How to PUNISH Bg5 Pin on Your Knight? [Common Opening Mistake]

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🔹 Top 4 Chess Opening MISTAKES After 1.e4 - • Top 4 Chess Opening MI...
In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov will teach you how to deal with the annoying pins on your knights when your opponents play Bg4 or Bg5. You will learn the scenarios when this move is playable and when it is a bad mistake (or opening error).
Most amateur chess players play this move without a clear purpose. And sadly, most players don't know how to punish this opening mistake either. That is exactly what you will learn from this video lesson. You will also learn how to launch a devastating kingside attack on your opponent's castled king.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
► Chapters
00:00 2 Most Common Chess Opening Mistakes
00:12 Most common mistake in opening stage
00:55 How to deal with Bg5 pin on your knight?
03:06 Playing Bg4/Bg5 pin after they castle
04:21 Punishing Bg5 pin before you castle
05:48 How to find attacking moves in any position
06:09 Winning attack on the castled king
07:53 Example: Attacking the castled king
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[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

Good video. Subscribed!

[@laskerscentury6507]

6.Bg5 as such is not a mistake yet though. After 6. ...h6, White should not play 7.Bh4, but should go for 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Knd5 Qd8 instead. White typically aims for a Giocco-Piano-type setup with c3 and h3 then. Black has the bishop pair, but has lost some time, and White's knight is already on d5 rather than on b1.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

You've described a plan that a more advanced White player would use. But the majority of those who play Bg5 simply hope to take advantage of the pin (not any more 💣)

[@newyorkslim2001]

These continue to be my favorite series of chess tutorials. Very clear and applicable. Thanks

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you like them!

[@friedhelf]

I agree. 100%!

[@timothyLucasJaeger]

I don't know, man. I think calling 6.Bg5 a mistake is incorrect. After 6... h6, 7.Bh4 is the real mistake, allowing 7...g5. Instead 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nd5 should maintain a small edge for white. Still 6.Na4 may be a better try for advantage.

[@yunoewig3095]

This seems to be a common theme in his videos. He made a similar evaluation in his video on the Queen Attack. In reality, if bishop takes knight, then white is just fine.

[@I.lovepeoplebuthatepeople]

Just the theme bro even stock fish like Bg5

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Those who play Bg5 usually associate it with an incorrect plan and do play 7.Bh4 then. Those who understand chess as good as you usually don't play Bg5 in that position anyway.

[@yunoewig3095]

@@GMIgorSmirnov I frequently get the knight pin, and every single time that I challenge it my opponent takes the knight.

[@3peopleinaroom50]

​@@yunoewig3095same

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 2 Most Common Chess Opening Mistakes 00:12 Most common mistake in opening stage 00:55 How to deal with Bg5 pin on your knight? 03:06 Playing Bg4/Bg5 pin after they castle 04:21 Punishing Bg5 pin before you castle 05:48 How to find attacking moves in any position 06:09 Winning attack on the castled king 07:53 Example: Attacking the castled king

[@chumdm3]

Love this basic theory for classic structures. thanks for these vids.

[@fjpajerski]

Still very pleased with the nature and level of these videos, and how clear and effective your commentary is. Have pointed some kids at the club level to these. Still very unhappy with the absence of the cat in the background, tho. In the flood of YT chess creators, I now only subscribe to you and to Danya.

[@user-eg1bh4xw3o]

Great job, Igor. This video is very instructive! We will wait for new videos on this topic!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

I'm glad to hear from you :) Here you are kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHqpmpuZrsyeb5Y

[@silentbullet2023]

Thank you for this great lesson!

[@ZZuluZ]

Fantastic video!! Thanks!

[@CubeforFun]

This concept is very simple yet powerful! Thank you for such a profitable video!

[@saiesasrikarkommaraju736]

this is superb thank you

[@edmis90]

Great video!

[@peterk9961]

Igor, you are great!

[@jamessenior1]

This video and the other similar one with bishop out bedside knight were great for a beginner , thank you. After I started recognizing it more wins came after .

