Two structures every Caro-Kann player must know

[@mannylokzzz]

Just gonna hop in before watching the video to let you know that I went 3-2 with one draw against the NY park hustlers last weekend playing all the openings I learned from this channel!!! You really took my game to another level dude I limped in here @350 blitz lol, you’re incredible

[@AlexBanzea]

wp mate, link here if we can see you live :D

[@mannylokzzz]

@@AlexBanzea I flagged against the Panov attack & again after a Greek gift (with opponent’s king on g6 🤬) but blitzing out the jobava bf5 lines was a great feeling lol & great W, & got a W with KID with my position hanging by a thread lol .. will try to film next time!

[@kakawilliam-xh8hs]

When are you coming back to weston manny😊

[@mannylokzzz]

@@kakawilliam-xh8hs eyy not for a while I’m teaching in New York now! Send the chess lads my regards!

[@dillionaire5798]

Best chess teacher on KZbin. Thank you for everything you do.

[@kayodeopenibo532]

You ain’t never told no lie!!!

[@paulonopa]

I agree.

[@jasonsiebold]

100%

[@etwowjack]

Alex I would like to thank you for all the videos you have done. I recently started playing seriously and your explanations of positions are very helpful. I absolutely love the Jobava and Caro. Im looking forward to your course on the Jobava. I already have the one from GM Daniel Naroditsky and really enjoyed that one. Recently, I got to meet him in person and thank him as well. Also, your sense of humor is spot on 😁

[@kaidoChess]

4:34 such good insight I’ve been in this similar position so many times. Thank you Alex !

[@howlingwolf317]

Alex gives the best practical insights of any chess channel I've seen, and I've subbed to multiple of them. And what I think is most important is that he'll stick to his recommendations, even if he's spotted a better line that an IM can but many of us can't.

[@kaidoChess]

@@howlingwolf317 YES. Absolutely yes to all of that!

[@capurera2]

Love all of your videos, always excited whenever you drop a new one. I feel that your style of explanation with a heavy focus on ideas is really instructive

[@louiscypher6919]

Thx, love the Caro-Kann series. And I'm REAAAALY waiting for some simple, effective, trappy weapon against 1.d4. Thx, Alex!

[@AndytheHumphrey]

Could try Budapest gambit? Also there is the KID, Nimzo, Benko but they all might require more study and familiarity with the structures

[@illuminaut]

Simple and effective: the Dutch. Not aware of many traps though, except against it. Definitely want to be aware of the h3 trap by White.

[@DanielRoberts420]

As a Jobava and Caro player, I love these vids since I'm 1800 :)

[@Smitty65721]

With your teaching I am sticking to Jabava, and Caro and doing well. Thanks Alex!!! BTW.... My wife who doesn't play loves your stories!

[@nittyclips]

Might actually be the first (and last) time I found a move before you. Qb6+ in that first game is killer. Keep it up dude, your content is so fantastic

[@richardevans560]

The hot summer and the air conditioner was so funny 🤣I think he had the fridge door open and was sitting next to it and the motor blew up! I don't play Caro but I watch to learn a) how to play against it and b) because I always learn a lot about hot to think about chess when I watch you play.

[@gamingkanon7048]

Thanks Alex. Your videos have done quite a bit for me. Up to 1700 from 1500 after starting your videos. Your explanation of concepts and plans click for me much better than other creators.

[@joefawcett2191]

Between you, chessbrahs, and Naroditsky, we chess youtubers are spoiled! Thanks again

[@lorrekiusvanlorrekien7072]

I love your sense of humour, it's so relaxing to listen to you. On top of that you can even learn a lot watching the vids, the perfect combo :')

[@Saimonn23]

GREAT video. I really enjoyed how you avoided going with winning lines and showed some other ideas instead. Double learning. Please keep up the good work

[@saxonsaxoneast6674]

...like having air conditioning, all pieces are hanging out over there chilling 😂😂😂

[@DimitarDimitrov-uf7cg]

bravo Alex, more caro kann and jobava london. you are my idol, keep on those videos. even if you repeat yourself it still helps alot. never in my life i learned so much theory, i play in the park and even Fide Masters there say my opening theory is strong. i may lose in the later stages of the game but those players are better rhan me x10. thank you Alex

[@leszekebertowski3419]

Thank You Alex. Because of your influence I’m Vienna and Caro-Kann player.. Love Your content.. All the best ;)

[@MatthieuSCHREK]

Great video, as always. Thank you. I cannot believe the first opponent let you have the central pawn though. Unthinkable.

[@practiceyourart]

Watching your CK videos help. I'm a newbie right now (900) but have a 55%W rate with black since I learned the CK.

[@antearaya2408]

By far most entertaining and educational chess content creator! I love all your content, thanks for everything! Last months Ive had to put a lot less time into chess, but i always watch all your videos!

[@Kenjitsuka]

I've been watching too much of your videos, because I saw both Knight back AND Queen to B6 ;-) Keep up the good work!!!

