Igor Smirnov vs Hikaru Nakamura (MISSED MATE IN 1) 😱

Learn 3 Ways To Improve Your Chess Results
FREE Masterclass ► chess-teacher.com/masterclass
Take Your Chess Skills To The Next Level With High-Quality Courses
Learn here ► online.chess-teacher.com/
💰💲 Join the RCA Affiliate Program, promote our courses, and get 50% commission - chess-teacher.com/partnership/
🔹 When Drunk Magnus Carlsen Challenged Me To A Chess Game - • When Drunk Magnus Carl...
♛ Find the complete game between Igor Smirnov and Hikaru Nakamura in this blog-post - chess-teacher.com/igor-smirno...
In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov analyzes his chess game against Hikaru Nakamura. Igor played his favourite 1.b3 chess opening as White and Hikaru responded very solidly.
It was a really interesting game with a rollercoaster of emotions. In the middlegame, Igor sacrificed his pawn to launch a crushing attack against Hikaru's king which forced Nakamura to give up castling.
Hikaru defended really well as Igor says "I respect him for that. He never backs down and creates nasty tricks even in completely lost positions". And that is exactly what happened in the game; yes, Igor missed two checkmate in 1 moves at one point.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
► Chapters
00:00 GM Igor Smirnov vs Hikaru Nakamura
01:18 Don't just react to your opponent's plans
02:38 Igor's pawn sacrifice idea
04:20 Hikaru plays Kf7 instead of castling
05:35 Pawn sacrifice against a pawn sacrifice
07:37 Hikaru's strong defense
09:31 Hikaru goes all out with his attack
11:19 Igor almost checkmated Hikaru's king
13:03 Igor missed two mate in 1 moves
13:43 The pre-move drama
📗 Free chess courses - chess-teacher.com/rca-freebies/
#IgorNation #HikaruNakamura #Nakamura #Hikaru #ChessGame #ChessGames

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

💡Register to GM Igor Smirnov's FREE Masterclass "The Best Way to Improve at Chess INSTANTLY" - chess-teacher.com/masterclass 💲Join the RCA Affiliate Program, promote our courses, and get 50% commission - chess-teacher.com/partnership/

[@scotblust5390]

That's pretty cool! I really enjoyed how you walked us through each move, explaining your thinking process.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it informative and enjoyed the walkthrough.

[@nurselamawol9204]

Beating Naka is great achievement.

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

He’s really stepped his game up recently too. To beat him in blitz is great

[@aminesosa8676]

Not that much of an achievement Hans Niemann beat him when he was just an IM

[@lucid3563]

@zilla5749 don’t argue with the unreasonable 😪

[@lucid3563]

@@aminesosa8676 especially since Hikaru is world no. 2. Not an accomplishment at all…

[@pauld8379]

He's easy

[@woodenfences]

Thank you for sharing the game with insightful commentary. That even a GM can miss the obvious mate in one is also instructive.

[@Dan_Moller]

Makes me feel a little better about my incredibly disappointing blunders on winning games. Although I did see both mates in one immediately here.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Ha ha yes!

[@josephsalmonte4995]

07:40 Hahaha You KNOW you're a badass when you credit Hikaru for defending well against you 😂

[@aminesosa8676]

He seems to be a little afraid to diss Hikaru, I really don't like that in him!

[@josephsalmonte4995]

@@aminesosa8676 Igor is always super respectful. I like that.

[@aminesosa8676]

@@josephsalmonte4995 Yeah.. but there should be an exception for Hikaru..

[@josephsalmonte4995]

@@aminesosa8676 Yeah, I dislike that clown too lol. Far too arrogant & whiny

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 GM Igor Smirnov vs Hikaru Nakamura 01:18 Don't just react to your opponent's plans 02:38 Igor's pawn sacrifice idea 04:20 Hikaru plays Kf7 instead of castling 05:35 Pawn sacrifice against a pawn sacrifice 07:37 Hikaru's strong defense 09:31 Hikaru goes all out with his attack 11:19 Igor almost checkmated Hikaru's king 13:03 Igor missed two mate in 1 moves 13:43 The pre-move drama

[@beybaldes2172]

After Kg6 Qe6 Kg7 Kn×d5 with discover attack after Kh7 Qf7# 11:37

[@oldhamegg]

I was going to say it was very refreshing to see a GM miss mate in 1 like I do all the time but then I realized this was bullet and I would be lucky to past move 6 against most players.

