The only opening you'll ever need against 1.e4

[@AlexBanzea]

Jobava waitlist: alexbanzea.com/

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

Game #1 was a bit nerve wracking

[@bozbozman1575]

Menag a tres is French for "threesome" 😂 cheeky user name

[@walterbrownstone8017]

I never get tired of these CK videos. Especially that one against 1700's.

[@ItsYouAreNotYour]

CK doesn't work. I lose 12 times in a row with CK. - Someone last year.

[@boxofcans461]

I'm tired of alexs caro kann, why can't he play e5 like a normal human being??😂

[@davidkeck6183]

@@ItsYouAreNotYour Then no opening will work for you. You should check all your games with the engine. You will see lots of missed wins, blunders and mistakes. That's what you need to fix. Playing the CK and London have the advantage of reducing the amount of theory you need to memorize in order to be successful. Just get a playable position and use superior positional and tactical understanding to win. For me this is easier and more interesting than memorizing endless lines in other openings. CK and London are played at the highest levels with good success. You can have good success with them too!

[@ItsYouAreNotYour]

@@davidkeck6183 It's a joke if you have been watching this channel long enough. I'm 2100.

[@paulonopa]

Alex, your awesome thought process, your killer jokes (funny as hell), and your cocky yet humble attitude make you hands-down my favorite chess channel. Nelson Lopez is a close second. Thank you for creating content, you are fun to watch. "And with that, let's move on to the following game." 🙂😎

[@themed2002]

"And with that let's move on to the following game" 😂fav line

[@pyrokinetikrlz]

44:48 "some people will call you control freaks, but that is ok, or at least that is what my therapist say" peak comedy :D

[@jamonh]

These videos are ostensibly about openings but really I learn more about tactics from them. Thanks Alex

[@louiscypher6919]

I was just watching some of Your old vids, here's the new one. Thx, Alex, Ur the best teacher!

[@Mike-mm4mx]

One of the best coaches on the net love your humour too!😊

[@coenkuijpers1800]

Your analogies are by definition the best of all time, many make no sense at all, but they are always funny :)

[@IAmSplate]

Alex was firing on all cylinders 🔥🔥🔥 Can’t wait to go for the position from Game 1 in my games

[@riaanstrydom1692]

Hello Alex! Please don’t stop with these Caro Kann videos. I’ve learned everything I know from you and the results have been amazing. Thank you

[@mikecfly]

Great sense of humor and awareness my friend. I enjoy watching you kick ass.

[@kyz6227]

Like the addition of the game review after each game. Another great video!

[@ITWorksSoftware]

Love your teaching style. Just bought your Caro-Kann course on chessable. Can't wait to dig in!! Waiting on Jobava next. 🙋‍♀️👍

[@BrentMurrell]

Most entertaining chess youtuber. Not even a fair fight.

[@kingkillah101]

Another classic - Maestro Banzea reminds us : to win is simply logical! A+

[@dolly6685]

Thanks!

[@AlexBanzea]

Top D

[@JeanneNorthcutt]

Alex, your sense of humor is the best.

[@russelllippai1463]

Noyce! Amazeballs video- tasty games. Thanks very much Alex

[@dalemcdowell5953]

Trinidad and Tobago is a couple of islands in the Caribbean Sea, near South America.

[@JoshOBryan]

Alex I love the way you describe things. Caro Kann vs e4, now I just need to find something good for d4.

[@sbrynjelsen]

In that last game he played the von hennig gambit. I've seen this in several of my own games. Might be good to add it to your course with next update.

[@jondoe8014]

Guy: I'm gonna use these two pawns to support a super knight. Alex: I'm gonna take both his knights.

[@banzaiburger]

Ooooh yeah, another outstanding CK video. Thank you sir

[@Pleniers]

In other video, you asked to tell you when we managed to check mate the fantasy variation with your lesson Did it today... 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 { B12 Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation } e5 4. dxe5 Bc5 5. Ne2 Qb6 6. exd5 Bf2+ 7. Kd2 Qe3# { Black wins by checkmate. } 0-1 And I actually have your chessable course. \o

[@darn0k1]

Let's go, Caro-Kann!

