Hippo Defense Gets Me NATIONAL MASTER TITLE!

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[@WalterReade]

The Rwanda Hippo needs to be a Hippo line that you invent. Congrats on the massive accomplishment!

[@fritzgw7094]

Hey hey hey Congratulations man! Wow ! Next goal FM that is not impossible. I am eyeing for CM hopefully I can improve better through your videos.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you! And true that! I'll have to do some research on how to reach it!

[@craigtimmons6907]

Awesome man! 6-0 at that level is no joke

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks!! I appreciate that Craig 🙏🏽

[@teacherlee3527]

Marvelous!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks!

[@samagoat]

congrats dude, i love the videos

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks!! Glad to hear you're enjoying the content.

[@hata6290]

Bros got that dreamy ahh voice

[@allaboutthegyro]

LET’S GO!!!!!

[@TheChessGiant]

🙏🏽🦛🙏🏽🦛

[@eco4145]

queenside white .. great

[@rayflutemakerman6094]

Way to go Solomon. What a great example you are to so many folks. Lot of hard work and determination. Most excellent!!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!! I will give you a call back soon!

[@sweaterkev]

What a way to start my day! As the leader of The Hippo Army I always knew you were going to catch the NM title. I am however saddened by the fact you are taking time off from OTB tourneys since your recaps were (are) something I so looked forward to. Congrats on attaining your life goal!!!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you! Appreciate it the kind words 🙏🏽🦛

[@bigslick75093]

Now that would be a cool name for a rock band -“Hippo Army”😃

[@pagmatic]

Congrats!!! It used to take 60 moves to win a game. Now it's down to 25-30. You're a great teacher

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!! Appreciate it.

[@iverson7394]

Congrats bro! That's a big achievement!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks a ton my guy.

[@brycelingle]

Congratulations, Solomon! This is a different account than what I used to watch you on previously, but you were my first private lesson I'd ever had. You deserve the title! Keep up the great work :)

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Bryce! Hope you've been well! Thanks for the kind words, and I hope you've been well!

[@Ebobster]

Congrats! Well-deserved NM title… & heck 6-0 tourney victory is a perfect sweep! After your rest hope you take a stab at earning a FIDE master title & then onward to IM as frankly IMHO you are easily already IM strength. Totally agree that the amorphous Hippo structure demands an excellent eye for tactics and application of chess principles, and patience (so as not to open up the center prematurely). These first two games saw your opponents self destructing pretty early… but lesson is you gave the opportunity to do so, with flank actions.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks for the encouragement and insight. I appreciate it. It's interesting because I'm already feeling the tug to go for FM... but I still want to take a breather and focus on KZbin for a bit. Thanks and I'll try and keep y'all posted.

[@Ebobster]

@@TheChessGiant Yes, indeed, rest up & enjoy that you succeeded in becoming a national master. Setting a difficult goal & succeeding is a pleasure itself too be relished. Heck, your 6-O tourney sweep itself is a success. Your march towards other titles & success can wait until you’re ready. Cheers!

[@pianxtremeyt]

Oh congrats!! Now you’re like me lol except you actually ARE still interested in chess and I’m not anymore. ❤❤😅😅😊😊

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!!! And haha!! 😂😂😂

[@glubes]

Happy for you giant. You inspired me to take chess back. I hope you don't stop there and continue your road to FM

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks I appreciate it and I'm stoked to hear you got into chess again. A great game!

[@lionelbowhunter468]

Hi Solomon, i'm so happy for You: Congrats Bro!!!! Greetings fron France :)

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks Lionel! Appreciate it my friend 🙏🏽

[@drscruffylupagus]

Congratulations. 😘

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[@SlashBurner]

Can't wait to see you in titled Tuesday

[@TheChessGiant]

I can't wait to play in it!!

[@carlbelli8264]

Great job ! NM with THE most under rated opening in chess .