[@invisiblelathatatlan]

Thanks, I always appreciate a little update on my ""knowledge.😄👍

[@howlingwolf317]

Just want to throw it out there for anyone curious, taking the knight at 27:41 would have been a BLUNDER by white. Alex could still take the queen, and although it looks like he'd be mated with the bishop coming in there is a back-rank check with the rook just in time followed by a nice little fork with the queen on c7. White would be forced to block with the bishop to avoid losing his rook as well, so black gives the queen back up for the bishop to end up an exchange. That's why Alex had 0 blunders in the game 2 review.

[@Aabi-Bro]

700 to 1000 in just two weeks just because of Alex Benzea ❤

[@cegan2]

Predicting the move before Alex does it is the best. Been watching for a while now and I would always get the wooden spoon😅 but now when I catch the right move like Rb3 in the second game, its so baller when you call it before Alex thanks so much for the content!

[@shahmatsimplex4144]

Greatest chess teacher !! That last position was so instructive. Love all your videos.

[@johnkarjalainen8003]

At 27:51, if White does Rxb6 Rxd2 followed by Rb8 Bf8 and plays Bh6, Black has Rd1 and Qc7; Black is able to untangle the mate net and grind down the White pieces! White could do Bxd2 instead of Bh6, then, if Black avoids taking the White Knight; Black should consolidate and win a prolonged game! By the way, Mr Banzea's face is not ugly, it is a very Chess able one!

[@user-my8wf8qs1y]

I didn't see that during the game great analysis

[@SubmarineMike]

GM Alex. I appreciate your video's very much, Thank you. I might change my white rep to the London seems fun to play.

[@bloodmoney88]

15:00 > what a great game. French opponent... Very impressed with him. Your game obviously won, but he was tight, made you work.

[@tarnlicht3657]

First game was massively interesting. Very good game and very fun to watch.

[@SH-dl4jk]

Finally a new video, been checking every couple hours 😅

[@paulonopa]

Pure badass good stuff.

[@the0crowd258]

Interesting 2nd game, usually people don't go for a minority attack with the g6 structure

[@scotttriathlon]

love this format

[@tianrunzhang6557]

9:41 Play queen c2, threatens mate, the rook has to move and you win one of the knights

[@icerabbit9433]

I am a french fan of your channel and videos and i have to say that your french accent is quite decent 😉👍

[@johnmahugu]

coach do for me a speed run using hippo opening both black and white, thats what i play exclusively nowadays

[@benvanasse3397]

Hi Alex - I am sticking to Jobava, and Caro and doing well. Thank you!!!

[@cloudlivingchannel7242]

the best Jobava/Caro Kann teacher on the internet

[@andiuri]

Good video!. Thanks you! .

[@synstering]

YES LAD

[@oathboundhero1782]

Between you and Levy, I'm going to have the most educated Caro Kann ever.

[@SpeechArchived]

For me it's him and and the chessbruh c6 speedrun

[@Master_of_Chess_Shorts]

Nice games, especially the second one. You are a good chess teacher.

[@thetransferaccount4586]

alex banzea is the best on the internet to teach chess.. unequivocally

[@rainerzufall689]

I found it quite impressive that Jan Gustafsson actually got a draw against SF lvl 8. Not easy to win indeed!

[@martinreichardt7539]

Danke!

[@raevix4766]

very nice!

[@jefftaylor1186]

I’ve been playing the Caro-Crab for 30 years.

[@PerfectArmonic]

You perhaps could make a video when you play against Caro-Kann and win :)

[@JSJ1978]

Great video by a very good chess teacher

[@VLADIMIRKOTUNOVICS]

Great Video! Thanks a lot!

[@johnglendinning2611]

My man Alex be running 10k and uploading chess tutorials. What can’t he do!?

[@AbsentMindedMathematician]

I strongly recommend to train against Leela rather than Stockfish. She plays beautiful positional chess that I think is far more instructive for a human.

[@b0ssdude190]

Thank you Alex, my caro needs work.. also the jobava 😅

[@misterclownface]

I was hoping he would of went over the "what if" 27:51 in the second game. He said he was going to let us know after and he forgot. I can always take a look at it later.

[@AlexBanzea]

It wasn’t working actually

[@tianrunzhang6557]

11:53 bishop c5 attack the rook

[@jaybingham3711]

5:00 So it seems the exchanging of light square bishops here wasn't really preferred..that taking the f3 N would have maybe been slightly better given it's the advance variation. Do I read your feelings about that correctly? I have an admission: I hack that N off pretty ruthlessly... particularly upon Be2. But me do caveman chess. No know about deep nuance. Me appreciate elucidations. If you would be so kind. 14:00 I had a similar position couple of months ago. Realized that's of course the rarer version of Alekhine's gun...the horizontal kind.

