The Anti-Fried Liver (3...h6?!) Remains Popular & Punishable | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1011

In this continuation of the "Climbing the Rating Ladder" series I take on players of various ratings levels while pointing out typical mistakes and spots for improvement along the way (possibly my own!? :)). Here I commentate a 10+2 game against a player rated 1011 on Chess.com. As Italian Game players and viewers of this channel will know, 3...h6?!, the Anti-Fried Liver, is a common and understandable reaction to 3.Bc4, yet it loses time and should allow White a large advantage after 4.d4. In this game, my opponent swaps a couple times in the center and tries to push away my queen with ...c7-c5, but this leads to protoypical problems on the d5/d6 squares.
Check out these two other CTRL videos against 3...h6?!
Capitalizing on 3...h6: • Capitalizing on 3...h6...
Cracking Down on the Anti-Fried Liver (3...h6?!): • Cracking Down on the A...
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[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Two other CTRL videos against 3...h6?! Capitalizing on 3...h6: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6iUm4mYbaqtkJI Cracking Down on the Anti-Fried Liver (3...h6?!): kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYSZXoqCgqeNl5o Also, shout-out to steve1989MREInfo! 😀 www.youtube.com/@LetsGetThisOutOntoATrayNice

[@JeffLaRochelle]

Opponent: *Shaking with fear thinking that John is calculating furiously* JB: "Have you seen this guy on KZbin that reviews military ration kits?"

[@worsethanjoerogan8061]

Whenever I see one of those I'm always shocked the tiny package has over 3000 calories 😅

[@JeffLaRochelle]

Yeah it's crazy. That Steve guy he mentioned does really interesting videos!

[@IanHickson]

I always wonder when John says "wow my opponent is in the tank for this move" how often what is really happening is the opponent is helping their kid with their homework or petting their cat or something.

[@seanunderscorepry]

Wow i did not expect the SteveMRE cross over, hahah

[@goldenlion3184]

Not sure I can go there, Lol. Especially if there are chewing sounds 🤢

[@monty3854]

Nice.

[@sundaydsus]

“I’m going to take a sip of coffee and ponder my options.” I love John 😂

[@hagen0011]

Watching John is so good for my game. Always calm and never rushing!

[@michaelf8221]

Kinda insane how often Nxd4, Qxd4 c5 is played. "Ooh an attack on a queen!" No, a backwards d pawn in the long-term.

[@Suho1004]

Very informative, John. Thanks! I'll second the recommendation for walking. My daily commute is a half-hour walk in hilly terrain each way, so even if I do nothing else in terms of exercise, at least I have that. It's a great way to start and finish my working day, both in terms of getting in some physical exercise and also having some time to transition between work and non-work modes.

[@kkkjdnd2499]

Wonderful video JB. I really appreciate these videos around 1000 opponents since that's where myself and a lot of other viewers are at

[@goldenlion3184]

"What happens in the wild" ROFL! With a rage quit at the end... But you played so elegantly, with coordination and development of the pieces, avoiding short term tactical chances. This is such a great lesson! Thanks John!

[@bobbobson3908]

Hi John, another great video. Will you be bck on Lichess Sunday broadcast any time soon? I need to avenge my 0-6 score against you!

[@davidpeak6103]

I learn something out of every video. Ausgezeichnet! Dave from Ohio

[@james6870]

Thanks for doing the Italian this is my favorite opening as white!

[@worsethanjoerogan8061]

I play the Scotch around 500 elo above this rating and I'm still surprised at how many people just allow Qxf7#. It's like they think they can't possibly get checkmated because it's only move 8-10

[@robertgelblum5154]

If I had a dollar for every time my opponents played an early ...h6 and/or ...Nxd4 Qxd4 c5 in double K-pawn openings . . . I'd have quite a few dollars!

[@hanafuda]

Just casually watching this video while washing the dishes and this guy mentioned SteveMRE1989, one of my (other!) favorite YTers! Small world, love it.

[@elbirdo_insoko]

Fins watches Steve1989?! Oh man... Worlds are colliding!!! But Sean is not gettin upset haha.

[@griffinbur1118]

I was wondering where you were going with the “totally unrelated to chess” crossover and literally LOL’d when it turned out that the other KZbinr “reviews old military rations”: perfectly random. Also, great chess.

[@daveyfouser1200]

MRE Steve is a literal superhero. You see the one where he eats bully beef from the Boer War?

[@spartanthe300ththermopylae4]

"Crazy Russian Hacker" MRE channel is also great, the guy is a legend.

[@aaronjosephs2560]

Just started watching your videos, didn't realize until this one that you're in Minnesota! I am as well :)

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Hey there fellow Minnesotan 👋 Appreciate you finding my channel!

[@lyingcat9022]

Don’t understand how people get upset and rage quit when they knowingly accepted a game against a Professional player? You know he’s 1700 points higher rated than you, it’s expected he will punish your weaknesses, why get mad about that?

[@TastyLifeRS]

I frickin love steve1989, Nice!

[@kelseyde]

I've spent my evening watching SteveMRE videos thanks to your recommendation John. What an absolutely delightful corner of youtube. Nice!

[@JustinWebbMusic]

Let’s get it out on the tray. Nice!

[@eggu1828]

Opponent: was worrying about his liver fried Opponent: still got his liver fried just after 8 moves

[@florentingoyens7558]

Walking is great ! This channel is about much more than chess sometimes

[@pedermr5491]

I like when you post videos.