[@967mviews2]

Thanks for sharing your game with Naka. Love your sacrificed rook and despite you missing mate in one, a deserved win thats for sure. Keep up the great work Igor! 🇬🇧

[@henrypham3725]

Great job Igor. I enjoyed the game between you and Hikaru and commentary.

[@Mrpopperer]

Love your content Igor, as instructive and humorous as always❤

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks ❤

[@BrianArrowood]

I've watched your videos for awhile. You seem like a great guy with a genuine love of chess and helping others improve at chess. Thank you very much for sharing your passion with the world.

[@iceicebaby6980]

Taking a queen is way more fun than M1. really. I'm sure Naka saw your mate, wanted a quick death, but you made him suffer and inflicted a lifetime of nightmares. lol. You are great, he is a legend, and chess is fun.

[@alfredMonty]

Congrats on your win! Thank you for all your videos. They are helpful.

[@ytth439]

Big congratulations

[@kayasper6081]

You're a brilliant chess promotor and a real good player. So you missed a mate in one, two times?! And you dare to show that to the world? I will consider to buy your course, I can learn so many things from you! Thanks for the video.

[@MOORE4U2]

When you see mate in 1, look for better.

[@kayasper6081]

@@MOORE4U2 That's the real chess spirit! 😂

[@newyorkslim2001]

Very engaging and fun, as always.

[@davidjames149]

great win! nice to see that even GM's miss easy mates in 1 sometimes

[@tms1718]

Enjoyed this,,,do you have any more of your chess games? I really enjoy your games

[@theexaminer4784]

Congrats sir proud of you 👏👏👏👏

[@nickyork8901]

very interesting, well played

[@michaelwatkins8871]

Congrats! That was an exciting game. Thanks for sharing your thought process.

[@rustamgizzatullin3495]

Igor, thank you very much for your videos, they are amazingly useful developing our chess skills. 👍

[@falkeborg9432]

Your videos are genuinely helpful and enjoyable. Thank you!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thank you!

[@hanyshawky1467]

The missed checkmate in one is really upsetting. I feel you 😂

[@MetropolisChess01]

Love the video and also love the opening also very tricky that's why it is nice

[@MarvinHuber_KSP]

Very cool game, thx for showing you own games!👍

[@groundcontrolgainesville4841]

HE SACRIFICED THE ROOOOOOOOOOOK!!!

[@somakarpati9847]

Well played! I cannot even imagine what is it like to play against one of the greatest players with such low time. Could you make a video about the dutch defense? I think its a unique opening and has lot of potential, but I dont realy see anyone play it. Anyhow, keep up the good work!

[@sachinbelapure5660]

Congratulations sir🎉

[@adzaman9291]

Congrats master

[@user-wr9qe1fs7h]

Great sir.can you please post videos like this explaining chess games

[@yairdvora871]

Great game!

[@josephsalmonte4995]

Well done Igor. Nicely done mate 👏

[@deanepeterson9286]

Hey Igor. I just noticed this video from a few months ago. Even though a bullet game, given that Nakamura is a great all-around player and super deadly at bullet, beating him was a significant achievement. It also gives hope to the rest of us lower-rated players to see that even very talented GM's can also occasionally miss an obvious move (the one-move mates on two different moves). That was an interesting game, and as always, your commentary was excellent. Thank you for another nice video, and congrats on this impressive victory!

[@ChristianSoschner]

That was fun to watch

[@zarron221]

Wen your under pressure, you miss the moves! Thanks for the videos nakama, friend Shalom!

