Crush People with Magnus Carlsen's Favorite Chess Opening

[@lolworlds23]

i am catalan (from barcelona) and after watching this vid i must become a master of this opening, fear me 700 elo rapid players

[@HEHE_BOYYYY]

😂

[@NeonBeeCat]

I basically only use the Catalan, I'm a lowly 500 rated rapid player (but I mostly play blitz, which is probably why I'm 200 rated)

[@IBlameSid]

Drop your chess id lets battle in chess

[@ianchen9217]

Catalan opening is ineffective in lower ELO because no one (including me) plays Nf6 after D4. And trust me you as white can't even remember all 60+ book moves in the opening. The theory is too long. Also I just found out that the SLAV defense completely shuts down the Catalan opening.... I've been struggling to play against Catalan for months... now i know how to defend as black...

[@iamaryanlord6978]

​@@ianchen9217ur lower rated? because no 500 will no what is catalan

[@Goo_Gle.]

Saw the title and thought, 'We really going back to 2019 gotham with this one.' Feels nice to have gotham back as a teacher

[@chijiokeokorafor6690]

@@Goo_Gle. Teacher Gotham is peak Gotham

[@ArtimalYT]

Real!

[@Kris-Yang]

I thought so too, except I wasn't there in 2019 lol

[@FRBFStudios]

bot stole your comment :(

[@r011ing_thunder6]

​@FRBFStudios but can a bot steal the human spirit? I don't think so.

[@Azralik0_0]

0:01 - 33:59 milking magnus 0:01 - 1:58 intro 1:58 - 6:52 catalan theory 6:52 - 11:54 game 1 11:54 - 18:53 game 2 18:53 - 23:40 game 3 23:40 - 33:59 game with subscriber 33:59 levy stops milking magnus

[@sur380]

@@Azralik0_0 😭

[@kodakzak2836]

NAHH BRO

[@MAD-c2u]

I didnt know levy STOPPED milking magnus. 🤔

[@marklee331]

@@MAD-c2u Magnus milk got drained

[@Sckojoc-wg6ly]

@@marklee331 dehydrated to the molecular level

[@kotor1357]

Bro thinks he's a psychic Yesterday, I watched Gotham's 4 year old video on the Catalan and this is the perfect followup

[@abhishekjoshi2287]

@@kotor1357 bro is lacking content.

[@mattyb808]

Haha so was I maybe he the saw analytics and got inspired? I’m here for it.

[@arsongamer1510]

Bro's hikaru's sidekick

[@precious2383]

Levy try act like he so muthafking righteous​@@arsongamer1510

[@Hecker0816]

Levy please bring back the awkward stare in the beginning, it feels so weird to just start talking (I mean it)

[@justinrodriguez7005]

Agreed

[@izanazir7088]

no pls dont, see chess not some wierd things unrelated

[@iloveowner4334]

Based. 😂

[@davidrorelliana3649]

Agreed

[@Lexio5526]

No clickbait? Fine I’ll give you a like

[@giridharbargaley1958]

This a 1500 rapid, I literally watched this video with a pen and paper, made notes and later played a few games and trust me this opening worked a charm for me! Thanks Gotham. Here's one of the games that I played 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. cxd5 exd5 8. O-O Nc6 9. e3 Bg4 10. Qe2 Ne4 11. Nc3 Ng5 12. Nxd5 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Ne7 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Qxb7 Rab8 17. Qxa7 Rxb2 18. Bc3 Re2 19. Rac1 c5 20. Qxe7 Bxe7 21. a4 Ra2 22. a5 cxd4 23. exd4 Rc8 24. Ra1 Rc2 25. Be1 Ra8 26. Kg2 Rc4 27. d5 Rc5 28. Bb4 Bf6 29. Bxc5 Bxa1 30. Rxa1 g6 31. a6 1-0 Literally over in 30 moves jeez

[@lukablesic8617]

It was over when he blundered d5 pawn. Black can't even get active in this opening. Crazy stuff good game

[@giridharbargaley1958]

@@lukablesic8617 thanks!

