Crushing The Stafford Gambit

[@alanjeremy]

"Oh no my stafford gambit" (Eric Rosen voice)

[@themarketgardener]

"I literally don't care about the stafford gambit" (Hikaru voice)

[@slugmaballs360]

Now this you guys is why you have to remember to be very precice in order to defeat this very dubious, and UNACCSEPTABLE gambit that Eric Rosen has made o so popular.

[@Pentagon005875]

XD

[@lsoulless1074]

What you don’t realise that actually Eric was gambiting the Stafford Gambit against Hikaru to make his opponents in the future overconfident

[@StarPiercerAwl]

This is the highest level of chess content out there. Amazing quality. Understanding the underlying intentions behind hikaru's moves helps me out a lot, even when I play my wgm teacher, I don't get as many ideas and as much education as watching these hikaru videos. This specific video taught me a lot about position evaluation, for instance when hikaru played rook b1 instead of 0-0-0, he explained that the king side pieces like the bishop and rooks were not going to participate in the game, which makes castling a bad move (on top of the pawn threats). I will put all this to good use, thank you for your content hikaru! I am glad people like you exist

[@UNKNOWN5427]

Completely agree; these videos are great

[@tusharsrivastava3523]

Hikaru: 'I trade when I'm up a pawn' Me(1000 rated): loses with two extra pieces

[@jarvisff6952]

I literally loose on time..i was I move away to give ladder checkmate... 😭

[@marklondon9004]

Chess equivalent of a diss-track!

[@MasterXleb]

Thanks, big Hikaru for video! Several times i was losing agains Stafford Gambit... but your confidence helps me to lose more games)

[@raul9313]

Hikaru on move 37: "so you have to be a little bit careful here" Yeah I would have lost already

[@Nagatomo158]

Hikaru looks like a classic father in this shirt

[@MW2xxnoobxx]

Makes sense when you think of all the folks he's adopted...

[@rahulbansal2]

@@MW2xxnoobxx 💀

[@bosssettan4402]

​@@MW2xxnoobxx 💀

[@MrCherry00701]

"very evil opening...."

[@Jeff-sr6fx]

Oh Stafford gambit. So evil-

[@Coolguyyyy33]

So evil

[@123teixeira123]

every gambit is refuted when you have perfect play haha

[@infinitytoinfinitysquaredb7836]

Hikaru trolling Eric is funny. I suspect they are friends unlike with the other Eric.

[@molokoko786]

That’s not hard, Eric is friends with everyone!

[@road_to_gm123]

@@molokoko786 except for his queen.. he keeps on losing her!

[@molokoko786]

@@road_to_gm123 he is such a good sport when he does though! Never spits the dummy or throws the rattle out the park like some other streamers!

[@Viewer13128]

although i feel there no more real beef with the other eric anymore

[@mayurdave6632]

This is the kind of content I requested in the poll, thank you so much! It was really fun to watch

[@barddz4646]

i'm loving this kind of video teaching how to get better

[@nikimccrossan9497]

Being one of the very top tier players on the planet I'm not surprised that Hikaru knows how to refute the Stafford but I still think the Stafford has some beautiful traps for non super GM level players to get some exciting wins. What I do like to watch is the quickness of the calculations and ruthless implementation of general tactics and full board awareness that masters like Hikaru and Carlson etc have, it's real mastery of the game in action and even if we can take a little from watching them we can surely improve.

[@casua1.]

Drinking game: Take a drink everytime Hikaru says "Simply."

[@Krissco2]

The terrible knight and rook looks incredibly frustrating to own, and very satisfying to have caused.

[@contesaidou.e.m503]

Can't wait for other openings tutorials, this was very helpful

[@philh.9618]

tell me one opening hikaru would not crush eric

[@ruthxk7844]

omg didn't expect this!! +++ so much time hearing about the Stafford Gambit and I finally find out what exactly it is... in a video of Hikaru refutating it xD never too late I guess!

[@solomongadeloff3872]

Would you be able to make a video on how to crush the london?

[@jmtx.]

Thanks for an awesome breakdown of your game!

[@justinkauffman731]

He destroyed you, Eric!

[@gaminpark]

The genius thumbnail after that Magnus comment on chess Kick boxing. 😂😂

[@Chunda8]

White's position looks very good at 8:08. Where I've seen the Stafford work, the gambit is accepted and White just takes all the offered material. Where the Stafford is declined and White just plays principled and sound Chess, there doesn't seem to be as many threats. It is well-defended here for sure.

[@sorinsandu451]

liked this: "...if you have good middle game and end game technique":):):) great recap!

[@HONEST3382]

Thank you for posting the new video , you're a blessing♥️

[@praveenchoudhary6756]

oh no my Stafford Gambit !!

[@adramytos]

Next gambit to destroy: IM Esserman's Smith-Morra gambit.

[@hunterscalise7706]

This is why Hikaru is the best contemporary player alive. Love this content. Hope the best for his chess career.

[@srijanraghavula]

I almost got a heart attack when i realised how dangerous small things can be. Thank you nakamura. I never realised.

