Caro-Kann Speedrun | 700-800 Elo

Caro-Kann course: www.chessable.com/the-caro-ka...
London System course: www.chessable.com/alex-banzea...
00:00 Intro
00:31 Game 1
09:45 Game 2
18:23 Game 3
24:16 Game 4
34:24 Game 5
43:22 Game 6
50:48 Game 7
58:39 Game 8
01:04:58 Game 9
01:15:10 Game 10
01:23:16 Game 11
Get my free course ✍️
www.chessable.com/short-sweet...
Live on 🔴:
/ alexbanzea
Follow me on 👀:
/ alex.banzea
/ alexbanzea

[@sinsyder]

Alex reminds me of a sarcastically hip Dracula.

[@kaidoChess]

RIGHT

[@Scrambledbrains3601]

Oh man spot on ,also from the right place on earth lol I think Alex must live near Transylvania

[@ItsKyleMang]

Count Chessula.

[@kaidoChess]

@@ItsKyleMang 😂

[@thatsawrap5235]

I just want to say, as a casual player for five years who almost always plays the Caro-Kann, you're instructional approach to every move is helping me undo a lot of bad habits. The more of your Caro-Kann videos I watch, the better I get. Thank you.

[@winnumber101]

bro is genuinely hilarious, in like this evil way 😂😂😂😂 very entertaining and instructional style and elite metaphors

[@someguyontheinternet7628]

I bought your caro course Alex. I have only gone through the priority lines so far. Let me tell everyone.....my rapid rating is at an all time high up 100pts in a week. I have never had so many easy wins in my life. Opponents will GIVE you the game. Repertoire is simply awesome and simple. I've started playing 1.c3 as white. CRUSHING.

[@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb]

Fantastic! I'm saving up for it now. Did you get the course with the videos? How much did you pay exactly? I'm going to buy the London and the Caro courses.

[@fightclub571]

A table tennis analogy, snooker analogy, various romanian anologies... This channel is golden lol

[@Fireshardes]

3:19 hell yes the wooden spoon returns

[@1Baza22]

Fantastic as usual Alex, 49500 more times watching these videos and I might get there :) BZ, you are amazing :)

[@Josttx]

Thanks for yet another great video Alex!. You are my favorite chess content creator. I just bought your Caro-Kann course and trying to improve a little each day.

[@pieterdenhertog288]

Hello Alex, I love your video's so much that I resumed playing the Caro-Kann with good results. Your spirit of playing the game is also very enjoyable. Greetings from the Netherlands

[@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb]

Well said. He's an excellent and entertaining teacher!

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

Plus, a little Spanish language🗺@@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb

[@4will3]

Hey Alex i just started played chess for 3 months so far Didn't buy your course but binged watched all of your caro kann and jobova videos and i got from 300 to 800 in 2 months

[@luca_rr4660]

27:51 "developing and threatening to castle" 😄

[@bobcobb158]

Getting back into chess after a few months break.. your videos always seem to be the most helpful. Thanks Alex, keep up the awesome work

[@luisdelvalle4862]

Enjoy you channel tremendously. You make laugh all the time. I hope your rating and subscribers continues to climb.

[@GewoonSeppe]

just started playing and learned a lot from you already. Thanks for the instructive vids and funny (real-life) comparisons. Subscribed.

[@prakasavigraha6104]

"The threat is stronger than the execution". It is a good point to try to remember and apply.

[@1markmurray]

Alex's funniest and most educational video to date, love it when you divert our attention to catch us off guard

[@Rbench07]

Great video Alex! Very instructive and your sense of humor makes your vids fun to watch. 👍 I like the lower rated vids cause Im still learning and pick up a lot of info from them.

[@AlexBanzea]

Glad you like them! Happy to help.

[@danielchrt294]

And I have to admit I actually value you for reporting the player who was stalling and quitting the game. I do the same! Loosing is nothing bad alone.. yet people should lose with honor.. I allways resign if I stay on board with sole king

[@slimpwarrior]

Love this type of video! Thank you for making these

[@AlexBanzea]

More to come!

[@joshaschaber787]

Alex fast becoming my favourite Chess streamer. I learn so much and love your sense of humour!

