I Won 90% Games With This Opening

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In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov reveals the most aggressive and dangerous chess opening for White against the Sicilian Defense-the Grand Prix Attack. It happens after the initial moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4.
If you're on the lookout for an easy-to-learn yet powerful counter to the Sicilian Defense, this video is for you. With the move 3.f4, you immediately claim space on the kingside, setting the stage for a highly effective kingside attack in the middlegame.
The Grand Prix Attack is not only beginner-friendly and easy to learn but also remarkably dangerous. In fact, GM Smirnov achieved a remarkable 90% win rate using this opening before he became a grandmaster.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
► Chapters
00:00 Grand Prix Attack Against the Sicilian Defense
00:44 GM Smirnov's Plan to Win 90% Games
01:08 Developing the f1-bishop first
01:57 Common opening error by Black
02:51 Middlegame plan for White
04:26 Eliminating Black's defenders
06:27 If Black does not play gxf5
08:33 Plan-B for White
10:02 If Black plays d4
11:06 Important move to fix Black's doubled pawns
12:42 For advanced level opponents
15:14 Secret idea behind playing a3
17:03 Sacrifice the ROOOOOK
17:47 Puzzle: When Carlsen had 2150 ELO
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#IgorNation #SicilianDefense #ChessOpenings #ChessTraps #OpeningTraps #SicilianDefence

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@Aabi-Bro]

Hey respect man !! Please do a 800-1200 rating climb with Trompowsky attack Plzzzzzzz😢❤🎉

[@user-qn9ed5um1y]

Igor is truly a blessing. Other masters are stingy and share nothing because they are scared of giving away secrets. Igor is kind to everyone with these free fun lessons. He should get an Emmy award or at least free ice cream for life.

[@ZDTF]

I wanna be like him When I get older It's not for the free ice cream I swear

[@marksmit8112]

Love the way he analyzes and talks through the way he thinks. Its golden

[@loeksnokes3658]

Free Ice Cream for Life ... absolutely.

[@wonderwind2716]

This is my thought to the puzzle: 1. Q*a7 if 1. ... R*a7??, 2. R*c8+ Qd8 3. R*d8+ K*d8 4. N*f7+ Ke8 5. N*h8 (white knight is not trapped and can get back to g6, so white wins a bishop and two pawns) else if 1. ... Rb8, 2. Q*b8+ N*b8 3. R*c8+ Kd7 4. R*h8 h*g5 (this line white loses a queen and a knight, wins two rooks, a biship and a pawn. Not sure if there're better way to do it) else 1. ... Nb6 I'm thinking 2. Q*b6 Q*g5 3. Qa7 R*a7 4. R*c8+ Kd7 5. R*h8 but I don't see the win. if 2. Q*a8 N*a8 3. R*c8+ Kd7 4. R*h8 h*g5 and it's similar to line 2. So I'm not sure how white can win if black respond Rb8 or Nb6

[@wonderwind2716]

Oh I found the move. In line 2 we play Bb5 on move 2 and black collapse since the knight which defends the rook is being traded. In line 3, we play 2. Q*b6 h*g5 (I assume it's very bad if Q*g5) 3.Bb5+ Kf8 4. Qa7 and it transpose to similar situation as line 1. So white is winning in all the cases

[@naitsirhc2065]

If black responds with Rb8, white pins the knight with Bb5. If black plays Nb6, white plays Q*a8 anyway and takes the rook. Because white has a rook on c1, they can win back more than enough material after they lose their queen.

[@VirginVulture]

Thank you so much for posting this video about the Grand Prix attack, A few days later I versed somebody using the Sicilian defense and won in a similar way shown in the video! Looking forward to more chess content!