[@Jayvees]

Stafford Gambit is a difficult gambit to crush as White. But Hikaru finally crack this strong gambit and it was spectacular.

[@zedthesecondd]

its a gm its nothing special that he can crush strong openings

[@jesuscruz836]

I am learning so much! Thank you, Hikaru!

[@StratKat1998]

In the Petrov trap with ...Nxe4, you should have shown the escape line for black

[@StratKat1998]

I think you have to play Qe7

[@Philson]

I'm here for the "Welcome back!"

[@elyesakili7918]

Gj bro u are definitely my idol i love your work and positivity

[@789armstrong]

MCO15 at page 102 footnote h(B) gives the refutation of the Stafford with colors reversed.

[@tommyfiendo]

Both Hikaru and Eric are National treasures.

[@samgohpastarem5117]

" the stafford gambit sucks ! " *has to dodge 3763216794 vicious traps just to be a pawn up*

[@Calibrownsfan]

you can immediately take all the sting out of the stafford by going d4 immediately after black goes dxc6. Black can never get his bishop to d5

[@Calibrownsfan]

In the opening after 4. dxc6 why not go d4 and prevent black's bishop from ever getting to c5? What is the best play against this line?

[@darksoul624]

I love this type of videos, thx big brain

[@vectorfarr]

2 Amazing players playing each other! Absolutely awesome!

[@pencilkid1123]

I love these recaps man

[@molokoko786]

There’ll be a few GMs tuning in to this video who have lost to this gambit against Eric…

[@SRMi]

Brilliant video Hikaru, thank you!

[@MSMNBC]

@ 9:15 a pawn can move, even jump; especially with the Hikaru effect in play.

[@pennywise6672]

Nice! Gotta commit that one to memory. BTW, met you at High Park in Toronto. You are a mensch!

[@luisfernandomaldonado]

What a great video! Thanks Hikaru :)

[@Leo-lt6zk]

Hey, I have a doubt about it : I do not understand why 5. e5 is considered a mistake by the engine since it seems a logical move kicking away that black knight just like in the Alekhine Defense. It is what I do against this gambit because in my opinion 5. Nc3 and 5. d3 are very passive and do not fit with my playstyle.

[@MrDane59]

e5 is still a good move, but there are still many ways to lose on the spot, for example e5, Ne4, d3 is already losing for white, correct move is d4 instead, but the line continues Qh5 now g3 is natural looking but losing on the spot again. I can go even bit deeper, but the point is its very hard to go terribly wrong with 5.Nc3, as a stafford player that move gives me the most trouble

[@al_gusto]

Well, in chess sometimes you have to accept that a gambit such as the stafford it is the exchange of a pawn for black's initiative and some open diagonals for the opponent to attack. So there's no such a thing as 'these moves are very passive and do not fit with my playstyle' because after grabbing the extra pawn it's like you accepting to defend for a few moves in exchange for the pawn. It's totally different from the alekhine defense that is a very positional and theorical opening because in this defense black cedes the initiative and the center with nf6 in exchange for a theoretical possibility that white is overextending the center for black to attack it later. Black's position is totally closed and is trying to prove that white has to do many concessions to have all that space. So, conceptually speaking, if you don't want to defend in the petrov and prefers having the initiative, don't accept the gambit.

[@greenoftreeblackofblue6625]

It's very strange how being down 1 pawn makes this very losing unlike other gambits like smith-mora being down a pawn. The thing with this gambit it is very losing, but both ways if not careful

[@attila1805]

9:05 Why did not Eric take back with the pawn? It would have ceased his double pawn structure?

[@urban248]

Cant wait to start playing the Petrov as 800

[@apexm4576]

Please teach on how you practice your pre moves

[@JohnDoe-di6ml]

umm but at 2:20 you have Qf3 then after Bxg4 you have Qg3 if they go back go Qg5 then you just play h3 and white is better.

[@bonkersdonkers7381]

Perfect. Nc3 and h3 neutralizes a lot of the tricks

[@iconicae8814]

Fabiano said that he would try it in titled Tuesday, The eric rosen effect 💣💯

[@MrDane59]

​@@tvens1 yes he did, in second TT, and won the game

[@rhysjones4250]

So did Hikaru basically say here is the line that destroys Rosens career?

[@nivlemhero4115]

This is very good content. 👌

[@Viewer13128]

wow the comedic delivery in the intro was top notch. he built up the credibility and accolades of his opponent. and then in the same sentence he called him the foremost expert (not even a new sentence) he said he crushed him and disproved his life's work. That is perfect deadpan delivery.

[@srijanraghavula]

To stay calm, we must be okay with Queen trades in the pre mid game too.. haha

[@JM-ne5ep]

10:58 im dead HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

[@Sangsstuff]

The funny thing about Hikaru explaining these things is that I get what he's saying in the moment when he shows me. But could I play to that position vs Erik Rosen (or anyone above 1000 rating) up to the point where I can capitalise on the gambited pawns? Absofuckinglutely not.

