Caro-kann: 4 instructive rapid games vs. 1700 elo

[@AlexBanzea]

Waitlist for my upcoming Jobava course: alexbanzea.com

[@Lexilliann]

This guy is like Bob Ross of chess, his voice and combined with extremely straightforward explainations are just super calming

[@AndreFernandesMovies]

Im a simple man. I see a new Alex Banzea video, I immediatly watch it and like it

[@adamblomquist5581]

AGREED!

[@tianrunzhang6557]

I'm a simple boy. I saw your comment and I liked the video immediately

[@johnmahugu]

i normally like even before i watch

[@bloweedrawings5177]

I'm a difficult man. I see the video and first must weigh the pros and cons of watching it and then if it passes put the video in the "double check if want to watch it tomorrow" folder. If tommorow it passes that, then I will consider watching it.

[@sentryogmixmaster]

Alex is the best teacher. his positional explanations are superb and very clear.

[@rajchaudhary8325]

"Maybe there's no power in the rook" got me dying 😂😂

[@markus717]

Your 'patter' is entertaining. eg: The abandoned pawn analogy (you're 18 now, good luck getting a job) was funny.

[@kylezo]

18:22 "bishobiTU" best alex banzea quote candidate

[@Joecharbo1]

Man! It's so funny to watch you. It's like i learn chess and go to the comedy club at the same time. Thanks for all your content by the way. ;o)

[@irjake]

42:57 - "why should we try to attack him on his stronger side?" Also, a minority attack was the winning idea in the previous game! How do we know which mindset is right for each position?

[@matt6722]

The minority attack is one of the main ideas in the Carlsbad structure. It’s not really that he’s stronger on that side of the board, just that he has a pawn majority. The whole idea of the minority attack is to make a weakness on c3 for your c8 rook to pressure

[@AlexBanzea]

You have open file for the rook to work with in the minority attack! (also there are a few custom plans for each big variation that you can learn before hand so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel during the game)

[@fadedchemistry]

@@AlexBanzea Does the rook ever go to B8 to support a B4-B5 push? I think I've seen you play that in a few games too. I always do rook C8, just wondering when B8 would make sense. Thanks for the great content as always!

[@AlexBanzea]

@@fadedchemistry yeah so generally Rc8 is always good, but if you want to be more precise (Rc8 vs Nc3 and Rb8 vs pawn c3)

[@mhillary04]

That royal fork in the first game was crazy 😂😂

[@wanderhillen2435]

I was so pleased that I saw that beforehand haha. All those decoy puzzles must finally be paying off.

[@2lurukamaz]

That was so dirty

[@НикитаЗубенко-о1о]

This the best educational chanel for intermediate level players, especially who plays Caro-Kann. Thanks for the content!

[@FructuredEchoes]

Those case studies were all awesome choices. Can't wait for your Jobava course!

[@tarnlicht3657]

Caro kann and Alex Banzea the only thing I need in my life atm. Keep it up!

[@gregg3457]

Thank you for the most excellent instructions! It always a pleasure to watch your videos!

[@raevix4766]

Been awhile since i got to watch a video because of my job. I can still see you are producing good chess videos!

[@thetransferaccount4586]

caro kann makes my day better

[@javierfernandezgarcia7145]

Alex is my favorite chess youtuber in English and Pupilochess in Spanish. They make it look so easy, and they have similar playstyle and opening repertoires (London and Caro Kann). I'm big fan of both!

[@peshogeorgiev]

Bruv, I appreciate your videos a ton. I am very rapidly improving in chess thanks to Caro and Jobava and I am now teaching my 7 year old the openings in your fashion. Keep doing what you are doing ❤

[@hayhay557]

"trying to do a big robbery to steal a pretzel" 😂

[@fearlv1rattata]

I have Gotham's caro courses. This has been incredibly helpful as the Botvinnik-Carls variation isn't that common to find good advice for. The middle game always get me in the Caro, and I'm never really sure how to attack the queen side. Thanks for this! Also, sick fork in game 1.

[@sebastianm.6669]

that kick in the nuts was the most beautiful chess move I've seen in a while superb.