[@charlescarneiro1735]

Alex, please do a French defense speed run

[@mooseclamps]

maybe its just me but I play at 1200 and I feel like I face the advance and capture variation a lot. may even be the most common thing I face

[@AlexBanzea]

That’s the point of the video! Haha

[@siddharthjain2799]

Hi alex can you make a course on typical minority attack plans in caro kann exchange variation. There are videos from white side in minority attack but this particular topic from black side has v less material

[@SpeechArchived]

Your jokes are pretty cool man 😂😂

[@nextwenxd4777]

thank you dawg

[@Eeje01]

Have you done a video on Owen’s defense?

[@ericjacquet8435]

Goat

[@samattwood6748]

“You don’t have to buy cocaine to get that emotion!” That’s a fricken double fork killer joke 😂 Because, yes cocaine is a similar sensation, but also because of you want Mia Khalifa to cook you some pancakes, then you better have some cocaine to lure her In.. I don’t know if you meant that, but that cracked me up 😂

[@user-eu7bh5mt5s]

Alex casually calling a 1800+ guy a beginner :D

[@동결]

hi i am korean and i like your video because i use carokann too! i have a question, in carokann exchange, if white prevents my minority attack with b4 or a4, how can i punish it? and also white has Na3 - Nb5 fork to d6 bishop and c7 Qween idea with b4, how can i punish it too?

[@shamassive]

The opponent in the first game is playing like a 900elo

[@rich842]

35:56 😂

[@gaijinflyer]

No comment.

[@davidmchugh7264]

Nice games 😂

[@jacovanburen4908]

@Alex: Sir: recently I have noticed a lot of queen side castling in reaction to the Caro. Does your Caro simplified course go into that? If so... I now what to give myself for the holidays... 😇

[@AlexBanzea]

sure, it has it both in the tartakower and the exchange variation. they never really do it in the advance

[@jacovanburen4908]

@@AlexBanzea Sorry, I was unclear: WHITE goes for queen side castling (after the opening) and then goed for a kingside attack.

[@AlexBanzea]

@@jacovanburen4908 it's probably gonna be there, I have all the noob lines included

[@jacovanburen4908]

@@AlexBanzea thx. I try it. And I am such a noob🤫

[@SH-dl4jk]

Alex are you going to revamp your caro course after releasing your jobava or is your original recommendations same Ty

[@Kurda111]

13:35 😂😂😂

[@ronh3935]

In the exchange game: after Ra2 Rb6 Rxd2 Rb8 Bf8 Bh6 I dont see how Black can get out of the mate... what am I missing??

[@AlexBanzea]

There is …Rd1+Kh2-Qc7 (hitting the h2-king and the b8-rook)

[@ronh3935]

@@AlexBanzea ahh my goodness, completely overlooked this! thank you. So that Knight should have stayed on g3 after all :)

[@greybushMEproductions]

Filante is an Italian name.

[@Prathap-21]

300-1100 in 50 days thanks Alex 🎉

[@fgdkfg.0.0.]

the third nipple comment was the highlight of the video

[@garp9433]

Hey if I visit Romania where would you recommend I go. Also, got 1930 bullet after your KID vids up from 1720, I was always making the wrong break, now it legit changes the outcome

[@AlexBanzea]

There’s a very nice place next to it called Belgrade

[@HullYeahDIY]

Woah I’m early! Love your content man, I’ve taken Caro and Jobava to 1300 rapid from 400. What openings would you recommend next for me?

[@AlexBanzea]

Same

[@grad83]

super meciuri....

[@vincemcwut9495]

Knight h5, pretty much like having a 3rd nipple 😂

[@reidluttrell3034]

More kings indian, i beg of you

[@masudshah7405]

Very bene

[@sniffableandirresistble]

Reti destroys Ck ❤

[@user-my8wf8qs1y]

15'15 that's me 😅 etoilefilante49

[@user-my8wf8qs1y]

ma position était juste injouable toute la partie, je n'ai fais que subir

[@Nightwatcher-wz6j]

Salut frate român🤝🤝🤝

[@X-ForceBro]

Some of the "audios" weird❤

[@null4624]

This is why i'm < 750

[@Perduravi]

you mean pawn structures.

[@bloodmoney88]

RE "pause the video"... you were a move late. Why at 22:16 did you not move your B8 rook to B3? After he moved his B2 pawn to c3, You moved your F8 rook to C8... that could have come after locking down the 3 line with a rook on B3? ... then you could have brought the horse to B6... then the F8 rook... to c8? You could have obliterated him a move earlier. Joy I found something LOL. Stopping his rook on A3... that's why he moved his rook to A3, he saw what you missed. LOL you gave him a breath & he took it... the horror the horror... poor bastard. He played a great game. I want mention that this is not to deride Alex's game, it says he's so good he can miss stuff and win.

[@ItIsYouAreNotYour]

Is there anything you can show for people turning it into a Slav? It seems anyone decent turns this into a Slav and I hate it.

[@buruzaku860]

And Im first again

[@cookiemonster-nk3xb]

Dude you don't want the smoke

[@user-iu7ts5bo3x]

Why u always against low rated players

[@claybuckner2928]

Wow, a new video, Great! OK then....see you in another year.