[@JessicaErmakow]

@@lukablesic8617 lmaoooo

[@Carto00944]

Any update bro . Are u still playing it

[@gokulnair]

​@@Carto00944 since it's only been a month or so, I'm pretty sure he's still playing it here and there if it suits his playstyle

[@matteoairaghi790]

I'd say it's much more likely for Magnus to crush people with my favourite opening

[@vetgirig4209]

Technically Magnus crush people with all openings.

[@andik6887]

@@vetgirig4209 Nah, i have never lost to Magnus Carlsen

[@goldenlightningYT]

@@andik6887 cause u have never played him

[@bobblehead07]

@@goldenlightningYT thats the joke

[@vetgirig4209]

@@andik6887 Me neither - however I won against someone - who won against someone - who won against someone and that someone has won over Magnus Carlsson.

[@LqwAbidingCitizen]

with this opening i will beat magnesium calcium

[@Mai_Maxy_Gloomy]

@@LqwAbidingCitizen 😭🙏

[@YourLocalBaconYLB]

Finally someone used the joke I said first I'm the comment section

[@vladivascanu108]

@@YourLocalBaconYLB You are the comment section?

[@holy42cosmos]

@@vladivascanu108 lol😂

[@LqwAbidingCitizen]

@@YourLocalBaconYLB neither of us is original lil bro 🙏

[@palashgupta2568]

0:01 Levy starts milking Magnus again.

[@swapnilsingh9519]

@@palashgupta2568 yessss, exactly

[@MarekMango]

he stsrts milking that one gentleman 😭

[@user-uo4jt4nm7e]

Hot

[@Dawnthensunset3839]

What is this spamming nonsense?

[@meto248]

at least we had a rest

[@surajitdas2792]

Bro need good audience. Every one is roasting him on comment section.

[@RobertSela]

Fun fact: Carlsen is also the highest ranking player that has ever played the Italian, Sicilian, Ruy Lopez, Dragon Sicilian, the Bentoni Brother Variation, the Slime Fox, Hedgehog defense, Rhino, Bongcloud and a little known chinese opening called the Ming Bing sacrifice.

[@sudazima]

what about the intercontinental ballistic missile gambit?

[@benholeman3537]

Fun fact: Carlsen is also the highest rated chess player to ever play tic tac toe, tag, hangman, musical chairs, shuffleboard, futbol, rugby, and basketball.

[@JackDoesPuzzles]

What is the ming bing sacrifice???

[@sdsign4229]

Did you program an AI to write this? It looks like it’s creating new openings based on existing names

[@Cwooodsy]

He is also the highest ranked chess player to ever ride a bike!

[@paularized1]

The Catalan is easy to get yourself in trouble if you mess up. Intermediate players like to go for a quick king side attack with black. If you misplace any of your pieces, it can be really hard to defend.

[@str8kronic]

That's exactly what happened to me with my first game after watching this video

[@MrGary557]

Goth, once you've become a GM, Gotham City is no longer safe because everyone will then know who is the Dark Knight

[@Nyklos]

@@MrGary557 If this Happens we gotta pray to the bishop

[@PrashantTiwari-vj2ue]

@@MrGary557 😂😂

[@HathiTheElephant]

I like how he admits that those of us

[@TheModernMartialArtist]

Maybe it's wishful thinking but after watching a few examples I feel like playing the English has been preparing me to play the Catalan if I ever get good enough. I'm currently in the 1500s so maybe not right now, but I feel like the positions can definitely have some of the same ideas.

[@OrhanSofic]

0:01 levy starts speaking

[@ivanbarran7604]

he always does

[@LqwAbidingCitizen]

@@ivanbarran7604 he didn't in 0:00

[@cykab1y474]

facts

[@kkbad4009]

@@LqwAbidingCitizen he did tho :((

[@thierrywilly4480]

What it has to do with me?

