Chess openings - French Winawer

[@randyking9489]

Of all the thousands of chess videos out there, you are one of the best. Great teaching!! Glad I found you.

[@KebuChess]

Thank you so much for saying this, I greatly appreciate it and I look forward to doing more of these videos!! :)

[@Xandr017]

Nothing but positive comments on all your videos... That says it all, you broke youtube. Thank you and keep it up please!

[@KebuChess]

Xandr017 Doing my best! Thank you!

[@GWiggles69]

I really love that you explain things in depth from the perspective of both white and black in your videos.

[@KebuChess]

Thank you so much, I very much appreciate this!

[@adamrappaport904]

First time I've found one of your videos. So clear and concise - thank you for your approach to revealing the thinking behind various strategies and positions with this opening/defense.

[@krishnaprem2847]

I'm glad you found this helpful Adam, thank you also! -Krishna, formerly known as Dereque Kelley

[@yamiegg394]

Dereque, could you do a separate video on the Winawer Poisoned Pawn?

[@KebuChess]

Yamiegg, I really hope we can act on this suggestion! It's a great one, thank you! :)

[@KebuChess]

In answer to #1, If Black plays ...Qh4+ White must play Ke2 (and not g3? ...Qxe4+ winning the rook and utilizing the pin as you mention) but then in order to capture on e4 Black must first play ...Bxc3 and only after bxc3 does he have ...Qxe4+. If Black plays ...Bxc3+ first (as in the video) then after bxc3 ...Qh4+ White's best move again appear to be Ke2 so it simply transposes.

[@KebuChess]

@Akash Moothedath: This also works and simply transposes since in both cases White needs to respond to ...Qh4+ with Ke2 (and in the case you are mentioning, Black will -then- continue with ...Bxc3+ and so forth)

[@drnantz]

Love this guy.

[@KebuChess]

Thank you, thank you, thank you

[@clooneyNWW]

You're videos are perfect, thank you for making them for us! Also, I am astounded by the rate at which you respond to comments. You obviously truly care about helping everyone with their chess game. I love it. I will be tuning in. thanks again!

[@MF-fs1xi]

I have found your videos by random, but now I start looking at all of them. You are very clear and pleasant to listen. THANK YOU.

[@DoesntUpload]

I know you get this a lot, but these truely are great shows. Well reasoned and constrained permutations of the openings, succinct development with a well stated over-arching plan... You really set the openings out in a way that seems organic. Keep up the great work (at a great pace too, might I add).

[@KebuChess]

(1/2) I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the videos :-) This is a tricky question! After 5...cxd4 White can play 6.axb4 dxc3 and then he actually has a few different ways to gain an advantage. One problem for Black is that if White simply plays 7.bxc3 you have the same strategic factor that Black has given up the dark-squared bishop but White's pawns are not as weak.

[@ianjames537]

Thanks for the video; very instructive, as usual. I have two questions: 1) In the line given at 5:40, why does Black have to take the Knight before playing ...Qh4+, Qxe4 ? Isn't the pin on the Knight enough? 2) In the main line, after White plays a3, why not go after the central pawns immediately with ...cxd4? Wouldn't that immediately achieve Black's goal of undermining the center?

[@SuperShakespeare]

I play the winawer with Bd2 instead of a3 - the Boguljubov Variation - most opponents are out of prep with this and white has tremendous tactical possibilities - worth taking a look at it!

[@KebuChess]

(2/2) For example there is no isolated pawn at a3 as in the main lines. White's structure is more compact and he has no trouble unfolding his development and utilizing the bishop pair. Here is an interesting way play can go: 6.axb4 dxc3 7.bxc3 Qc7 8.Nf3!? Nge7 (8...Qxc3+ 9.Bd2 Qc7 10.Bd3 with serious compensation) 9.Bd3 with a slight advantage for White.

[@lebarosky]

This is brilliantly clear and well organized. It is much better than other opening lectures if one is, like me, a player rated below 1500.

