90% of players quit the Caro-Kann because of this

[@AlexBanzea]

Caro-Kann course on sale: www.chessable.com/the-caro-kann-simplified/course/171080/

[@CKozub11]

Buy it. NOW! You will thank me.

[@CheckmateSurvivor]

The game of chess is becoming obsolete. I have created my own 11x11 chess variant. Please watch my latest video for some insane chess openings.

[@benvanasse3397]

I did and I concur @@CKozub11

[@scottdurkee3833]

@@benvanasse3397 does your little brain come up with its own thoughts?

[@Willeinhelm]

My first course I bought on chessable. Supporting you as well 👍

[@joelabraham6834]

I would be so mad if someone waited til they had 5 seconds left. Then suddenly destroyed me lol

[@aesaehttr]

(Magnus adjusting pieces until the last 5 seconds)

[@nadirqg]

He will feel better when he knows that his opponent's rating on his main account is 2665

[@ViolentJ117]

if it was anyone other than Alex id be screaming cheater repeatedly

[@yissssss]

@@ViolentJ117 I assume his accounts he uses for these videos get reported for cheating quite a bit hahah

[@gomtv5383]

Love the visualisation of alternative lines as you explain them.

[@theherk]

I’m confused by it. Generally while playing, this sort of visualization is done via highlights and arrows. This is actually having an engine up during play, isn’t it? I suppose since it is a training account the opponents rating isn’t actually at stake though.

[@gomtv5383]

@@theherk no my guy, it's edited in.

[@theherk]

@@gomtv5383 oh I’m probably just dumb, but since his mouse stopped moving in the main game window and the voice description coincided so precisely with the overlay, I must have been mistaken.

[@drbinglederry9785]

1:50 “Probably that’s why you’re hard-stuck at 1000.” Damn, I felt that. 😂😂

[@fatlossformen]

I WAS ABOUT TO SAY. The audacity to tell it like it is.

[@googooboyy]

Caro Kahn is like strapping yourself with a timebomb and hope the opponent blunders with excitement.

[@sliceserve234]

I disagree. I think the Caro Kann is more a cautious positional opening, that kind of dares the opponent to go too far. Correct play, as in any opening, will generally lead to a draw.

[@Mal1234567]

@@sliceserve234 No it isn't.

[@jongler9775]

Your understanding of the beginner's mind is second to none.

[@hdthor]

He’s so good at understanding the beginner’s mind that he failed to fork the king and bishop with his queen to A5 and grab a free bishop. 3:08

[@bert1832]

​@@hdthorYou must be low elo. White just develops the knight.

[@plsm7514]

@@hdthor thats not a fork, white just blocks with knight and defend the bishop. you must be 500 elo

[@Mal1234567]

Yo! Your understa'ahng of da begahnner's mahnd ahs second ta none. What it is, Mama!

[@oopalonga]

Alex--ur channel BLEW UP finally (i haven't watched a vid of urs for some time, but u helped me from 1400-1800 in blitz chess using caro -kahn + london). I KNEW u were going to get big tho b/c even when ur channel was small u were knocking out banger vids. thank u brother!

[@Narratick]

Second game has 2 "en passant" and a Knight promotion.. pretty entertaining! I love your vids, I just wish you'd post content more often! :p (especially jobava and caro-kann games)

[@AiR1DaN]

Good call. More jobava!

[@ChessJourneyman]

Glad to see you're pumping out more of your trademark content that helped me reach 2000. Nice, detailed commentary, complemented with sharp editing, all an improving player has to do is take notes. Cheers for all the content you produce, I'm sure it will help many more people improve their chess game.

[@bubbahottep8644]

I'm remembering the heart-pounding sensation as my opponent's ticks down to one second, and imagining the sinking sensation as he wriggles out of my "clever" trap and proceeds to find every move with 8 seconds or less on his clock.

[@Rydmore22]

Just pulled the trigger on the chess able course. Love this channel.

[@prakasavigraha6104]

Good tuition once again Alex. Much appreciated.