[@selo5124]

Been watching since Covid, back when this hunk of a man had like 10k subs. So cool to see how successful he's gotten.

[@memesoninternet9312]

Remeber When brusly said I am not afraid of a them who knows thousands of move , I am afraid of a them who practice a move thousands times So when you practice a single opening many times . The win is yours

[@raja__ojha]

0:12 levy said Catalan

[@chodowski_legacy]

@@raja__ojha so?

[@tristanrocha2759]

Thank you!

[@himothyfr6370]

@@chodowski_legacyu a hater

[@IshaanGupta-]

I am muthal

[@ryanyao5387]

To become a grandmaster, a player must achieve both of the following: Favorable results (called norms) from a total of at least 27 games in tournaments. With some exceptions, to receive a norm in a tournament: The player's performance rating at the end of the tournament must be at least 2600. There are also Grandmaster titles for composers and solvers of chess problems, awarded by the World Federation for Chess Composition. refer to the world's elite players. In the past this would refer to players with an Elo rating of over 2600, but as the average Elo rating of the top players has increased it has typically come to refer to players with an Elo rating of over 2700. Super GMs, the number of whom has grown considerably over the years, have some name recognition in the world of sport and are typically the highest earners in chess.

[@p1ch379]

ok

[@HEHE_BOYYYY]

no

[@RushyoTakha]

unsubscribe

[@MioszS-cf3lk]

0:34 levy starts milking Magnus

[@Hussain-ss9su]

💀average vid be like

[@ChrisBoyle-uy1tu]

@@MioszS-cf3lk starts where have you been

[@harshrajbasant]

​@@ChrisBoyle-uy1tuhe probably meant- IN THIS VIDEO. Its good to get the timestamp of events that occur in every video of gotham

[@AAWSAPRocky]

That’s on the onlyfans

[@something2313]

Nice to see an opening introduction once again! I wanted to learn the catalan for a while now, so this was quite fitting, finally getting me to stop procrastinating, thanks levy

[@HUBZONE-19]

I love when the video is just uploaded and people spam first 😂

[@JackDespero]

10:41 "What would be black's best move after Qf5?" I started to write that comment with my first ideas, and then I realized that I am an idiot 27 times and I had to load the game on a board because I was losing myself on lines upon lines only to realize that I have no idea of what I am talking about because the engine tells me that one of my options is M24 (Qf5 Re7), the other (Qf5 e6) is M5, what I thought was the craziest (Qf5 Qc7) is M7 (still better than my other option), and the correct answer is the most obvious one (Qf5 Rf8), which I had not consider for whatever reason, is only +3.77.

[@holy42cosmos]

Magnus breathes. Ladies and gentlemen magnus just inhaled some O2 in a different style

[@greatmightypanda]

Whenever I hear "this opening is played at the highest levels and Magnus plays it" I actually hear "the gameplan of this opening is to kill all fun and get a 0.1 advantage in a really long endgame and if you're under 2000 you're more likely to blunder than not". Thankfully the Catalan seems to be the exception

[@a.v.y8331]

the catalan is just one of those super solid openings where you don't lose advantage easily and always have pressure. tbh I find it kind of crazy that an opening like this exists. if black defends against the catalan perfectly, the best they get is drawing chances unless the catalan player blunders. if white plays the catalan well, black is almost certainly going to crack under the pressure and at worst gets a draw.

[@garyconnors2104]

In the late 1990's, I think Vishy Anand said something like this: "Why would anyone play the Catalan? It's so boring." At one time, the Catalan was considered to yield a tiny advantage which might pay dividends in a long endgame.

[@ShadowMasher1]

6:01 i feel warm in the heart when he said that. Feel like a real studetn .

[@KingSlayer21_0]

Yeah but we still manage to make him a depressed teacher

[@Nils-yj2js]

Love to see an opening video again. love your videos. Greetings from Switzerland

[@FluxXx7789]

For a second I thought I was reading my own comment, then I remembered I haven't written on yet.