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Great to hear!

[@BobChess]

Thank you so much, This video is very useful! I will know how to punish black and be in better position.

[@rotatingearth]

wow! this was a really well explained opening mistakes. Keep it going! thank you

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you liked it!

[@AlamoCityCello]

Great tutorial! Thank you!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

🙏

[@ThoseWhoDare]

Very helpful, thanks :-)

[@elrey9648]

Could you make a video about the Catalan Opening?

[@Crowsinger]

Thank you! This seems like a great strategy to me!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad to hear it!

[@pauls5745]

g5 + g4 is strong, opening up the g file if you don't castle Kside or if White trades on f6, Black is happy to have the only dark-squared Bishop

[@pejman881]

Thanks

[@TheDandonian]

Nice video. I'm in the position every other game at 1400-1650.

[@YouGotTheFlue]

Bg5 in the first position isn’t a mistake, not even incorrect. Bushop takes knught and most continuations favor white still. 2nd line is a mistake from white

[@md.nurealam6548]

I am a beginner play for fun and spend time. I actually lost many games with this pin after I learned to castle on the short side. Thanks for explaining and I am hoping to apply the tactics.

[@ricardocairo890]

Thank you I like

[@ehudmachluf590]

Your best video so far.

[@kacperperzynski7488]

Any tips how to handle this pin after castling? Or just play around it

[@ErzTubeHD]

4:57 are you going for the long castle in this case?

[@madmanonsticks]

@1:50 can white play h2 to h4? Allows bishop a square to move to, if black trades pawns bishop is free and can re-pin the queen, and if black advances the pawn to g4 the knight can move. I feel like i'm missing something

[@cinemap3607]

You're a phenomenon..!

[@yokai3k]

My favorite continuation on that position is night g5 and then do the fried liver attack

[@jimkyle8008]

Great ideas to keep in mind.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thefyzisist]

Nice!

[@bnmeng718]

The best chess coach

[@sampleoffers1978]

I would have liked to see the full bishop retreat discussed a little. So many variations, I try to watch the speed players navigate the positions and maybe get a development instinct rather than full memorization dependence, but you show the positions and development very well. I don't play the London, everyone loves it, why dissect it further lol. Great video though.

[@Tocinos]

The pin is *very* good IF the d5 or d4 square comes as an outpost for the knight (if the C and E pawns are pushed) then whoever gets the posted knight will have an easier endgame.

[@jonasbritto]

The best chess Video tactic for beginners n intermediate I've seen and I've seen a lot...

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks Jonas.

[@ironsqee1609]

What if before they castle they move the queen up one and queenside castle?

[@shitimah7194]

This content is just ever so great

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@louisbreuer5939]

As a beginner I need help😢Cant I just take as white with the bishop the knight. Have to take back with the queen to prevent double pawn. So white knight can come to center threaten whites queen?

[@Glowbox3D]

This was very helpful for me. I never know whether to Ruy Lopez (if that's whats going on here). Wait until castle...cool!

[@flacsomtodosclas2165]

No you got everything wrong this dosent have nothing to be with the ruy lopez the game plan is totally different because you arent placing a pin on the opponent just attacking the knight

[@Glowbox3D]

@@flacsomtodosclas2165 Ah ok. So it's not a Ruy at all? OK. It's just to attack the Knight...which if I'm countered by the pawn, should I sack the Bishop and take the Knight? I guess it all depends on other developments. I guess that's why I'm like 1200.

[@paulfreudenburg7562]

sick drawing behind you

[@RussianAustralia]

What's happening if the bishop takes the knight instead of retreating?

[@tiagofyhnesteves74]

Take with the Queen to not destroy pawn structure

[@davesplace144]

@@tiagofyhnesteves74 The threat is white puts knight on d5 attacking the queen and the threat of knight to c7 forking the king and the rook 🙁

[@benpaskoff21]

Any suggestions at 7:22 if white decides to sack the knight on g5 and force an exchange that results in your knight getting pinned instead?

