King's Gambit Opening Lecture by GM Ben Finegold

Check out Ben's Chessable courses here! www.chessable.com/author/BenF... GM Ben Finegold discusses the King's Gambit Opening, one of the oldest known openings in Chess. The King's Gambit has been played by many of the strongest players in many of the greatest brilliancies, including the Immortal Game, yet is now scarcely used by GMs worldwide.
This lecture was recorded on December 15th, 2021, in Roswell, Georgia.
01:28 Adolf Anderssen vs Lionel Kieseritsky
31:55 Boris Spassky vs David Bronstein
45:27 Boris Spassky vs Robert Fischer
54:06 Alexander McDonnell vs Louis De La Bourdonnais
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#benfinegold #chess #TheImmortalGame #BorisSpassky #BobbyFischer

[@anothercomputerguy]

"Gotcha, bitch." -Adolf Anderssen, 1851

[@sobaranski]

I’m gonna start quoting that 😂

[@shan8215]

Thanks finegold you helped increase my rating over the time I been watching you by 5. I used to be 800 and now I’m 805. Whole 5 was because of you !

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

Good job mate :D

[@thestonecold96]

If you donate on ben’s stream you might even move to 806!

[@shan8215]

@@thestonecold96 I have heard donations help :D

[@leadnitrate2194]

@@shan8215 the more you donate, the more money Ben has

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

This is not possible because at your level you don't gain or lose 5 points for games

[@pseudocoder78]

I just want to say, I told at least 4 of my coworkers today, "trying is the first step to failure". Thanks Ben, for helping me inspire in the workplace.

[@werderlebenslang4576]

I'm so happy that the lectures are back. GM Finegold's the GOAT.

[@pschneider1968]

Yes Sir, he is!

[@sanelprtenjaca9147]

Agree. I adore him, he make my day much more enjoyable.

[@lostimpanis]

YESSS

[@ichhabahnung]

I love these videos

[@anosmianAcrimony]

It's true, you know

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

Time for netflix to put out a brand new show titled "King's Gambit", picturing the meteoric decline of a white male grandmaster, battling his urges to be vegan and only drink Perrier. Will they do it? The answer is fries.

[@VWabhijit]

Only true finegold fans will get this!

[@brssnj54]

Wow, truth hurts

[@Takrezz]

Just a terrible idea... terrible!

[@HughMorristheJoker]

Very suspicious

[@thomas6837]

This is one extremely funny comment.

[@benjaminsmythe8967]

That jazz-piano opening soothes my soul knowing what's to come.

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

Pure class!

[@mattrogersftw]

Truth hurts

[@Tx66]

I do miss the previous jazz solo though

[@bernie4366]

This video is typical of every Finegold video I watch. I didn't learn much about specific lines in the King's Gambit, but I spent an hour being thoroughly entertained and immersed in chess culture and history. Well worth the time spent.

[@richardsimon4135]

"This is considered to be the greatest game of all time .... by people who aren't very good." 🤣🤣🤣 This is why I watch Ben.

[@scottscheule]

Can’t overstate how much I enjoy your lectures.

[@SelfReflective]

Can't overstate how much I hate calling games between Rufus and Doofus as "immortal".

[@SelfReflective]

"McDonnell. M-C-D-O-N-N-E-L-L I heard he had a farm. And on that farm, he played the King's Gambit!" - so silly, but it made me laugh.

[@johnz6977]

Ben has no idea some random guy often falls asleep at night to the sweet / calming sounds of Ben’s lectures. Truth hurts.

[@sameash3153]

Me rn

[@davido4263]

Me too 😴😴🌜

[@at7915]

Me but can't fall asleep because too interesting

[@Princesspony252]

Thank god you're doing more of these videos, I was very worried you weren't after the chess center closed.

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

@Professorfart (great name by the way) I didn't know the chess centre had closed - so no more listening to Ben making jokes at the expense of small children anymore - shame - lol!!

[@akorthouwer]

Why did it close tho

[@ChaBoiNeil]

I thought they sold it to someone else.

[@gabeop9615]

​@@akorthouwera pawn moved forward? 😂😂😂

[@951genni]

"McDonnell hard a farm, and on that farm, they played the Kings Gambit" I died.

[@ClassicPass_]

Finegold doing the Kings Gambit!? Yes please!

[@dannygjk]

10 moves into the King's Gambit: GM: I have no idea what's going on. Class player: I got this.

[@joeybradshaw7109]

I play kings gambit in blitz and worked up to 1900... when I am in a heated game not down at least a piece or 2, I am saying to myself "hell yeah"

[@Royalchess1]

GM Finegold, At 17" into your lecture/dissertation I've decided you are VERY listenable. What a bargain! Of course, this lecture is the first such that I've chosen to listen to, and I've listened to a few such presentations, and I'm adding this to my file of KING'S GAMBIT presentations. Actually, I'm creating a playlist of such topics for resources for the trilogy of the history of chess that I'm writing.

[@matthewgalicia1101]

Ben sort of yelling the whole time is hilarious lol. Thanks for the lesson!