[@ruslanbedoev9264]

Thx for the little piece of history! 😎🤘 And thank you, you bring confidence to my game!

[@kevinwalden4288]

Thanks so much for restarting the rating climbs! I learn the most with the 6-1400 rated games!

[@LOST1ALOT]

yesterday i hit 1000 elo watching alex caro kann vids I will come back each time i hit anew milestone

[@poormanshield369]

Great vid my man hilarious AF. Jokes aside great work keep it up!

[@AlexBanzea]

You are too kind, thanks!

[@SwindonRunner]

Just bought your Caro Kann course on Chessable and am impressed with how comprehensive it is, everything makes sense. I have bought loads of opening books which gather dust as they are full of variations which make no sense to me. Your course explains the moves and I can understand the reasons behind them.

[@AlexBanzea]

Dang it, should have waited for the sale :D, but aprecciate it anyways man!

[@SwindonRunner]

@@AlexBanzea I bought it a few days ago during the sale. Will definitely get your London course when the sale comes back. Thanks for the wonderful courses.

[@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb]

I am saving for these two courses. Did you buy them with the videos?

[@SwindonRunner]

@@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb no, just way too expensive, even when on sale. The main benefit of Chessable is the forced repetition which works really well for opening study.

[@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb]

@@SwindonRunner So you bought the courses but not with the videos? Sorry, I don't understand.

[@vjself]

This has become one of my favorite channels on youtube.

[@X-ForceBro]

1:10:50 You'll notice the famous kirokon trojan horse formation

[@jtekholm]

Hey Alex! I can't stress it enough, how much your videos have helped me. I used to be stuck to 600 rating but after learning your Caro-Kann and Jobava London lines almost to heart, I've not only gained 150 rating points in 7 days, but I actually feel confident playing. I'm having win streaks, I'm actually beating higher level players and I don't feel completely lost all the time (well, against KID type of setups I don't fare that well). Caro-Kann is such a a great opening! I know it's not saying much as sub 1k rating player, but I've reached the highest rating I've ever had and I definitely feel like I'm improving - this is almost completely thanks to your videos. Thank you so much and I absolutely love how often you put out these longer videos, they are a gold mine! Also, I feel like you would be a great dude to hang out with (despite the age difference haha, I'm old), love the dry humor as finn, that's basically our shtick. :D

[@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb]

This!

[@AlexBanzea]

You are too kind sir!

[@davidshapira9755]

can you play against stronger opponents?

[@irjake]

It's a rating climb, each successive video will be against stronger opponents than the last!

[@raakwys]

Just love all the analogies.

[@lahirufernandoyj3703]

"Greedy little bastard" 😂😂 That got me. I simply love your vids Alex! Greetings from Sri Lanka❤

[@aspire1703sm]

Not only your videos are top instructive but you are also super funny 😁. 🙏

[@mustaregis]

You are hands down the best chess teacher in youtube in my opinion. What do you recommend to play against d4? Would be cool if you do a speed run against d4! I know you did one a loooong tome ago, but your video format has gotten sooo much better that it would be nice if you made another one.

[@joebrowse5338]

I think he recommends the classical Slav which supplements the Caro well, yeah I agree that would be great 😁

[@logman72]

@@joebrowse5338 Another vote for a slav defense speedrun. And a Chessable course.

[@jbpowerwash.]

I went from 350 to 500 after watching your videos...Thank you sir! I bought the course.

[@Knuddelfell]

50:25 ahaha love the lichess front

[@jonathansampson7450]

90 minute video 🙏🙏 thank you

[@milehighslacker4196]

Don't tell anyone but, 8...Qa5+ does not win material since after 9...d4, White plays 10.Qa4 with an equal eval. Near as I can tell, no one on lichess has ever played the Queen to a4 on move 10. Just wanted to drop in early and tell Alex I appreciate these videos - they've pushed me to play the Caro, and I cannot wait until he gets a bit higher rated (I'm 1700 on lichess). Thanks Alex!

[@DJHAM7A]

He got up to around 1600 and for some reason reset it back to 5-600 unfortunately. I would love if he continued to at least 2000.

[@AlexBanzea]

I got to 1900 in case you are curious! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXOzg56snttrmMU

[@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb]

So being 1700 makes you better than 95% of players? Is this correct?

