Italian Game: Giuoco Piano | The Sensei Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky

[@NoahPragin]

1. e4 “Believe it or not, this is a pretty serious mistake. Can anyone find a move here that is both nasty and crushing?”

[@BlanBlan19901990]

h5, I think

[@spitfire7019]

Not funny

[@amuricanmayo]

@@spitfire7019 why not

[@alexlalonde202]

@@spitfire7019 cry

[@BlanBlan19901990]

@@spitfire7019 i think it was pretty funny

[@RG001100]

Giuoco Piano is supposed to be a quiet game. What a fierce attack from an innocent-looking mistake.

[@lukastux3024]

I am still shocked about how his opponent got crushed so brutally and quickly.

[@hectoreverard7012]

The venemous

[@LeTtRrZ]

I hate Giuoco Piano because it’s so common and so suffocating. But this level of aggression blew my mind.

[@cpf2566]

The d3 line, the "Giuoco Pianissimo" (the "REALLY quiet game"), is the super slow and positional one. If you avoid that move order there's at least the potential for fireworks elsewhere in the Italian. Either from the kingside pawns being pushed, as in this game, or when one side opens the f-file for the other by capturing the bishop on e3/e6. I go back and forth on the Italian. I was getting really bored of facing it when playing e4-e5 as the black side (it feels like I see 10 Italians for every 1 Ruy Lopez or Scotch) but, more than any other opening I've looked at, it really blossoms with a bit of study. At first I found it intimidating as there are so many different possible move orders, but it doesn't demand that kind of memorisation. Italian-specific themes and principles are enough to play it as an amateur (delay castling as long as possible to take the sting out of the Bb4/Bb5 pins, don't play h3/h6 after castling for the reasons shown in this video, play for d4/d5 as White/Black, consider making luft for the other bishop on a2/a7 etc).

[@davidshatto7604]

More reasons why d4 will always be superior✊

[@danjeory3659]

The position up until Bishop back to e7 is literally all of my games at this level. From now on I'm playing Be7 too 😂

[@RG001100]

I'm at about this level. I switched up to the Danish Gambit; not in the spirit of this speedrun, but it was mentioned in a previous speedrun. The games tend to be quite sharp.

[@nickburggraaf3977]

@@RG001100 I love accepting gambits and try to crush it, but the Danish Gambit is always crushing me.

[@MyChico0]

This comes up pretty nicely after reading Irvin Chernev's logical chess, move by move. The kingside attack. He says if a castle is ruined by pushing a pawn this is the time to attack. A somewhat dated book but I found it pretty useful.

[@antoniorebelo9539]

@@MyChico0 would you recommend it ?

[@MyChico0]

@@antoniorebelo9539 I'd say Yes. But it's an old book. Basic principles still work. Stockfish might say a few lines are not so precise but I found it good for my needs. If you are going for GM level preparation i'd not advise but for a level up till 2000 I believe it to be quiet good.

[@aoe2sfgt184]

This attack is probably the most instructive one i've seen so far from you. You always show great concepts with every game, but this looked so clean and showed how to capitalize on such an innocent inaccuracy. I'm a bit scared of playing H3 myself now

[@cpf2566]

Yeah, in the Italian it's a really big deal. The whole opening revolves around the possibility of the Bb4/Bb5 pin and both sides usually delay short castle as long as possible to keep the option of stopping it with h3/h6 (because it's absolutely fine playing h3/h6 before castling and extremely dangerous after - as in this video).

[@thebcwonder4850]

@@cpf2566 where do I learn the ideas of the opening?

[@zippymax1]

This series of speedruns are sublime for a lazy player like me. I suck--but I still putz around on Lichess and also play against my kids there. I don't memorize anything; I don't learn openings; I don't do puzzles...I just bingewatch your speedrun games over and over and then play the openings and/or feebly emulate your responses. That's all I've needed to make quantum leaps. Now my children fear and revere me, as they should. Glorious. And I accidentally learn the openings without trying! Plus: of all the major YT chess analyses, yours are the greatest. Your analyses are crisp, clear, and passionate--yet utilitarian. Modern art. Only Chess Network rivals your broadcast talent--but he doesn't do these copious speed runs. I won't compare you to the other big ones--it would ruffle too many feathers--except for the obviously masterful Hikaru, whose insecure, overcompensating egomania and dismissive, condescending attitude give me nausea. I know more than him about everything but chess. But you: you are the greatest mass chess instructor in existence.

[@walterjames8230]

lmao

[@Randomsyrianfella]

The little shot at hikaru at the end there 😂 This is gold

[@dre4mz749]

Naroditsky, I give you the highest degree of respect, I have watched all of your videos, almost all of them twice, your instructive teaching and enthusiasm towards your viewers is just amazing to see. I went from 1300 to 2100 in just a year, all because of you, thanks a lot, keep up the sprit and Great fortunes are guaranteed to reach you soon.