[@ryankelly5038]

King's Gambit is perfect for a pub/bar name

[@barranquillarespondetv2512]

As well as Great cocktail name

[@scottscheule]

King’s Gimlet perhaps?

[@OmneAurumNon]

I'm so glad these lectures are back :)

[@trent797]

So glad these lectures are back!

[@devinmoran59]

Thank you do a part 2. Why not, this was great

[@tyrano1982]

I was searching for info on king's gambit, thanks a lot I love your videos!

[@Tx66]

Ben, you are an outstanding teacher. I thoroughly enjoy your lectures (and so does everyone here apparently)!

[@ALCATRAAAZZ]

Thank you for the advice, will prepare this for my OTB games

[@bogdanpancencu9709]

Happy for comeback, Sir ! Love You !

[@Mr5022840]

Always look forward to your lectures ben.... excellent teacher

[@danielcrase]

These are so timeless.

[@ukdirector85]

As always fascinating insider knowledge, and promoting awareness of great players of the past

[@nsiderultimaseth]

This was a great lecture. I do wish we had seen some more recent games, but it IS the King's Gambit so...

[@raphaelhudson]

There are plenty of recent games. He just chose some of the most famous. For some recent notable super GM wins as white you could look at - see Ivanchuk v Peter Leko 2020, Ivanchuck v Giri 2013, Ivanchuk v Ding Liren 2016, Nepomniatchi v Firouzjja 2021, there were a number of notable draws in the london chess classic too a few years before that. Nepomniatchi has an expensive course on chessable on the kings gambit where he looks at more of his games. But the analysis is not helpful for beginners. If you want someone modern who played it as a main weapon Alexei Fedorov played it against every super GM under the sun from the 90s to about 2004, his last game was a draw against Carlsen. Carlsen himself has played it sometimes but his last notable game in a tournament he played some crazy line where the king goes to E2 and lost to Ding Liren. Simon Williams has a number of courses on it too, and I honestly find Simon's analysis to be more helpful than nepo.

[@ethereal3679]

Thank you so much for the opening lecture, Benedict Goldstein! This really helped me increase my rating.

[@JoeyVictory]

Lectures are back!

[@tennisjiujitsu]

You got me into chess again Grand Master Ben! Thank you!

[@mi.tsiklauri]

The best chess teacher on his chair! ❤️

[@SeddincY]

27:28 "this was the first instance ever, of someone saying I got you bitch" Man, that line just go me down rolling on the floor laughing. Comedy and chess? What more could i ask for.

[@hvitekristesdod]

Still the most entertaining chess commentator out there!!

[@VogueWave]

Great stuff man!

[@wesleythomas9131]

Go Ben!! Love your lectures!

[@joeybashaw3909]

Good stuff, thanks!

[@kantsus]

Thank you!

[@conradgonzalez1570]

Thank you for helping me GM Ben!!!

[@jordanmcmorris5248]

This was one of the first chess lessons I ever watched

[@wwcj0000]

Ahh yeah! time to go blunder a few 5+3 with the Kings gambit. (really enjoyed this GM Finegold)

[@fess04]

this is absolute gold!

[@dreamshakejake3736]

Cool how he took the time at the end to answer that dudes question. Go Ben!

[@scottieb6442]

Ben’s such a chill dude

[@loganmyall660]

I really, really like 10 minute chess. The clock is an absolute weapon. I find myself winning games with far less time than my opponent left, and usually when I lose I have more time.

[@gentrysalmon6214]

This humor is fantastic, just what I need to keep intrested

[@groovyhassle9934]

It’s always extemporaneous When you are good at something, it’s always extemporaneous

[@jacopopiccirillo]

hey Ben just wanted to say thank you. If I know how to play chess "decently" is 90% merit of your lessons. Thank you!

[@SuperAWaC]

thanks to this lecture my rating went from 3 to 1. that means i am #1

[@noahz]

Have been waiting for this lecture for a long time! Thank you 🙏

[@SCthatsMe]

Nice ty GM Ben

[@ahrrydepp493]

Man i love your lectures alot

[@drithligh]

*a lot

[@MajinRixch]

"So he played Ng8... obviously setting up for the next game"

[@lukacalov1988]

Fun fact: Boris Spassky never lost in Kings gambit

[@xilpes6254]

Well I have too

[@andriyandriychuk]

The Kasparov Karpov variations video was so good

[@pepefrogic3034]

BENs lectures are the best!

[@NikhilShirolkar]

great video

[@alfredMonty]

10:43 "and Ke2 gets mated probably or worse" 😆

[@thesnackbandit]

"Trying is the first step to failure" So inspirational

[@thesnackbandit]

12:57

[@Dessan01]

The b5 move in the Anderssen / Kieseritsky game is known as “Bryan’s Counter-Gambit” or at least that’s what I’ve known it by for the last 30 years.

[@propagandacritic5511]

Great music track at the beginning!

[@kristianfagerstrom7011]

I would love to see a King's gambit at the 2750+ level, sadly I don't think I ever will.

[@cristianandrei5462]

I think hikaru played it otb, if I remember correctly he played the variation where he sacs the knight on f3.

[@dwaynekeenum1916]

Judit polgar kinda

[@williamstockdale9101]

Good explanation of the Botez gambit!

