Chess Opening: Ponziani Opening

The Ponziani Opening starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 as white looks to control the center of the board with d4 thrust. Black has many different options to defend but has to be careful as there are many traps that he can fall into.
Although many find this to be inferior to both the Ruy Lopez and the Italian Game, it has many exciting lines that give white a great game.
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[@walterpalmer2749]

Imagine creating a game that has so well stood the test of time as Chess. A simple board, yet a brilliant game.

[@sebastianshandy658]

I mean, they haven't patched the game since 1600 or something... Also they should nerf the Queen, and buff the knight...also the pawn is a bit broken

[@CyberPhiliosopher]

@@sebastianshandy658 They did update the game and mod it, but people prefer the original one. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_chess_variants

[@hdcloud9352]

They did refute a bunch of popular openings from the past, i would see that as patch and upgrades

[@dopplesoddner2899]

They should also add some expansions , the world seems very limiting.

[@Skallva]

@@hdcloud9352 Nah, that's just the meta changing

[@gyrgrls]

I remember when I once captured en Croissant, and it cost me a cappucino. Then I realized it was a Ponziani scheme.

[@mxgma989]

John Bond lmao

[@mangaelk]

Mmmmm croissant,,, ahhhhh.

[@ksportz66]

Kinda your fault.. you should always check mate

[@gavincrumley9305]

@@ksportz66 ,

[@lolafrancem1708]

@@mxgma989

[@pietermantel9498]

It should really be called the pawnziani opening

[@prplt]

that's what Levy calls it lol 😂

[@nakedking6676]

Why would anyone play the ponziani opening? I can't believe you made this video.

[@VyasAnand]

+NakedKing Read the description, you can lay traps for player sunder 2000 easily - also 1:30 is a comment just for you. He actually says "dont leave a comment saying why would you make video about it?" and then explains it.

[@nakedking6676]

+Vyas Anand yes, i was being sarcastic...

[@VyasAnand]

NakedKing I got that late lol

[@nakedking6676]

everybody makes mistakes ;) *****

[@VyasAnand]

+NakedKing lol

[@michaelcaron5756]

what sux about being such a crappy chess player (myself and the people I play against) is that u can study the openings all you want but you won't be able to play them because your opponent is not going to respond with the necessary moves, AND, if he does it means he a bleep of a lot better chess player than me and is going to crush me as soon as i'm all out of memorized opening moves lol

[@koenpalstermans9180]

+Michael Caron memorising the moves is not all you can do with your opening study. Recognizing patterns and understanding the philosophy behind different types of openings matter just as much. Once the middle part of the game begins to takes place you're on you're own, that's true but it'll be easier to find logical squares for your pieces and to know when to push a pawn or not if you're familiar with a few openings. Studying an opening from both colours' points of view might also be helpful. I'm quite a shitty player myself, but being aware of opening traps and surprising opening moves has already helped me in the past. To avoid better opening knoledge by my opponents I prefer to play transposable openings like the Larsen's (1.b3) and Nimzowitsch defense (1. ...Nc6) or even offbeat and totally unsound openings like for exemple Colorado gambit or Englund gambit, depending on my opponent's strength of course. greetings from Belgium

[@koenpalstermans9180]

TinUser Absolutely true, therefor a strong memory is important.

[@nexodus66]

lol I know

[@thorn3041]

Don't play the game, play the board. you can start out with a plan set but you always have to be able to adjust. Don't be afraid to improvise you may surprise yourself or your opponent.

[@errorloading6716]

Well if you're sure your opponent is much better than you, there's not much you can do anyway.

[@Entropy825]

Apparently, every move in this opening is "very, very..." something. "Very, very sharp", or "very, very agressive". And from any given position, white can have a "very, very good game". Not just good, or even very good, but very VERY good. I thought this was a very very good video.

[@iVesperX]

LMFAO this took me out

[@dahchessmaster4616]

A very very astute assessment...

[@Haha-ov8oo]

Very very funny

[@ahahaha3505]

Verily.

[@luxubukid]

5:00 : 4...nxe4 7:00: 5...nb8 13:40: 5...ne7 19:00: 4...exd4 22:37: 4...d5 26:20: 3....d5

[@antonioa.jepkoko4588]

Tysm!

[@tanyaflynn4908]

I ask "What would Kevin do?" every game I play. Lol. Love your videos, Kevin!

[@headleymonorails4235]

Hey, I wanted to say thank you for all of these videos. I have been playing the same group of people for 3 or 4 years now. Having a few options on openings helps keep the games fresh. Your videos have helped improve my game immensely! Thanks again.