[@jefftaylor1186]

If I quit the Caro-Kann because of the hillbilly attack(like in the thumbnail), I’d be missing out on free wins. I have to check my game archive, but I’m 99% sure I’ve NEVER lost against it

[@kaybee2286]

How do you usually respond to the hillbilly? It’s so annoying!! I try to trap the bishop usually but it doesn’t always work. Edit: after d5 is played I mean. I usually go a5 threatening the bishop right away.

[@michaelflaherty3202]

just play d5 and continue on like normal. you can't trap the bishop but you gain a move threatening it.

[@jefftaylor1186]

@@kaybee2286 You just develop with tempo attacking the bishop. Worst case scenario is Bg5+ happens and you have to trade bishops.

[@bikedoc59]

Thanks!

[@pathofmelee6746]

I play the caro from 1000-1100 when i came back to chess, now I reached 2000ish, but i don't like to play online anymore, sometimes in tournament games i beat 2200-2300 (online rating) players, the caro is really good to learn every skill in chess, lately I don't enjoy it as much because my opponents know a lot of theory and i don't get any chances for a win, maybe i need to know more than them or something but hey i will definitely play it again at the right moment or when I'm tired

[@douglasgoulding6860]

What do you play with black now?

[@pathofmelee6746]

@@douglasgoulding6860 still caro kan 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@pathofmelee6746]

@@douglasgoulding6860 but seriously, I try Alekhine lol

[@yzfool6639]

That's my observation too. Against sound play, the Caro is one of the few main openings against 1.e4 where you don't get an attacking position. White gets plenty though.

[@BBeowulf]

⁠​⁠@@yzfool6639I guess it depends on your style of play. I find caro kann very easy compared to most openings and beat most people pretty easy with it because every move feels natural to me. I used to play Sicilian dragon and it’s variations for e4 but I never felt that comfortable with it and my game as black immediately improved when I switched.

[@jms4406]

Very helpful man. I'm at 1900, but have been over 2000s on rapid games but would quickly plummet. Helps hearing you connect the dots on these openings

[@joerokcz]

How do you behave so calm with even 1sec in your hand😂😂😂😂

[@someguyontheinternet7628]

Guys.....buy the caro course full vid. You will slaughter any e4 player below 1200 blitz. Slaughter effortlessly.

[@pathofmelee6746]

Even below 2000, don't worry lol

[@EcstaticMonkey98]

@@pathofmelee6746Even after 2000, don’t worry lol

[@EcstaticMonkey98]

@@pathofmelee6746I play it at 2000 it is a profit

[@astronemir]

After 1800 you shouldn’t only play the simplified version.

[@kitsune090]

1200? This is your start rating... why would you study an opening to beat people as bad as you or worse? It's unnecessary... a waste of time.

[@greenlineexpress8213]

6:45 Alex: "Funny Move" Engine: "Brilliant Move"😂😂

[@technomusicchannel1]

i stuck on 1500 in rapid for months ... how to go trough that ?

[@marcelovelludo191]

you explain the things pretty clear, good videos!

[@teenspirit1]

As a person perpetually stuck at 600, whenever I watch a video from this channel, subsequently I get a very nice satisfying win in online chess. But it doesn't carry over to the next game and the genius is gone.

[@TiredDadChess]

In the situation at 3:15 in the video. Why is Qa5+ and then Qxb5 not the best alternative?

[@jasonkay6370]

White can simply move out his knight to simultaneously block the check and guard the bishop. If the queen captures the bishop, the knight is no longer pinned to the king and can capture the queen.

[@iloveyou-cd1kv]

Man i don't know how to thank you i started following you when i was 200elo and now a month later I'm close to a 1000!!

[@dennymac850]

Hey Alex, today's vid was great. Love the wooden spoon! The new one is nice, but the original big ass spoon is the best. Nothing better than laughing while learning. Great delivery buddy. And the Caro holds up against Stockfish! Lol, awesome. Thanks for the laughs & the videos keep em comin

[@Charles-Windham]

Love to hear you are not dumping us - at least not yet! HA! Really love the Jobava Caro Shows!

