I Found The SCARIEST Chess Opening below 2000 elo

the Hippopotamus Defense in chess packs a punch in a different way. This unique opening for Black prioritizes solidity over aggression. Imagine a double fianchetto, where both bishops fire diagonally from b7 and g7. Pawns on d6 and e6 form a compact center, with knights tucked behind on e7 and d7. Rooks find their posts on a6 and h6. This setup might seem passive, but it's all about waiting for your opponent to make the first move. The Hippopotamus thrives on flexibility, adapting to whatever White throws your way.

[@OdonChess]

"the french" bro wants war against french opening players

[@mortalchess]

lol french openers can take it. they strong boys, they used to suffering

[@JKKTaker-tg2lm]

Lmao ​@@mortalchess

[@loolo136]

Thank you so much! This is by far the best and funniest chess related channel on KZbin.

[@mortalchess]

wow thanks man, that's an awesome comment. I'm glad you enjoy the darkish humour.

[@SimplifiedPie]

As someone who's currently rated 1999, my opponents shall fear me.

[@mortalchess]

lol, as soon as you get to 2000 though, they shall make you look like a fool😂😂😂

[@BrotherK-ex2co]

As someone who is currently rated 699, my opponents shall fear me

[@mradamdsmith]

"The French."

[@mortalchess]

lol shhhh, you the only one that noticed😅

[@mradamdsmith]

@@mortalchess, don't worry, they can't read.

[@Apfron275]

​@@mradamdsmithoooooooooo💀lolllll brooo

[@BrotherK-ex2co]

The plow is all I need

[@gaglu.]

I can actually but well since I hate cheese I guess I can't be called french so that is ok​@@mradamdsmith

[@OtakuKunnnn]

5:35 bro did us dirty there 💀

[@mortalchess]

😂no one is safe here lol

[@pri012]

1:03 that's a violation right there

[@pablorey9203]

pure evil, specially with the sweet Anna

[@MrFQQLISH]

if you think us 1100s have anything memorized, think again. we just make better moves than true beginners

[@ggnishvanth3467]

5:34 as an indian i take that personally

[@mortalchess]

lol as a zimbabwean, I don't think you should😅

[@rajesh.x]

lol.

[@SuhbanIo]

I wasn't surprised that most viewers were Indian

[@ninjanoob-kl7gx]

Are you from wakanda ?

[@nki21]

As an Elephant I never knew the Hippo could be this deadly

[@KSHRR88]

I love this mans humour. Subbed

[@mortalchess]

thanks man, this is me holding back though..I like my humour dark.🙃

[@Abhinav55359]

​@@mortalchessilyt ☝️🥵

[@itzHasdey]

00:06 as a french person, i take that personally

[@mortalchess]

lol sorry bro, it's all love😅😅 vive la France

[@itzHasdey]

@@mortalchess np xD

[@ZDTF]

It is a terrible opening tho It just wastes a bishop

[@Anto_chess]

@@ZDTF If you manage to exchange that bishop the French defense is a pretty solid opening.

[@genevaspring8974]

@@ZDTF The power of French defense is that the bishop is indeed not yasted but rather exchanged in due time or magnified later. All the principles resides on the fact that the system is solid by itself and the bishop is not needed early in the game and have options later.

[@masscreationbroadcasts]

5:30 "You know what? Never mind." The voice is AI, but the jokes ARE NOT!

[@mortalchess]

I guess i pass the Turing test😅.. im glad you're loving the jokes

[@4saken404]

I don't mind the obvious computer voice. It's not as creepy as the AI crap where you think it's human speech and only realize 5 minutes into it that you've been tricked. That kind of thing also usually has me thinking that the entire video is just AI sludge. The writing and wit on this one let's me know 100% that a human is behind it.

[@mpmpm]

"The voice is AI, but the jokes ARE NOT!": The voice is not AI. It is just an algorithm. Around the year 2000, we already had programs like SAY.EXE in DOS, which converted text into speech. AI is more of a hype term, at the moment. While basically it still is mostly algorithms, and no intelligence.

[@masscreationbroadcasts]

@@mpmpm AI already doesn't have intelligence.

[@4saken404]

@@masscreationbroadcasts ... yet.