[@salemtv5808]

the crazy line with the queen sac 1:01:13 how did Alex saw that so quickly? i’m really asking I know that he is a very strong IM but my question is how to train recognizing such lines and calculate it so fast?? btw second game i learnt A LOT always hated the d3 move and was clueless..thanks to Alex now im looking forward to meeting it.. hopefully in the next speedrun he meets the von henning and show us how to deal with that

[@FructuredEchoes]

Well [opinion], he is studying, making videos and playing Caro-Kann for years and he has probably produced one of the best (if not the best) online course for Caro Kann. So I guess, those situations keep repeating themselves. I believe that this is also why he can find out instantly how to reroute the knights to the optimal squares the moment a enemy pawn moves. He does not actually solve the problem but he is recognizing the pattern.

[@salemtv5808]

@@FructuredEchoes very interesting…basically pattern recognition on a pro level…did you see the video eric rosen just posted…we need a solution for the light bishop after white plays Bd3 without the fianchito hopefully:)

[@AlexBanzea]

in that situation it was not a pattern, I just had an obvious feeling that there must be something to punish white's undeveloped pieces. I knew the computer gives good compensation in that variation, so overall I just had a good tell to look for something, and I stumbled upon the win quickly by running through the most forcing moves. Not easy stuff there, but generally you can get away with much less than that (eg: the minority attack game)

[@AlexBanzea]

ty for the kind words

[@salemtv5808]

@@AlexBanzea you’re most welcome Sir…all my wins with black is your work on the caro/slav and reversed london speedruns we can’t thank you enough

[@Malqwain]

I learned a lot of lines in karo - Can and Jobava London after watching your videos, so thank you so much ❤❤

[@jestercrusher7743]

The best chess banter

[@MrTims2011]

This is the BEST chess instruction! Great metaphors too! Thanks!

[@Fitness4London]

That first game was fantastic, with the rook sacrifice then the knight fork to take the queen. Wow.

[@snortingnesquik3470]

9:05 what was wrong with Nd2 immediately here? ❤

[@AlexBanzea]

looks interesting, but I play simpler in general

[@leszekebertowski]

Superb vid and performance! I love the way You play C.K. :) Can’t wait for the next one like this….Regards ;)

[@McCaffreyPickleball]

At 14:55, I saw Rd2.... I think that's the same idea & also works right?

[@dwark1754]

Thank you for these alex! This is the perfect rating range for me in an opening i play exclusively against 1e4

[@BoulderingBear]

I was so chuffed when I saw the Rf3 move and I calculated it all out. Love these videos

[@jonm9147]

Love the discussion and intention for the middle game rather than just showing the opening.

[@DrDifra]

Just recently discovered your channel, really good stuff! I play the vienna for white and the karo for black so this is great for me' I was wondering, can you do a video focused on converting? I feel like even if i get that backward pawn and take it (game 2 reference) i wouldnt necessarily know how to proceed and win from there!

[@AS260478]

Great lesson in game 1. Sacrificing a Q for 2 rooks is a good option. I wouldn’t have expected that. I’d be too scared to try it ! 🤪😂

[@Vincentovich89]

I wanna play you sometime banzea. I have 2400+ rapid, 2600 blitz.

[@V_ChessGuy]

you're such a cool, funny guy but you're also insanely good at this game. What more can we ask for from a creator? Amazing work Alex. Also your full name Alexandru-Bogdan Banzea is SO cool!

[@nobledicegames]

Alex thanks for the content!!! Cheers from Greece!!!

[@jonathansampson7450]

Most instructive chess on KZbin right now 🫡

[@rvouilosteo2513]

Love your video. Thanks a lot ! And I bougth your course on the caro kann on chessable.... and it's a must have !

[@salvadorsempere1701]

We ned more videos on the Tartakover. I struggle giving on it the death blow and usually end with draws...I go fine till 14-15 move, but really get lost after it

[@CanadaBoards]

He has a Tart game in pretty much every one of his 100 Caro videos bro

[@kylen6430]

17:25 at this level, instead of dxe dxe I see a lot of dxe ng4 trying to go for h7 tricks and h6 loses the light square diagonal

[@MansterBear]

I played a little bit a chess a couple years ago, then stopped. Now I'm interested again, but I know I'm a total noob so there's probably a reason why Alex didn't do this... but what I saw at 6:03 was that you go knight d4, he moves the queen, then you go knight c2 and fork the rooks. So people who actually know what they're doing... what am I missing?

[@seonggihun5069]

Queen can move and defend c2 square stopping the fork

[@erichobbs4042]

That first game... That was the dirtiest power move ever. 15:01😅😅😅

[@zoilojrmahumoc3738]

I liked your chess tutorial I learned a lot ideas and positional play. Thank you and more videos.