[@papageorges6428]

hello! do you still play? I am 1400 so I hope that this is me a year from now! this gives me hope!

[@dre4mz749]

@@papageorges6428 Yes i still play, and i still watch Daniel. Watch all his speedruns fanatically and i guarantee you can do the same as me, good luck brother 😁

[@walterjames8230]

1300 to 2100 in a year ? bro you're a serious student of the game

[@dre4mz749]

@@walterjames8230 All students of Danya are in great hands.

[@FrustratedSouL_69]

I think i need help im still stuck in 700 😭

[@ryanbourque87]

Such great content. One of the main things I've taken from this speedrun and the previous one is the value of patience. I was stuck at 1400 because I would see a position like this and play similar moves up to move 8 or 9 but then just go for a belligerent attack on the king without taking a step back and thinking about calm moves like D5. Since watching these i've been cruising up to 1600 just by being more level-headed.

[@XAVargasX0206]

Opponent moves pawn one square forward Daniel: " Ok, now he just lost the game."

[@rajborkute4969]

Just came From CBI stream. Finally the much awaited Collab. You are awesome and instructive as always. Keep up the good work.

[@carsonschwertner6306]

This is such a trip to watch! It’s so fun seeing you play my mainline opening and then learning a devastating attacking sequence. Thank you!

[@nickshavermatson]

Finally a good explanation of what a "hook" is. I've heard lots of streamers talking about the hooks, Levy, Hikaru, Eric, the other Eric, but nobody ever explained it very well. Thanks!

[@alexwiththeglasses]

Yet another example of how much better basic understanding is compared to robotically following some set of general principles, even at the beginner level. This approach is something that makes GM Danya’s content distinctive.🙏

[@sakilabdullah6413]

Thank you sir 💐💙

[@Pekkozone]

Massive thanks for cranking up the audio on your videos! You are the best creator of chess content on youtube and now even the audio is loud enough for my humble audio setup aka laptop speaker.

[@ShaShaSha534]

I kid you not. This is the first video I've seen that's so instructive, so deep, that I'm actually considering making a study on it to know "if this, then what do you do?" ... "that". The amount of lethal moves he has for each scenario is terrifying! I love it.

[@Nicholas5c]

Damn that H3 didn't seem like such a blunder, but how he explains it makes so much sense haha nice

[@caius6019]

Can't wait to learn the yeezy guitar.

[@micke7]

why yeezy?

[@Johnywaynor]

Instructive, interesting, calm - nice series, keep it up! :)

[@trunghungpham9414]

That guy just got crushed. And the funny thing is, I'm 1290, and I can imagine myself getting crushed just like that guy. It sends chills up my spine rn. Chess is so scary sometimes.

[@trunghungpham9414]

Luckily I'm a d4 player so it's not gonna happen. Haha...

[@aryashetty3924]

Yeah, it was just a little inaccuracy that got converted into a losing position.

[@ethanl.1699]

@@trunghungpham9414 d4 can lead to tactically rich games while e4 can lead to boring drawish positions. It all depends on how you/your opponent plays 👍🏻

[@tuturuu6717]

I’m a 1600 and I get crushed like this 😭

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

Oh scary 😨😨. It is a fucking game

[@elijahthestudent3272]

For me as a low-rated player classical debutes are the most interesting and instructive to watch. Thanks for covering the Italian game again, that's really helpful!

[@sayafkhan748]

Thanks for this amazing video Danya ❤

[@vkaiiims]

Great as always

[@anishkelkar6434]

It is rare to see GM's teaching this well! Kudos to Daniel

[@Arsenal7Rulez]

THIS is the opening I see the most would love more of these!

[@gieaudio8762]

Thank you for this, I was struggling a bit with Italian as a black, but now I can see a few concepts I need to implement, really helpful lesson, keep on!

[@nickburggraaf3977]

Moving the bischop back with Be7 is such a nice subtle move I never thought of playing.

[@KnightToRemember]

Because all the opening principles and other “rules” you learn are more limiting than helpful, the rules that you shouldn’t move the same piece twice in the opening limit me a lot, especially in rapid games

[@scrugggs]

@@KnightToRemember i feel the same way, sometimes i consider a move, then think about all the people who say "dont move pieces twice in the opening, just develop, etc. So i miss out on a great move. I look at the engine after and im +3/4 after the move im considering, but other times Im also -1, so the advice makes sense for lower level players like us. We just have to keep playing and gather the experience to figure out when and why breaking the rules are okay

[@ells101]

Chess is really about applying and breaking heuristics in equal measure

[@iamzoone]

Love your video.