[@logman72]

@@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb sounds about right. I'm currently 1200 and 90% percentile

[@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb]

@@logman72 Wow! Cool! Well done. 👏👏 How long did it take you to get there?

[@charlies_world5733]

Thanks Alex, great content as usual. For the new Caro course - are you adding middlegame concepts to it (over time) like the London has? Or will that be another new course down the road? Thanks again!

[@AlexBanzea]

Different course, thanks for that!

[@charlies_world5733]

@@AlexBanzea Thanks - looking forward to it! Keep up the great content!

[@Zodemus]

You are the most entertaining chess streamer by a mile. Or a kilometer. Whichever.

[@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb]

Agreed

[@AlexBanzea]

I’m really not, but thanks!

[@JohSmith]

11 games! nice, let me grab the popcorn

[@petehowlett3966]

Thanks

[@laksthegamer1185]

Hi Mr banzea, thank you for this awesome video! I was just wondering if you planned on making a short and sweet version of your Caro Kann course? Thanks!

[@AlexBanzea]

No SS for this one!

[@laksthegamer1185]

@@AlexBanzea ok np!

[@raintreerefuge4679]

Finally, tutorials for the big leagues.

[@kaidoChess]

1300 blitz 1500 bullet and still helpful

[@AlexBanzea]

Aprecciate you always here sir!

[@xklepx]

Following game....!!! For the longest time I thought he was playing over and over, hoping for a Halloween game...

[@jefftaylor1186]

I think the advance variation is becoming the most common. Because now whenever I see 3.Nc3, my eyes light up and I’m like “finally I might be able to make the pawn cube in 12 moves.”

[@fightclub571]

I am here for the analogies!

[@buntipapu3816]

1:02:47 There was a queen rook fork.

[@shanekelderman1457]

Didn't expect a @moreplatesmoredates reference. That's a crossover I'd watch. Teach Derek chess.

[@arnaudfaidherbe2149]

In game 10 he may refuse the queen trade and take your knight on check, you move you king, he moves the bishop on G5 and its over

[@Wryyyyyyyyy21]

Day 2 , second video, watching his Caro Kann simplified playlist . I just noticed Caro Kann has many lines and different move order although some line overlap each other after a few moves. I still think Caro is a lot harder than Vienna

[@vvyllnn]

Can’t wait for the episode against 1100 - 1500 players!!

[@danielchrt294]

Damn Alex! Have you ever wondered about stand-up comedy career? 🙌😂

[@juanroaguilo]

Feed me with Caro Alex. I need moreee 🤩

[@juanroaguilo]

Lol game 7 “are you paying attention?!” Lol I was gonna move bishop xd

[@patricka.westerlund2774]

Alex, which opening should i learn as black to play against d4?

[@somersault4762]

Several years ago I played chess with friends OTB, but without having any clue of chess lines and theory etc. Recently I started playing online chess and was stuck around 900. With the caro-kann I am now close to 1100. Before I played cicilian, ponziani and if possible the vienna gambit. The london system is too static for my taste. I like dynamic games and caro-kann games normally turn into that. I play only rapid chess games with 10 or 15 minutes. I tried today some blitz games. 3 minute was a total disaster and the 5 minute games were not much better. I normally need time to think about my moves after the first 5 opening moves or so and can't blitzthem out. So either I plundered a lot when tryin to keep up with the opponent's speed or I was dominating but then flagged. Do you have any advice how to get better in blitz games? For now I try to play only 10 minute games to get used to less time.

[@amoryblaine2123]

What you play against advance on right side with c5? I never get the free line for the rook and it’s just annoying

[@AlexBanzea]

'The Botvinnik-Carls Variation''.

[@MegaBakamono]

Pp on the pp got me a game today! Thanks!