[@screwtude2647]

Thank you Igor! I’ve been trying to learn the Accelerated Dragon, and white’s responses.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Grand Prix Attack Against the Sicilian Defense 00:44 GM Smirnov's Plan to Win 90% Games 01:08 Developing the f1-bishop first 01:57 Common opening error by Black 02:51 Middlegame plan for White 04:26 Eliminating Black's defenders 06:27 If Black does not play gxf5 08:33 Plan-B for White 10:02 If Black plays d4 11:06 Important move to fix Black's doubled pawns 12:42 For advanced level opponents 15:14 Secret idea behind playing a3 17:03 Sacrifice the ROOOOOK 17:47 Puzzle: When Carlsen had 2150 ELO

[@Dean.AlAmriki]

The ROOOOOK

[@wisdom7564]

Hello Mr Igor your lessons has helped me lot and my rating in my bullet went from 1000 to 1300 in a couple of weeks.I appreciate your efforts please keep posting great content thank you.

[@dharma6902]

My absolute favourite answer to Sicilian when I was active in the 80's. Even though it was f4 immidiately after blacks c5. Have been crushing players far stronger than me with this one. It didn't really have a name when I learned it. The booklet was just named: "f4 against Sicilian" ! Not mentioning a name for it. We used to call the Qe1 move a magic move.

[@brunojani7968]

You're the best chess teacher on youtube Igor!!

[@frankieduran7481]

after black f5 captured e4 white Qg5 is next to checkmate!

[@starseed855]

Very instructive video! thanks Gm Igor👍🏼

[@abuelaalida4529]

J'apprends énormément avec vous. Merci beaucoup, c'est vous le meilleur!

[@TheoWadeFraser]

This guy is my favourite chess teacher online, he’s just so clear and direct and easy-to-understand compared to so many others. Also the thumbnail costume is hilarious.

[@toma-iu9zj]

queen takes a7 , rook takes back, rook on c1 takes c8 check, queen blocks , rook takes queen, king takes rook , knight on g5 takes f7 forking king and rook

[@dijo4708]

You play Qa7 I played Nb6

[@toma-iu9zj]

queen can take your knight@@dijo4708

[@rabipelais]

@@dijo4708 Then queen simply takes Qxb6?

[@Dad4_Service]

@@rabipelais and therefore foiled from the remaining moves @toma-iu9zj suggested - though i doubt black would take Qxb6 while already planing to sacrifice the queen to get the rook moved out of it's defending position

[@dijo4708]

@@rabipelais I take g5 Night with the pawn

[@MaxDooDat2]

The knight & bishop attack shown at 17:03 in this video is interesting, but it can be easily thwarted by Black moving his bishop back to F8. In fact, it is predicated on Black first having moved that bishop to an usual position, which allows White's bishop can take temporary control of that diaganol. Still, it's good to know if you ever allow yourself to be confronted with such an attack you need to stop it immediately.

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

Bishop b2 would annihilate blacks position if they did that. they have too many holes on the black squares and literally only one piece developed. Even trading the bishops on f8 removes castling rights and lets the knight come in to d6 and get out posted with the e pawn. Black cant lose the black bishop with all his pawns on white squares and nothing developed. Itd be interesting to see the stockfish eval

[@MaxDooDat2]

You're right. I should have said "the main threat can be thwarted". @@MyBiPolarBearMax

[@livechesschannel]

No opening is perfect, but still, it has more downsides then upsides, Downsides: 1.Bxf8 removes your castling option. 2.Undevelops your only piece that was developed. 3.Takes more moves to castle. 4.Keeps the diaganal open. Upsides: 1.Stops Nd6+. 4-1 pretty bad. I would play Ne7, Nd6+ just Kf8 and white's rook is hanging, otherwise you just castle.

[@chess_guru_011]

1.Queen takes a7 , rook takes queen 2.Then rook takes c8 queen blocks and rook takes queen then king takes rook and knight takes f7 to win rook on h8 And white is piece up.😊

[@ABode-er7rz]

But rook does not have to capture the queen. Rook can simply move to B8 and can threaten to capture the knight with the pawn in the next move...

[@KevMc29]

Igor your videos are far and away the best I've discovered on KZbin. Can you please give me something to shut down the Philidor? As passive as it is I struggle against it

[@deanepeterson9286]

Thank you! Excellent video, as always.

[@korethoe262]

Queen to a7. I was 500 before this video, now I'm 2400 with three norms. Let's go!!