[@matthellmann4212]

Ahh the old "Ope, disconnected." From Wisconsin to Minnesota with love!

[@psaini1999]

Funny how he played the anti fried liver and eventually ended up getting his queen and rook forked on f7

[@johndilyard2077]

John Bartholomew and Steve1989 MRE Info is the crossover I never knew I'd need but I love it. 😄

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Dude's a legend! I really like his attitude and meticulous approach to his craft.

[@goodspellr1057]

The evaluation has something to do with how close the game is. So minor deviations are harshly criticized when the game is close to equal while major deviations are sometimes deemed "good" or "excellent" when the game is completely one-sided. For example, some opening moves that should surely be labelled "book" moves are sometimes labelled inaccuracies because the evaluation goes from +0.1 to 0.0. Once one side is up by a piece or two, the losing side can start tanking and be told that their moves are "good" or "excellent". I've seen a move that took the evaluation from +13 to +20 labelled "excellent". Same for a move that took the evaluation from "Mate in 5" to "Mate in 1". I guess at that point they figure there is no use in further criticism.

[@psychorooks]

I pretty much live in these lines...

[@creamrising]

Now that I know the 3 proper candidate moves to combat the fried liver I'm no longer going to defend with h6.

[@lauracamus7720]

Hello everyone :) good video!!!!!!

[@jahismighty1576]

loved the shout out to walking

[@dayoldeggplant]

Hey John, just an FYI, you're showing up on KZbin as ASMR oddly enough....it might just be this video though 🤔

[@chessguru900]

I'm surprised why your number of subscribers has not hit 500k yet. I think it's because you are not frequently do these videos.

[@jailer165]

An opportunity to play an international master and you rage quit ... sadge

[@IvanToman]

12:00 he broke his phone.

[@carl8318]

I think it's safe to say this opponent doesn't subscribe to The John Bartholomew channel.

[@briandoile5011]

Great video. I play the Italian and fried liver frequently. Thanks.

[@byronstone386]

15:42 back when I was an e4 player I used to play the Scotch and I would get positions like that all the time online

[@dittygoops]

Hey John! Thanks for coming over to the Chess Emporium tournaments! Yours truly, the Rubinstein player!

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Haha awesome - I remember you from our tough simul games!! 😀 Thanks a lot for dropping by the channel!

[@jamesrichardson8151]

Hey, great video 😀 I wonder what your thoughts are on 5.c3 rather than 5.Nxd4? I play 4.d4 Nxd4 5.c3 against quite a lot of black options on move 3 (eg 3...d6). In the 3...h6 line this seems especially appealing since black has already more-or-less "lost" a tempo. (Edit, sorry you briefly mention it at 19:48)

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thanks, James! And I think that line's great if you're OK with gambiting (as it sounds like you are). Black will suffer a lot with the ...h7-h6 costing a key developing move, so you absolutely have the green light to gambit, imo.

[@katis999]

Nice video, thanks John !

[@paulgottlieb]

The best and worst thing about KZbin is the endless numbers of interesting rabbit holes we can go down

[@cameronginochiochess]

I know we’re all here mostly for chess, but love the glimpses into the personal life of John! Thanks for sharing the tidbits about your KZbin interests and walking. And obviously the chess knowledge! Glad you’re back

[@RoyLGamer]

It seems the engine just gives the opponent more "good" moves they are already completely lost. It's only harsh if you have an advantage and played a move that wasn't keeping the most of it.

[@Pipiopy]

playing h6 to get forked anyways lol

[@DaltonDaDigga]

I hate when people anti fried liver against me cause I’m an Italian game player and I never go for the fried liver. Really normally what I’m hoping for is the guiccio piano so I can play the evans gambit. And if night to f6 then I just play something solid

[@playandteach]

What's the etiquette for resigning, is there a 'thanks for the game' option?

[@bbbrown3408]

how to lose without delay part 7

[@randikalakmal]

Fun Fact: GM Be Finegold never plays the Fried Liver because he is a vegan!

[@user-jj1tp4qm8m]

i wonder what this guy thinks about the scandi

[@summerlinpublic5673]

What kind of watch are you wearing? Do you wear a watch just for the time or do you enjoy watches?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

It's a Helbros electornic watch. I'm not really a watch guy, but I've had it for awhile, and I kinda like the heft of it, so it started wearing it sometimes :D Definitely open to recommendations for classy, minimalistic watches.

[@summerlinpublic5673]

@@JohnBartholomewChess This might give you some ideas and start you in the right direction. BTW my chess game has got a lot better from your watching your channel! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWSmdaxoa8qWhsU

[@michaelmorris4515]

You're more polite than me. Rage quitters deserve to be dunked on.

[@mrseaweed1000]

At 4:42, I bet the other player was delighted with his move. “He’s taking so long, he doesn’t know what to do!” While John is sitting there casually sipping coffee and chatting about a random KZbinr lol

[@CasinoCruisers1]

There should a rule of thumb. We do not watch John play people below 1400-1500. I mean come on man, buddy is 1000 rated. How much can we really learn

[@anuragpranav]

hi john i hope youre getting enough sleep

[@andrewcosta2760]

GOAT

[@Anti-You]

Your rating is 2600 and you're playing a 1000 level player...

[@AlanTwoRings]

@12:42

[@austindunn9376]

John it was cruel what you did to that 1,000 LOL. Also you have a sixth sense for predicting your opponents moves Ive seen it in other videos 🔮