[@AlexBanzea]

It’s always good until you accidentally PP on the PP

[@davew4304]

3:50 so ughhhh how much $$$ are we talking 😁😉

[@AlexBanzea]

69 ‘moldovian lei’

[@FloydMaxwell]

1:02:52 - or ne3, forking, winning exchange

[@cedrics7374]

1:04:13 you didn’t mate him he mated himself, that’s a draw 😆

[@SevenTheJester]

Hey, wait a minute! I should've gotten a shout out at 3:51. You stole that line from my comment on your other video. 😂 But, hey, I could write all the jokes and analogies for your future videos for, as you said, "a fair price." 😂😂

[@AlexBanzea]

Thank you for that! Haha

[@aadityagaming9515]

Sir, I'm actually 1300 rated chess player.....Can you make a roadmap, how to reach 1800+ what to study like middle games, end games and openings plus book recommendations....and how much time to give to each book.....it would be very very helpful.....thank you so much sir . . Tbh I don't have a good opening choice, sometimes I play Queen's Gambit, sometimes I play the Italian

[@skengbiscuit279]

Oh shit I'm early let's go dog I've been on a losing streak hahaha

[@bri5498]

when facing the advanced, why don't you consider playing the f6 exchange leaving your knight on f6. then you can deal with the remaining pawn on D4? Thank You

[@damnmeagain9906]

you know when im tired i can only watch your vids on x1.5speed xddddddddddddddddd ur great tho

[@greybushweiselmann7234]

22:10, if white moves K to d2? How does the game end?

[@williame4175]

How well does Caro work against the London?

[@ClayMurray8]

You play the caro vs 1. e4 the London starts with 1. d4. Don’t try to play the caro vs the London.

[@ItIsYouAreNotYour]

What is this PP on the PP stuff? Sounds like my Friday night? Mostly PP on the forehead though. Pinned piece on the pinned piece?

[@AlexBanzea]

Put pressure on the pinned piece!

[@arthurwieczorek4894]

53 50. More trick questions like that.

[@Wryyyyyyyyy21]

I can't help but laugh seeing poor opponents mating themselves

[@arthurestunperroquet3682]

really need to address my "Pawn-Addiction". 🙃

[@AlexBanzea]

We are all together in this brother

[@pamelahuett5215]

Hey Alex I have a question.. Can I still play Caro if my apponent opens with D4?

[@AlexBanzea]

Only vs 1.e4!

[@pamelahuett5215]

@@AlexBanzea what should I play against 1 D4? I'm so confused! Lol

[@AlexBanzea]

kzbin.info/aero/PLy7vABK_JsyPeE-Bivc113GOjuD-hR02s

[@RENo707ff]

Game 7 you forked bishop and queen and then took the bishop?

[@malalalalalala]

Because his King was in check so he couldn't take the queen

[@daboyez8138]

5:35 Alex what did you say at this time stamp 😂

[@AlexBanzea]

🎱

[@smileyface2749]

Thought the thumbnail was pyrocinical

[@GiantChihuahua2000]

Yes, please log into my account and convert for the win. I often go into the end game up material but I STILL lose too frequently! I hear your voice, "I'm up two pawns in the end game. This is an easy win!" Not for me!

[@sneakerhead4770]

1:02:52 ke3 could have forked queen and rook

[@X-ForceBro]

Would you avoid the fork or would you have played the trap I think I will play the trap😂

[@X-ForceBro]

Of course, you probably play better fundamental chest than me. I'm more of a gambler

[@jasonwalker1959]

Missed the free queen in game 7?

[@cv6593]

I know it’s my fault but my Caro play never goes this smoothly 🤣🤪

[@amitanshu2009]

subtitle broo?

[@simonfarmer4005]

This is the funniest edition by far, Game 8 was a highlight for me.. don't watch this video if you were hoping to see the Exchange Variation haha

[@AlexBanzea]

Maybe exchange will be the next one?🙌

[@simonfarmer4005]

@@AlexBanzea doesn't matter what happens in the games, it's all gold to us Alex.

[@gernotg8480]

You are so funny

[@AlexBanzea]

Always happy to see people with the same dumb sense of humour like mine. Truly rare and appreciated!

[@salvadorsempere1701]

I would enjoy more some higher raring content. Something above 1000+

[@AlexBanzea]

Games until 2000 to come!

[@ChefMane]

What’s the main goal in the caro?

[@ChessJourneyman]

Early pressure on the d4 pawn. Same as in the French but down a tempi because we play c6-c5 but get our bishop outside the pawn chain.