[@icos667]

BRO DISSED WHOLE FRENCH, WOMEN, AND INDIAN COMMUNITY IN ONE VIDEO

[@gravitraxrocker]

I absolutely love your videos, nice editing and very instructive information all for free and always with a bit of humour to not make it boring

[@mortalchess]

Thanks man, great feedback.I will keep them videos coming!

[@yklohana]

I saw your hippocampus video and coincidentally, my opponent played it against me. I was new to it but, not only won but also enjoyed it....

[@jihadhaibibullah]

To this guy everything is the scariest opening

[@mrjupiter80]

The AI narrative voice makes this gold. "You do not want this smoke."

[@yj_holic4590]

I saw this video and played the Hippopotamus. You wont believe I straight up got 4 brilliant moves in a single game!! (I'm 1500 elo)

[@Bleuthatup]

Oh my god im dying at all of your jokes, again Based zimbabwe bro does it yet again. Thanks for keeping up the content, I never even knew about this defense

[@mortalchess]

thanks for the comments man, I'm glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@aadrshsinha2534]

Ur from Zimbabwe??

[@Bleuthatup]

@@aadrshsinha2534 he is

[@FahadJawed-karing]

man scroll in search for a good new opening for a tournament . man see good thumbnail, man click , man watch, man like , man happy. now man subscribed

[@MMWGR1980]

Love it. Very concise and understandable

[@DarkIceLight]

Hikaru likes to play the hippo as his "second set of openings". So its one of his fav openings for non tournament games, twitch streams etc

[@mortalchess]

I feel like those guys can play absolutely anything and win,,no fair😑

[@ridiqk]

Chinchilla set up is the best 💪

[@acnt8714]

I still think the hippo is bad (im 2100 and never had problem to deal with it) but you do a great job at showing the unusual perks of the hippo like the transpositions ideas. Very good video, I expected something terrible from the thumbnail but you explain the ideas very well

[@VonKaiserMrvonds]

As a guy that plays over agrresively in real time tournaments, I have destroyed people from 1800s to 1900 with just the hippo but I frequently lost to guys like you

[@jasonstauffer8118]

3:20 two inch arrow from base to tip....LOOOOOL

[@CjackJamie]

Great mindset videos on chess, this is something unique, keep up the work man!

[@mortalchess]

thanks a lot man, will definitely keep them coming.

[@buddhstyle]

I’ve watched 2-3 dozen videos on the hippo. I learned the most from this one by far. The opening set up is easy. It’s the next attack I needed more clarity on. Sub’d

[@franklinturtle9849]

The Hippo is anti computer chess.

[@animeguyreviews]

thanks for getting to the point with useful info

[@CaloyEdits]

Bro if reincarnation is real ill be back into being a cockroach everytime I died laughing at your jokes.

[@memoirsoftranquility7408]

damn, was that a jarb at gotham! man i love your videos...

[@mattwilhite1595]

Me and my brother studied the chess board and found these moves, not knowing there was a name for it. We called it the Stranglehold

[@mortalchess]

did you two manage to get any girlfriends matt?😅

[@whiteseashells7513]

400 elo from India, soobscribed today...ayeeeee

[@mortalchess]

😎welcome welcome

[@NathanOnnu]

04:07 Levy

[@whiteseashells7513]

i dont understand chess but the jokes r okay

[@mortalchess]

thanks man, you can stay for the jokes and hopefully your chess will get better too

[@johnmahugu]

I play the hippo exclusively, i was playing the advanced version of it even before i knew it had a name called hippo, used to think of it as a buffalo coz of the horns and something shaka zulu taught about military tactics. look up horns.

[@lucere3674]

Oh! I ran into this a few times recently. I actually WOULDN'T suggest it on low elo games. The couple of times i played against it when the exchanges start i straight up accidentally came up on top. Wild opening though.

[@tuxat_]

my opponent resigned after 10 moves of me playing this opening, thanks for this dangerous opening

[@anonym5160]

I like the triple muzio gambit

[@mortalchess]

Triple wow, I never heard of a triple..It's craziness on the board I bet

[@brendansaltvick5824]

Best chess channel

[@XianDragon-tv2fc]

oh hell na he did levy dirty

[@aloniutube]

To write “the cow” shows how detached social media is from the real world

[@mortalchess]

ok you got me, I'm curious...what's up with the cow?