[@rhysgriffiths9675]

I won one of my best OTB games with that Caro Exchange pawn structure. Such a nice feeling when your opponent captures the bishop. I don't even have any preparation after that point because the positions are soooo easy to play!

[@salvadorsempere1701]

I don´t know how this format of 4 rapid games in terms of views, but it´s my favourite one. You can find plenty of chess content of recaps, or blitz games, or whatever, but this kind of content it´s hard to find and the reason I´m subscripted to this channel

[@doffdrayton1302]

Its a twin Island state in South America called Trinidad and Tobago. That's where I also reside. The first game.😁

[@tayshawnchase2325]

the first opponent was me, i got destroyed. btw i play the way u play it as black but dont know how to play against it

[@AlexBanzea]

don't take on f5 simply!

[@tayshawnchase2325]

K thanks so bishop to e2 or leave the bishop. I was so scared of the attack and it showed because of how badly I played

[@madamkirk]

Caro is solid. Yeah I was a little surprised you took on F5

[@daryarioux9394]

Great content as usual! Thank you

[@TheBluesmon]

Nice games Alex! I enjoy these higher elo games.

[@marcossandoval7048]

Viewing from the US, I am familiar with the country Trinidad and Tobago. The US and Mexico played them a lot in International Soccer while I was growing up. Not so much anymore though

[@furtom]

I'm really glad I found your channel! I think you are fantastic at explaining these concepts! Thank you. BTW, you should Google ménage à trois. 😂

[@jaybingham3711]

16:03 "Such a beautiful execution." 😲 dayum! And, no... don't even attempt to explain what you meant. We damn well know what you meant. 🥶 blooded bro!! Own it.

[@nittyclips]

My friend never plays e4 against me anymore thanks to your videos 🤣

[@johannestapper3003]

"If you're not playing the Caro-Kann I don't know what you're doing with your life" -Alex Banzea

[@bggines_1260]

I'm good using the caro kann especially if white advances in move three, but need more knowledge regarding the exchange var etc..thanks for this video, Alex!

[@Master_of_Chess_Shorts]

well played, nice pawn to g6 to protect the wite bishop

[@thetransferaccount4586]

amazing lines given in four situations especially against that gambit line

[@austridge31]

"What is... manrge et tres?" 😂😂😂

[@RaizelLi]

that g6 solves my problem. Thanks

[@vincentlaganot7970]

Thank for the vidéo it is very cool.

[@PepJuice]

Thanks Alex.

[@treyrichardson3162]

Alex is the Brad Owen of the chess world. So I guess that makes Brad the Alex Banzea of poker vlogger world.

[@K_wazi69]

When the world needed the GOAT the most...he returned!!!

[@Grandcapi]

I have started to play the Caro OTB. 4 games and 1,5, but I am learning.

[@Rifaie_channel]

Hi, I'm from Indonesia, lots of professional chess players from Indonesia play carrokan

[@reynold1350]

Trinidad and Tobago mate... It's in the Caribbean, just north of Venezuela.

[@beatdown_kai1534]

the trinidad disrespect is crazy

[@Sterlin18]

Yeah QF4 - We thought you said it in the game and were going to play it however Rxg3 almost just as good...not sure I would of put our King on the same board as opponents Q (White squares and d7 but doesnt really matter as mating is looming for us - Great game with the Caro Khan!

[@JamesJingleheimer]

Hi Alex, I really like your videos, the CK and Jobava has helped me tremendously. I have 2 questions. What opening do you recommend against D4? I always end up playing some weird reverse london, but it doesnt feel super solid. Second, when opening the London, how do you respond to an e5 response to your e4?

[@mello3791]

Not everyday that you get a LegoLand shoutout 42:40 😂

[@krollo8953]

At 26:41, what was the opponent thinking moving his queen to e3 to get a position he had already targeted, removing the defender from the back rank rook. Was there a plan, or was it just nonsense

[@bjordsvennson2726]

I find it interesting how the caro kann has minimal theory yet people will devour endless caro kann theory videos, and other openings that are difficult to grasp like the kings indian are less popular, even though they need video content covering it more than anything else

[@davidkeck6183]

@@bjordsvennson2726 CK and London reduce, not eliminate, what needs to be memorized in order to be successful.