[@gonzalezofepicness]

"I want to make sure we cover both of those options" 19:21 He forgot the Nd5 variation -_-

[@bzar400]

!!!

[@dopplesoddner2899]

Yes

[@BNURbori5]

Still not complete yet

[@canefan17]

Your opening videos are easily the best on KZbin imo. You get right to the point whereas others spend too much time talking to themselves. Keep it up

[@biblecorrected5501]

Hey Kevin your chess videos are the best keep at it I learnt so much from you. Your videos alone brought my chess rating up from a 800~900 player to a 1100 ~1200 player your the best

[@rubinaga9]

This is the best commentator. He explains great and you can understand all about the openings.

[@harshsinghbindra7471]

After 10 years still the best video on ponziani

[@frenchfry829]

this opening gave me a lot of success with white and black. thank you

[@chesswebsite]

@paulandlesson I recommend Fritz 12. I will be having a contest in a few days and will actually be giving away 2 copies. Stay Tuned.

[@vlyu]

A nice comprehensive overview of an opening with so many traps. Kevin is a natural teacher who keeps our attention. I wish Kevin would identify himself within the KZbin text, so we more easily find his teachings.

[@paddy110287]

thechesswebsite is without doubt the greatest chess website online, just donated.

[@sameer159]

amazing job kevin truly is the best pnziani vid out there i have seen so far keep up the good work! :D

[@NisseHult101]

Really good explanation of this opening - I learned a lot!

[@v1991c]

i quit watching your videos for a while, not on purpose...but just found some other channels etc. But now, after watching this, i'm like "ooooh that was why i watched kevin from thechesswebsite".. because your videos and explanations are very very open-minded, clear, very pleasing to watch and therefore its easier to gather information! Keep up the good work this is one of a kind job! PS: I really would like you to do play on any chess website, against random opponents. Would be nice to watch!

[@ahmadelhamshary62]

Indeed the most comprehensive Ponziani opening video. Thanks

[@ArturBrandys]

Great comments on different variations of this opening with full knowledge about play that we can do in this opening. You are awesome chess teacher, congratulations.

[@bigbo0os007]

Thanks alot m8, this is the most imba opening i ever seen, have used it alot and every time my openent end up loosing his qween :D keep it up man

[@qrepegraciliano]

this channel is amazing! i'm learning a lot! thanks for make this videos man!

[@smoky281]

8:35 can u not see the pawn

[@victortodoran1828]

Move the pawn, you lose the rook in two. It goes like this. Pawn G6. Queen E5 check. bishop/queen E2. Queen h8 takes the rook.

[@coltonmckinney736]

@@victortodoran1828 thank you

[@bobbyflay2822]

Only took 9 years to get a response lol

[@maxwellclarke7320]

@@bobbyflay2822 The funny thing is, I just saw this video today, and I was gonna reply. But someone's already got it covered.

[@alexasobu7592]

@@victortodoran1828 e7*

[@sushicartman01]

Wow, I just got overloaded on variations!

[@Yan-rv3mh]

The nice thing about chess is that even after 10 years some stuff still holds up very well

[@cosisthebest]

Or 100s

[@jaredmcc88]

Thanks for all of the videos you do!

[@xoxksa]

Great video. Great opening. Thanks so much for posting these.

[@tiki2188]

So basically, (from this and some other reading) sounds like this is an old opening that is just not really studied much, so it's potential lies in that fact, and that it really is best against beginners who are more prone to make mistakes. If anyone wants to correct me please do, but seems this is really best when the opponent makes mistakes, though this does provide many traps to lure them into. I will be sure to keep this in mind! Even if it's best against more novice players/needs some mistakes

[@JrbWheaton]

11 years later and it’s still the best

[@asd36f]

I've been a correspondence player for nearly 40 years, and in the last 10 or so years I turned to the Ponziani when playing White in an attempt from getting away from the highly-analysed variations of the major king pawn openings.

[@dodapants]

thank you for getting up this video that I asked you for, it helped a lot

[@chesswebsite]

@SoraOwnsAll8745 great call. If g6, black loses more material with Qxe5+, forking the rook on h8, but you are correct he could play g6. Thanks for pointing that out. I have made a notation in the video.

[@poolmancy]

Very nice the explanation of the openings. I just started to learn openings, and I would like to ask if you have the pgn file of each opening that you explain on the video so we can study it and learn it. And in case that you don't have it how we can do it?

[@ShadeSlayer501]

Thanks Kevin, your videos are great. Keep making them!