[@mshbeatbox]

same thought

[@jamesroberts2282]

Just found my new supplier of chess videos. Grea work.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Welcome aboard!

[@marcb5832]

Редкий русский шахматист, который не зануда, не сумасшедший, не гопник (как Витик), а просто приятный человек ! 👍

[@aleksk9643]

So, on 7:43 it'd be better for white to pass by and move h4

[@mordicus9817]

I’ve tried multiple times and they just take instead of backing up

[@Vepporizer]

Isnt Nxg4 for black or Nxg5 for white a valid option in any of those lines?

[@flacsomtodosclas2165]

Not for white doe because you didint castle si this would be just a Hang of knight also deppending on the opening even if the king open your opponent can save himself

[@dhworld2358]

What if bishop takes white knight on F6? Would you say that's a mistake from the white? Because that's what I get most of the time, they pin my knight at first but then they catch it

[@dhworld2358]

I don't quite understand why a bishop is slightly better. To me the double attack by the knight is unbeatable

[@rohamebrahimi7844]

4:20 in this situation one of my most favourite move is night takes g5 and if they get greedy and take your knight then just bishop takes now not only you still maintain your fork now the king is wide open and that bishop is staying there for a while

[@jcmoral1978]

Doesn't that lose your queen?

[@flacsomtodosclas2165]

@@jcmoral1978 i think he was talking about who play g4 right away

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Recently I've recorded a follow-up video where I answered this question: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHqpmpuZrsyeb5Y

[@hallis8906]

1:14 why doesn’t bxf2, then horse check if king takes work?

[@U20E0]

which horse check? Ng4+ does nothing - black just moves the king back, you get a horribly placed knight and you lose either the queen or a pawn, or you move the knight back and have just lost a bishop for no reason. Ne4+ just loses a knight.

[@notyou6674]

it feels weird that with white the ruy lopez that pins the knight is a very good opening and is very solid even by engine standards

[@victorogomah7709]

What if at 1:29 white sacs the knight for 2 pawns and plays queen f3? Can black save the knight that is pinned?

[@AnhNguyen-qe6rm]

After Nxg5 hxg5 Bxg5 Black can just play ... Rg8, forcing h4 (otherwise White either loses the g pawn or has his Bishop completely locked up), then Black can play ... Bb4, pinning the c3 Knight and threatening to damage the White's queenside structure; also ... Na5 is very much available, which can further damage the pawn structure after capturing the c4 Bishop, since he is also quite trapped. Anyway, the White Queen will probably never get to f3, and even if she does, ... Rg6 is satisfactory. Yes, White has 2 pawns for the Knight, but some of them on the queenside will most likely be doubled, while on the kingside Black has access to the two half open files g and h. I certainly prefer Black here.

[@YouGotTheFlue]

@@AnhNguyen-qe6rm White just needs to take on f5 after h6. That’s still a favorable position for white. Only idiots will play Bishop h4

[@AnhNguyen-qe6rm]

@@YouGotTheFlue You meant taking on f6? Your comment is irrelevant to Victor's. After ... h6 Bxf6 Qxf6 Nd5 Qd8 the position is completely balanced; stockfish gives 0.0, and Black has the Bishop pair, so I'm don't know about "favorable".

[@YouGotTheFlue]

@@AnhNguyen-qe6rm White is still a tempo up so in a equal position that favors the one with the tempo up, in this case white

[@tzucson4458]