[@theolindstrom2972]

Great vid danya, this game was a masterclass

[@TheStealthPawn]

Something that scares me about 1.e4 e5 vs 1...c5 is the sheer amount of opening traps like in Scotch Gambit, Max Lange, Evans Gambit, Kings Gambit, etc where if you don't know the theory you are kind of screwed.

[@marcofrey2903]

Very true. My defenses are Petroff (Stafford in Blitz) and Scandi: Bronstein Variation. I shied away from Sicilian because, yes, there are fewer gambits but a good Morra player can really make you think and there are reams of theory to learn in the Sicilian in general. As White, I indeed play the Max Lange and Evans gambit! So fun.

[@krzysztofkolodziejczyk4335]

"Plenty of games have been won by keeping the king in the center" Even plentier have been lost by keeping the king in the center ;p

[@nickmcgarvey6463]

More plentier. Many plenties. Even plentae if you want to stretch the rules of English to the limits.

[@mikes1984]

@@nickmcgarvey6463 i like to eat fried plantain

[@joebanfield5967]

Jesus, that kingside attack was a thing of beauty. Crazy to think pushing a pawn to h5 could have such brutal results. Absolutely devastating.

[@ellison1222]

Your videos are simply perfect bro. I was roughly 800 just starting out 6 months ago. I'm only 1300 now but your videos are so incredibly helpful. Thanks!

[@realbest6528]

thank you danya -from gradmasterchess

[@BlanBlan19901990]

Thanks. I never play g5 at 3:10 because i always assume it’s weakening for black when he castles kingside. I guess a weakness of mine is clinging to the “unwritten” rules of chess 100% of the time instead of carefully analyzing the individual position and pick a good move based on the position.

[@tuhaggis]

I think because those guiding principles are so useful for when we are beginners and work well at that level, it's hard to let go of ideas that have worked well for us in the past to get us where we are. Now we have seen this pattern though, pushing the Bishop away then forking the pawn and Knight which allows us to develop our own Bishop into a great position and weaker the enemy King, we can implement it ourselves. One more new idea to add to the list :)

[@BlanBlan19901990]

@@tuhaggis Yeah. Given how often I get these positions, i will be sure to try g5 here at some point

[@johnmp1470]

Ahhh my favorite opening, the gucci panini

[@DerickMasai]

8:16 In the midst of all of THAT Danya effortlessly found d5 and explained that cryptic move perfectly. 🤯 Holy shit, you can give me that position 1000 times and 999 times I'm not even CONSIDERING the other half of the board because of the instinctual feel that white's king is too vulnerable. The more I try to improve the bigger I realize the gap actually is to those at the summit 👏👏👏

[@aryashetty3924]

Yep you are getting into the conscious incompetence stage

[@bassmanjr100]

Agree. When we got to that position I thought 'ok here is where I get stuck' then 'oh that makes perfect sense' 😁

[@ChessJourneyman]

The game was over after h3. Danya's teaching potential being spent on the trivial basics feels wrong. You can find that anywhere, but his ability to eloquently put into words complex topics, the positional insight, etc., now that's what separates Danya from the rest.

[@nickmcgarvey6463]

It may be one of the first openings everyone learns as a beginner, but I still love wielding the Italian sword.

[@MthobisiSizweNgcemu]

Danya looking like a mad scientist

[@NidusFormicarum]

Actually, in the Italian, you may consider a g5 thrust even later in the middle after you have castled kingside. That is not necessarily something that White can easily exploit.

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

Instructive info, opening thr center although attacking on one side!

[@_A-B_]

"that is totally acceptable" bad ass

[@Boubley]

Great video! Would love to see italian games when you're playing white aswell.

[@BryceRogers_]

just in time for bed. happy trails folks

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

Why not play the philidor defense if you are going to retreat the bishop anyway?

[@anngonguyenthien4638]

wait when was this recorded?

[@Polygot3]

Wow! can you imagine that a devastating attack started because of a simple move h5 . That's why he is a Gm. GG DANYA ❤️👌.

[@nathanbourquin6554]

I normally face the 4k gucci piano. So my opponent will also have both knights out and then play Bc5. I respond with Bc6 (because I don’t wanna fry my liver) and then d3. Now I’m not sure because if I respond with c6 I block my bishop. I could castle but thats a bit early. Any tips?

[@dhruvyadav7715]

how did you upload a video while being live do you have a manager 🥴

[@dhruvyadav7715]

@༒☬sakuraa☬༒ clown 🥴

[@Julz--93]

Can someone explain why h3 was such a bad mistake for white but h6 is very good for black in the Italian? Is that sort of pawn push only good for black in this opening?