[@music6174]

WTF

[@DanacChess]

What?!? +1900 elo in 30 mins not to talk about norms

[@uifwastaken]

bro thinks he's Chugnus Norrisen🥱

[@pispi198]

​@@uifwastaken😂😂😂

[@scoobythelegend9702]

Nah mate you srs ?

[@user-ew7qg1fl2t]

You won 90% with this opening, Carlsen won 99% with this opening, I won 30% with this opening...Do you really think the opening is the magic one?

[@bruhifyforever8641]

Perhaps you lack the knowledge required beyond the opening

[@StopTheRot]

@@bruhifyforever8641I think that’s his point 🤦‍♂️

[@themadscot34]

The most agraaaaaassssive. love the way he emphasises this word. Fantastic

[@Captain_JR]

bro finally i waited for this for real thnx a lot man!!

[@stefanodemerich8085]

Thank you, Mr. Smirnov; your lessons are very interesting and helpful. Do you like the McDonnell Attack in the Sicilian?

[@babstra55]

I always try to get the queen sac line "bryntse faj" in the mcdonnell ...d5 'refutation' -line but no one ever takes my queen. :D

[@AndyDavisTechnicalDiving]

I used the GPA from 1000-1300 rapid, but recently switched to the Smith-Morra. The gambit has a higher success rate for me thus far; especially in faster time controls.

[@starseed855]

I never tried the Grand Prix but i play also the Smith-Morra against the Sicilian with good results 👍🏼

[@livechesschannel]

But a faster time control does not improve your chess, glad you are having good results, but Classical, will help your chess, find an opening that is good in Classical, then Blitz and Bullet will be no problem. Smith-Morra is good though, it's ^ to you if you want your rating to go ^ though.

[@starseed855]

@@livechesschannel Thats true, good piont

[@hc2774]

Cool opening, i will try to remember the moves. There was a couple of optional moves along the way that were not covered, where i would be in doubt what to do.

[@BlunderBunny]

This looks great! Maybe a silly question, but does Black ever castle Queenside to avoid this attack?

[@walker5674]

Thank you for this video and very clear explanations.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Cool!

[@vikram.kannada]

Dear GM Igor, You are my most favourite youtube chess trainer. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to your exceptional efforts in training us in the way we understand at our level. Training requires getting down to the trainees level of understanding which is where most fail, however you are the best. Thank you so much 😍

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Happy to hear that!

[@AlpattaAbdurajik]

How about f not eating the rook dpind on side

[@Ben-dk9sk]

Could you possibly cover the Saragossa opening? I’ve had a few interesting games but would be interested in knowing any potential theory

[@DauntlessTony]

The Grand Prix attack against the Sicilian which you enlightened us about is simply awesome! It made me feel so confident in the maximum level! Thank you so very much Sir GM Igor! 🤗💯!!

[@ericst-laurent1194]

Great opening i try this thank you!

[@astrogersunited5389]

As someone who plays grand prix against sicilian and lost, i can confirm this is truely the best

[@hellohanma5717]

the most common move for black under 1800 online after bishop b5 is queen b6 eyeing the horizontal black squares and b2 pawn.I have lost many times with that.

[@markhunter9303]

good stuff Igor!

[@cezartrasfiero6443]

Thank you Igor!

[@sherrybmgo]

Bro's secret opening is now unsecret to 77k people ☠💀

[@derg243]

sure, but they wwill have to prepare for it and might not have the perfect defense in mind. plus even if he defends perfectly, the game just goes on. it is a fine opening which can surprise black

[@ArieVanderBurch]

Nice, what if after Qh4 black plays the queen and castles on the long side? castling short looks very cooperative.

[@eclecticexplorer7828]

I'm looking at f4 as the answer to the puzzle. If black captures the knight, white recaptures with the pawn, opening up the rook to f7. If black plays something like Rh5 in an attempt to get back the pawn while developing his rook, then g6 Nxe5 gxf7+ Nxf7 Bg6 wins. If instead black plays g6 first, the white responds with Rc2 Qxg5 Qxg5 Rxg5 Rxf7 Nxe5 Bb5+ Bd7 (Nd7, Bxd7 Bxd7, Rf8) Rf8+ wins material. If in that last variation, instead of Nxe5, black plays a6, preventing Bb5, I do not see the winning path.