At first around 2:30 I was like… hey what if Bh7 though in order to threaten g4, then what do you do since you’re being forced to play BxNf3 to which white then doesn’t have to ruin their pawn structure and can play QxBf3… and that is when I realized that black has no problem if they don’t ruin the pawn structure, and they would LOVE for QxBf3… The followup is still Nd4 from black but it’s even nastier than his example… that Queen is TOAST if white made that exchange and then did anything but go right back to d1 after Nd4 attacks. Every possible square becomes death for the queen or a king/queen fork if it doesn’t return to d1, so the result is that you just removed white’s strong center defending knight on f3, gave up your light square bishop which was weak anyway aside from the pin it delivered (which was about to fall to g4 by white anyway) and then ended up in basically the same position as 2 moves prior on white’s end, but black is now up a tempo and completely centralized with Nd4 while white is basically sitting there like they never did anything and their knight on f3 just magically disappeared, plus their bishop on h7 would be just sitting there eyeing down endless black pawns chained together- unable to really ever enter play again without a tactical pawn break or multiple moves back and forward again postponing the white king castling for even longer. Wow!

[@rajalakshmipandian9465]

Sir i am an 1650+ lichess player and when I calculate I am narrow minded and many tactical mistakes. I give sac thinking that if he plays one move I would win but he plays the other defense which leads to lose in game. How to not play without tactical mistake and to precise calculation. Pls help. You should be the to help me.

[@tzucson4458]

Although I am certain he can help you. There is someone else, someone even BETTER that can help you… Here is 3 fantastic pieces of advice that between them, fully answer your exact question: “Tactics is knowing what to do when there is something to do. Strategy is knowing what to do when there is nothing to do.” “Tactical solutions are something immediate, almost instantaneous. We assume it’s sharp. […] Something that disturbs the balance of the position, and you can see an immediate outcome. Strategy is of course more long term. So strategy is seeing the outcome of slow maneuvers, and also anticipating what you can do to disturb your opponent’s plans.” “When you look at the position you need to identify, first of all, whether this position requires tactical solutions. Or if you have to forget about tactics for a while, not to push too hard, not to rush, and to start playing positionally, building it up, and of course watching for opportunities if the opponent gives you such a chance.” Say ‘Hello’ to your new coach: Garry Kasparov.

[@erenjaegerbomb8653]

When they try to kick the pinning bishop, most of the time I just take the knight though.

[@1fast72nova]

What about knight B5

[@loadstone5149]

Why after Bg5 there isn’t Bxf2+, Kxf2, Ng4+, Ke2 (for example) and Qxg5

[@lorenzolaneve9360]

Well that's true but It only works if the bishop retreats instead of capturing the horsie and then fighting in the center, witch Is how I usually play that pin to avoid loosing tempos

[@lolroflundxd]

I was a bit confused, I tried to solve the position myself and I didn't see anything that really punishes if the bishop captures. Evaluation also has it at +0.

[@antarath517]

@@lolroflundxd The issue isn't particularly direct, but the fact of the matter is that you're doing a bishop for knight trade with seemingly little benefit, which will be bad later down the line if you trade down. Not only that, you are giving the queen free development into a square where it can start to be active rather early. This is very different if it's the knight on the c file though, since this would lead to awkward moves to retake the piece or ruining pawn structure.

[@donkylefernandez4680]

Such a simple answer you don't see because you're hyper focused on knight queen LMAO

[@chessarchitect812]

I usually play the less common openings or defenses because my opponents probably feel uncomfortable playing it.

[@perkalov]

Less common openings are less common for a reason. This might however matter less, below say Elo 2200. Anyway, you should play openings you feel comfortable with, if they are unfamiliar to the oponent, fine but that should be an added bonus, not the point. Some openings are simply shait and should be avoided. I play alot of unsound openings, but they derive from sound starts and follows sound princibles, like Göring Gambit or Evans Gambit (actually not unsound, just leads to drawish possitions if Black knows whats he is doing). But I am at my best if I have a clear initiative. So sac'ing a pawn or two for extra initiative is to play to my streanght. What I am saying is that you can play unsound openings as long as it gives you the kind of gameplay you thrive in. Most of us isn't at the level where it is super important.

[@justinjja2]

This video ended my 30 game losing streak to Arthur-bot, Thanks!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

OMG! I hope you'll be on a similar winning streak now

[@jaoouan]

song name please

[@Katryraptor84]

Why not to take the knight? And if that happens, what it's the plan if you have the bishop pair, if you are facing the bishop pair, etc.