[@p60168]

I’ve actually kinda been craving another opening video, ty levy!

[@surajitdas2792]

0:01 Levi jumpscare

[@moynakdas2057]

I pissed in my pants

[@RogueBS1]

@@moynakdas2057proof

[@duck123acb]

BRO!! thanks so much i litterally would ahve pooped my pants if not for this warning!!! god bless

[@CeoOfbubbas]

Thank you Gotham! I played the first game with that opening and as a 900 rated player completely destroyed my opponent with 1700 performance

[@grygus]

How to crush people like Magnus: Step 1 - Be Magnus. Step 2 - Hear the lamentations of their women.

[@TheSmokeTrain]

@@grygus this is what is best in life.

[@MrSmoothasf]

I've been using this for 1 week now, god it's good. The king is so safe and the non standard opening throws your opponent right off their game.ive been playing the Italian and nothing else for 2 years but I think this is the answer to get to the next level

[@mannatsingh0]

who thinks levy can become a GM ❤❤

[@trashhollowknightplayer4199]

Please more videos like this again levy! Love teacher Gotham

[@dusk5121]

This is my favorite opening! I needed to refresh my memory on the theory this came with a great timing

[@johnrazbek3721]

Levy recommending a solid opening and not some gambit shenanigans is definitely something new

[@inbarharel6538]

33:59 levy stops talking

[@Alin-bv1xv]

Bruh

[@Jacob_cdk]

@@inbarharel6538 yo thx man

[@TheEpicTricycle]

I'm 1150, and I have run into an unusual number of queens pawn openings lately. Came to check Gotham's page and sure enough, prepare for a million queens pawn games

[@christosmous3140]

Please make a catalan course

[@isophancy5605]

Started playing the Catalan at 1300-1400 level and am now over 2000. It's my absolute favorite opening to play and I haven't looked back since. Of course I've played the occasional e4 for variety, but the Catalan is always my go to. Games I lose in the Catalan are always from my own lack of understanding, and are really good for my chess as I get to obtain a deeper understanding. There is also a nice trick not shown in the video. Say the game goes 1. D4, D5 2. C4, E6 3. Nf3, Nf6 4. G3, Be7 5. Bg2, O-O 6. O-O, DxC4 7. Ne5, B5 8. Nc3, Nd7 9.NxB5 One of my favorite moves ever, of course this can arise in multiple move orders this was simply what I chose, can't take the knight because you lose the rook and those c pawns will be lost throughout the game with very little effort. I find that even at 2000 NxB5 is available in multiple positions so it's definitely a tactic that you can win games with for a long time.

[@mohamedahmedsidiya7153]

You are that drastic 6:40

[@Nyklos]

Nah an ant wouldnt win 1 Out of 100 Games against a human. Levy could probably win one against Magnus

[@Developed1174]

😂

[@NotPabu]

I just started learning the Catalan about a week ago, thank you so much for this video, the timing couldn’t be more perfect! ❤❤

[@tanmay_yeole5]

pls don't change the title for this video

[@cz7425]

Love this. More videos like this, please!

[@godpeter21]

15:22 and he sacrifices the ROOOOOOOOK

[@martinhart9829]

what do you mean

[@steamgardens]

Catalan player here. Openings rly solid but you must know all the theory to play it in real tournaments. If youre higher rated strongly recommend, but not for beginners who wont put any effort into learning it

[@sn0wimo]

21:29 Levy casually blunders his queen

[@Alliclare]

You mean Magnus

[@kimjong-un8543]

im glad the opening theory videos are back again!

[@NamoAziz]

Missed opportunity to call this "Crush people with Kramnik's favourite opening. Suspiciously good!!!

[@Anyi-gf6rk]

We can all agree that Gotham needs to make more amazing opening videos ❤

[@Potato-u3n]

0:00 gedi and leltlemans

[@heesable]

I used to be a diehard London player, I think I will be using this opening much more thanks to Levy!!