[@blueberryoatmeal4009]

White has castled, Black hasn't.

[@akshatsharma5351]

Can someone please share the discord link of his Channel , i guess there is some issue with this one

[@tralx5268]

g5 g4 was brutal

[@E8oL4]

9:05 Beautiful! How do you see that?? I wish I was this good at chess..

[@alexf0101]

thanks

[@prisol]

It's Totally Devastating ! :)

[@andrew_owens7680]

Very good. I have no idea why this is the "quiet" (piano) game.

[@huntero]

Why was h3 played by the opponent?

[@Tj1597]

15 minute video on how the prophet professionally plays the Gucci Piano and serenaded his opponent into a losing position.

[@michaelwhinnery164]

Nothing complicated here !?!? This was Brilliant and brutal

[@tvens1]

This is from pretty old stream

[@hugoteixeira5183]

that e5 was definitely a gm move :)

[@luigicarzolio4587]

Perché non giocare subito Ae7 invece che Ac5 ?

[@abhijeetgore310]

Watched ur immortal game on sagar shah's stream and enjoyed it😀

[@lukastux3024]

Wow. Until now I thought that h3 was useful to deny development of the light squared bishop und prevent an annoying pin. I also thought that Be7 was passive. I have to reconsider.

[@ChessJourneyman]

Both is true, in many cases. H3 here just made no sense...

[@MthobisiSizweNgcemu]

Checkmate from the sample game was NASTY

[@skahler]

That moment when you realize that you're still not "intermediate" yet, despite the fact you've been playing 5 games a day for the past 3 years XD

[@eladmenahem2253]

damn I feel bad for this unlucky fella

[@nolim1tzzz136]

White plays Bc4 and Danya immediately checks his nationality 😂

[@nicolocadamuro9988]

Hey Daniel, go for the Evan's Gambit once! Forgotten opening

[@marcofrey2903]

Shhh. Let's keep it a secret!

[@ajaybenjamin3087]

For what Saul was to you, is what you are to many people.

[@balintccc12]

when is a pawn on h6/h3 NOT a hook? does it also work on the queen side?

[@shmurfy4971]

a hook is just a pawn that can be used for a pawn break. so if you can use that pawn to break open the position then it’s a hook no matter where it is on the board

[@fredwalter923]

Its not a "hook" when theres no king behind the hook pawn, but granted its still sorta a hook. Its not a hook when the opposing pawns on the opposite side of the board arent even there to ever grab onto the hook pawn. If your opponent castles queenside and plays a pawn in front of their king, yes that pawn becomes a hook cuz u can use ur queen side pawns to "grab" onto it. g3 g6 can also be hooks etc. Dont over think any of this, its really not that significant.

[@balintccc12]

@@fredwalter923 thank you!

[@balintccc12]

@@shmurfy4971 thanks!

[@aryashetty3924]

You should also consider your own king's position. If you have also castled same side then attacking the hook might weaken your own position.

[@stefantomislavov5613]

14:05 😂

[@theideaguy4532]

This is just complete obliteration😂😂😂

[@toucanplay6720]

Gg Danya

[@InfiniteQuest86]

This is crazy. White plays perfectly normal looking opening moves. And now the game is completely lost. Wtf.

[@robdubent]

I’m 2100 online and a decent d4 Catalan as white or pirc, Sicilian player as black…. But I think I’m about to play some e5 openings as black after this utter destruction of a game 😬🤗

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

Only 2100? Weak

[@keishandejan9670]

I just watched your stream with sagar

[@schnappsundbier2096]

gioco piano literally means play slow

[@lukastux3024]

Giouco "Piano" 😂🤣😅

[@Okyyy6666]

I am 500 and people with elo 500 also plays this perfectly

[@BrontoChess]

Awesome video 🔥 if you get time I just dropped new chess content and I’m trying to grow my channel as much as I can this year! 🔌

[@robertthiesen2687]

It would suck pretty bad to be white in this game. Just getting crushed the whole game.

[@abdullahiabdullahi2046]

I have lost so many games like this as white lmao

[@nekoizmase9]

I hoped you would play it as white.

[@tylery2291]

Daniel looks like a walking zombie lately. get some sleep orsomething.

[@xeanthomas5231]

420 yolo blaze it swag

[@SerLaama]

4.Ng5 is NOT the Fried Liver. 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 is.

[@progredior.]

take care of yourself you look very tired

[@bhargavshekhar3745]

Chess base India raid

[@r0yce]

One simple mistake like h3 cost him the game. That was super instructional.

[@chicken_1887]

Basically everyone plays the Italian style set up and its so so satisfying seeing Danya destroy someone who knows nothing about the opening