[@ReelRiches1337]

Love the Caro-Content Alex! PLEASE can you do a video/short on the Goldman Variation?! -> 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf

[@ศกรโสมาภา]

When h3 is played in Tartacower I notice that sometimes black plays Be6 and tries to prepare Bxh3 sac. When should I choose to go with Bh5 and when should I go with Be6? I don’t think it’s as simple as playing Be6 if white didn’t have bishop on c4.

[@AlexBanzea]

Do the bf5/be6 with sacrifice on h3 only when they don’t allow Bg4

[@a.j.mafolasire3346]

i love his sense of humor. this dude is funny as heck

[@wookcookie6505]

Thanks for the vid, this is exactly at my elo level. Could you also make a video explaining how to get good at calculating and tactics like you are? That combined with these thematic caro ideas would elevate my play

[@AlexBanzea]

Hard work on the puzzles!

[@wookcookie6505]

@@AlexBanzea Thanks haha, I will get to work on those puzzles

[@sabbirhussain4677]

Watching him improved my game, just reached 781... Aiming for 1000 wish me luck

[@tiendaweii]

Even if I didn't enjoy chess, I'd love these videos just for the analogies =)

[@VasiliyIgnatov-c4q]

I'll try it tomorrow, great strategy again

[@jondoe8014]

My favor part of the end game with the caro Khan is when you push on one side and their king runs to stop only for me to queen on the other side lol. You got to remind them there are more pawns lol.

[@Richard--Fox]

10:48 what if white plays rook e2 here?

[@oleksandrmakarets3508]

Great content, as always! Could you please sometimes throw a video vs 2000 players who put up a stronger resistance?

[@AlexBanzea]

the fun part is that the 2000 crumble just like the 1500s

[@omarwilliams1948]

I watch Alex religiously everyday

[@absolutesonic4266]

Hello Alex, I wanted to ask what were your thoughts on the Pirc Defense (1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6) and why its not so viable at FM to IM level. I would appreciate if you could briefly reply to this comment. Thank you very much in advance, and love your videos.

[@BrawlhallaBoy]

its just passive, put pawns in the center to have atleast some space, thats why e5 and the sicilian are much more common

[@absolutesonic4266]

@@BrawlhallaBoy I understand it can be relatively passive at first but there are actually quite a lot of lines that create very complicated and active positions for Black if White tries to punish the opening. I'm just wondering how far could I get using it because even in the positions where my opponents plays a good solid line that leaves me relatively passive, I have the option for a kingside KID-style pawn storm which I quite enjoy and fits my playing style.

[@BrawlhallaBoy]

@@absolutesonic4266 true, the thing is some people like me dont immediately close the position and keep pawn tension, which keeps the center more open, helping me not get attacked, Just developing allur pieces with white and castlng kingside should leave black unable to move.I used to play those log castle stuff against the pirc but i t didnt work much so i just develop my pieces castle and fight for the win.

[@ryanjensen2584]

1:01:11 incredible foresight Alex

[@GiantChihuahua2000]

Thanks for your videos! I'm doing so much better with the Caro-Kann. I'm almost to my goal of 1000. Yay. Please keep the videos coming!

[@axhraf7712]

no thumbnail?

[@GoodmanMD]

9:00 didn’t knight d2 first work? Alex Banzea please respond lol

[@GoodmanMD]

I think it was actually nicer endgame then the queen for two rook and if he declines there was Qxc2

[@AlexBanzea]

It was playable, but too tactical when the position is simply winning I feel like

[@kylen6430]

@@AlexBanzeabut you played into the same position anyways…

[@kylen6430]

@@AlexBanzea like nxc5 loses a piece to nxf3 kh1 (kg2 nxe1+) rxc5. And if queen moves you get same position but b3 not included

[@pax1913]

Opponents getting brutalized: I Caro-Kan't do this anymore :(

[@FabiisonBeats]

What did you have for lunch Alex?

[@dusty_dusty]

40:51 Don't forget the real reason pros don't want you to know about this structure - if you acquire the fabled pawn cube you automatically win the game.

[@salemtv5808]

Hey Alex any chance you start a d4 c4 speedrun?

[@invisiblelathatatlan]

It's so easy when you play it and not me.😂 Thanks for the higer rated games.