[@thestudiouslion]

Your videos are amazing sir

[@ChristianSoschner]

Excellent ideas

[@frakplease3771]

Thank you Igor

[@uifwastaken]

honestly, ive been enjoying gpa for a while now but havent seen the a3 idea anywhere.. so thanks for that haha

[@clintwarner3008]

Good stuff 👊🏾

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

👊🏾

[@eclecticexplorer7828]

I have been looking at this variation since this posted a couple of months ago, and it can be a very playable game with mostly the most popular moves for black being played. Black's solution to the Grand Prix Attack: First of all, black's most popular moves work for the first few moves: 1.e4 c5, 2.Nc3 Nc6, 3.f4 g6, 4.Nf3 Bg7, 5.Bb5 Nd4. The next move for black is the 2nd most popular. Black follows 6.O-O with a6. White no longer has the option to exchange his bishop for the knight. What are his options? If white tries to get rid of the knight with 7.Nxd4, that is a blunder, because black responds with Bxd4+. After white responds to the check, white grabs the bishop.So that is a complete non-starter. White will need to retreat his bishop, but where? Ba4 and Bc4 both run into b5. The better of the two is 7.Bc4 b5, 8.Bd5 Rb8, and on the next move, black will play e6, so white had better prepare with a3, giving a square for the bishop, but it is not a good position for white. So if not a4 or c4, then where? d3 blocks the pawn, which in turn blocks the dark-square bishop, so the best option for white is to retreat to e2, and now black can play d6. Black's position is fairly good at this point. He controls more space, he has a well-placed knight in the middle of the board, white's light-square bishop has retreated to a fairly inactive position, black has a potential pawn storm on the queen's side, ... The main thing is that black should avoid castling O-O. He can leave his king in the center castle O-O-O, either of which denies white the strategy he is looking for. In the Lichess database, games that have followed this path through 7.Be2 d6 have been won by black 54% of the time, compared with only 40% for white. As such, I don't think that Bb5 is a wise move if black has not played d6 or d5. Stockfish recommends d3, which restricts white's light-square to e2 without having to get chased off of b5 first. a4 is also suggested, which doesn't commit white to Be2. The Bb5 option is still available should black push his d pawn. My feeling right now is to go with that approach, but I'm still working on it.

[@wahito1456]

thanks for this!

[@TheGbooking]

Igor, thank you as usual for the interesting lecture! A small question about 5:01- why not to play Qg5 instead of Kg5?

[@tobias4411]

Qg5 is a blunder, then Ne8 and Black is slightly better. Also, blacks move before, fxe4 is a terrible blunder gives white an major advantage +7 and a winning position. Black could play c4 instead, and white would be slightly better, +0.9 according to engine.

[@Fishy_17]

2 things. Kg5 means king g5. The notation for knight is N. Qg5 doesn’t work because of Ne8.

[@Jacob-gl1kh]

why would they move their king there？？？

[@davidlamarca899]

Very great strategy ...agressive and effective💪👌👌

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks ✌️

[@vadimpalmer5032]

Great video! Where do you develop your white squared bishop if black plays a6 before you play Bb5?

[@CapAnson12345]

In that variation g3 and put the bishop on g2. Castle and play for an eventual f5... generally.

[@vatsalsr3029]

Good idea n humor too

[@vivekdahiya9297]

Hi GM Igor please start a live gameplay series.

[@AniLovesChess]

Another fun-looking opening. I really love these openings that involves the f-pawn lol

[@romanvercier3556]

Damn, you like to live on the edge

[@KrumovBobby]

"he's already cooked" the most modern chess terminology I've heard recently next video, please include 'Omae Wa Mou' xD

[@SpaceCadet4Jesus]

As white in the puzzle position, I would Qxa7, which either wins a free pawn or literally destroys black if black responds by capturing the queen.

