I Played a Chess Match Against THE STRONGEST NYC Hustler ”Russian Paul”

I played a chess match against one of the strongest chess hustlers in NYC, hope you enjoy the games!
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[@Evocati2008]

These vids are exactly what the world needs. Friendly, respectful & fun competition.

[@CutWing]

Sporting conversations between two unlikely people is up there as one of the most wholesome human things you’ll ever see.

[@gl3nnium]

I love the fact that Chess Hustlers are even a thing. It's always really nice to see her connect with all kinds of people through pure love of the game.

[@TheAtticradio]

Totally agree you play your craft and socialise with players and give them the respect they deserve . Don’t understand chess but it is fascinating and love the social vibe of it on KZbin !!

[@entelektuel.yolculuk]

@@TheAtticradio the real fascinating thing is Anna's body

[@zacharysherry2910]

@@entelektuel.yolculuk shhh we don't notice these things ;) lol

[@entelektuel.yolculuk]

@@zacharysherry2910 yohohohohoh, I see

[@verne51]

they arent. its just a clickbait title.

[@adamfields1533]

My favorite moments in all of these videos are when the hustlers realize she's for real and their confidence is suddenly shaken.

[@johnwayne2103]

They know who she is, All these Chess Hustlers know whose who.

[@nyc132132]

Paul is awesome and indeed a very very strong player. Anna, thank you so much for this content, you rock!

[@_trismegistus]

Anna's joy just makes these so fun. Such genuine fun and laughter!

[@joshuatift4640]

Paul is great he's full of a vast amount of knowledge as well. I remember watching him play back in the 80's

[@johncope4977]

I as well played Paul, back around 2004. I paid him for a lesson. I think he is a master, or greater, from either Russia or close. A nice gentlemen, I enjoyed his company.

[@joshuatift4640]

@@johncope4977he is a good guy he taught me about that song OLord wouldn't you buy a Mercedes Benz my friends all have porches I must make amends

[@rickw7903]

Yeah, as far as I'm aware he first showed up around 83 - 84. Last time I was around and saw him was 07. Glad he's still kicking.

[@joshuatift4640]

@@rickw7903me too is us a Washington Square park attraction for sure

[@spacecowboy_1962]

@@joshuatift4640 that's a Janis Joplin song, fyi. Mercedes Benz. " I'd like to do a song of great social and political import It goes like this Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends So, oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? Oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV? Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me I wait for delivery each day until three So, oh, Lord, won't you buy me a color TV? Oh, Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town? I'm counting on you Lord, please don't let me down Prove that you love me and buy the next round Oh, Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town? Everybody Oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends So, oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? That's it "

[@mikecf1]

I love the NYC videos. NYC is full of amazing players. The queen blunder reaction was so funny.

[@Snowkobbie]

And his response with a Simpsons Nelson's "HA HA!" 😂

[@ffggddss]

Would like to see them accept her resignation in game 3, then roll back to just before the blunder and see how the game might have developed without the mistake. Fred

[@andreasmanique113]

20:28

[@mitchz2191]

just found and now LOVE watching your videos Anna! you have a great personality, always smiling and laughing and are SO GOOD! this is the first i have seen you lose/ making me want to start playing chess !

[@andrewworrall4302]

addicted to this channel. Good chess, nice banter, nice giggles

[@miguelmichel68]

It's a pleasure to watch you playing chess with allways all that joy!

[@business_man_alex]

Man I don't play chess but the reverence amazing chest players have in their eyes is honestly so heartwarming. These people are exuding passion and love, bonding over this game that is a large part of their lives.

[@simpleagain1]

I like the idea that they just take a table, chairs, a chessboard, and just go set up in public to play total strangers and everybody gets along fine. It might actually be a little heaven on earth

[@simpleagain1]

Looks like pretty girl lost to the old chess master from the park😳

[@Hexspa]

Chest players, eh?

[@Philiopantheon82]

This guy is very good player and what i liked about his game is his rather strategic rather than materialistic approach!! Anna you also gave him a hell of time to ponder, kudos to both of you! Respect and love

[@gunzor8717]

He moves about with such ease

[@garychap8384]

What I love, more seeing than the chess, are the strange characters hustling in NYC. So many unique personalities and lots of good humour. The _"A little bird told me"_ cracked me up. This must be why parrots are not allowed in tournament venues. XD

[@ZorbaPress]

That's one of the hardest aspects of chess: You can get a winning game and then destroy it all in one mistake: such as Qd7. Thanks, Anna, for giving us this lesson. And this one: Your tactics and attack in Game 2 were brilliant.