[@KebuChess]

You mean 1.Nf3 with quick c2-c4? There is one on King's Indian Atttack (1.Nf3, 2.g3, 3.Bg2) which is what some people mean when they mention the Reti Opening.

[@KebuChess]

Question #2 is trickier - too bad it was not covered in the video. After 5.a3 cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 White's best methods both involve allowing a pawn to fall either by simply playing 7.Qg4! (not capturing on d4 but drumming up serious play on the queenside) or by 7.bxc3 Qc7 8.Nf3! Qxc3+ 9.Bd2 and Bd3 with big compensation. From a positional point of view, taking on d4 ends up costing Black a much-needed tempo whereas ...Bxc3+ bxc3 ...Ne7 allows just enough development to keep things unclear

[@MonkeyEspresso]

Thanks Dereque. I hope you know that beginners like me greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into these tutorials. Best opening vids in KZbin for sure!

[@KebuChess]

...Ng6 and ...Nf5 both look playable, though I'd need to look a little more closely to determine which I'd play if I were Black (I'm leaning toward ...Nf5)

[@simontkl3731]

Best way of opening preparation. Like his opening explanations👍

[@KebuChess]

Thank you!! :)

[@paperbulletbice]

This is great stuff, sir. Your delivery and narration are professional and efficient.

[@HipHopAn0n]

Winawer variation is the only variation I like playing against as White. You get the b-file, the bishop pair, versatile development, queen-side castling in some lines, etc. Most dynamic of all the French sidelines potentially.

[@codegeass7162]

10:55 why can't white take the undefended c pawn? now that the bishop is gone and taking it does not help black develop what is stopping white from taking?

[@KebuChess]

dxc5 ...Qa5! is mess for White with weaknesses everywhere :)

[@cmck362]

At 7:51 or 5. a3 can black play 5. ...cxd? It would threaten the knight thats pinned so I think white would only consider taking d4 with the Queen or taking the bishop. It looks like it trades doubled c pawns for white for no pawn on d4 if the Queen takes. Taking the bishop with the pawn looks worse for white to me. I think its playable with an easier time attacking the e5 pawn, but I'd like someones opinion that isn't as novice as me. Thanks for the video Dereque. They are very helpful.

[@KebuChess]

You're welcome! That's a tricky question. To learn opening details through videos would mean those details were present in the videos. But of course videos can only cover so much! Trying openings in practice can go a long way. To go even further, you may want other materials.

[@KebuChess]

You're welcome, and thank you! I know that your question was not addressed to me but I found it puzzling - when you say you software to keep track of moves, what are you referring to? Database software where you can save games you've already played? Or something else? Or somewhere to play?

[@zoommonkey]

I love these vids. its very nice to see how you explain all the different variations and whats going on in white and blacks head as the variations play out. very helpful for a novice like me to "fast-track" with this kind of insight. cheers m8!

[@filipjelic8980]

7:25 It is better to move Kf8 than Bf8 . Black doesnt have to castle in this variation, actually if he plays Bf8 he won't castle either and he lost a tempo and a position.

[@KebuChess]

Of course!

[@olaf.anders1108]

Hey Derek, I like your interpretations in all of your videos, those sophisticated words one should only hear in a great lecture theatre. Tusen takk!

[@KebuChess]

Thank you!! :)

[@computer__eyez]

Yes I agree with Rakesh, I too am a beginner. Thanks for responding to him. I see you are in the process of creating these. Another question, will you be bringing your windows phone 8 app over to us iOS owners? ipad/iphone version? Thanks.

[@tonyroberts3360]

Just wanted to say that I've learned so much for watching your video. Keep up the good work.

[@KebuChess]

You bet! Thank you!!

[@michaelferguson8438]

Funny that as amateur player have wond up in some theses positions. Position asblack at 9:50 led to a long fight always behind and eventual loss. Was hoping white would break pin win Bd2 and was so afraid of opening B file for white rook, not of losing bishop pair.

[@KebuChess]

This is also a line so you raise a good question! White normally simply proceeds Bd2 but yes there are many twists and turns. Investigate this if you think it will help you!