[@jvc113]

If you've never heard of en passant, you probably didn't go to the trouble to watch a 1/2 hour video on an obscure opening like this one, lol.

[@ClarkPotter]

+jvc113 lol precisely my thought here too :D

[@stefannuschristian5181]

in 19.10 you said you're gonna cover 2 option one is knight to e4 and knight to d5. but you havent cover knight to d5 option

[@jordancheatham]

Stefannus Christian BUMP!

[@AdamKochmann]

@@jordancheatham exactly!

[@musan9079]

Still hasn't covered it

[@GrantHerron]

Also what do we do if pond captures d4, we move e5, black night moves to g4, what do we do, i had all the first moves then he moved kg4, can you explain this plz, thanks.

[@nexodus66]

what happens white pushes pawn to d4 attack Nc3, black pushes qd2 which pins attack on knight?

[@pyro.pistol]

After Nxe4, my opponent played Bc5 and I exchanged bishops. What would be the best way to counteract this move?

[@bertmurillo1535]

Could you tell us how to win playing against the computer online/level 10./ I have tried all the suggestions you mention but the computer always wins

[@treasurebreaks5274]

just your suggestion whats the best tactic against black sicilian defense

[@cristiancostea1151]

at 19:09 after black takes at b4 ...why not queen to E7 pinning?

[@shinyninetales999]

@Prpperty cxd4 then if Ne6 d5 is a fork and if Na6 black is undeveloped and passive

[@RWW124]

Could you make a video about mental stamina, because whenever I go to tournaments in the middle of the third or fourth round my brain just freezes an I go into meltdown.

[@SuperRellik123]

Many of the people I play like to play 3... Bc5 on this opening. Are there any better ways than just playing 4. d4 exd4 5. cxd4 gaining a tempo on the bishop?

[@syaltamimi]

What if after white knight grab the pawn on e5 (move 6) black responds with Nf6,, does white has more traps after that or the game is balanced .. ?

[@justinhyun4035]

bishop on 8:32 can it come g5? +thechesswebsite so it pins the queen to the king?

[@tomjuliedabney7628]

At 11:08 if black goes Nc5, whould that not be better then the trade. Is this not a good idea for black?

[@Alex-ru1re]

What if my opponent attacks the pawn on e4 right away with knight f6?

[@DarkLantern1]

At 7:09, you say to play Be3 however a strong counterattack is Bc5 and you are forced to capture because if you don't and you choose to capture the pawn on e5, black trades bishops and once you take back with the f pawn. Black has Qh4 and has a slight advantage and either way, if you don't move the knight Bc5 is keeping black in the game and Be3 is deemed a mistake by the engine and the best move for white is actually the more natural Bd3 developing and attacking the knight.

[@exuviumisopods]

So thoroughly explained each possibility, excellent!

[@chesswebsite]

Glad you liked it

[@thedrummer77]

Great video! It's about time I change my good ole Ruy Lopez opening for something more creative. Thanks a bunch.

At 14:33 I prefer Nxf7 forking queen and rook. So he is forced to capture with the king, losing the castle right plus next move Qf3+ forks knight. King goes back, white takes, and white is "only" a pawn up, but controls the center plus black has lost his castling right. Then if black does not make the right move, you can still continue with the bishop line seen in the video. With the queen involved.

[@beaconite4249]

webprogramozás after Qf3+ black plays Nf6 blocking the check and saving the knight.

[@mymymiles]

Great video. What if after e4xd5, then white advances pawn to e5, Knight moves from f6 to d5? I didn't see anything on that maneuver in the video. What's white best play after that? Thanks!

[@jeremyb7602]

At 8:26, what is wrong with pawn to g6? It protects the king and is protected by the pawn on h7.

[@smesaric]

so what do you do if he moves the knight at 20:00 ?

[@jonathangan8871]

8:29 why cant black move his pawn from g7 to g6 to block the check? Im a beginner

[@TheBarber5550]

I'm trying to execute the ponziani on chess.com right now and my opponent just played Bishop to c5 when the board is at 2:11. I wasn't sure how to respond so I moved my Queen to e2 in order to protect the my F Pawn. I'm curious to know what other people think about this line.

[@elspethcansdale5414]

At 24:23 why not play Nxc6 instead of bishop takes you would win material after bxc6 and bishop takes c6+

[@Panicmattthedisco]

What if when I move my Pawn to D4, He retreats his knight from C6 to E7?

[@nontth5355]

I wanna know detail about "max lange" attack(Am I spell it write?) And did U already make vid about this??

[@jedsthree1298]

can u please make a video of your favorite chess opening, when u play pawn e4 as white and as black if an opponent plays e4. i would be grateful.