[@kirtil5177]

the basic plan is to force the enemy to retake your bishop (with which you took that knight) with a pawn that is supposed to cover the king. What stops that are pieces, most often the queen there, that can take your bishop instead of the pawn. when that happens, you traded your very active bishop for a very passive knight, and its not preferable

[@einfachiggi]

i would go maybe knight to G5 kinda Fried liver Attack :D

[@TheVino3]

I probably see people "retreat" the bishop away from the pin less than 5% of the time. Its essentially never to be honest. In almost all cases when you threaten the pinning bishop they will just trade it off. I can count the number of times my opponents have retreated on one hand.

[@net173h]

1:52 jumpscared me

[@CB-jq7fe]

👍

[@jerickmejia5553]

after h6 the bishop h5 g4 Kg4 white is in trouble

[@annannz9047]

I only clicked the video because it's both well-titled and 200K views. It turns out to be well-done indeed.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

I'm glad you found it helpful ultimately

[@mab_8731]

Yehaw!

[@jesterpenetrate6912]

him: most common mistake in the opening stage, pinning the knight gms: rUy lOpEz

[@edwardwalsh4454]

2:52 No way to defend the pawn? How about Q back to d1? Yes all defended. Then Bb5! with the Knight supporting.

[@daviemerim3002]

Instead of h6, you can actually play bishop takes pawn on f2, sacrificing the bishop; if king takes bishop, then knight to g4 with a check and a discovered attack on the bishop with queen!

[@mickdonedee1]

Can you give the position with a timestamp, please? Otherwise, I can't follow you.

[@daviemerim3002]

@@mickdonedee1 Same from the thumbnail! Timestamp is 1:04. If you play bishop takes pawn on f2 with a check, the king can't take the bishop otherwise you can play knight on g4 with a check, and a discovered attack on white's bishop.

[@daviemerim3002]

@@mickdonedee1 I said g2 before, my bad. Hahah

[@mickdonedee1]

@@daviemerim3002 I get confused when you don't mention Black or White. For example, how is Knight on g4 making a check?

[@HighArchingCrests]

Sac doesn’t work here bro, white’s g5 bishop is defended by the knight on f3

[@debasishchakraborty9834]

What happens if bishop instead of going back takes the knight?

[@louisbreuer5939]

Thanks! I also don’t get it…. You have to take back with the queen so white knight can jump in the center… please leave comment if you have an answer.

[@klingenschmidt9261]

Your accent is cool

[@paulkindervater842]

In your masterclass, you talk about the need to castle early, but here, it seems to be just the opposite ???

[@ablegendff5533]

W

[@sauravganguly1209]

My opponent is also watching this😂😂😂

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😀

[@GojkoJosic]

Nice, but I'm more c5 player, so...

[@bastiaanvandenberg3341]

lg5 is the main move

[@xrysnch6171]

so... just take the knight

[@ayunusov501]

could you be slower?

[@cortilusgrant7675]

Chess is a dead god Caissa ⚘ 🌚 👍 rest in the good news ⚘ Okay bye

[@CTP.119]

Да прост на русском бы говорил

[@cikonianiggra1415]

Briliant.

[@ThroughTheGatesOfHell]

no sane human plays Bh4

[@siqi9015]

breaking stereotypes 10 years ago 🙂

[@tylerreynecke]

Honestly i dont ever see these lines. No one with 1000+ rating would allow many of the lines you are proposing moving the bishop back literally just allows your oponent free development... and if it is allowed it would be specifically to break down the kingside structure... i feel like this tutorial is extremely niche and as a general rule eould be extremely misleading...

[@SocialSophia]

*I'm the game shown in the winning variation, see it's SocialSophia*

[@timothydelacy9571]

Oh cool

[@andersjonsson8403]

Oh! Thanks a lot Igor for another so Good video about this opening! 😊👍♟

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

No problem 😊