[@jbdoggy]

In a very old chess book its called nimzowitch. And i can see the similarities in the themes with nimzo indian. When did it become winawer? Or is it cos winawer employed the nimzowitch a lot? Ive also wondered about the pronounciation of winawer a lot....wee-na-were, wee - na- where, vee na vere??

[@KebuChess]

I'm not sure! I have a feeling if you Googled this you would find some great information. It's worth looking up!

[@KebuChess]

Not sure but thank you for the suggestion!

[@mig15ebc]

in that line white responds 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9. Nced and black's bischop and pawn are hanging

[@KebuChess]

I guess I don't understand the question. Perhaps you mean a3? And at what point?

[@Captain_Picard]

Thank you for this nice video on the Winawer! Watching this, it's so much easier to understand the opening vs. reading Ruben Fine's "Ideas Behind the Opening"!

[@KebuChess]

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying them and find them helpful!

[@KebuChess]

@Robb Cravens: Thanks! Glad you liked it :)

[@nikhilsubramaniam]

Hi Dereque. Another excellent video. Thanks. Guys, is there a software (or game) you guys use to keep track of moves? Chess in Win7 doesn't have a move log and chess.com is so annoying as people keep abandoning games against novices. I find it hard to learn without a tool like that. Any suggestions?

[@KebuChess]

This is ambitious but I do ponder this avenue sometimes! What chess games do you consider fabulous?

[@ThisIsUnrealReality]

Hey Dereque, could you do a video about the stone wall attack, and a good counter for black? Thanks!

[@Jenterke]

6. b4 worthy of an exclamation mark?? Then what happens after 6. ... cxd4 in stead of 6. ... cxb4? White has a vulnerable knight on c3 and a weak pawn on d5 which can both be targeted by a Qc7 move. Isn't black better??

[@KebuChess]

Eek! I agree this is a major missing piece to the analysis. After 6...cxd4! 7.Nb5 Bc7 8.f4 (a line found several dozen times in the database) White still has a pleasant initiative based on the ease of deploying his minor pieces relative to Black's blunted bishops. So the key is still 7.Nb5! once again, with some advantage

[@Jenterke]

Dereque Kelley Hmm, even with Nb5 my engine gives black an edge. But that engine is probably not too good with openings anyway... Thank you for your explanation!

[@MrUsman126]

Great video Dereque. Can you also put up avideo on scotch gambit?

[@JuliusSpin]

Why not instead of messing around with the castling or knight moving, as soon as the white queen goes to g7, put the black queen on a5. Pressuring to the pawn on c3 which will lead to a king/rook fork. And can lead to a lot of different twists and turns in which white is forced to forget all about the weakened postition of the black homefront.

[@dev_willis]

What if white plays 5.Bd2 and then 6.a3? Capturing the knight no longer damages white's pawn structure so is the exchange still worth it?

[@kuhmuh2357]

maybe it´s because of 5. ... cxd4

[@Kakaozwiespalt]

I love these videos! It's really a fun way to improve a bit on opening play even though I don't play this particular opening. I

[@KebuChess]

Against 1.e4 usually the Ruy Lopez, but I enjoy the Sicilian or Petroff sometimes too

[@N97i]

Mr. Kelly where i can find more lines of the french defence? how can i master it? please answer

[@KebuChess]

Ilyes Hassounet :)

[@cadagerardo.8794]

Im i the only one who find caro kann and french some what similar? correct me if I'm wrong

[@KebuChess]

Thank you! As with another question you had asked the future of all of these projects is very unclear :( In the case which you are mentioning there is a chance it could take place later next year and I really would like to see that it does.

[@KebuChess]

I like this suggestion but this is tricky! Any formula which I can imagine to cover the Modern is very very lengthy. After all, the Modern begins on move one. There are many possibilities and the only thing they'll be characterized by is that Black fianchettoed his bishop :)

[@frank124c]

I'd like to c u do 1 on the French advance variation. Great videos by the way!