[@aloniutube]

@@mortalchess it’s some KZbinr chess player that “invented” it and it’s totally not special move but because of social media it becomes special

[@4saken404]

He literally just says "openings named after animals". How did you read so much more into that?

[@michaelford3027]

Very cool ending!

[@ronakgoswami9842]

5:09 it's mate if rook h1 place Bishop can't move because there is other rook it's mate

[@CheckmateSurvivor]

Memorising chess openings is boring and predictable. I normally play different setup chess in order to confuse Stockfish.

[@hayhorca915]

Stockfish doesn't have an opening book planted into it though so all it "seems" like to it is you making suboptimal moves

[@mortalchess]

passive systems like the hippo are the best against engines, although they only just delay the inevitable..Stockfish wins period...😐

[@sushantpatil7950]

5:30 WTF did u just said ??? 🤨🤨 Never forget which country is ruling in this game

[@wanderair9999]

Thank you Mortal, could you replace French with the Frog opening to complete the zoo ?

[@Aryan-x5n3d]

I played 15 times hippo Opening At 1600 elo. Only won 1 matc Worst opening. oponent is smarter to go under my territory Dont use it

[@mortalchess]

its not an easy opening to play, but it's fun.so use it😅

[@mikewatson9501]

As a Hippo I demand royalties for using my name

[@RainerErhart-z6d]

😂

[@Lotrhome154]

Need more hippo games great video

[@mortalchess]

Thanks man, try looking into eric hansen's hippo speedrun on the chessbrah channel

[@Badbadook]

0:07 as a french it made me laugh

[@mortalchess]

lol, I'm glad it did man..we jus having fun over here

[@delwin2346]

This guy literally called us mfs for a sub and like, But i did it i like this courage man😄

[@nilimadhore5742]

What if white plays an early e5 attack in opening?

[@Incaendium_]

Someone tried this against me earlier today, i completely and utterly destroyed him and there's about a 50% chance he stopped playing chess forever. :)

[@mortalchess]

Lol that would be punishable by death if it were up to me, the hippo defense is sacred

[@lancetehira]

Yeah!!!! I tried the hippo!! Straight after I watched this video, but I didn't get the theory from the video but off my study of the English which is apparently a master class opening and it requires knowledge of other master class openings to use.

[@mortalchess]

beautifully put, that's the hippo in a nutshell. it has no theory per se because it changes and morphs into other opening structures. So it's more your general opening knowledge that carries you.

[@murderonmarz1647]

i like the martial artist comment

[@AntoakilR]

I have been looking for the tutorial for hippopotamus defence because in your 10 openings videos you mentioned it and this helped me and can you give me an advance chess studying routine video coz iam having a fide rated tournament next month so i can follow the routine

[@mortalchess]

"Allesio De Santi The hippopotamus defense" if you can get your hands on this book, you will be a hippo expert.. I was actually planning a video along the lines of how to prepare for chess tournaments and improve in general..still thinking about how I should title it though..Unfortunately the title not the content, is the make or break of a video in this youtube game. but I got you.

[@r0bz0rly]

hell yeah he actually made it, thank you king

[@mortalchess]

People wanted a hippo, so I made a hippo lol😁.. you're welcome

[@sfcdemongaming4847]

Pro tip: This will 100% not work at 1000 elo and below

[@VonKaiserMrvonds]

It does actually not just online but in classical tournaments as well.

[@mortalchess]

there is a whole book on how a guy got to IM playing the hippo, it works bro

[@mujahid.6372]

5:31 bro triggered a whole nation💀

[@mortalchess]

😅😅where are you from?