[@AyenTheGamer]

Hi Levy 🌝👋

[@Hippiegirl55]

As a beginner I felt that I received a detailed, information description of what I could expect. That put my expectations/goals set for myself at a realistic yet challenging level. Not at a level that I had no chance of getting close to only to be frustrated.

[@zoner_5477]

I think that people should watch the video first before making a comment.

[@JCJMC21]

I stared playing 6 months ago and the beginnings of my games have evolved to this opening, sort of. I thought I was just building a fortress around my king. I’ll have to look more at this opening because it mirrors my instincts.

[@xIswiggy]

Poor Anish had been destroyed in the past 3 videos, once by magnus and once by Hans, poor guy just wants to be featured in a win

[@Dyselon]

Super exciting to see straight up instructional content. Thanks for this primer!

[@TheCheekyKnight]

0:01 The first sek passed

[@saber8101]

This is peak Gotham here. No clickbait. Nice content. Very Wholesome. Even the comment section is being nice...

[@redasalman9907]

00:00 ladies and gentelman

[@JackDespero]

So the Catalan is Queen's gambit followed by King's Indian attack, but only if black politely declines to fall into the trap until you have completed the castled fianchetto.

[@anshrajdubey7897]

Levy never fails to milk magnus

[@Soul_eater72]

That Duolingo behind him is sus💀💀💀

[@VisalKHANZADA]

Levy never fails .... ohh i am tired of this

[@mntzr_ihsan]

i am 600 elo can i learn it or its hard?

[@iloveowner4334]

@@mntzr_ihsanyou can fs

[@vineyardchess2136]

GM Denis Lazavik, Gelfand and Dubov are another faithful practitioners of the Catalan... styles differ but really be nice. It would he great to add them in

[@bababooeu7539]

Bro never fails to milk Magnus

[@dduke3573]

Magnus is milked in basically every one of Levy's videos. A bit repetitive ngl. I got the pin of shame LETS GO

[@RabbitYT576]

Magnus of Carlsen 😢

[@TimTimAfola]

Fr

[@ghostgalaxy0130]

pin of shame in 12 minutes that's a record

[@JupiterAteIt]

Pin of Gamer

[@Mrgaragememes]

I mean he is the best player of all time so there’s a lot of content off of him

[@laksthegamer1185]

I missed the chess lessons from OG Gotham! Thank you for bringing them back, looking forward to more in the future! We appreciate you :)

[@surajitdas2792]

69420 time levi including magnus Carlson in title

[@niharnm6502]

Only Indians can get such idea of selecting such number .

[@Ashleytrans09]

I'm convinced the english and the Catalan are tye same but in the english you want d3 later avoiding a kings India

[@josephlunn6]

Every like will be 1 pushup, 1 squat, and 1 sit up. Help me get back in shape!!

[@rossmonroe3526]

Better yourself for you, not likes

[@ricardosimms8548]

If you need likes to better your health, you don't want it bad enough my friend.

[@adammansueto10]

@@ricardosimms8548 agreed

[@_v2.0]

@@josephlunn6 best of luck, saitama

[@swedishpsychopath8795]

Levy: Is the rumor true that a blonde haired chess coach was observed going into your hotel room in the last tournament?

[@zacmrd]

What are you suggesting

[@rdlegends3988]

They were just having late night chess discussions I think

[@swedishpsychopath8795]

@@rdlegends3988 Maybe... moving pieces back and forth ... experimenting with positions .... ?

[@Tinil0]

I'm glad you acknowledge for the people that play you that their brains probably turn to mush the second they start the game. Not only are you massively higher rated and thus virtually guaranteed to win, but you are internet famous, AND they are fans of you. Basically every reason to get nervous all piled into one. Oh, and they know its going in a video so they are even more nervous because they don't want to look like a "chump". Which of course guarantees that they then do because thats how things work.

[@comrade5017]

Make a video on Gukesh vs Fabiano caruana recent match where Gukesh sacrifices his queen

[@kaheilui9785]

Levy never forgets to milk Magnus in his videos💀

[@madzilla14]

The Bat Still Flies ! (Don't Mess With Levy !)