[@deltalima6703]

Jesus what a beating. Eric had nothing from the moment he played that dodgy opening.

[@Hattori_Hanzō_侍]

Eric has been real quiet since this dropped

[@nyc6769]

My brain must be fried I’m not able to follow it’s too much

[@user-qsdf9br3e]

When you search "Stafford Gambit" its literally all Eric Rosen videos my as well change the name to the Rosen Gambit

[@sgower414]

The difference between me and Hikaru is that he is Hikaru and i am *not*.

[@Samuftie]

Stafford gambit is not playable, but it makes the game so much fun. much like the king's gambit.

[@thesteve4235]

Tldr, you beat it by playing with 100% accuracy for the whole game.

[@apexm4576]

I completely stunned

[@al97093]

Not as much as the Stafford was crushed, it is just Eric got overplayed

[@aluminiumknight4038]

I like to play f3 on move 5, it's approved by the engine and very confusing for the opponent

[@mfoulks]

After much consultation w my 900-1000 ranked morons, we conclude that this was, in fact, NOT the single worst explained tactic in chess history. Fun fact: If I play a 3/2 game immediately after watching HN, my ranking skyrockets well into the 1100s. Sadly, this Naka Power has about a 30 min shelf life.

[@hashcr]

im not sure if you prooved the Stafford Gambit doesnt work.. or that no gambit will ever work when a barely 2300 player goes against an elite 2800+ supergm as you 😂 youll simply trade all pieces and capitalize on the gambit advantage..

[@ghoulnaruto2795]

When you r so early that the video is still loading...

[@babstra55]

why did eric play b5 instead the h5 we normally play against this h3 line? not that hikaru would fall for the normal cheapos, but b5 isn't what stafford players usually aim for. was there some weird stockfish-busting b5-line from jonathan schrantz or something like that?

[@NoobSharkey]

I forgot the origins but its another move that can also be very tricky and surprise people since more people would know the h5 line instead

[@chessloverontwitch]

Can you make a video on Crushing the Morra Gambit?

[@barddz4646]

there's not really a way to "crush" the morra gambit, many GMs even avoid playing against it because smith morra is actually a good gambit unlike stafford

[@supremaquina]

Makta fans gotta be going low after getting their Very Evil Opening purified

[@Sayeed1601butmunchesoncurry]

Next video: The Gambit gambit, gambit

[@lonewolf0044]

Is there a problem with bishop f4?

[@OkinawaHibiLife]

i laughed at the first opening welcome back! He's Japanese and I can't understand the meaning, but his face is funny

[@AI-xi4jk]

Always nice to see cheap tricks being punished

[@dududududu6019]

nice now i beat Eric every game.

[@tisoy4ever]

Next video how to crush Levy's Caro-Kann 😂

[@GasolineLicker]

“Eric Rosen wants to know your location”

[@GasolineLicker]

@@tvens1 I know lmao

[@inweblife]

Thanks

[@Polaris_Real]

Thank you

[@d0ne91]

I got lost in the too many lines you explained and forgot what was the position before. Not very convenient for low elo (below 1000)

[@noahdavis327]

Dude he is so high dude

[@thegoodgeneral]

I love you, Hikaru.

[@Cyanispro]

Bruh my opponent saw this video

[@wolfgangbrueckl]

The King game Chess is a game that brings you to your limits to master it. I am asking myself now what ancient and Middle Age and Renaissance up to today would have been great chess players. Like Plato? Aristoteles? Archimedes? Alexander the Great? Homer? Da Vinci? Machiavelli? Such people were intelligent and Im interested in them. Chess is a game of Diplomacy and Great minds.

[@deltalima6703]

A classic error. Chess players are good chess players because they play chess, being dumb is not an issue, just be precise. Eric rosen would smash that entire list, no draws, no losses.

[@wolfgangbrueckl]

@@deltalima6703 you need exercise and experience yes but it is not the online stuff you need. Magnus is also smart for example not dumb, too

[@deltalima6703]

My favorite opponent is not considered smart at all, but if a "smart" person plays him he mops the board with them. It took me YEARS to beat him. I am his favorite opponent too. Magnus is smart, sure, kasparov taught him a lot and he played chess at a high level since he was a kid. Smart or not, Magnus would still be number 1 right now. He put in the effort.

[@tanh3018]

Welcome back everyone!

[@iiREYteoii]

Is there even a person who struggle against the staff? Lol

[@RubyEsq]

Not so evil opening

[@SickMusicForYou]

WELCOME BACK EVERYONE 😊

[@DR.Tricks1]

If i happen to fight him on chess can i use this on him

[@DR.Tricks1]

His like the swordsman on record of ragnarok who fight his enemies in his brain and look for million outcomes

[@pnsmcfluffyvantickle6374]

Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru Hikaru

[@lordwilksy]

Oh no my KZbin channel

[@Koahefficient_lovesediting]

BLAPPOS

[@jjr6929]

Instead of....a5, should black try Nd5??

[@michaelgragson2448]

Simply

[@jeremymayhem5599]

Why not? It's a free pawn