[@AlexBanzea]

Depends on the variation you are playing against. I explained every time!

[@ChefMane]

@@AlexBanzea I didn’t get to watch the full thing yet sadly, I’ve just watched a ton of these videos and I can’t seem to get it

[@ynwa2290]

i'm 810 so i'm too good for this video

[@Valentin439]

Tell me the price for rating boosting KAPPA

[@AlexBanzea]

69 cents for my loyal subscribers!

[@brett4756]

Wait for a week before you marry her! Ha, ha! ❤

[@CitizenLUL]

Love you bro, but hyping up the Caro at 700 Elo is a bit crazy. Hey, but nothing wrong with being crazy.

[@AlexBanzea]

Only crazy people can recognise crazy people 🤷‍♂️🤭

[@chrisl4999]

I feel targeted. Every single time I thought you should do a pawn move you immediately talk about why you shouldn’t move the pawn. ;). 1:26:54

[@slimpwarrior]

Since when are you 805 🤣

[@AlexBanzea]

“Ladder reset” lol

[@akamaster09]

I report people all the time. Just resign you babies.

[@zachmorgan6982]

Yo this Accent is crazy to me as a dumb american. Yall sound like yall are halt asleep when u talk. Its pleasant to the ear but also freaks me out a bit. Idk why im sorry

[@Seph.ackerman]

I don't want to say it's getting boring or repetitive and frankly I am only around 2100 real ELO, however I hardly learn anything from the 200th caro or London video against players below 1000 online rating; you know as much as I do that on your level you win against all of them regardless of what opening you choose - I'd really enjoy watching you play against players above 2k with more focus and a pinch less blah blah, you really dont need to become a sellout clown like gotham

[@AlexBanzea]

you shouldn't spend your time watching youtube videos, if you are genuinely trying to improve as a 2100 :D

[@Seph.ackerman]

@@AlexBanzea if that’s you telling me that I can’t learn anything from you I take that statement.

[@ericrivera4136]

When you say "only 2100 real ELO", I'm sure you know you are above the 90th percentile of all players in the world. It should be obvious to you that Alex's channel, and courses are focused on helping beginner, intermediate, and some advanced players. I don't think is necessary to sound condescending or demeaning to get your point across. You might be on your way to become an elite player. Hence, you may find other sources more effective in continuing your progress.

[@simonfarmer4005]

​@@Seph.ackermancomparing Alex to that goose is like comparing Alex to a goose. Different species mate.

[@PedroDiMaggio-dk4lb]

Gotham is a sell out clown. Agreed. But Alex is really helpful to me as I'm approaching 1000 after six months of experience. Come on man, if you're so high, what's your problem? You must be in the 97% to 99% percentile.

[@hannesrumpel4527]

its unfair fool low rating players to max rage level and then report them for abandoning the game, thats very rude for a hidden IM. IM means that incomplete Master ? such behaviors can damage your own reputation. think about that, before you act like this please.

[@ronithsp5560]

Why are you feeling offended? 😂 And did you say that it's unfair to report low rating player for max raging? There's no such thing like always winning in chess or anywhere else. They have to deal with their shit sooner or later and the more they quit the more late they bloom or in many cases never

[@hannesrumpel4527]

@@ronithsp5560 i dont feel me offended myself , just remember, all behaviors is a question of character, and i just think it is not right, how he react as IM. thats just my impression, but you are free to see it different

[@sacuv5704]

If a player has left the game or closed tab/afk'd, reporting them for stalling can sometimes start the 1 minute timer or end the game

[@ericrivera4136]

​@@hannesrumpel4527Abandoning or stalling a game just because we are losing questions our character as well, regardless of our rating. In such cases we should be taught a lesson in common chess etiquette. That player (and others) don't know Alex is an IM. I agree Alex's behavior appears as an overreaction, unbecoming of a professional player. However, I think saying or implying he was enraged is an overstatement. I think he was just annoyed like many of us would be for the same reason. Maybe Alex should consider to include a disclaimer explaining why he is playing as a lower rated player along with some of the actions he will take in certain situations.

[@hannesrumpel4527]

@@ericrivera4136 with this i can agree, thanks

[@dakkdak5624]

Buddy is seriously twisted at the time of making this video