[@spitwicked6188]

You are always winning till you make a mistake. That mistake might come on your first couple moves or your last.

[@kleenup2]

His mistake at the end of the 2nd game was even more atrocious. Too much talking from both players is what caused both of them to blunder.

[@billbailey7193]

…..that second game knocked him into a cocked hat, what a brilliant attack. Both knights threatening pinning his queen, he got discombobulated, didn’t seem to even notice her rook off to the right. He won 2-1 but she looked the better player

[@radrook7584]

Makes me get angry at myself when I cut your own throat in that way. .

[@perfstaas7188]

@@kleenup2 Isnet it stange....Its all about winning on the board i sent it? Its the points. The Glori. The cash. The fame. Butt ho cares anymore about THE ART OF CHESS? Its typical for USA players and then some to foregett what chess realy is.

[@toforgetisagem8145]

I know minus nothing about chess. KZbin sent Anna in my direction. Her great enthusiasm has wiped the dust off what seemed a dull and boring game. I have since watch others but others just dont have Anna's joy. The people she meets are so interesting. She brings out their character.

[@major__kong]

I don't play chess, I don't know chess except I think the horse moves like an L. I can't even tell who's winning or has won :-) I don't know why KZbin started showing me these videos. I watch car diagnostic and math/science channels 🤷‍♂️

[@socialtraffichq5067]

- nothing is nothing

[@toforgetisagem8145]

@@socialtraffichq5067 but does nothing exist?

[@CanonNikonMan241]

Agh! I played (and managed a draw) against him today! Can't believe I missed this. Would've loved to see you play him Anna, I'm a big fan.

[@erikpeterson1870]

Great games with strong players, thanks for sharing (and hey, we all blunder)! Playing in this kind of environment makes chess feel fun and alive, unlike many of the more sterile tournament settings.

[@jamesduggan7200]

Of all the games you've posted so far this one (the first) was my favorite. Especially I like how you judged the actual danger to the k-side to be minor. However, he's a strong player so that's life.

[@goutvols103]

This is a good one but there is one (1) recently where she played a kid eating a pizza. One (1) for the ages.

[@jamesduggan7200]

@@goutvols103 Yes, I saw that one. She won a pawn with a clever discovered check, and had a clearly better, even winning game until she dropped her bishop to a discovered check.

[@fiddlestix3025]

Killing with a smile :) Go Anna! So gracious, so clever, -and always so much fun to watch 👏👏👏🤜🏼🤛

[@libertymedianews]

This is a skill game bending over isn't going to help you

[@alexeyneusypin6285]

Nice to see You playing this guy! You don`t need to become very close friends to enjoy his beautiful chess knight tattoo, it`s right on his upper body!:)) I spent a lot of time in Washington Square in late 80-s - early 90-s, and I think we were good friends. Looks like he didn`t changed a lot! When see him again, say hello from Alex, the Russian from st. Petersburg, he remember me, I am sure. Visited this place occasionally 7-15 years ago and it looks like there was no real chess life there... Great if things are changed!

[@lawrencesmith5661]

I love chess and your channel because I've been playing since I was ten and growing up it was hard to find people that like to play I'm glad I found your channel 😁 Anna you have a new fan and your mother too 🙏👍👏✌️

[@SamDoesTutorials.]

Always happy to see younger people hanging out with the old ones. Thanks, Anna.

[@paulgoogol2652]

Nice. B4 in the last game was superb.

[@ColHogan-bu2xq]

- At the end of the first game, RP found wonderful moves, although you played very well also. - Rxf8 in the second game was fine and gave you the beginning of the win. - In the third game, I never saw RP so destroyed before you did this _fantastic_ Botez gambit...

[@lebigbentheory]

you would've almost expected alex to teleport and come right out from under the table to bite anna's arm

[@UTU49]

@@lebigbentheory I got a dumb question. I haven't paid any attention to Chess in years, but I just yesterday discovered the wacky videos of Anna and the Botez sisters. Here's my question: Does "Botez gambit" mean "blundering your queen"? Cuz if so, that's hilarious.

[@Cowtymsmiesznego]

@@UTU49 It does. It also has multiple variations - Botez gambit accepted, (less popular) Botez gambit declined, and (last but not least) Botez gambit declined: Botez countergambit

[@jyee2217]

They should allow talking at regular chess tournaments...would be more interesting.