[@therealyoku]

alex when are you gonna go for GM title

[@dp4483]

Ignoring a booty call to stream chess. That's a proper instructor

[@seeker7429]

30:23: „do I respect him that much?“ You should. You are a good chess player, that’s all.

[@AlexBanzea]

Why do you take everything so personal 😆

[@oleksandrmakarets3508]

That's a kind of slang. Means "do I consider him strong enough to be afraid if he gets ... (h5 in this case)?"

[@AlexBanzea]

@@oleksandrmakarets3508 no it means: is the move good enough to be afraid of? Lol

[@oleksandrmakarets3508]

😂 I was soooo wrong.

[@AmericasAlgebraTeacher]

“…pretty straight forward stuff” after rolling through a 10 move queen sacrifice visualization 😮

[@tomjohansen456]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but at 14:42 you can go with that ridiculous fancy nonsense, but I would have simply moved the f rook to d2.

[@benzmane7564]

And with that being said, I think we can move on to the following game:

[@markedward9047]

I'm hungry. At 2:28, I thought he said, "We have a buffet of prawns." No, pawns!

[@roknovak4155]

This means work on the Caro-Kann Workbook is back on track? 🥳

[@AlexBanzea]

might be able to have it as an X-mas gift! Mr Lupulescu has been working on his side, and I decided to add more general middlegame/endgame ideas for the Caro, both supplementing my repertoire and useful ideas for the opening in general.

[@zotamus]

In the first game at the end, rook to d2 would have been better to just win the knight outright.

[@pastlink98]

Great content here.

[@KekW-lk9br]

I'm a 1400 player, but now I realise that if I just become an IM who always considers every sacrifice, I can easily beat 1700s. Also, Romanians get their blood tested regularly?

[@frankvanbussel4226]

very nice combo in the end , if only he would have allowed it

[@f3f6Bewarned]

"If you are losing to 1700's like these, than you need to get some bloodwork done.😂

[@sandeepverygoodvedeo8693]

Thanks Sir

[@kvl1007]

Bro's eating levy's career

[@gamesspeedprodev7497]

Like your content but can you challenge higher rating oppenent like +2000

[@RickL555]

Love learning from these vids and getting my daily dose of super sexy chess. haha

[@kaidoChess]

He back!

[@ps9213]

How are you going to celebrate 100k subs?🍾

[@MansterBear]

Haven't had blood work in 5 years? I'm 37 and don't know if I've ever had bloodwork, other than when I've had a surgery or something they've probably done it, who knows lol

[@Jonathan-sf6ej]

nice, 1 hour long one.

[@2for10]

You should follow Gothams footsteps and try to go for GM and do recap videos of each match

[@jakewatson7529]

Love the Theo Von reference :)

[@maxthefearless5657]

I should get some blood work done damn

[@walterbrownstone8017]

Playing against the ideal rating range. 1700+ knows how to play chess but they still blunder a little bit.

[@lukastux3024]

yes. In my view, it's not really instructive to play against sub 1700s as they play so horribly and blunder pieces all the time that the games themselves do not end up being too instructive..

[@walterbrownstone8017]

They don't blunder until mostly move 20 or more. You can still get them to blunder sooner but you have to play very accurate.

[@lukastux3024]

@@walterbrownstone8017 it's not only their blunders, but when I play 1600s or lower, even their opening (much sooner than move 20) is terrible. Not necessarily losing blunders, but frequently +1.5...

[@walterbrownstone8017]

@@lukastux3024 where even move 5? Maybe not move 20 but move 12 at least

[@ChessWithAmmar]

nice video

[@KaiPRoberts]

RIP youtube with the new ads.

[@engee4422]

just as bad as the epstein island but 3 times worse was an absolutely bonkers thing to hear in a chess video

[@christinacarter2550]

Over🎁 🔥🔥🔥

[@rafaelpaquete3350]

now i can dinner

[@dianagentu7478]

#39:31 "Alright boys & men" 😮😯😲🥺 You totally IGNORED me & "my kind" ☹ I respect you Alex, but um.... that's so mean.

[@austindaily3091]

God tier

[@jondoe8014]

Sometimes the review will be like. You missed an opportunity to X, and I'm like no I just liked my other option better.

[@AnthonyDo]

More kings Indian please! Or dragon!

[@frankbrown6305]

Alex. Please more Vienna games……..