[@KebuChess]

Excellent suggestion and thank you for the kind words! Great to have you here! :)

[@imjinc2k]

Never dreamed of sacrificing the dark bishop as black in the french. This is very interesting. Thanks! :)

[@imjinc2k]

I've been playing on ChessCube from about 1100 when I started to about 1550 today. You can review your last 20 games, or all of them with VIP. Also lets you copy/email/facebook the PGN file to view offline. You can only abort a game on the first move. I don't know how the courtesy of the player base compares to Chess.com, since I've only used Chess.com on my phone where disconnects are to be expected, and ELO is weirder.

[@PurpleDuckTape00]

I ment if white plays 4 a3 how does black devolop in the winawar?

[@tigerbait1016]

I play the winawer and this is the line I use: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 0-0 8. Bd3 f5 9.exf6 Rxf6 10.Bg5 Nd7 11.Bxf6 Nxf6....with TREMENDOUS counterplay. One line that happened in a game went like this: ( 12.Qd1 Qa5 13.Qd2 c4 14.Be2 Ne4 15.Qd1 Qxc3+ 16.Kf1 Nd2+ 17.Ke1 Nb3+ 18.Kf1 Nxa1 ) with a completely winning position for black.

[@potatofarmerbowbow3557]

At 5:43, instead of Bxc3+, why not Qh4+ first? If white moves the pawn to g3, then Qxe4+.

[@vishaljavakhedkar4384]

Thanks for posting these videos, if we want to learn these openings in details through videos, how can we do that, any clue.

[@rakeshkaddi]

Hi Dereque... im beginner i have seen many gm videos, but suddenly i become great fan of u... can u make complete video on one single opening covering almost every variation... thank you

[@KebuChess]

Ah, I understand! I am not actually sure - Black should have many development schemes after all :-) A quick database search reveals that the main why 4.a3 tends to turn out is 4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 dxe4 6.Qg4 Nf6 7.Qxg7 Rg8 8.Qh6 and then Black has a few different plans. Compared to the main lines investigated in the video, Black has no material deficit, and yet White's development is still complicated. There should be a few plans for Black!

[@KebuChess]

Ahh, I love this suggestion. I am working on a project exactly like this though this particular one I am hoping to "monetize". I hope the cost will not be at all prohibitive and maybe in the future there will be an opportunity to start a project like that here on KZbin too.

[@KebuChess]

I do not know the information on the board, it was a gift many years ago!

[@BlackPawnMartyr]

Interesting video. Been playing the bishop pin then messing up the rest of the line. Hopefully this leads me in a better direction.

[@KebuChess]

BlackPawnMartyr chess Best of luck!

[@joshuamiller9541]

These videos are fantastic! Thank you!

[@KebuChess]

Will keep these in mind! :-) Demonstrating these games in an -entertaining- way is easy because of the high quality of the play and people's tendency to perk up as soon as they hear such names. But demonstrating these games in an -instructive- way... that's a whole nother mystery!

[@roisela3441]

at 9:15 you siad black is forced to play cxb4 i think black can play cxd4 with a solid position i want to know why you did not said this as option

[@KebuChess]

Glad you are enjoying the videos!

[@SuperMerlot]

I always play 4.a3 against the Winawer. Not many people knows the line and it has given me good results

[@willdansby445]

Your lessons are so well explained and concise! Thanks!

[@KebuChess]

Thank you very much!

[@Alkyani]

Hello ! After castling (12 : 29), how black can handle bishop h6? Nice videos by the way !

[@cmck362]

You're right. It doesn't look as good as I hoped. It still looks interesting though. Thank you for going to the trouble of looking at it. Have a good weekend.

[@Diosukekun]

i think this is a pretty instructive alternative aggressive idea for white in the winawer that uses Ng5 instead of Qg4 first, later sacrificing the knight. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Nf3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nbc6 9.Bd3 Qb6 10.0-0 Bd7 11.c3 Rc8 12.Rb1 Qc7 13.Ng5 h6 14.Qh5 g6 15.Qh4 Nf5 16.Bxf5 exf5 17.Nxf7 Kxf7 18.Qf6+ Kg8 19.Qxg6+ Kf8 20.Bxh6+ Rxh6 21.Qxh6+ Kf7 22.e6+ Bxe6 23.Rxb7 Qxb7 24.Qh7+ 1-0

[@batman4784]

Kelly.... superb, I watched few of your videos... the way take up chess opening, no body else or perhaps I liked alot your explanation. Thank you so much. Your works fab !!!!