[@ronaldbell7429]

FFS. A video missing the WHOLE point of Carlsen's unusual chess openings. He's trying to get people out of study and rote memorization. So naturally Levy invites people to study and memorize...

[@maximedagneau6927]

yeah but levy want us to study and memorize the moove that everybody already know at that lvl ( for the GM lvl). Carlsen’s fight is in a whole deeper lvl of memorization. idk if you understand what im trying to explain

[@kehindeadejobi7195]

Going into lines that were not played in the game is really wonderful

[@MinecraftWorlddevjuneja]

First

[@number1-willstetsonsimp]

just because no comments showed doesnt mean your first lil bro

[@YourLocalBaconYLB]

No

[@MinecraftWorlddevjuneja]

I commented after 2 sec of upload bozo

[@YourLocalBaconYLB]

@@MinecraftWorlddevjuneja some were fastet

[@number1-willstetsonsimp]

@@MinecraftWorlddevjuneja you literally arent first at all LOOK AT THE NEWEST COMMENTS

[@Froggyoggy1]

Been looking for a good video on the Catalan for a while. Finally gave up the search and now Levy brings us this!

[@MRNOOB-bm7ci]

Magnus playing anything looks like it's so easy but when we play we end up losing 200 elo 😢😢

[@thutoseboko4076]

The Queen's gambit declined ragozin defense almost has the same structure and that's an opening I play now

[@michaparniawski6375]

I learned Catalan from your videos, and really liked it. Recently wanted to expand my knowledge and there it is. Nice timing

[@D34ThL1VeS]

Watched you since 2020 and this really has those opening mini course vibes, I love it. Definitely have to give this a go online and get some experience with it.

[@Sandfox07]

Here's a funny OTB-Game I played in a classical tournament against a 1700-rated Player. 1.d4-d5 2.c4-e6 3.Nf3-Nf6 4.g3-dxc4 5.Bg2-b5 6.a4-c6 7.Ne5-Nd5 8.0-0-Bb7 9.e4-Nb6? 10.axb5-cxb5 11.Qh5!-g6?? 12.Nxg6!! Black is lost after twelve moves! He played on for a little bit but resigned just a few moves later.

[@NearlyInfinity]

Levy: "Only play this if you are a solidly intermediate to advanced or even master level player" My 1100 rated ass: "Oh yeah, I am so much in that box"

[@Eswar.]

this kind of videos are really helpful please do more

[@christopherish1679]

I've been hoping you would do something on the Queen's Gambit and Catalan. I would love to see a Chessly course on those, especially when it is better to stay in the QG vs going into the Catalan. Also, when to take cxd5.

[@paldr_fighter]

Very happy that you made this video. Saturday just got better. I am also currently going over your coach's 3 hour video on the Catalan!

[@jonokobal4051]

Can we have a vid on the Benko? I know you like the Dutch but it shares a lot of similarities with the Nimzo. The Benko also has very few videos on it yet. I also love the opening vids and gambits like the dark knight gambit. Thanks Gotham!

[@marcushenry1352]

1000 videos later, still a goat coach.

[@edgarquinones6673]

This is the face I see when I remember Muñoz from La tabla de Flandes.

[@diegoeppenstein9787]

I love to see new openings videos and adding both master and intermediate level games, hope to see more like this with different opennings! I'll now proceed to blunder on move 4 playing the catalan

[@alexandrehuot3326]

Teaching Gotham is so great... all content is great, but "Teaching content" is the absolute best!

[@Super_duel]

Thank you for bringing back videos like this. It really inspires me to play more chess.

[@marshalltucker9690]

jonny was a real one for playing it out

[@davidtgay]

Hi Gotham, thank you for making chess fun! I got my first ever brilliant move today, and the other day I found a mate in 5 for the first time. Watching your videos for the past year has played a huge part in my chess development. Thanks again!