysis.

[@vatsala6497]

Figueroa Gage anyone below 1600 can also memorize the 5/6(I forget)...d5 pawn sac and the 3...d5 center attack which both successfully deny the gambit from occurring and are basic theory leading into a fairly equal endgame.

[@waq_shadow5236]

The way he actually explains ECERYTHING bro, I love that