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! And agreed on your comment concerning the most underrated opening in all of chess!!

[@edmundhilgen3795]

Congrats and great job.getting to National master .Love the hippo.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!! 🙏🏽🦛🙏🏽🦛

[@tominmo8865]

You are an NM overall, but with the Hippo opening, given whom you have beaten with it, I would say you are an IM in this opening specifically. 👍

[@AllenProxmire]

I'm playing again.gonna play the hippo 100 times

[@TheChessGiant]

Yessir! It takes work but is an absolute BEAST once mastered!

[@walterbrownstone8017]

Modern Defense: Two Knights is something I would definitely play as white. It's fun! But not so much fun if you somehow have never played it before? Lol at this rate you'll be a GM in no time!

[@oilusionistaxd]

Hey giant, is fair the fact that the creator of some opening is not really the person who in general, is a master in the same opening? Because you is so good at this opening, that you teach how to dealing with the disadvantage of it.

[@elephantheart9988]

Huge congratulations for getting the NM title!! it's a goal of mine as well. And hey I'm sure you're busy, but if you have time I emailed you two Hippo games of mine you should really check out! Loving all the Hippo content as always ^_^

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!! I appreciate that. Best of luck hitting NM! Also what's your email so I can search it up? Thanks.

[@fazzolarijames]

Congrats dude, huge milestone

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks a ton brother! Appreciate it.

[@Adwaithkrishnabl123]

Which is the best reply to d4 as black for begginers. Can anyone answer

[@TheChessGiant]

The Hippopotamus Defense.

[@Adwaithkrishnabl123]

😊

[@Adwaithkrishnabl123]

For me you are the only NM who replys to every comment on his you tube channel

[@tomas-wi8dy]

Good job! .... Congratulations! ... but I think you had the title of master earlier with Indian Attack - forgive me, that's my opinion

[@TheChessGiant]

Hahah! Ya maybe! I've never got super into the Indian Attack but it's obviously a very strong system!!

[@eliesiocorelis1733]

Congrats for your NM title ! I'm so glad for you ! Very good video also, about the hippo, with its main ideas and weaknesses. Thx and see you soon ! Salute from France

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks my guy! Glad you liked the video, hope to post more videos more often!

[@gabriellouisetti5033]

Congratulations!!! So much deserved title and so good for the Hippo defense ;) Best wishes for your games! Buona serata, good evening

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks!! I appreciate it, be well!

[@nkecskes]

Congratulations!!!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!!!

[@cesarcalderon283]

Hey!!! Congratulations man! Nos FM 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼👍🏼

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!! I appreciate it.

[@skyeruddell3196]

So proud of you! 💙

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks!

[@brlyjo]

Congrats.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks!! Appreciate it

[@walterbrownstone8017]

Yep the hippo can get you to NM. But can it get you to IM? Heheh. The skills you learned booking up on the hippo will help you learn other openings easier just like you said.

[@TheChessGiant]

That's a question right there!!!! And yep learning one area of the game helps you in others.

[@walterbrownstone8017]

@@TheChessGiant I look at a high level bullet players games and the openings have all melted together.

[@thegametwok]

Congrats man! Also great to meet up with you at the LAX tourney the other week, all the best going forward!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! And same to you!!

[@bigslick75093]

Congrats. I’m curious though about the opening. I have your Hippo course, and every time white plays Nc3, your course immediately plays a6 to prevent Nb5. But you did not play that in your game. I’m wondering why? Thx

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks!! And ya Nb5 is mainly an issue IF we are wanting to play c5... but until then... we don't need to be in a rush to play a6. However, we can always play a6 before b6 to try and see if we can get b5 in immediately. Although... usually by playing b6 and then a6... we are more sneaky in our potential b5 expansion. Also depends if bishop is on c4, as b5 gains tempo against that minor piece. Hopefully that makes sense. It's 2AM here so I'm a bit tired lol.