[@KebuChess]

Ujjval Verma :) :)

[@JoetheVMan]

Wow! Haven't seen analysis like this in a while! Thanks a lot and I'm definitely using the Winawer whenever I'm Black in the French!

[@nagashashank9870]

how much is your fide rating?! btw the french defence video was good!

[@alexanderchoaz]

Hello Dereque! Which is your favourite chess player? greetings from Bulgaria

[@ricklopez2314]

What happens if white defends knight on c3 with bishop on d2

[@HamzaQureshi561]

john comes to attack.

[@KebuChess]

My first instinct was to suspect 4...Bxc3 5.Bxc3 dxe4 but here White is not in too bad of a situation because of 6.Qg4! and then for example: 6...Nf6 7.Qxg7 Rg8 8.Qh6 Rg6 according to the database. But an even simpler approach which is more popular is 4...dxe4! directly in reply to 4.Bd2 after 4...dxe4 White loses a pawn if he tries 5.Nxe4 Qxd4. And the sorty 5.Qxg4 can now be met by 5...Qxd4!? with equality or 5...Nf6 6.Qxg7 Rg8 7.Qh6 when Black has an improved version of this position because he has not needlessly exchanged off his dark-squared bishop and the d4-pawn also remains unprotected.

[@rohithpillai7267]

What if white plays Qg4 before a3?

[@TzHaar-Doug]

What would make you unable to?

[@masterteo1325]

What if after Bb4 white plays Kbe2

[@KebuChess]

This is another line! Unfortunately, at this time I don't know a to about these lines, my guess is the position of Nge2 doesn't prevent Black from capturing on e4 early on, and also Nge2 complicates the development of the light-squared bishop on f1. But I'm not an expert on this line! Hope this helps :)

[@masterteo1325]

Dereque Kelley thanks for the help.I actually ment to say Nge2 but i see you've figured it out.

[@cecil64]

When will you be doing a video on the French Classical?

[@fourtime7]

Why wouldn't white play A5 attacking the bishop 1st?

[@echecsmaternelles1076]

After a3 instead of ba5, qa5?

[@KebuChess]

Excellent sacrifice on f7! This is also a great alternative, and Black should be very careful about this 7...cxd4?! move

[@computer__eyez]

Absolutely! There is more to life than money :) In this case, I was just referring from a business standpoint. Happy New Years!

[@danielchess82]

Thank you so much for the videos, your explanations are so crystal clear and easy to understand!! Thank you!

[@jamesko16]

can u do a french exchange pls?

[@denzelcubing4life260]

could you do something with the Vienna?........PLZ

[@KebuChess]

I very much appreciate this suggestion, thank you!! :)

[@Curtis5511]

Next,please make a video on the Reti Opening ... :)

[@comtsogt3824]

NICE OPENING I RELLY LIKE YOUR VIDIOS U ARE BETTER THEN MANY KZbinRS BECOS OF U EXPLAIN EVERY THING BETTER

[@KebuChess]

THANK YOU I SUPER APPRECIATE IT! :) :) :)

[@KebuChess]

Greetings! I certainly enjoy watching Carlsen, Kramnik, Aronian but there are many great players...hard to say!

[@HipHopAn0n]

This opening is very useful to understand because as white there are going to be quite a few openings where black wants to trade his bishop to mess up your pawn structure.

[@DecodingIslam]

such a wild opening

[@KebuChess]

Yes, indeed it is! :) :)

[@kkpandey9678]

which opening du u use

[@JuliusSpin]

Will do, thanks for the response :)

[@sleazyrider4966]

Allright man you got me. After 10 years of exclusively playing the Scandinavian , im playing french on my next game...

[@KebuChess]

Wow! Great luck and best wishes what an adventure!! :)