[@dimas2672]

Ok first time I say you on chess tv late night / it was ok - it’s different - now I’m convinced you are the best chess video dude. Strange

[@burningspirit7874]

im learning the kings gambit thats for sure

[@Hyppotalamus]

I always learn so much watching these lectures. Now if i only could apply this knowledge in game i wouldnt suck so much.

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

Thats the hard part, seems so easy when it's explained well like this, much harder to apply in own games though!

[@caiosilva8202]

This is way passive learning is not good in chess, want to learn and apply on your games? So you got do your own work

[@dashyz3293]

55:32 I analysed this with SF14 NNUE, and it said LaBourdannais played literally perfect except for 2.f4 and 5.Nc3, which were still book(for our time).

[@levit4jesus]

At 52:35 (Spassky - Fischer) Bf6 also looks like a move, to possibly help with the overworked bishop, but also looses (it) after e.g. ...Qd6.

[@andriyandriychuk]

My fav chess blogger!

[@YDeLaFayette]

Thanks Ben for the lecture on one of my favorite openings. I would like to see you analyze a game where black wins though. To make a suggestion: Carlsen - Ding Liren comes to mind. That to me is the closest thing to Fischer's famous quote "it loses by force", but I have no idea what's so lost by default about being down a pawn. So I hope that's somehting you could explain in a follow-up lecture, or even a short video. Thanks for all the great content from Europe

[@adamanonymous6885]

I know you want more detail than this, and I would agree it would be helpful to hear a full explanation from a GM level player, but broadly speaking, the issue with being down a pawn is that if the rest of the game proceeds with even trades, eventually you are most likely lost by force (with a few rare cases being a draw). This means that being down a pawn is essentially a ticking clock on your chances to win the game. You HAVE to either reclaim an equal standing by winning the pawn back, or win the game before all the pieces come off.

[@jonjones5092]

@@adamanonymous6885 It's not rare at all for a pawn down draw, 1 pawn can often stop 2 and one minor piece vs piece and pawn is also frequently a draw. Trading down past a certain point kills the advantage.

[@VARMOT123]

both danya's and yours king's gambit lecture was posted on the same day

[@Eidenhoek]

19:05 Okay so that hurt, but like...it's such a *beautiful* game though. Anderssen and the romantic era just has some beautiful looking games!

[@samuelfelton6158]

That first mate was filthy.

[@Kingfish44755]

your music is awesome!

[@AC-sk7uv]

18:28 "he literally doesn't care" chat, he doesn't care. no, chat, no..no like literally he doesn't care. Love the subtle Hikaru reference!!

[@David-tm9wr]

Ben lectures on King's Gambit? Is this an early birthday gift?

[@anybodykill6666]

Missed this content.

[@hunterxg]

Yeah my favorite opening

[@poitevinpm]

These games are insane!

[@VWabhijit]

Ben Finegold's the best lecturer on the circuit.

[@jeffreyfisher3115]

Fischer published an article called “A Bust to the King’s Gambit” in 1961. Would’ve liked GM Feingold to have opined on that, maybe he has in some other video.

[@amSportsPicks]

oh man that "gotcha bitch" was funny

[@fingerprince_]

Great stuff, glad the lectures are continuing despite the club closing. Much prefer proper lectures to streams crowded by Twitch chat (terrible)

[@madhavsanap6690]

Club closed ? Why ?

[@robertomariani626]

@@madhavsanap6690 With covid around it was costing too much to maintain it, they were actually losing money from it

[@PauloRicardo-fz9gx]

My wish came true!

[@lorefox201]

"it was the first reported instance of someone screaming GOTCHA B7_€&!" lol I died

[@lorefox201]

"the opponent doesn't know how to handle it he can't handle the truth" 🤣

[@zakesters]

So, around 25:15, I was under the mistaken impression that white had 'mate in two with Nc7, so I was surprised when he pushed the e pawn. Going back to check, I then realized the knight defending e7 was the problem with my idea, so the checkmate eventually happening on e7 after removing that knight via a queen sacrifice was _incredibly_ gratifying to see.

[@deliveryboij2413]

Goo lectures!

[@Baker-qr4pf]

GO Ben!

[@justchessminiatures1167]

What the devil possessed me to reply 1. ... e5?? I compltely forgot that Spassky, like Spielmann in the past, very much likes to play the King's Gambit. --David Bronstein

[@NeoXSpirit]

Happy birthday Jesse !

[@ronsenyor5996]

"It's not finite it's infinite ... Hard to understand on a finite board" LOL!!!!

[@ArthurCravan-pr3bh]

Nice shirt! Go Ben

[@HeathenThrone]

@19:00 - hilarious.

[@scotthjackson5651]

"You guys forgot them before and after you saw them, and while you were watching them"

[@ronaldtlale5132]

Good!! Good!!

[@wjstephens4654]

Thank you! I’ll be making a contribution on twitch.

[@griffinbur1118]

hell yeah

[@merluzacongelada5361]

Are the new lectures going to feature Grandmaster Ken West?

[@pullt]

That shirt was certainly a choice.