[@theNfl_Esq]

The “Lucescu” of chess. Congratulations 👏🏻 what is inter metzo? What constitutes a stalemate? I understand these are basic bc I just started playing. However since you are such a great teacher you could make a video on it or include in your recaps. 🙏🏻

[@rich842]

Thumbnail confirms; Gatsby would play the caro

[@portoutstarboardhome]

Variation of 'trois' spelling: 'Menage a trois' = Three in a bed getting up to naughty things 😊😂

[@tominmo8865]

But the girls are Hispanic

[@Trader_XXXX]

in minute 52:40 why you did not go with queen to a5 and take simple his bishop in next move? what i dont see here? ah ok, because after queen take later its is just an exchange.

[@Victor-ji1rz]

Menage a trois means a relationship with three people in french, he just switched the french trois for a Spanish tres

[@mikhailvarkovsky4150]

Great video, I love when you do the MC voice (mentally challenged voice) 😂

[@blunderghostchess]

My favorite opening, Caro-Kann!!!

[@jordigarcia191]

Yeah the CK works really well..specially if you crush it in chess😅

[@Loot1975]

Great Format thx

[@dopeNL]

Is it me or is the screen messed up? Missing half the white side of the board 😊

[@michaelbreuer6677]

Hi Alex I wanted to buy your Caro-Kann course on chessable. Besides learning in Chessable, I also intended to use the repertoire in Chessbase. Therefore I wanted to ask if I can download the different PGNs with the purchase. Thank you very much for your great and instructive videos! Best regards from Germany

[@AlexBanzea]

As far as I know there is no download option usually.

[@ChristianSoschner]

Excellent

[@neeru7298]

Hey Alex, i was wondering in the first model game, since we play rook g8, the idea is to not castle our king and leave it in the center? Is It a standard idea in that pawn structure?

[@PhoenixLOfficial]

Yea leave it in centre or long castle

[@Pleniers]

Do you have the intention of making a King's Indian Defense course? Or that is just outside your scope?

[@ronaldinhogaucho420]

caro-kann or hyperaccelerated dragon

[@arrigo7476]

9:40 what would happen after 16. Na7 - b6 17. Nxb6 ...?

[@karthikm.g8343]

28:20 I think Q× d4+was winning

[@CarlosMagnusson07]

09:17 is there Na7+ and if b5 you can take with the knight due to the pin and if you move your king then Nb5 regardless attacking the queen and still making use of the pin? Edit: i guess the king can move up but i think still a nice try

[@Wankstaboy18]

I was wondering the same thing

[@Wankstaboy18]

I think qd7 solves it

[@VascoEmanuel-d8t]

Dear Alex, On the last game after his terrible move Ng3: Why didnt you go Qe5+ and take the bishop?

[@vincewild3756]

menage a trois made me laugh

[@CitizenLUL]

I agree that the caro is very easy to play for noobs like myself. Except for this tartakower variation that you always recommend in some situations. I'm at like 10% winrate with this. Obviously that due to my own inability at chess. But it feels like you're always much worse right from the start, and those tricks to attack the enemy king never work for me, or are not that easy to find.

[@Mal1234567]

36:00 I believe everything he says until Alex implies that the loss of both queens indicates the beginning of an endgame, even as early as move 4. Is anybody else with me on this?

[@ollanthon]

good! i just learned this and have been using it, i am winning…

[@grad83]

frumos prim meci caro kann luv

[@mannylokzzz]

Just in time for the train ride home eyyy

[@santiagopruno6215]

Alex menage a trois is a sexual act among 3 people, in french 😅

[@grislesix4261]

How should you play against the Breyer variation: e4, d3?

[@AlexBanzea]

I played g6 in a few videos. Similar to what happened in game 3

[@r011ing_thunder6]

How do you guys use the arrows is it also on mobile chess?