[@MASTERIMAGEN]

1.Qxa7 Rxa7 2.Rxc8+ Qd8 3.Rxd8+ Kxd8 4.Nxf7+ followed by Nxh8 +-

[@AzfarAslam]

Try to play some best moves from the opponent's side as well. I'm 1600+ in rapid and most of the time, I face good/excellent moves. Maybe pick an opening and make a complete series on it's theory.

[@Don-yu3uq]

As Black, whenever I see my opponent open with a PE4 in the first few moves, a Kings Gambit variation, I immediately develop my Queen side pieces and castle Queen side. Then push pawns on white's King side to help attack. They do that to me whenever I play Kings Gambit. Why would anybody castle on the side that the opponent is preparing to attack?

[@bartoszmaks1427]

I wonder why common defensive moves like h5, Qb6 or Nh4 were completely ignored in this analysis. 6:31

[@Trizzer89]

I guess Qh4 is so good that the engine always moves his knight to defend with the queen

[@ravis8532]

The "Igor Smirnov" the Greatest Teacher indeed.

[@meister-t]

Puzzle: "white to play and win" is usually a few moves and it's mate - I just don't see it. I see a trade of a queen and rook and probably knight too, for a queen, bishop, rook, but I don't see the mate.

[@sdgamers4365]

Your thumbnail is always awesome 😂😂

[@gm2407]

Remember this is effectively like playing the Dutch. Can also play this in the Reversed Sicilian.

[@marknieuweboer8099]

Actually the Reversed Grand Prix Attack 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 f5 or 2.g3 f5 pretty often is a favourable version exactly because the queen's knight is still at home. Make sure to play 2.Nc3 f5 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 though. Like a young GM Svidler did. You won't find this in theory books.

[@I_LOVE_MANGOES]

These videos are good but I would be nice if you added a PGN of the opening so we can put it into an engine or opening explorer to analyze at our own time.

[@Sifo_Dyas]

It would be nice to be a little grateful. Here's an idea: Play the moves with an engine while you watch the video.

[@ZDTF]

Bro was planning something devious in tht thumbnail

[@Timberius]

Why Ng5? At 5:04 Why not Qg5?

[@thetransferaccount4586]

grand prix.. should try

[@aaronbarlow4376]

Qxa7, Rxa7, Rxc8+, Qd8,RxQ,KxR, Nf7+ forking K and R.

[@TruthSurge]

I tried this against Fritz 6 online and NONE of these lines showed up. They are all seemingly random or just highly advanced even when I put it on beginner level. I never once got the first option and I played like 10 games. I don't see how you can expect to play a certain sequence of moves in advance and really win. I guess I just suck at chess. using any of your lines didn't work because I would get crazy lines with his queen coming out or whatever.

[@eschiedler]

lol I did not find the puzzle move. great combo

[@Arch2Q89]

Best youtuber

[@JeffreyDMathias]

Try this: Qxa7,Rxa7; Rxc8+,Qd8(forced); Rfc1, Q is now pinned and if Qxc8 then Rxc8,Ke2; Rxh8 [Q,R for P,B,Q,R] and if Q not take then Rxd8,Kxd8; Nxf7 forking K and R [Q,R for P,B,Q,R]

[@DrPeterLorenzo]

What if he instead defends the night on b4 with pawn to a5?

[@birgittoft8393]

Is it a possibility that black castles queenside to avoi this attack?

[@nikolamarinkovic3834]

Qxa7, Rxa7+ , Rxc8 (if he doesnt take the queen he loses the rook), Qd8, Rxd8, Nf6+, king anywhere, Nxh8

[@crucifiedthief]

gotta cover the line Rb8, after Qxa7.

[@alexacasafra639]

Nf6+ ? How ? Did You mean to Say Nf7 ?

[@brunojani7968]

Holy s_t, I would not have found this after a million years

[@stevecurry5055]

In the critical position, what if black moved P to h5?

[@user-rx8fr7ju9k]

If after white plays B- h6 and Bxh6 on move 12 13. Qxh6 .. N-g4 attacking Q then what?