[@brass4235]

Wtg Igor! Been a big fan of ur content for a long time. Glad to see that beat that cocky GM

[@Igttfts]

I only just came across this video after watching many created by you. I probably found it the most compelling I’ve seen that you’ve done (and that’s a lot! I’m signed up for your course). Perhaps because you have personal ’skin in the game’ made it so? Who knows, but I’m convinced that the moves and the thinking behind them will stay with me. So, maybe more analysis of your own games would be equally compelling. . . and not just the one’s you won!!!!

[@GabrielePantano-hx4ui]

Omg congratss!! With 1. b3 ^_^ Still using only that and the czech pirc, went up 200 more points since last time (now 1600+) but my winrate dropped from 74% to 61% ahah

[@jaybingham3711]

Playing up to peer level play for your strength (whatever that may be...1600 or otherwise) necessarily has all players destined to gravitate no higher than around 60 percent. Any skewed win-rate in lead-up to that is inconsequential and best ignored since it's just an artifact of the process experienced by all who are serious about the game.

[@andrewcrane5105]

You and him are my favorite chess commentators, so this was such a treat to watch ❤

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

❤

[@amjadmtashar6806]

Thank you

[@tabby7189]

What makes this even more interesting is that Nakamura plays 1. b3 himself.

[@Bill_Sawyer]

Thanks Igor. I would like to see you play more players. If possible. Thanks. Nice game.

[@bangkok_as_is]

congrats on your win, man! wonder if you had the chance to play with kasparov?

[@defaulted9181]

This Nakamura guy seems pretty good, nice.

[@amcds2867]

Great explanation.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Loki087]

What a great game!

[@yuezhao4576]

Hi, is it a good idea for white to play NB5 at 6:54 to fork queen and pawn at D6? Thanks！

[@MissLorenstein]

Many many congrats 🎊🍾🎈🎉

[@wisdom7564]

Please share most of your games

[@cmdmd]

Dear Igor; Life poses many challenges. You have helped me become a better chess player, I dare say, even a more mindful player. Subscribing to your channel had given me a new challenge. I will start a new challenge that will distract from chess a bit, Formula 4 motor racing, but I’ll continue to visit your channel diligently. Thanks to you, I reached my modest milestone of reaching 1800 rating in puzzles, I owe that in part to you. Thank you. I mean it That said: I am so proud to hear you managed to win against Hikaru Nakamura, that’s a grandiose achievement and we are all delighted to hear it. We especially appreciate that you are so gracious in victory. We celebrate with you! -Carlos , Florida, USA.

[@keeganrichards3163]

my guy💪

[@HARSHPLAYSC6]

Just watched your wins against fabi and now nakamura. Just amazing looks like you have excellent control on your nerves and have a good mindset and not feel so nervous. Can you give me some tips ti control my nerves during a game or some psychology tips. Or just make a video on that topic

[@techeteri]

Great game, worth rewinding few times, funny and interesting!

[@kasialotnik2864]

i wonder how much time u had at this point when u missed this simple mate , very incredible u missed it , thx for video

[@twentyrothmans7308]

Ouch! It was fun to watch, that's the main thing.

[@sneakerhead4770]

When u have mate in 1 look for better

[@darrylkassle361]

Great achievement beating one of the best if not the best in the world. . That will also really help validate your courses and give people the confidence to buy them. This is the best marketing you could ever have beating the elite. You are the man Igor!!!

[@BlaqRaq]

GG. It’s hard to win every game, anyway. But that was a strong showing.

[@themostunlucky7015]

nice

[@TheExstud]

@11:36 I think there's a forced checkmate if you had played Qe6 instead of taking the bishop, Bf5, Rg1+, Kh7, Qf7+, Kh8, Qxf6+, Kh7, Qg7#

[@woundedsoulgaming3549]

Even i was able to see that mate in 1...but i respect you're in pressure of time and all other things...that i am not facing........❤

[@Chunda8]

Yep, at 12:50 Qg4# I'm pretty sure.

[@hosseinmohamadi1888]

Nice..

[@dry5555]

I'm kind of glad to see Igor miss those moves because I would have missed them too even with more time. Happens to the everyone. That said, I'm glad he won too. He played a great game.