[@shamassive]

Yep! CK is all i wver do against e4. Someone did a "suicide" variation as i called it as white today. They just pushed everything and gave me +3 after about 8 moves.

[@budfreshour8463]

What do you teach against 1. d4

[@adeckers1]

During the 1st game, why not f6 to get rid of of the knight on e5?

[@AlexBanzea]

it was possible, but I liked a6 so much that I didnt check for alternatives

[@jrubynho]

Nice games near my rating level.

[@eduardodosreis5440]

in 9:00, didn't he miss Ka7+ ?

[@AlexBanzea]

Qd7 and looks like its getting trapped?

[@eduardodosreis5440]

@@AlexBanzea that's it. Thanks👍

[@mozophe]

I am assuming you mean Na7+ as Ka7+ is not a legal move. Black plays Ke7 here and the white is stuck with the same problem again as rook can take the knight with white having no way to defend it. Ke7 also connects both the rooks. White can use the queen to give another check but Bd6 comes with a tempo with a double attack on both white's queen and knight and white is left with no choice but to give up on it's knight.

[@kylezo]

Trinidad is part of the Caribbean, it's is another ex-colony still de facto occupied and controlled by western empire. predictably all of their problems stem from neoliberal austerity politics causing profound poverty and racial infighting in the working class. "In response to the government's economic austerity programmes, trade unions organised a one-day strike on 6 March 1989, and a March Against Hunger on 22 April. On 8 February 1990 a group of 16 trade unions and a variety of civil society organisations including the Jamaat al Muslimeen formed the Summit of People's Organisations (SOPO)." The capitalists bailed themselves out during the oil crash by completely destroying the local currency. the latest coup attempt happened 8 weeks later and failed. western media called them muslim terrorists (not making that up). it's still framed that way on wikipeda

[@juanroaguilo]

Vamos!!!

[@nulencode7660]

In the last game, why not play 11. ... Qxd5 ?

[@PhoenixLOfficial]

Qxd5 qxd5 exd5 nxf5 and white is fine.

[@stellarossie]

In game 4 e4 was ok with the computer. really? how did u know that

[@SebastainWächter]

Bro, the world is big .. not knowing trinidad & tobago and the simplest french proverbs, seems like you really should leave your computer from time to time. ^^

[@AlexBanzea]

solid advice

[@AndyJMacLeod]

Game 3: why did he resign?

[@angosalvo5734]

Ménage à 3 is very dirty.

[@LeafBurrower]

To you, maybe

[@angosalvo5734]

@@LeafBurrower to everyone not to me. Just read about ménage á trois to get the actual meaning. There is an episode of Seinfeld making fun of this

[@angosalvo5734]

@@LeafBurrower are you sure?

[@LeafBurrower]

​@@angosalvo5734 How can I be sure what you think is "dirty" ? If you're asking me whether in 2024 I think sex between consenting adults (in whatever number) is "dirty", um, no. Whatever floats your boat, eh?

[@angosalvo5734]

@@LeafBurrower in year zero or 3000 dirty means dirty. You cannot redefine concepts then come argue about it. Yes a sexual term and according to the dictionary dirty refers to sex. And this particular one is super dirty according to most societies.

[@MatthieuSCHREK]

I have mixed feelings about you, dear Alex. On the one end, I respect you for the Caro, but on the other hand ... the London stuff... I mean ... you are spreading a disease !!! It was so great when you played the Vienna opening ! I wish a pleasant day to everybody - except to London players obviously. Matthieu

[@johnholmstrom4212]

As a half trini person, I'm slightly offended haha

[@AlexBanzea]

Dont be! Im just a moron with 0 geographical knowledge 😂🤡

[@johnholmstrom4212]

@@AlexBanzea You put 80 skill points into chess, 20 into humor, and none into geography haha

[@Nightwalk444]

Interesting to see so much Caro hate in the comments

[@troybayham5723]

That county is a beautiful island.

[@alboresivn7012]

Any líne for crush Alien Ganbit? 😂😂😂😂