[@FrozenDarkness203]

question!! on 22:52, what if black plays a6? answer please..

[@MetaSynForYourSoul]

Great vid man its working for me and everyone plays da main line but after qh5 black just plays g6 to block how should I adjust after that

[@MGAnnAd]

Thank you. Enjoyed your analysis.

[@matthewsmoss9043]

Can you please do a video on the Budapest if you have not already done .

[@Brahninja]

At 30:52 after 6. Ng5, why is ...Qxf5 not a good move?/why is 6. ...d5 a better option?

[@Chronicler9]

Is there any possible variation of the Ponziani when Black replies at c4 during the first move?

[@evilsidd]

What if 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 Qe7? What should white proceed with

[@chasteen0221]

I'm probably missing something here, I'm not a high level chess player by any means but at around the 8:30 mark after Qh5 why can black not play g6? He would still lose the pawn and the knight in the center but atleast he would keep his king in better safety and could still castle. Can somebody explain this?

[@winstoonwin798]

Would the knight capturing c6 be better, or am i missing something? 24:20

[@TomAnonymousity]

GREAT VIDEO! I look forward for when i watch your sicilian videos if they are the same quality as this

[@noxure]

@ysilv Or even better: if he blocks with the bishop, you could simply trade the bishops. The only sane move for black is to take back with the Qxd7, after which you can fork the knight and the rook with Q-d5. Black can only put his Queen back on d8 or c8 and would lose two active pieces, falls behind 3 points in material and loses yet an other tempo after Qxe4+.

[@6th-12thscience-mathsfound6]

Kevin sir please make seprate vedio for black openings and white openings

[@BigGus87]

at 19:23 knight can also go to g4 what do u do then?

[@HylianGirl56]

I love you and chessnetwork just because of the audible voice :3

[@GrantHerron]

What happens if the bishop and the knight protect the pond, and it takes our pond, we can't move it up, so what do we then do?

[@theboxer5]

How about Black 3rd move Bc5? Then what's White's reaction?

[@nataliedemary7356]

There's a fourth option I've often seen black do: ...f3. In that case would it still be best to respond with d4?

[@death8dealer]

at 19:10 what if queen plays E7 would that be black best move?

[@hisokabeatbox6365]

19:12 so what white does if black put queen on e7

[@guiladshmaya1]

At 30.15 what happens if white just plays G4?

[@SNoCappidona]

one question i have is do you suggest lines that dont have much theory on them, or do you prefer lines that have been played many times/?

[@Radorf]

Hi, I am watchinig the video and just want to comment that u say there is 3 options on the 3rd move (Bc4, Bb5 and ponziani). Just tell that it is forgotten scottish 3.d4 with their differents lines.

[@tenminutespanish]

At 19:19 you said that the knight can either go to d5 or e4. You said you would go over both of these options, and you did go over a couple lines after Ne4, but I can't find where you discuss what happens if Nd5.

[@SNoCappidona]

i've been playing this opening in blitz a lot lately. and thanks for the video. i wasnt familiar with the opening i just played it randomely in bullet games. thanks for the informationl

[@TheDannyAwesome]

And after: 3. ...f5 4. exf4 Qf6 5. d4 e4 6. Ng5 d5 , Qh5+ to either move the black king or exchange the hanging pawn?

[@wormtownpaul]

After white's Be3, engines are saying that black's best move is Bc5. Thoughts of how that best plays out?

[@DoctorHpoduction]

@chess1941 I have your book and I love it! So glad someone made a book about the ponziani.

[@yazeed4]

20:30 would write the name of the move please ?

[@Username8243]

I have a question. At 5:30 when you play d5, why doesn't black play Bc5? That's a potential fork when black plays Nxf2. Thanks!

[@Fabri92Rssista]

At 18:00 can't black simply capture the white knight with Nxe5 (winning another piece)..? He doesn't have to take with the queen.. Or does he? I would appreciate some explanation :)

[@Sheendude]

Great video kevin, amazing job!

[@yazeed4]

@Cellogamer I searched for it didn't find it in this name, Kevin said another name i couldn't catch it would you write the move's name in 20:31

[@nannue]

I have been using this method without knowing what it is in term of name... One of my favorite line... it's true that it's a bit weird opening but I managed to hook many players w/ high rank already but somehow It has such a backfire against other situations... Awesome Opening...

[@xShadow607x]

How does this end up being a great game for white after 21:15?

[@maneltomilho2511]

when the black pawn takes d4, and you keep going by pressing the horse with E5... what if the black knight plays g4?