[@jdewolfe5]

Perhaps the tendency to intentionally avoid the obvious move led to that.

[@vladrileynavilys]

congrats on the win, you wont miss these checkmates again ; )

[@andersjonsson8403]

Wow! Great Congratulation Igor! What a Great Win! 😊👍♟

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks!

[@stevelenores5637]

What were the time controls for the game?

[@Neodynium.the_permanent_magnet]

Bullet, it seems

[@pawnpusher]

Now I don't feel bad for missing mates in 3 moves in blitz!

[@KOHTAOMURDERSDEATHISLAND]

👍✅ Nice!

[@spghose2437]

GM Igor could pin the Hikaru's bishop by queen F3 and start infiltrating around king which often he taught us. Surprisingly it didn't happen as he preferred to pounce on strategies of moving queen to seventh rank rather than tactics. However, can't understand why did he miss h6? He missed it for not once, but twice! Can we figure out how really our brain works in blitz! However, love to see GM Igor wins atleast as he is our most favorite teacher. it is fascinating how our teacher played, attacking more than even Magnus Carlsen could do!

[@hiya5357]

congrats on the win

[@user-jq6rx5vv6q]

Well done 👏

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thank you 😁

[@kwokatsooff]

Anna cramling, hikaru, Magnus, Gotham, agadmator I love their videos but you might be my fav and im so glad you achieved this win even tho we know hikarus in a different league!

[@totosuryono2041]

Mantab..

[@Chunda8]

Heh- Hikaru at 10:40, playing football this would be called "Student Body Right."

[@MarioMichaels]

This was a great game even for bullet

[@ruslanbedoev9264]

well that makes me fell better about myself hahah😂🙃

[@Chunda8]

Your online elo should've gone up a noticeable amount, Hikaru is like 32 something online with the main account. Must've been Titled Tuesday?

[@jozefhavjar]

Igore care

[@24stakaman]

pgn of the game somewhere?

[@bomberbg1249]

Game of thrones

[@Chunda8]

Even though you won by flag, this position at the end is very winning for White and I think not possible to swindle. You would've definitely converted it, it counts for sure.

[@hsuilungmarcdacascos4079]

I wonder how such talented player like missed that checkmate.!! Maybe because it was against Nakamura

[@Mallor998]

Such a great idea to take super GM out of his opening prep :D

[@delboy9234]

You deserved the win, Igor. No need to be modest.

[@Chunda8]

GOOO Igor!!! Yes!! I'm a huge Naka fan, but sometimes he could use a little slice of humble pie. It builds character and you are a WAY better teacher than he is.

[@geoche2]

How?!

[@jaesonrosa4616]

you miss the Qxg4+ then mate in next move

[@bucante21]

good

[@harper626]

can't believe that Igor missed those 3 checkmate moves. I'm about 1200 and I saw them instantly.

[@mahyarrezaeiamiri7150]

he had like 3 secends and so or like 4 secends if he trys to find the checkmate he will lose on time

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

💡Register to GM Igor Smirnov's FREE Masterclass "The Best Way to Improve at Chess INSTANTLY" - chess-teacher.com/masterclass 💲Join the RCA Affiliate Program, promote our courses, and get 50% commission - chess-teacher.com/partnership/

[@shreshth691]

I am from India and I wanted to buy your courses on chess but it's too expensive if we convert in INR.

[@khalidtourham3815]

The check mate was very clear

[@antonioa.jepkoko4588]

YESS 1.b3!! 🎉

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

🎉

[@roi2671]

😮

[@uanto]

Did you missed two checkmates in one? Now I am not feeling so bad! 😅

[@ItIsYouAreNotYour]

Great play Igor! I can't believe you missed that checkmate though...twice!! You must have got too excited having him in such trouble, along with the time. It shows that any 'GM' is capable of beating another GM. I guess the super star ones just have such a mental advantage and some intangibles that can't be taught. I feel like people lose to Magnus before the game even starts.

[@harry011984]

I like you Igor Smirnov. You are a good lad.

[@Edjones-yf6xk]

Russians like Igor are chess legends!