[@mujahid.6372]

​@@mortalchess I'm from Bangladesh, next to the country u roasted💀

[@ggnishvanth3467]

Nice teaching bro

[@mortalchess]

thanks man

[@captaindigan]

5:37 As indian i loved thatsl joke 😂

[@miguelpereira3008_]

Great video

[@mortalchess]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@chandamwanza356]

What did u say right at the end of this video? Lol 😂

[@johnmahugu]

why are you leaking out our secret :D

[@ul4kq]

that pic of lower rated opponents was controversial

[@mortalchess]

lol, I hope it did not cross a line😅

[@leul-wb7sb]

just try it and you will be amazed by the result 💯 real

[@Mylifestoriesmaybe]

I tried this just got my face blown the fuck off lol

[@sunsuu]

Lol i wasnt sure if u were actually ever gonna make the hippo video

[@mortalchess]

an honest content creator lol, we exist😂

[@manbubies7048]

Can i play this opening with white too?

[@iceyroo]

The Bird!

[@mortalchess]

ohh there's the bird opening, I totally forgot about it.

[@stevensutton2252]

I got a better defense Hip Hop Anonymous defense🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@mortalchess]

the only chess opening that can get you killed by the police in america😁😂

[@Snow_Cultist]

Here the argentinian new sub

[@mortalchess]

wow nice, thanks bro

[@ryg3r]

pay a mother.... 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@rajesh.x]

paid 👍

[@devanshpandey1320]

Me rated 169 watching 2000 elo videos😅

[@mortalchess]

lol, you need to get to 2000 asap. give yourself a a half. it can be done

[@ede2225]

Freaking hilarious!!!

[@mortalchess]

thanks man, i try i try

[@aondutta325]

1:31 what about caro-kann? Is that not acceptable

[@mortalchess]

caro is my favourite opening lol its always acceptable, but moving the c pawn there, does not lead to a hippo

[@abhis995]

When you asked to like the video the like button glowed.....how you did that ?? Plz explain

[@mortalchess]

KZbin AI does that automatically.. it's part of a new update.

[@Apfron275]

This vid is hilarious

[@mortalchess]

nice

[@youngt2827]

good shit

[@mortalchess]

thank u thank u

[@shadowlp9790]

Tbh i don't see a opening played until your rooks are conected

[@alexmanakanatas-ue4ov]

Um can i ask does this work at 1800elo?

[@mortalchess]

you would have to study it a bit deeper than this video. but yes!!

[@rjgamer8226]

bro which is better carokaan or french defense

[@mortalchess]

french if you want more wins (and more losses)..caro kann if you want milder and more solid games.

[@amansoniya8681]

Is this opening real

[@Alosipher]

What happened the humor isn't as biting as Chess Page??

[@mortalchess]

I have a kings indian video in the making..I'm coming out guns blazing on that one😁

[@johnmahugu]

Gotham :D

[@nelson_king]

My elo is 482 😂😂, i can win against a chess bot of 1000 to 1,200

[@mortalchess]

this opening is know as the bot killer.. but those are amazing results

[@pinkybarman4630]

Same bro I am 764 but I had beaten Samay Raina's boy who is 1800

[@Kaizen_editz1]

Is hippo opening can be played in white?

[@mortalchess]

yes it can !!

[@ZDTF]

I hate french but even I would have to say This opening is more terrible than french Play this against a computer Yes you would last like 60 moves cuz This opening is really non confrontational and Engine's dont like to Confront too till they are fully sure this is a win So if no side is confronting Both sides sad😢 Every move computer does will increase its advantage And before you know it You are crushed

[@ZDTF]

Nevermind I just remembered what French defense does to it's bishop French worst

[@mortalchess]

I take it you are a big fan of aggressive openings..What do you play as black?

[@ZDTF]

@@mortalchess No I'm a big fan of Winning It doesn't matter if it's an Agressive opening or a Defensive one Everything works as long as it gives me the win

[@ZDTF]

@@mortalchess Sicillian Berlin I know sicillian is refuted at the high level but it's the best I can learn at the human level

[@Chess_Holic]

Facing lower rated opponents ☠

[@mortalchess]

💀💀🤭

[@mikejay9838]

ROFL

[@echinech1665]

Add me.. in your team

[@mortalchess]

I need to make a team😐

[@echinech1665]

@@mortalchess yess.. let's beat the maximum

[@Matteo-j6b]

First

[@mortalchess]

lol, name your prize!

[@zeezouCIK]

Nice vid

[@jonathanhebert5434]

🦛

[@mortalchess]

mooo lol, or whatever sound a hippo makes