[@samcook1116]

Is Qa5+ a move at 3:23 ?

[@mirricano]

Just bought the course! I really appreciate your content and happy to take advantage of the discount!!!

[@camicees]

I left this channel to focus on playing CK a lot more and now im back it all makes sense.

[@AlexBanzea]

How is it going?

[@jayeeduran7227]

thank u so much for this caro kann repertoire coach ❤❤

[@jayquin85]

Alex should have atleast a million subscribers. Quality content!

[@planezero]

Hi Alex, how is it going with the Jobava course?

[@Relisoc4]

I used to like not castling in the caro, pushing my h and g pawns and going for a mating attack. I swear that has to still be good in some lines but it mostly stopped being good for me at 1400ish

[@davidb6016]

Hey Alex, Do you have anything in the works for Black against 1. d4? Something to complement the CK?

[@AA-pk6fo]

Englund gambit works nicely

[@AlexBanzea]

kzbin.info/aero/PLy7vABK_JsyPeE-Bivc113GOjuD-hR02s

[@Ramhorr_j]

3:25 instead of pawn e6 why not Qa5 check?

[@erichobbs4042]

So excited for the Jobava interview 😊

[@walterbrownstone8017]

When I play 1500 level players I mostly lose on time because they never give up even after they lose the queen!

[@tahmeedchowdhury0007]

Congrats on 69k subscribers Alex!

[@thepoofication]

At 28:00 why not exchange the bishop and the knight (his rook is moved to a bad square imo)? Great instructive video as always

[@AlexBanzea]

That was better, but I thought I’m winning the rook (forgot taking on f6 comes with check) 🤦‍♂️

[@thepoofication]

@@AlexBanzea Thought so, thanks!

[@tomaszgrabski6661]

Ouu man, awesome channel. Great explanations. And I love your accent :-D Im so lucky that I found this video today at 1 am xD I should find it before.... Who knows, maybe now is the best time for my next chess steps. I bet i will watch all of Your videos. Excellent job, You gained a new fan. Regards from Poland \m/

[@AlexBanzea]

Big d energy

[@tiendaweii]

I've enjoyed several informative, witty vids lately and I love how the closest featured game I've seen here - not because of time but because of play - was with a 1400 player. Anyone can have a goood day, with some goood plays.

[@davidreghay3629]

In the second game the underpromotion with check was because otherwise you had a check forking the undefended rook with your queen on the next move.

[@philipp849]

4:26 why exactly is this a mistake?

[@ironmind_hq]

bro just casually talking as his time is ticking and he's in check and playing a blitz game 😂

[@theherk]

How do you add the overlay board in the top right? Is it just switching to a scene with another window or is it added as a composite in post, because your mouse moves off the main game window and the movements match your calculation perfectly. Genuinely curious how you accomplish that. Anyway, great video as always. I'll be sure to forget everything immediately as usual.

[@cliftonbland1578]

How about at the time of the blunder 9:55, pawn takes b4, white pawn re-takes b4, rook takes a1, white rook re-takes a1, black rook c1 check, white has now lost the queen.

[@MrTofukuchen]

That's one way to loose a rook ;)

[@satwikdhiman516]

At 16:25 what if rook c1 takes and if black rook takes then rook b8 mate or not?

[@jonnydrumsyt]

Can someone explain what happened at 26:58? It looks like he captured his opponents pawn by moving his pawn to C3 while his opponents pawn was on C4. Am I missing something?

[@jonnydrumsyt]

Just looked it up, En Passant. I never knew that was a thing!

[@sliceserve234]

the back rank joke made the video. i also enjoy when you look with the engine after the games and your mistakes are revealed, you do not accept that they were mistakes. somehow all the really strong players are this way.

[@nickknight8065]

The "back ranked" joke was just top shelf. 😂😂😂

[@kamilzdun7542]

12:17 I got jumpscared by loud music on headphones xD Great video as always, Alex. Do you have any plans for showing how to play QGD from the black perspective? It would be great to see how you play d4 d5 positions as black in the next speedrun.