[@strongestunited]

i love Igor Nation!🎉

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

🎉

[@SAID_AHMADINE]

7:19 If black play knight to H5 how do you respone ?

[@bradsummerhill]

I was wondering the same. I'm guessing that you advance the g-pawn to attack? even at the risk of weakening your king's castle?

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

The only skill we need to develop in chess is calculation which nobody can teach us!

[@illuminaut]

I was wondering why he kept referring to pawns as witnesses to be eliminated. Took me a little to realize he said weakness.

[@mikec4390]

5:00 Why play Ng5 here? Isn't it mate-in-2 with Qg5 from this position? With the bishop pinned, whatever black plays next white just plays Qxg7#

[@marcelkoopman2439]

Because black can play Ne8 and survive?

[@Ashwinivivek9991]

Hi GM Igor Smirnov! This is Sarah and I would like to know if there is a " Anti grand prix attack "If there is I would request a video on it.

[@Catspostytshorts]

This works very well at 1400 just won a game with it thank you Igor 😊

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Great!

[@AzfarAslam]

what about 1600+, They play really best moves. Maybe cover an opening where opponent play's good moves as well@@GMIgorSmirnov

[@zelandakhniteblade5436]

Summary of the video: if black plays the opening badly, white will have an advantage. Let's take the last line as it is the most popular against the GPA. After 6. b4, the main moves for black are 6...b6 and 6...d6 but neither gets a mention despite black scoring wins after ...b6 in over half of the games in the database. There are similar points in all of the other variations, such as 5...a6 in the fast ...d5 line. Hardly anyone above a certain level is going to play this, and if they do they probably have something specific prepared. The main moves there by far are 5...Ne7 and 5...Nf6, both of which are regarded by theory as approximately equal. The GPA is a system I also regularly recommend to social and low club players in meeting the Sicilian but it is not the magic bullet to 90% wins as presented here.

[@greenmoxy]

Q-a7 looks nasty

[@9usernameunavailable]

this opening got me from 1700-2000 and I'm disappointed you're getting the word out about it :(

[@nestorzuluaga595]

Very interesting opening

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you think so!

[@walterbrownstone8017]

Very nice opening. This is what I'm going to play for fun for the next week... but I don't think i'll get 90%..

[@PavelGrigorenko]

if the queen is already on h4, why would anyone castle short?

[@100subscibersplzzzz]

well try that against magnus

[@adjuster57]

Almost all my Sicillian opponents play a6 on either their 2nd or 3rd move, really messing up this system. I have better luck with the Smith-Morra.

[@sjoerdblom2018]

@GMIgorSmirnov I have same question what is your advice if black comes with early a6 avoiding Bb5? Thanks!

[@jimsullins9162]

Q takes a7. Rook takes. Rook takes c8. Black queen to d8. Rook takes queen ck. King takes rook. Knight takes f7 ck. Takes rook. Wins game

[@ApolloMcDonnean]

Qxa7 looks nice to me.

[@zenrando]

If i was a very small mouse I would play this opening every time.

[@roryharvey2727]

What happens if Rook goes B8 after Qxa7?

[@rabipelais]

Then Qxb8, Nxb8, and you have the same sequence with Rxc8+ and he either blocks with the queen, and you capture with the rook, he captures with king and you fork with your knight, or he goes Kd7 and you are up the exchange two rooks, a piece and a pawn for a queen

[@JERRYR708]

Bishop b5 with pawn d3 is kamikaze, one way ticket, close the door for that poor bishop for most games.

[@ushpradeep]

I think puzzle answer is Qxa7

[@donsimons9810]

just noticed im not subscribed. subscribed

[@iordanpetrov278]

3:44 hi Igor. Could you please send me a video analysis if the blacks move e7 to e6 or h7 to h5 instead of d7 to d5

[@Zach_Routhier]

Followed it precisely as you said, got smashed. Turns out it does matter what black plays after all!

[@Aabi-Bro]

Hey respect man !! Please do a 800-1200 rating climb with Trompowsky attack Plzzzzzzz😢❤🎉

[@user-yo5ml5ym8c]

I got crushed most of the time playing it against the Sicilian