[@bigslick75093]

@@TheChessGiant So do you think the Hippo will be able to take you to IM level? If so, how long do you think it will take?

[@bigslick75093]

@@TheChessGiant Also, any plans for a White Hippo course? Your games as white in Chapter 8 got me interested in playing hippo as white. I’m old and my brain is a sieve, so I’m trying to learn the easiest openings. I’ve actually been learning the stonewall attack for white, which is pretty straight forward, but it’s essentially 4 different systems to learn - 1 when black plays in center of board, 1 for vs. Kid, 1 for vs. Dutch, and 1 for all else. Each requires a different variation of opening moves, So there’s a lot of variations to have to learn and practice. I’d like to find something even simpler. So I can definitely see that being able to play hippo as black and white would have so many advantages, with Essentially the same 10 opening moves as either color. I just started watching the ChessBrah speed run YT series where he plays nothing but Hippo as white and black, where he goes from 800 to 2400. Only problem is he doesn’t always play best moves and often blunders as he plays 3 minute games. And he doesn’t give as detailed explanations as you do in your videos. I’d definitely buy a White Hippo course if you made one. If you don’t have the time, then maybe you could do a series of YT vids specifically for playing as white against various ELO’s? I’d definitely support you via PayPal if you did. With your teaching skills, you could definitely become Mr. Hippo 😃

[@uzqd]

WHOOOOOOOOOOO LETS GOOOOOOOOOO COMMON CHESS GIANT W

[@TheChessGiant]

THANK YOU I APPRECIATE IT!!!!

[@roland.j.ruttledge]

Congratulations 🎉

[@alvarobastida1963]

Congrats!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@barrymcgregor6233]

Well done Sir so pleased for you❤

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you I appreciate it. Thanks for all the support.

[@_v2.0]

YOOOO, congrats dude!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks my guy!!!

[@sagestseeker]

😊🎉 I’m going to be focusing on it too. Too beat it! ❤

[@TheChessGiant]

Maybe you should start playing the Hippo!!!!!!! (lol jk I know that would NEVER happen 😂😂)

[@sagestseeker]

@@TheChessGiant In some ways I already do with my F4 closed lines. Technically I’ve seen enough of your videos to play it if I wanted too. 😅🤣🤓😭

[@dronai]

Congratulations !!!!

[@TheChessGiant]

THANK YOU!

[@evansballot]

Congratulations!!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks!!!

[@Grandcapi]

Congrats Solomon!

[@TheChessGiant]

THANKS MY GUY!

[@amlyad2633]

Congratulations!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! Appreciate it my guy.

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

Congratulations! Unfortunately Fide does not recognise national master and their requirement for Fide Master title is 2300.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you! And ya it's interesting how the different chess organizations have different titles and requirements.

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

@@TheChessGiant true, but only Fide title is valid for playing in official national and international tournaments. Fide must also add the title of expert for those players who have achieved a rating of 2200 but their threshold starts from 2300 which is FM and in my opinion this is not perfect!

[@lennyuniverse]

LESGOOOOOOO

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks my brotha. Appreciate you!

[@josefgross1493]

Congrats ❤

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!!

[@FloatingSunfish]

Congratulations on the Chess Title milestone, Solomon! 🥳🎉 I had no doubt the Hippo could get you this far! 🦛💪🏿 Here's to more great games on your chess journey!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you! I appreciate the kind words and all of the support you've been giving to my Hippo videos!

[@FarmgateCottage]

grats big guy

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you my brotha.

[@guillaumeparadis6331]

Congrats!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks!!

[@stevesawall1316]

Congrats

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!

[@raymondwandell8880]

Can't wait to see 🦛 in titled Tuesday.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!! This is in the plans!

[@MrEresatore]

Congratulations!! I am super happy for you! It's very inspiring to see that you can succeed by playing sound openings you like even if they are not mainstream. Refreshing! 🦛💪🏼

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks Robert! Appreciate this!