[@amfulger]

For a while back he was recommending the Slav defense seen as a reverse London. There is also a recent video where he plays the King's Indian against all non-e4 openings. Yes, I know, it's not a d4 d5.

[@snortingnesquik3470]

Hi Alex. Do you think you could put together a video on ways for Black to reliably transpose 1. d4 into Caro Kann positions?

[@AlexBanzea]

It's impossible, but if you want something simple, take a look here: kzbin.info/aero/PLy7vABK_JsyPeE-Bivc113GOjuD-hR02s

[@therealMolochko]

Hi Alex, this is my first video of yours I've seen, very good content. Love the explanations. I have a question. In game 2 at 28:10 did you not see 28...Kd4 for the rook fork or is there something I don't see that's not to like about that move?

[@AlexBanzea]

That’s what I played for initiallly, but realised there was Rxf6+ (and I was like, whooops)

[@therealMolochko]

@@AlexBanzea Thanks for the response! I understand the explanations get less detailed as time gets short and now re-watching that moment I can see your thinking now. Of course the fork doesn't work! Thanks again for explaining. I'll keep watching your channel!

[@jayeeduran7227]

coach Can u plsss make a another video for slav defense? and counter the london system?

[@everythinginfullspectrum8625]

I got a feeling that last one was a pro on, playing against Caro-kann... or maybe, just maybe he just played the game of his/her life...🙃

[@rpralica]

Alex lessons are really excellent. For example in this video he clearly explains the best ways to play for black. Thanks Alex.

[@dropsadominik9923]

Hey, that wooden spoon from Budapest really caught me by surprise! Currently watching this video from Budapest. Great work, keep it up! 😁

[@AlexBanzea]

make sure to visit the city more than I did!

[@simonprovencher6007]

do you know when the jobava course should come out? cant wait!

[@MrTofukuchen]

I think there was bxf2 at 11:04 / Move 22

[@mohamedsalem2427]

Hey Alex does the CK course cover the Von Henneing and the alien gambits?

[@AlexBanzea]

it has the alien gambit yeah

[@mohamedsalem2427]

@@AlexBanzea thank you

[@TruthSurge]

you look like you're from Finland or nearby.

[@daboyez8138]

Yes more Caro-Kann videos!!

[@marcuscook5211]

Bro wins with 4 seconds on the clock on a regular basis

[@adhinegoro7144]

when i first play caro or french. i hated it cause it gets too closed and stiff position like im getting suffocated slowly. after months playing it i kinda like it. i think the key of caro opening is to keep the tension and wait for the right time

[@GregGause-d9d]

New to chess. What software are you using?

[@AlexBanzea]

Chess.com

[@njstone9]

Alex! You keep talking about your "upcoming" Jobava course! When is it coming? Please, I beg you - let me buy it soon!

[@janzabransky7789]

Do you ever stream? I followed you on twitch and you are never live. Anyway, good video as always (didn't see it yet).

[@AlexBanzea]

I stream KZbin sometimes (who knows when the twitch comeback will be? :P)

[@zainmalik7214]

Please Make a video about what to do with D4 opening? I always abort 🤣

[@gsmith7015]

At my 1400/1500 blitz level I do well with the hillbilly wayward queen thingy against the caro kann. If they know what they're doing I just end up a pawn down and underdeveloped but in general, people dont.

[@Master_of_Chess_Shorts]

I love the Caro-Kann, still going to play it.

[@Mike-mm4mx]

after nb2 then a5xa4 why didn't the white knight simply take the rook on c4 instead of a3xb4? have I missed something?

[@NumberNinjaDave]

Your channel is superb. Keep it up, man 🎉

[@JarnoToivonen]

Hello Alex. Have been watching your videos a lot. Love´em. Consentrated on the Caro-Kann defence for black. Haven´t played a while but today, OMG. First I draw, but the next. WOW. Won by 95,8 accuracy just using your methods. The game played itself. Did not have to think much 😂. Took a picture of the analysis and gonna frame it and put it up on a wall 😃 Anyways, thanks a lot.

[@JarnoToivonen]

My elo is 800-900 in rapid.