[@Cowtymsmiesznego]

@@jyee2217 No

[@AhirZamanSairi]

This is much more interesting than tournaments, tournaments have a cold atmosphere and players are like robots, they should have tournament categories in this format, the "talking allowed" format lol

[@franekkowalski9978]

No xd

[@myblacklab7]

Absolutely! I had lost pretty much all interest in chess before I discovered the Botez sisters, and then this channel. Chess is very boring to watch, even if you're really into chess, so a "trash talk" category could capitalize on the audience these KZbin chess personalities are bringing to the game.

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

what the hell?

[@9Ballr]

That queen sacrifice on d7 was brilliant. I couldn't even find the continuation.

[@sagestseeker]

Just finished watching game 2. Paused it to comment. Game 3 let's go... exciting play.

[@jakeharris3248]

My goodness!!!! I can’t lie I’m utterly captivated with this beautiful intelligent young lady. Obviously she’s aesthetically pleasing to an extreme level but to have that coupled with such a brilliant intellect…..good for her ! I stumbled upon one of her videos and I’ve been impressed enough that I subscribed and can’t quit watching these videos. These hustlers who operate in the parks in big cities especially New York City can’t be considered weak players by any measure and in some cases certain people like her competitors( chess hustlers) make a living to some degree beating others who are unsuspecting of just how good they are so to see her reverse that role upon them is hilarious. I was entertained anyway.

[@manniefresh3425]

I see the intellect however i dont see the same level of attractiveness lol she seems like a TWIG to me

[@sjohnson5813]

Calm down

[@shawnfreeoftyranny8849]

What a killer kind smile. So beautiful and such a Good Chess Player.

[@glennandrews7689]

A blundered queen happens, but WOW, Anna's defense and counter attack in that second game was in pure "Magnus" style...Impressive...very, indeed! Just found you Anna and I'm duly impressed with your game play; especially your quick tactical insight....bravo! :)

[@kleenup2]

He just made a overzealous blunder trying to push the pawn for promotion. They both talk too much to concentrate.

[@neutrino78x]

@@kleenup2 "do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond! I expect you to DIE!" lmao

[@SkoomaFish]

The 9:34-10:00 was one of my favorite chess sequences I've ever seen. Fantastic and joyful, as chess should be.

[@WillemJanWollants]

indeed, great stuff

[@neilfranklin5644]

My favourite chess set was done like the battle of waterloo ,there was Napoleon and Wellington as the kings they really looked like the pictures we see in the books, amazing to make that from a picture.

[@darrylm3627]

Good Stuff, Great Tips😃👍🏿

[@SuccessJourneys101]

He was winning the second game too, until bishop c8 at 15:42, d5 would have been a much better move. And in the end of the second game at 17:34, the best move was to close with rook e7, he still would have won. But maybe he was low on time.

[@robertoduran3397]

Sorprendente el juego de RP. Mis felicitaciones!

[@GigiPerla]

Well done Anna!!

[@louiscarrillo5873]

i jumped out of my seat when she dropped her queen. sick game all the way up to that point. weve all been there. such great players here though.

[@seanmcglynn2476]

Making these old guys day smiles

[@TheArcNgeL]

this is soooo pleasant

[@itchykami]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that follows the philosophy of 'I am winning and must therefore blunder.'

[@lelorenzo]

It's nice to have the evaluation bar. He was killing you in game two but blundered at 17:02 with pawn b2... So he was right when he said "admit it, I had an easy game"

[@richardm306]

dont know why he didnt take her knight , was like merci or a hussler fishing her in

[@naelayach6084]

😅

[@kevinstogner9477]

Anna, you have won me over with your wit and charm. ...and skill, of course. ...subscribed.

[@grayoxonia]

Awesome second game, Anna. He’s tough, I’ve been playing him for years.

[@bobsapp807]

I beat that guy all the time

[@RoadToFuture007]

@@bobsapp807 in ring?

[@frannelk]

​@@bobsapp807 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@alexybogomolov]

@@bobsapp807 in a dreams

[@TomPauls007]

end of last game: "oooops!!"

[@williamwilliamson6506]

your amazing Anna !

[@ricardorodulfo739]

Good match Anna, Russian Paul is a strong player. Good second game. Great tactics. In the last game you had a completly winning position but sadly came Qd7. Do not look so much your cell phone . You loose concentration. Keep going Anna!.

[@AndyGraceMedia]

Which makes me question whether that really was a blunder, or her injecting some humanity into the video.

[@zzanmato123]

@@AndyGraceMedia I doubt that. I really think it's a blunder. The reaction afterwards is hard to fake. A Knight on f8 is pretty unnatural and Qd7 is a logical move in those kind of positions.