[@vairpalefroi]

Nice format of the video when you explain your online gameplay!

[@KenpachiRyuk]

I played a 1. E4 C6 2. D4 D5 3. C4 DXE4 It transposed into a slav defense: diemer gambit which I had no clue what that was. Do I need to study some slav opening just in case?

[@christo_tall4203]

I didn’t wanna leave a dumb comment because I think you’re really smart but on game two at the very end when you checked him with the queen, would it have been better to bring the rook down ladder style and then just shove your queen in his hole on the next move and if he steps towards the queen, it’s mate anyways because you brought the rook down or is what you did just slightly better

[@almaanAIR1]

perfect!!! exactly what advice I needed

[@darkman5564]

11:13 knight to d2, force trade the bishop and you get to hunt the pawns and invade with your dark square bishop to eat dark square pawns

[@tom2678]

First game, why not check the king with the queen and snag the bishop?

[@tomphillpotts]

"I will never dump you, okay. Or at least not yet." 😆😆😆

[@FloydMaxwell]

The last two players were suspect. Especially the last one.

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

There are anomalies, then there is suspicion. Yes, quite questionable.

[@BobCliffe]

Great video Alex, thanks!

[@darkman5564]

3:16, check with queen, black has to protect with knight to c3, we do bishop to b4, blow the bish up....grab a better middle, queen already deep in enemy territory have fun. Bigger the chaos YOU CREATE, higher chances of winning.

[@jayeeduran7227]

coach what is the best opening against d4? slav or king's Indian defense?

[@AlexBanzea]

kzbin.info/aero/PLy7vABK_JsyPeE-Bivc113GOjuD-hR02s

[@research.math.insights]

This what have been looking for, since Queen Side Caro-Kann..thank you 🙇‍♂️☺️

[@ItsYouAreNotYour]

So, this is why I lost 12 times in a row with the Caro-Kann. I don't think!

[@luckymagudulela5395]

The last "paid actor" really gave you a run for your money🤣🤣🤣

[@2Complex2]

0:00 Stockfish on 2nd monitor? 17 missed calls from Vladimir

[@screwtude2647]

Thanks again Banzea!

[@thezone42]

in the first game. why not queen to a5 check and taking the bishop for free ?

[@AlexBanzea]

He had Nc3!

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

I give away my entire repertoire, which is flawless through around move 20 and 25 pages (maybe 12-15 lines to remember). Openings are ridiculously overcomplicated by people who sell crap courses to players who'll never amount to anything.

[@pramodkumarnarayanan9520]

In second game..Alex U missed taking the bishop when he played f4...😅😅😅

[@AlexBanzea]

it was defended, but yeah it was better haha

[@frankvanbussel4226]

Thanks for the supply of more Caro kann video’s

[@the-silent0]

Can you make a video about the Exchange Variation?

[@AlexBanzea]

This is it! Also check out the video mentioned at the end

[@js-chess]

Game 1: Best set up for Black here is Bd6 with Ne7 not Nf6. Game 2: 5...Bxb5 is not forced 5...e6 and 6...Qb6 is interesting. Game 3: 4.dxc 4...e6 here is the best move... So... no problem for Black here in the Caro Kann.

[@kaidoChess]

Last dude seemed sus.. I looked at his account

[@1Baza22]

Good educational video, after game 3 I have to say that I have played at 90+% a few times especially after watching your content, and I'm low rated elo, does that mean I'm suspicious. Or maybe lower elo is just catching up now? with all these videos like your ones out there, it is certainly helping players that take it in (me included). However like me, I can play perfect games and then get a 40% accuracy because I miss things like a mate in 1 for 5-6 moves of the game, or just get cheesed by players, because we don't expect those types of moves lol.

[@Wryyyyyyyyy21]

I genuinely feel bad for Alex for not buying his course and watching all the playlists free. If i were not a student,i would probably buy it.

[@itsiqbalgaming]

Hahah nice magic trick Alex his queen disappeared 😂😂😂

[@dirac269]

Im so mad man when was the last time u streamed >:(

[@AlexBanzea]

Probably at puberty haha