[@thejanamendis9528]

@@AndyGraceMedia its not a blunder .its botez gambit.😕🥲

[@thesalmonabode]

So happy to see you laugh at Qd7 in Game 3! Almost every chess player should see that - that is the right way to lose. Thank you...

[@timisaac8121]

at 2:42 "do I care?" hahaha! Love your game Anna.

[@louiscarrillo6670]

you can see Paul really loves a good game :) . especially at the end. fun :) .

[@dannylaw7367]

She is such a great player.

[@athiefinthenight6894]

the first game was so fun to watch

[@slowpoke2122]

Teaching & learning. Doesnt matter who wins. Well sorta. It would be nice to here the banter between you and the victims

[@louis-francoisroy1138]

I’d like to watch the game and learn but all I can see is Anna. 100+ videos watched and still can not focus on the game. You are more than beautiful. Keep smiling!!

[@ArizonaMMJ]

Perfect ending to that last game. Left him on a high note. lol

[@geoffmurphy1631]

Anna is the real queen of chess! Love your content.

[@goyonman9655]

I thought it was Judit

[@myblacklab7]

@@goyonman9655 He probably doesn't know that Anna's mom is a higher-ranked player.

[@goyonman9655]

@@myblacklab7 Lol

[@udi112]

that 1st game was insane, the bishops caught me by suprise

[@DavidKfilmmaker]

Anna…I’m a filmmaker/editor…if you need sound fixed on recordings like this, let me know. It’s not hard for me and quick turnaround. (Free…cuz I love your channel)

[@arrevay]

Its a livestream shot...

[@sebastianwittmeier1274]

But one could fix it before putting it on KZbin

[@R1des]

Easy to receive raw footage and modify the sound channels or even on the edit.

[@alcubierrevj]

Easy to edit if multichannel sound. Harder but not impossible if it’s one channel

[@MM-zj8be]

Ok steven speilberg lol

[@dickhartzell6261]

In game 2, from 16:49 I had the Stockfish engine play itself to see what would happen. Its first move as black was Nxe3. White then moves Qh3, allowing black to snarf white's knight with Rxe4. It's all downhill for white after that and black wins in 29 moves.

[@redbull4life]

The man standing behind the Hustler is such a gentleman, even fixed the guy's hat so it fits him perfectly, meanwhile also took attention to the game. 10:30

[@noproblem3500]

Hahaha u see that too

[@BrianBull]

haha didn't catch that

[@almasysephirot4996]

I was wondering who would have this sort of humor, no one in the U.S. Of course, a Hungarian. Hello, fellow! :-)

[@noproblem3500]

@@almasysephirot4996 i know what you going for, buddy, don't be a racist, please

[@jasonmdt]

Straight Botez'd it Anna! :)

[@jimstrube294]

22:29 Oh no. I really wanted to see the other move your were going to make, you know, the right one. I have to pause your videos frequently for my mind to keep up. You had that game if not for that blunder.

[@elizabethstatom4456]

It is his lifeblood and Anna let him keep his gig. Well done, your grace is inspiring.

[@ralphzoontjens]

Anna's mom has a chess record for longest piece immobility: In Pia Cramling - Landenbergue, Biel 1991, 56.Rh7+ was White's first Rook move.

[@vladtheimpaler4611]

What does this mean in words a rookie can understand?

[@RobertDavis-qh1ry]

Her mom moved her right side rook from h1 to h7.

[@sshuck]

@@vladtheimpaler4611 And that rook had to wait 55 turns (or 110 counting each player) to be moved the first time. That's the record for any piece waiting to move the first time in any recorded game.

[@perkalov]

Just to clarify. Anna's mother is Pia Cramling, Swedish GM (not a particularly strong one, but miles ahead of her daughter). Taken right from memory, she used to be the strongest, then second/third strongest female player behind Judith Polgar and Susan Polgar. Pia became GM while it was propperly hard to achieve that. Not that its easy, today... But we have tons of GMs compaired with in the early 90s.

[@ahopki67]

Ok weirdo

[@mavamQ]

Just think how many Anna could beat, if she wasn't reading texts as she's playing the game ! lol

[@jyee2217]

Possible also that reading texts actually help her focus. Some people can overthink things.

[@oscarestrada2175]

“No respect “ Rodney Dangerfield playing ♟🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jakespencer431]

Dude I was thinking the same 😂

[@jakespencer431]

Dude I was thinking the same 😂

[@frankros2007]

I love me this Game, thanks Anna You are player good,

[@davidbalaguerbelmonte3794]

Aún está soñando con el regalo de la última partida... Se le han llenado los ojos de alegría.

[@Dunbar0740]

Paul was getting "distracted" during that second game. I was too...

[@pauloshea5483]

The atmosphere is chaotic 😂

[@rickhalverson2252]

I just love her. Such a bubbly personality with her smarts.

[@jedinxf7]

oh wow it's Russian Paul! I had forgotten his name but I've played him and he is a beast. I didn't get close

[@j.dragon651]

This gent Mitch came up to Woodstock N.Y. in the mid 70s. He played in the parks in NYC all the time. I wasn't great, but I wasn't bad. I probably played about thirty games with him and could never beat him, not even a draw. He went back to NYC. I always wondered what happened to him? I haven't played in probably 25 years now. No one to play with and computers are just a bore.

[@Pogey_Bait]

That table. Good lord.

[@globalkiteapparel1891]

Watching chess icons meet as gladiators with smiles and humour.

[@barrywebber100]

Good fun Anna although I thought you a little disrespectful to your opponent by looking at your phone constantly. That probably contributed to your queen blunder in game 3.

[@loeksnokes3658]

Summer of 1999 I spent in the park playing for my food. Russian Paul was a mentor along with French Paul. Good. times. Great to see Russian Paul still hanging on! Thanks for this video!!

[@HERMITBOY]

Even if I’m not watching, I like the sound of the atmosphere while I’m doing miscellaneous things at home, glancing over at the video from time to time.

[@josephfiumara9065]

Luv this video

[@gordonstevens6050]

She is certainly a breath of fresh air

[@Xpl0d3]

18:05 Dr. K casually observing the game

[@moisescabreraromero4703]

Es muy fuerte este oponente Ana!!!

[@PjackM92]

This made me smile shout to pauls

[@chrisken8902]

10:10 --> 2nd game 18:09 --> 3rd game

[@user-kn8wn5tw1j]

Interesting to see that they start really fast, and the game slows down as it progresses.

[@JW-qd3ol]

Man I wasn't expecting the Botez gambit! :0

[@APoetsCorner]

The apprentice schools the master.

[@mahmodabdalgafer8994]

22:30 his laugh🤣

[@ColHogan-bu2xq]

Thanks to Anna, Nemsko, Alex and Andrea, Russian Paul is becoming a KZbin star also, isn't he ?

[@alanjarvis1545]

Paul was well known for years... saw him 8+ years ago. Haven't seen him chain smoking online recently... he has always done it 10+ times I see him in person, usually late Aug.

[@haihai5293]

It's nice to see a nice woman full of smile. I don't play chess myself, sometimes checkers, but I like your energy. Regards.

[@fD3hg.d4F2-5hGd_kHg]

Una buena historia, debe tener un villano carismatico, y una heroína interesante.

[@mikecantreed]

These OTB games against Russian Paul are like streamer view count cheat codes

[@srprnik]

Anna tenías ese último juego gano. Anna la joven de la eterna sonrisa

[@gerrymarlowe5541]

You would think she would be smart enough to put that phone away.

[@srprnik]

Donde es esa plaza que tantas personas van a jugar ajedrez. He visto muchos ajedrecistas y KZbinr conocidos. Saludos a todos.

[@AnnaCramling]

Es en Union Square Park, NYC!

[@rolandnagtegaal6532]

I am grinning all the time watching this 😁

[@BootFailure]

a big bright smile and a brain full of intelligence. what more can you ask? gotta love anna.

[@dixonbeejay]

Paul is the man I could play him alday looks like a good friend of mine

[@davidbest9747]

i use to play there all the time back in the 90's

[@LoveHouseGreece]

i see no comments about first game 4:20 white can force check mate in many different variations after Ne7+ (check). The set up is magical. Instead he made that awful pawn move. I run the setup against engine 3200 rated and there is no escape. So, Ne7+, king has to move to h8, then queen attack bishop f5 and opens next move for white bishop to be placed behind queen at e4. If black bishop takes f6 pawn its over. He has to retreat and take the b pawn. Then f pawn takes g7 and white wins with his other bishop sacrifise. One of the many sequences. Kxg7 , Be4, Rh8, be6+, KxBh6, Qf4+, Kg7, Nf5, Kf8, Qh6+, Ke8, Bc6+ (another sacrifise), bxBc6, Re1+, Be5 blocks, RxBe5, Kd7, Qd6, Rc8, Qc6+, Kb8, Re7, and next move Qb7 checkmate.